3 Bible Study Must-Haves

Recent studies show only 9 percent of professing Christians read their Bible daily. If you broaden numbers to those who read their Bible “a few times a week,” stats increase to 22 percent. But no matter how you slice it—in general—we don’t open our Bibles as often as we could or should. I think much of this is due to intimidation and not seeing the value in God’s Word for everyday life. Yet, believing the Bible is impossible to comprehend and that it can’t help you with the problems you face couldn’t be further from the truth. Reading God’s Word can be fun and exciting with the right mindset—and good tools. Here are three to get you started:

1. A physical Bible you actually understand.

   There’s much debate about the “right” version of the Bible to read. If you’re looking for an in-depth study on the validity of the King James Version, you won’t find it here. I believe the best Bible is a Bible you actually understand—though it is important to note there are more recent translations that omit important words and details for the sake of being politically correct.

   
   This is why a physical Bible is so important. It cannot be changed or updated as quickly as versions in apps and other digital spaces. There’s also something about being able to tangibly see and touch your Bible. When we look at our phones and tablets, we see just that—a device. It’s our calendar, our entertainment, our notebook, our communication … many things other than our way of connecting to God. But when you look at a physical Bible, there’s no confusion about what you are to do with it. It is God’s Word and nothing else. No matter your age or where you are in your faith walk—you need a Bible.

2. A good Bible app or Bible study aid.

   Once you get a Bible in your hands, it’s good to have other tools that can help you navigate its pages. Apps are a great way to do this, but there are also physical study guides and other resources you can purchase or look for at your local library. A few of my favorite apps include Blue Letter Bible, Scripture Typer, She/He Reads Truth, The Bible Dictionary and The Bible App for Kids. These are apps that help with comparing verses side by side, navigating topics and memorizing Scripture. If you’re looking for Bible reference books, reputable commentaries are helpful (The Tony Evans Bible Commentary is one I like), as well as a Bible dictionary like Holman’s Illustrated Bible. You can also purchase a good study Bible that combines the Word with some of these other handy resources.

3. A trustworthy concordance.

   A Bible concordance is useful for locating passages in the Bible, and it coincides with a specific Bible translation. Some concordances, like the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance also give the Hebrew and Greek words/meanings behind terms and phrases we read in our Bibles today.

   
   Now, I wasn’t introduced to a concordance until I was more mature in my faith walk, though I wish I knew about its benefits earlier. This is a more advanced tool that takes time and practice to fully navigate. But it is not an impossible tool—and one that’s well worth the investment. Your Bible may even have a short concordance in the back to look up topics and words. There are also several free Bible concordances online and via apps that make using this tool easier and more accessible. I use the Bible KJV Strong’s Concordance app every time I study.