‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind’ (Romans 12:2)
Helpful resources for reading the Bible
Bible translations.
If you struggle to understand the Bible, you might benefit by reading a simpler translation like the New Living
Translation (NLT). If you want a more accurate translation you might like to try the English Standard Version (ESV).
The recently-updated New International Version (NIV) lies somewhere in the middle.
Study Bibles.
Some Bibles come with notes to help you understand the Bible better. For example, the NIV Proclamation Bible.
Commentaries.
Good commentaries are available, some of which are more “devotional” than “intellectual”. Galatians for You, by
Tim Keller, would be an example of a commentary aimed at a wide range of readers.
Reading Plans.
Reading plans help you read through the Bible systematically over a certain time (for example, a year or two years).
This can sometimes be really helpful...as long as you don’t get too legalistic about it! Ask Lewis if you’d like a copy of
“Robert Murray McCheyne’s” popular reading plan.
Audio Bibles.
If you struggle with reading (or just fancy a change), you can listen to the Bible instead! The Bible Society provide a free audio recording of the New Testament (search for You’ve Got the Time) on their website. The bible can also be purchased on CD but beware, some “readers” are better than others!
Daily Devotionals.
Daily devotional booklets are designed to help you understand and apply the Bible to your life every day. Selwyn
Hughes’ Our Daily Bread would be a well-known example. Explore, published by the Good Book Company, would be a good example of a more in-depth devotional that helps you study the Bible for yourself.
Community.
Reading the Bible with other Christians can be a very rewarding way of engaging more deeply with Scripture. SPFC host informal weekly home-group bible-studies where you can do just that. You could also arrange to regularly meet for coffee with another Christian to read the bible together and discuss what you read - or simply ask a mature
Christian for their thoughts when you read something in the Bible you struggle to understand or would like to think about further.
Memorisation.
Read a verse out loud ten times. Close your eyes and say it out loud ten times. Hey presto! Add another verse every day or every week and you can soon remember whole sections of Scripture. The advantage of memorising Scripture is that you can “chew on it” anywhere, even while you’re falling asleep or walking in the country. A good practice – and very biblical (Psalm 119:11)!
Meditation.
The Bible often talks about meditating on God’s word – not emptying our minds (as in eastern meditation) but allowing God’s word to sink in, chewing it over prayerfully and thoughtfully. One way is to meditate on a specific

Scripture; alternatively you might simply dwell more generally on a truth taught in the Bible (e.g., that if we trust
Christ, we have eternal life). Even reflecting on a favourite hymn can be very helpful if it captures an important truth.
Scripture urges us to “set our mind” on these things - not to passively let these truths float around in our heads somewhere but to actively think about them. So ask questions as you chew on God’s truth – what’s this really
saying? How should this affect my life this week? What does this tell me about God? Merely reading the truths of
Scripture can be like catching the scent of a good meal, whereas thinking long and hard about them is like more like eating the food, enjoying the flavour and digesting it into your body so that it gives life and strength. As Paul says,
‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’ (Colossians 3:16).
Websites and Electronic Resources.
There are some excellent electronic resources out there - as well as some very misguided ones! Two good websites for help understanding the Bible are www.openupthebible.com and, for a very in-depth but accessible guidance in understanding the Bible, the forthcoming site “Look at the Book”.
If you use twitter, you can also “follow” people who are passionate about communicating biblical truths.
It’s worth mentioning that some electronic resources are more hindrances than helps in terms of growing in your understanding of the Bible – unfortunately that’s especially true with many of the television channels professing to be Christian! On that point, bear in mind that even a talk that quotes the Bible a lot isn’t necessarily being faithful to its message. If in doubt, discuss what you’ve heard with a mature Christian.
Good Christian books.
As well as some well-meaning but truly awful ones (!) there are some excellent Christian books out there which can have a really positive impact on your life and thinking. If you want pointing in the right direction ask a Christian with a good grasp of the Bible for some advice.
SPFC’s website also has a good online bookstall and a small percentage of any books purchased will go back to the church. Lewis is also happy to lend any books which might be of help. If your reading ability is relatively good and you’d like to think in more depth about what the Bible has to say about “the life of the mind” a free digital copy of
John Piper’s book Think is also available on the church website. And if you’re not a big reader, many Christian books are available as audio-books!
Counsel.
There are many reasons why our growth as Christians can be stunted. Sometimes ideas that we hold or experiences we’ve had can obscure God’s word and prevent it impacting our hearts. Sometimes, even unconsciously, we simply don’t put it into practice as we should – or don’t know how to. As none of us understand ourselves or God’s word perfectly, the perspective of another Christian can really help. So do engage with others if you want to grow with
God, especially those who have a mature faith. If we could do this spiritual growth thing on our own, God wouldn’t have invented the local church!
Should you ever appreciate a chat with Lewis, please let him know. And don’t think you have to wait for some big pastoral crisis (!) - it’s our ordinary lives that God wants to change and transform. On the other hand, if you’re really struggling with something – including sin (of any kind!) – don’t feel at all ashamed to ask for help or advice. We’re all sinners in need of grace!
‘whatever is true...honourable...just...pure...lovely...commendable, if there is any excellence...anything worthy of praise, think about these things.’
(Philippians 4:8)