Pro-Tips
When I was a kid, I was super into David Copperfield. In case you don’t know who he is, he was the illusionist of the 80s and early 90s. My family would gather around the TV to watch him make the Statue of Liberty disappear, levitate over the Grand Canyon, escape Alcatraz, all with dramatic music and flowy 80s shirts.
He’s the reason my brothers and I got into magic when we were kids. We’d buy magic kits, learn card tricks, and even take illusion classes at the community college. But here’s what I discovered: once you pull back the curtain and see how the trick works, you realize it’s not actually “magic”, it’s just a series of thoughtful steps to achieve an outcome. Knowing how it works doesn’t ruin the wonder; it just deepens your appreciation.
That’s kind of how studying Scripture works.
People often ask, “How did you know that?” or “How did you get there?” when we talk about a passage. When I was leading a college ministry years ago, a seminary professor once asked me where I had read something I’d taught. I told him, “I didn’t read it, I discovered it by studying the Scripture.”
The hope for all of us as followers of Jesus is that we keep following, studying, wrestling, praying through, and diving deep into Scripture. Those deep dives often lead to beautiful discoveries you can’t get from a surface-level reading. And this isn’t just for pastors, professors, or authors, it’s for everyone.
I have heard “the study of scripture” described as the patient application of our minds and hearts to the process of learning what the text says, what it meant to the original audience, and what it all means for us today.
Intentional study doesn’t take away Scripture’s power; it increases it. It helps you love and appreciate the Bible even more. So, I wanted to share a few ways I study, plus some resources you might find helpful on your own journey.
A Note Before We Begin
I don’t agree with everything in every commentary, book, sermon, podcast, or blog, and I don’t think you should either. Every author and teacher brings their human perspective to the divine. As they say, “Eat the meat, spit out the bones.”
I pray, discern, and keep what’s true and helpful. I hope you’ll do the same.
How I Study
1. Read. A lot.
When I prepare to teach, I read the passage over and over (and over). I’m a slow reader with low comprehension, so repetition helps. This summer I read 1, 2, and 3 John dozens of times before teaching them. Each read reveals something new, words, themes, truths, and also raises questions or odd details to explore.
2. Get the backstory.
After multiple readings, I dig into historical context. Many Bibles have helpful introductions, or you can find summaries online. Ask big questions: Who wrote it? When? To whom? Why? What’s the style or genre? Start broad and let that background color your next read.
3. Compare translations.
I usually teach from the ESV, but I’ll also check the NIV (very readable) or NRSV (more academic). The Message or The Voice can be especially helpful for hard-to-understand passages, they’re paraphrases that capture the heart of the text in modern language.
People often ask what translation they should read. I love Tim Mackie’s answer: “The one you’ll read.”
4. Explore commentaries and resources.
Once I have a good grasp of the text, I dig deeper with tools and commentaries.
- Bible Project – Tim Mackie and team offer short videos, podcasts, lectures, even free seminary-level classes. They do an incredible job helping us see Scripture as one unified story that leads to Jesus.
- BibleHub – A treasure chest of commentaries, word studies, and original language tools. You can trace Greek and Hebrew words across the Bible and see how different traditions interpret them.
- The People’s Bible Commentary – Accessible and insightful (New Testament only).
- Other commentaries – The New Interpreter’s Bible, HarperCollins Study Bible, ESV Study Bible and others offer helpful academic perspectives.
5. Listen and learn.
When time allows, I’ll listen to sermons or podcasts from a variety of pastors and teachers. Hearing other voices helps me see things from different angles, though again, I don’t agree with everyone! There are so many incredible teachers, preachers, and luminaries in the faith that are trusted voices in the space of scripture study and interpretation. There are far too many to list. I often enjoy NT Wright, Eugene Peterson, Tim Mackie, Lois Tverberg, among many others.
All these steps together, reading, researching, listening, help me see Scripture both from 30,000 feet and in the weeds. I can see how a passage fits into the whole story and also what’s significant in each phrase or word.
Why It Matters
In the Hebrew tradition, a rabbi wasn’t just a teacher, you followed them to learn their way of life, their interpretation of Scripture. Jesus calls us to that same discipleship: to learn the Scriptures by learning Him.
So as we study, the question is always: Does this interpretation look like Jesus?
To know Scripture is to know Jesus.
To know Jesus is to live like Him.
Abide. Change. Embody.
As C.S. Lewis said, “We come to Scripture not to learn a subject, but to steep ourselves in a Person.”
Studying Scripture isn’t about collecting information, it’s about deepening relationship. It’s about knowing the heart of God.
Sure, David Copperfield might have made the Statue of Liberty disappear, but the “trick” was a hundred small steps working together. In the same way, deep study may not look flashy, but over time, it reveals something truly miraculous.
Learning to study Scripture well takes time, patience, and the Spirit’s guidance. But when you do, others may think it looks like “magic.” You’ll just know it’s faithfulness and practice.
My hope is that we’ll be a people who love the Bible, who wrestle with it, study it, pray through it, and let it shape us. We want to be a community of relentless obedience to Scripture in a culture that often manipulates it for self-justification.
Let’s keep learning together.
Below are just a few links and tools to get you started.
Resources
Websites
Online Classes or Podcasts
- Bible Project Classroom
- The Chapel at Seaside Podcasts and Chapel Study Notes – Apple, Spotify or wherever you stream
Commentaries
- The People’s Bible Commentary
- The New Interpreter’s Bible
- HarperCollins Study Bible
- Chronological Life Application Study Bible
Additional Recommendations (Optional)
- Scripture and the Authority of God by N.T. Wright
- Surprised by Scripture by N.T. Wright
- Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson
If you have questions, thoughts, comments or want to explore a passage more, let’s talk. This is a long journey that we do together.
Keep reading. Keep wrestling. Keep discovering the wonder.
A quick reminder about a few things.
Tuesday – Noon Prayer
A lovely time to sit, worship, pray, and rest in the presence of God. Not a bad time to read through scripture as well. Come and go as you need.
Wednesday – Bible Study
Want to study the bible…this is a great time to do this.
- Men: 8am
- Women: 9:30am
We’ll be in Hebrews 11 this week. If you’ve missed any sessions, catch up on the Chapel Study Notes podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you stream.
Blessings,
Andrew