Guides

You finally have a new Bible before you and are excited to dig right in. But wait! There's one thing you should do before you start using your Bible: Read the introduction, preface and any other explanatory materials about the translation or study system. It may seem like dry reading, but there are often nuggets of information that will enhance your experience and pay off in the end.

What can you learn? Well, for one thing, translators often explain their goals of translation or reasons for the specific translation. Some even go so far as to give a very basic primer on Bible translation. You might also learn who the translators were or how they handled the translation of certain words.

Study Bibles present a whole different facet to Bible reading. A study Bible often has a concordance, maps, and an index in addition to certain features that make it different from other Bibles. Most study systems are intuitive: the study note at the bottom of the page coincides with the verse number referenced. But others, such as chain references, may require instructions.

After reading the accompanying informational and/or instructional articles, familiarize yourself with the features of your Bible. Get a feel for the contents of each one and determine how you can use them. Pay special attention to the location of any one or two page indexes. These are so easily overlooked, but are very helpful when looking for a particular article, table or picture within the text portion of your Bible.

Finally, use your Bible, taking advantage of everything it has to offer as the need arises. Only through practice can you become better acquainted with a Bible's layout, and only through reading the Word can you experience its riches.

FAQ: What Bible translation should I use?

I have been asked a number of times, "What's the best Bible version?" There is no easy answer to this as there are many translations with their own strong points and weak points. What is best for one person will be insufficient for another. There are a few questions you can ask yourself to help with your choice.

What's your purpose for the Bible? What do you want to do with it? Is it for devotions or for study? Are you the only one who will be reading it? What do you like and not like about the current Bible version you use? Describe your ideal Bible.

Some versions are better than others for a person's Bible reading goals. Once you have defined your goals, start learning about your options. I like Bible comparison charts as a good start. You can find one online or look for what will probably be a large laminated chart somewhere in the Bible display area at your local Christian store. The Bible translation information pages at Christian Book Distributors give a good discussion of the most popular translations as well as a brief introduction to formal and dynamic equivalence and paraphrases. Using these tools, you will likely be able to narrow your choices.

My final suggestion for choosing a translation is to look at them for yourself. Flip through them and read some passages, evaluating how well they will meet your reading goals. I also like to turn to at least one passage with which I am familiar or that I have studied recently to see how they compare. You can either find the translations online or go to your local Christian store.

As always, the most important ongoing step is to read your Bible. The best Bible for you is no good if it's collecting dust.

FAQ: I want to buy a study Bible. How do I find a good one?

There are so many study Bibles on the market today, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. As with finding a good Bible translation, there are some questions you can ask yourself before beginning your research:

What's the reader's age?

The majority of study Bibles are fit for adults and mature teenagers. If the reader is younger, there are specialty Bibles available for kids as young as six. There are considerably fewer options for the younger age groups.

What Bible translation would you prefer?

Some study Bibles come in only one translation and others come in many. Selecting one or a few acceptable translations will lower the number of choices.

My take:
I personally prefer the New American Standard Bible for its accuracy, but, depending on the type of study Bible, I would also accept a New King James Version or Holman Christian Standard Bible and possibly a New International Version. When I chose the version for my Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible, I considered the NKJV and NIV, but determined that the purpose of the study Bible (i.e., to study the breadth of Scripture on different topics) would be more effectively met with the more literal NASB.

What is the primary purpose for the Bible? What kind of notes do you want? Is there a particular church tradition you're seeking?

Do you want a Bible that interprets the scripture for you or one that helps you apply it to your life? Do you want commentary-style notes? historical/archaeological notes? word study notes? reference notes? Some Bibles will have at least a little of each, but will be made up mostly of one or another type of note.

Just as there is no English Bible translation entirely free of some level of interpretation, neither is there a study Bible that does not have some level of interpretation. (Even the Thompson Chain Reference Bible and Nave's Topical Study Bible required some interpretation.) Some study Bibles are readily identifiable as ascribing to a particular theology, such as the Reformation Study Bible. Others you may have to research by finding out more about the person or group who put it together or through turning to several debated passages and reading the interpretation.

Tip:
You certainly don't have to stick to your own theological tradition. Sometimes it is good to be exposed to some alternate interpretations provided you are also studying the depth and breadth of the topic for yourself. Studying the topics for yourself protects against leaning more on the teachings of men than on what God actually said. Instead of ascribing to one side of an issue or the other, you may find yourself somewhere in the middle or determining that your understanding is not extensive enough to make a decision at the time. Don't forget that any study of the Bible should be bathed in prayer.

The Study Bible Shop at Christianbook.com is a good place to shop for a study Bible online. Their EasyFind for Bibles will help you narrow your search. The resources on the right hand side of the page are also helpful when looking for a study Bible. If you come across some unfamiliar terms while browsing the descriptions of the Bibles, you can use the Glossary of Bible Terms. You can also take a look at their list of Popular Study Bibles for Bibles that have stood the test of the masses.

I highly recommend looking inside a study Bible before buying it. Either check it out online or go to your local Christian store if they have it. Reading some of the notes and viewing the layout will help you determine how well it fits your expectations. Once you've found what you're looking for, congratulations! You have a Bible you're a lot more likely to use! Now before you open your Bible at home for the first time, be sure to read my article, A New Bible! Now What? to find out how you can get the most out of your new Bible.

You have seen in the Bible study series on ministry that we are called to serve Jesus. Service can take many forms, but is often thought of as taking part in a ministry through church or in a parachurch organization. There are times when this type of service ought to take a back seat to our life responsibilities. It is at those times we concentrate on doing the little things for people whenever we can. But for those whom God has blessed with the time and circumstances to partner with Him for the long term, there is an additional obligation to serve Him effectively with what He has given.

The following is adapted from a series originally published on the Bible Store Browser Xanga. The primary goal is to prompt you to answer questions that will help you define who God has made you to be and put that definition to work in a ministry that seems like it was tailored just for you! To get the most out of these questions, you'll want to record your answers. You'll be referring to them toward the end of this guide. The questions are by no means exhaustive, but they are a good start.

I hope you have fun and that these discussions get you excited about prospective ministries in which YOU can be involved!

Note: Titles link to the original Xanga entry if you would like to respond there. Registration at Xanga is free, but not required to reply. I hope you will take a moment to share!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty questions about who we are, let's take a few moments to warm up by thinking about what we're already doing--or not doing--in the way of ministry.

Are you plugged into a ministry at your church?
If so, what do you do? How do you see Jesus working in it?
If not, what hinders you?

What improvements would you like to see in ministries at your church? (It may have something to do with what's holding back you or others.) Don't worry if your ideas are off the wall or beyond what you can personally do. Many great things begin with thinking outside the box! [This isn't a place to criticize your church, but to brainstorm for ways to build up the body of Christ!]

Are you involved in a ministry outside your church? Talk about it! What's its mission? How were you led to it? Share whatever you want about it!

The focus of this set of questions is your skills and talents. Be sure to write down your answers somewhere (like in a file saved on your desktop) because at the end of this series, you'll be able to look back at your answers to evaluate what ministries might be ideal for you.

What special skills or talents do you have? Don't be modest here! List everything that comes to mind.

What things do people compliment you on? What do they say you do well? Consider things at work and/or school, at home, or in everyday life.

What skills or talents do you really enjoy using? Maybe they're things you like to do in your job or in your hobbies, whether hands-on (playing an instrument, instructing, creating, driving) or abstract (planning, problem-solving, evaluating). Are there things you like to do that you don't get to do anymore?

Here's a fun question to which you can share your answer if you'd like: What's your hobby? If you're feeling creative: How could you turn it into a service if you had the time?

These questions are fashioned to help you determine the things that drive you. These are the things that touch your heart and have the ability to change you from the inside out. When you think about them, you get excited and perhaps see endless possibilities in your involvement with them. These are truly fulfilling when you know you are using them for Christ.

Whom do you like to work with or help? This could be an age group (kids, young adults, elderly) or special interest group (new Christians, singles, girls with unplanned pregnancies, motorcyclists).

What things have you done in the past that were particularly satisfying? Perhaps it was in a church or parachurch ministry or something you've done to help out someone. What part of the ministry was most rewarding for you?

What is your passion? What gets your blood pumping, be it injustice (the welfare system, church persecution), poor lifestyle choices (Sunday morning Christians, premarital sex) or excitement over something (outdoor adventures, hobbies)?

Tip:
Think how you could turn those negative passions into positive ones. Examples: Go from frustration with the welfare system to helping those people find jobs, and from sadness over premarital sex to designing or participating in an abstinence education program).

If you had no other responsibilities, what would you spend your days thinking about, doing, or learning more about? When you're going through your day, what do you wish you were doing instead? Is there a way you could turn it into a ministry? I bet so! Share this/these here! If you're having trouble getting ministry ideas, post your passion here and maybe we can think of something for you!

Here are some questions about your spiritual gifts and the way God has geared your personality.

What seem to be your spiritual gifts? You can search online for a "spiritual gifts assessment". Assessments with at least three questions per gift will be more reliable. Have you taken an assessment and aren't sure what the results mean? Plenty of sites give explanations of what each gift means.

Tip:
Take at least a couple different assessments from time to time as you gain life experience. Why more than one? Because some assessments place more emphasis on actual experience than interest and because some test for a different number of gifts. Over time, one or more gifts will consistently stick out above the others. That's a good indication they are your spiritual gifts.

How do you like to interact with people? Are you outgoing or do you keep to yourself? Do you like talking one-on-one or to groups? Would you rather talk to people or write to them? Do you joke a lot or are you more reserved? How would others describe you?

Now that you have formed a general (but by no means exhaustive) profile of the way God has formed you, you are ready to brainstorm and compare opportunities.

If you could do anything in a ministry, even if the ministry doesn't already exist at your church, what would it be? Think creatively and try to incorporate your answers from the profile questions! It may be teaching basic skills from your job, mentoring teenagers in Bible study, or heading up an outdoor adventure retreat. Share your profile answers with others and ask for their ideas.

Do your ideal ministries coincide with any opportunities at your church? in a parachurch organization? If not, can you see a way to do them? Your friends may be a good source as well.

Is there something you've been sensing the Lord moving you to do? Pray about that and take appropriate action. For every step you take in line with God's will, you get closer to His ideal plan for your life here on earth: one that will give ultimate glory to Him!

Take it a step farther. Could you use the above answers to turn them into a full-time pursuit? If you're looking for work that's more than just a job, I highly suggest the book Live Your Calling by Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck. The assessments in that book will take you step by step through a process that will reveal how God has formed you to serve Him most effectively by living your calling.

Are you considering volunteering to help in a ministry, but aren't yet sure whether it's for you? Here are a few questions to consider asking the ministry leader and some reflections to help in your decision.

What is the vision of the ministry? What does the ministry do and what does it stand for? What do you want to see happen? What have you seen happen as a result of this ministry? Are there any improvements you are wanting to make?
Reflect: Is the ministry glorifying to God? Does its purpose agree with your values?

What are the specific duties I would be performing? What do you think are the qualifications of an effective volunteer?
Reflect: How do these answers compare to your expectations? Is there anything you feel particularly suited to do?

What are some of the realities of the work? Are there any dangers or awkward situations? In what way does the church support volunteers in these challenges? What are the rewards of working in this ministry? (You may want to ask these questions of other volunteers in the ministry, too.)
Reflect: Are the challenges exciting to you? Are you encouraged by the support of the church? Do the rewards sound satisfying?

Decision Time: How well does the ministry opportunity fit with the way God made you? Is there anything about it that will force you to be too far removed from who you are? Sometimes it's good to make a stretch, but too much of a stretch can just burn you out.

If the ministry is one that complements your skills, drive, gifts and gears and you feel God is leading you in that direction, it's time to commit! Commit with your head, heart, and hands.

Do you feel at a loss when you hear, "Turn in your Bibles to . . . "? Maybe you start from the front and flip through the pages. Then when you don't find the book you're looking for, you start at the back. Finally, you give up and look in the Table of Contents, but that doesn't help. By the time you find the book in the alphabetical table of contents, the pastor or teacher is long past reading the verse you were trying to find in the first place.

Learning all 66 books of the Bible seems a daunting task. But I guarantee you if you learn them and actually use that knowledge regularly, you will not forget them. Try starting with just the New Testament a section at a time.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the Gospels. They tell about Jesus' life here on earth. Mark's gospel was probably written first and Matthew and Luke apparently consulted it for much of their content. Thus, these three are called the synoptic gospels. The four gospels are in reverse alphabetical order.

Acts is a book about the Acts of the Apostles (another name for the book). A continuation from the book of Luke, this book begins with a recap of the days leading up to Jesus' ascension and tells how the gospel was spread from the Jews to the Samaritans by the disciples and to the Gentiles by Paul and his fellow workers. It is the first book in the Bible alphabetically.

Next we have nine letters from Paul (sometimes with other individuals) to churches in their respective areas. The first three are Romans and First and Second Corinthians. The next four--Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians--are easy to remember if you think of General Electric Power Company. After these come First and Second Thessalonians. This is the longest book name in the Bible, leading us to the next three books.

The Pastoral Epistles also begin with "T" in descending name lengths and in alphabetical order. They are First and Second Timothy and Titus. They were written specifically to Timothy and Titus (as opposed to an entire church or group of churches) who were serving in Ephesus and Crete respectively. Based on differences as compared to other letters from Paul, a portion of modern scholars question whether Paul wrote these epistles; however, it is noted that differences should be expected due to the more personal nature of these letters. Philemon is sometimes included in the Pastoral Epistles, but in actuality it was written to a Christian slave owner on behalf of his (presumed runaway) slave who was returning after becoming a Christian.

Separating the Pauline Epistles from the General Epistles is the book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews has long been in question. Unlike other letters it lacks the greeting typical of Greek correspondence at the time. Traditionally, the author was thought to be Paul, but modern scholars largely agree this was not the case. It is addressed to a group of Jewish Christians.

The General Epistles were so named because they were addressed to all Christians, not just a particular church, area, or individual. James, presumed to be the brother of the Lord, penned the first of these. Peter, the leader of the disciples wrote First and Second Peter. John, the beloved disciple, wrote the next three; First, Second, and Third John. John is the only writer with a "Third" to his name. Next is Jude. It is uncertain who this individual was, but he identifies himself as the brother of James. The three names that begin with "J" here are in alphabetical order.

The final book in the New Testament is Revelation. It is John's recounting his experience when he was permitted to see what would happen in the end times. As apocalyptic literature it has a lot of symbolism that will come to light only as the events come to pass.

Putting it all together
Now, it's time for practice. Write the names of the books on a note card you can carry with you. Practice silently when you're between tasks. Say them out loud when convenient.

One memorization tip I picked up in high school is to look to the left and recite aloud seven times the information you want to remember. Use this to memorize chunks of the list of books, eventually putting them all together.

Once you have them memorized, put your knowledge to use regularly by looking up passages and by reciting the books in order. Without exercising those brain cells, your newfound knowledge may not last.