Four Minute Bible Study

The Bible is the most-sold book in the world. Yet it is not an easy read and most of us need help to understand it. It is not structured like our modern books. It does not start with a summary statement and end with a concise conclusion, and it uses a wide variety of ancient genres and symbolism. For those of us who did not grow up studying it, it is hard to read it from cover to cover without understanding the big picture.

Over the next twelve months, we will take more of a top-down approach, beginning with its overarching themes and then drilling down. In doing so we will learn from each of the sixty-six books that make up the Bible. We will touch upon nearly 8% of the Bible as a whole, and almost 20% of the New Testament. To gain an appreciation for the depth and richness of Scripture, we will do some deep dives into a few passages as well. By the end of the year, each of us should have enough understanding of the Bible’s composition and storyline to confidently study it on our own. Along the way, we can look forward to:

• enriching our knowledge of God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit;
• learning what the Bible says about God and why we can trust it;
• understanding the Way of God (how he wants us to live and relate to him); and
• growing a greater appreciation for how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18).

This volume consists of twelve monthly Bible studies, each covering a vital aspect of our relationship with God. Throughout the year, we will weave them together to form an integrated framework for Christian living. An encapsulating verse has been selected for each month that highlights a key takeaway. Together, these twelve verses capture the essence of the Way of God. Memorizing them will help us remember and apply what we have learned. Memorizing Scripture is as fundamental to following God as memorizing the ABC’s is to reading. These passages are gathered at the end of the book for easy reference.

It will only take about four minutes to read or listen to each Bible study. But there is a lot of material contained in each one, so the more time we spend digesting the Scripture and the messages, the more meaningful our experience will be. When time permits, take it slow. Each day begins with a “call to action” title and ends with a suggested response. The title is a clue to the overarching message for the day. Paying close attention to these complementary bookends will help us understand how to apply what we’ve learned.