Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way to read the Bible? There are many methods of storing up God’s Word in our hearts, but there are some pitfalls we need to watch out. Today we are learning out to read our Bible better by engaging our minds.
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LIFE Hack: Cream of Yum Soup
You don’t have to use those cream of yuck soups in the store – simply follow this recipe!
- 2 TBSP Butter
- 2 TBSP Flour
- 1 Cup of Milk
- Favorite seasonings and salt
- Spinach, mushrooms, cooked chicken, etc
Simmer butter and flour together for a few minutes, add milk and spices and stir. Add chopped spinach, or chopped mushrooms, or cooked chicken.
Add it to soups, casseroles, etc.
Easy Crowd Pleasing Chicken and Rice Casserole
This is a great recipe to feed 10 people. Depending on the size of your casserole dish, you may need two.
- 4 chicken breast cooked in slow cooker with a little water or broth and salt – shred it
- 2 cups cooked rice
- Cream of YUM soup recipe above – double it with chopped spinach
- shredded mozzarella or cheesy blend
- salt and seasoning to taste
- Mix shredded crock pot chicken and two cups of cooked white rice in large bowl
- Pour cream of YUM over chicken and rice and mix with spoon until nice and creamy
- Add any extra seasoning to taste
- Pour into casserole dishes and top with cheese
- If chicken and rice are already warm – bake at 350 for twenty minutes then broil HI until cheese is bubbly.
- If chicken and rice are cold (from being previous cooked) – bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until warmed through and broil HI until cheese is bubbly.
Sola Feels
Sometimes we read the Bible with our feelings first, when we need to engage our minds and let our feelings follow. Babylon Bee (a fake satirical “news” site) published an article called Sola Feels to illustrate the Christian culture’s bent toward feelings.
Read the article here (remember it’s fake): http://babylonbee.com/news/progressive-evangelical-leaders-meet-affirm-doctrine-sola-feels/
Facts first – know the Truth of God’s Word
Faith second – put faith in the Truth
Feelings third – let them fall in line with the Truth and be carried to true joy!
Some ways we put our feelings first when reading the Bible:
- When we interpret the truth in a different way because it messes with our feelings
- Xanax approach – going to isolated Scriptures to make us feel better making the Bible about serving us and making us feel better
- Pinball approach – good intentions but we miss the wholeness of God’s plan and can fail to give us context that engages our mind
- Magic Eight Ball – the Bible doesn’t provide answers our whims and isn’t just used to give us personal direction about our decisions
- Telephone Game – when we know the Word through other people’s books instead of gaining Bible literacy through reading the Bible
Numbers 2-5 come from Jen Wilkin’s book Women of the Word which you can purchase on Amazon or local Christian bookstore.
Better Bible Reading
When we read the Word with our minds first and let our feelings follow, that is better Bible reading.
Luke 10:27 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 12:2″Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Luke 5:1-11 Peter saw Jesus differently when He obeyed Him and one of the first things he saw was his sin. Reading the Bible should convict our hearts of sin and righteousness and the character of God.
Tips
1. Read the Bible with our minds to gain understanding, not just to feel something
2. Understand the context and history of the book to gain a better understanding
3. Wrestle with the Scriptures before going to the commentaries
4. Know what the text says first before we decide it’s meaning
5. Read the Bible to know the Lord of Glory
Resources
Read Psalm 39 🙂
Good Questions to ask for Better Bible Reading:
1. What does this say about God?
2. What is God like? What has God done?
3. Who am I in light of this passage? How do I respond to God?
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