Five Ways to Engage with Scripture

A few weeks ago, I wrote about “The Day That Changed My Life Because Nothing Happened” (Apr 11, 24). I wrote that the changes God has wrought in me over the years have mostly been gradual, not dramatic. Reading the Bible in my time alone with God has been a key component in my spiritual formation.
 
I promised then that I would write about five ways to engage with Scripture. Here I keep that promise.

The last few years I taught school, I saw the educational world undergo a significant shift in thinking. They called it “differentiation,” an overdue acknowledgment that not all students learn the same way. Some students are auditory learners (highly skilled listeners), others visual learners (me), still others kinetic learners (who learn by doing).

Experts have identified as many as nine different kinds of intelligence. We’re not all “smart” in the same way. The man who can disassemble and reassemble a carburetor with his eyes closed is obviously highly intelligent, even if he struggles with reading.

To accommodate different learning modalities, teachers were encouraged to “differentiate,” that is, to think about ways to make their content accessible to all sorts of learners.

The world of discipleship could learn a thing or two from the world of education.

Not everyone loves to read. In fact, some struggle with reading. That’s why you won’t find me saying much about “reading” or “studying” your Bible. Although I love to read and study the Scriptures, I know that not everyone is like me. And the man or woman who doesn’t like to read shouldn’t be made to feel like a second-class Christian because reading the Bible isn’t easy or enjoyable.

As valuable as it is for me, studying the Bible is just one way to engage with Scripture. There are several others, and each of us needs to find the way that works best for us.

1. Hear the Word.

It is only in the last five centuries (since the invention of the printing press) that God’s people have had the option of reading the Scriptures on their own. Before that – for millennia – the main way God’s people engaged the Word was through hearing it read and taught and preached aloud. The digital revolution has brought us full circle and re-ignited a “hear the Word” movement.

So, no, it’s not “cheating” if you listen instead of reading. If listening is your natural learning style, you will probably perceive the Word far more deeply by hearing than by reading.

2. Copy the Word.

This is one of my favorites. I have copied whole books of the Bible – the Epistle to the Romans, the Gospel of Mark, the pastoral epistles, and now 1 Peter – into composition notebooks, along with selected passages from the Psalms. I copy the biblical text, study it, then journal on it. It is a slow process, but copying the text helps me notice details, and journaling helps me process what I’ve copied and studied.

3. Paraphrase the Word.

Paraphrasing Scripture – trying to render it in modern English – forces me to slow down and reflect on what it means. I once paraphrased the entire Epistle of James. It was a fascinating experience, thinking deeply about how to render each sentence, each phrase, in contemporary English. As a result, I came to understand that book of the Bible at a much deeper level.

4. Read the Word.

There are things you can see from a plane in the air that you could never see while you’re on the ground. And there are things you will see when you read the Bible in whole gulps – not stopping to examine the details – that you might not notice in careful study. Some even argue that reading a book of the Bible in one sitting is an excellent way to engage the Scriptures.

Reading Scripture thoughtfully but quickly can open a perspective that would otherwise be opaque to you. You will see broad patterns of repetition from a height that you would have never seen on the ground.

5. Study the Word.

You have already seen how I incorporate copying the Word with studying the Word. But there are other ways I study. When I am preparing to preach or teach, I will break down the text phrase by phrase to understand the grammatical structure; I will look into key words to see what they mean in the original languages; I will consult commentaries.

Here, the objective is the opposite of reading quickly and broadly. When I study, I am not high in the air looking at the big picture; I am crawling on hands and knees examining minute details that are invisible from the air.

Which method is right for you?

The one that works.

The one that you can sustain.

The one that you can enjoy.

The point isn’t how you engage with Scripture; the point is that you take it in, reflect on it, and let it slowly transform your heart, mind, and life.

Whatever method works for you, engage the Word.

Persevere,
Paul Pyle
Pastor of Discipleship