9 Things to Remember Before You Read Your Bible

you wrote a little book called Before We you wrote a little book called Before We Open our Bibles, something like that, Open our Bibles, something like that, Open our Bibles, something like that, where you're talking about sort of the where you're talking about sort of the where you're talking about sort of the heart attitude you need to have before heart attitude you need to have before heart attitude you need to have before you start studying the scripture. Are you start studying the scripture. Are you start studying the scripture. Are you are you trying to give some you are you trying to give some you are you trying to give some direction in that uh uh in in that book, direction in that uh uh in in that book, direction in that uh uh in in that book, Matt? Yes, because there's a lot of Matt? Yes, because there's a lot of Matt? Yes, because there's a lot of great resources out there on great resources out there on great resources out there on hermeneutics, on teaching people how to hermeneutics, on teaching people how to hermeneutics, on teaching people how to study their Bibles, but I didn't know of study their Bibles, but I didn't know of study their Bibles, but I didn't know of a accessible resource on kind of how to a accessible resource on kind of how to a accessible resource on kind of how to get people even to that starting line get people even to that starting line get people even to that starting line because so often, as I mentioned because so often, as I mentioned because so often, as I mentioned earlier, I think the obstacles are in earlier, I think the obstacles are in earlier, I think the obstacles are in the realm of, oh, I'm intimidated by the realm of, oh, I'm intimidated by the realm of, oh, I'm intimidated by this book, or I'm bored, I've grown this book, or I'm bored, I've grown this book, or I'm bored, I've grown bored by this book. Um, and so as a way bored by this book. Um, and so as a way bored by this book. Um, and so as a way of revisiting the riches, um, I I wrote of revisiting the riches, um, I I wrote of revisiting the riches, um, I I wrote the little book to help us think about the little book to help us think about the little book to help us think about nine different heart postures that are nine different heart postures that are nine different heart postures that are necessary in order to rightly approach necessary in order to rightly approach necessary in order to rightly approach God's word. Um, and uh, it it's a it's a God's word. Um, and uh, it it's a it's a God's word. Um, and uh, it it's a it's a book that can be read in one or two book that can be read in one or two book that can be read in one or two sittings. It's small and it's cheap and sittings. It's small and it's cheap and sittings. It's small and it's cheap and it's easy to give away um, in in bulk.

it's easy to give away um, in in bulk. it's easy to give away um, in in bulk. And I've been encouraged to hear of some And I've been encouraged to hear of some And I've been encouraged to hear of some churches doing that. So, so give us a churches doing that. So, so give us a churches doing that. So, so give us a little taste of that. I mean, what are little taste of that. I mean, what are little taste of that. I mean, what are what are some of the things that you what are some of the things that you what are some of the things that you suggest to people? Uh, we I we we should suggest to people? Uh, we I we we should suggest to people? Uh, we I we we should definitely talk about the helps that are definitely talk about the helps that are definitely talk about the helps that are out there to help them read the Bible out there to help them read the Bible out there to help them read the Bible and understand the Bible, but this is and understand the Bible, but this is and understand the Bible, but this is important. So, give us a little taste of important. So, give us a little taste of important. So, give us a little taste of some of the things that you say in that some of the things that you say in that some of the things that you say in that book. book. book. >> It's kind of straightforward if I just >> It's kind of straightforward if I just >> It's kind of straightforward if I just if I just share the the table of if I just share the the table of if I just share the the table of contents. So, approaching before you contents. So, approaching before you contents. So, approaching before you open your Bible, um, which basically open your Bible, um, which basically open your Bible, um, which basically consists of approaching God's word first consists of approaching God's word first consists of approaching God's word first and foremost prayerfully. Um Spurgeon and foremost prayerfully. Um Spurgeon and foremost prayerfully. Um Spurgeon talked about prayer being the key that talked about prayer being the key that talked about prayer being the key that unlocks the wonders of scripture to us. unlocks the wonders of scripture to us. unlocks the wonders of scripture to us. Um approaching God's word prayerfully, Um approaching God's word prayerfully, Um approaching God's word prayerfully, approaching your Bible humbly. Uh which approaching your Bible humbly. Uh which approaching your Bible humbly. Uh which is with that mindset I mentioned earlier is with that mindset I mentioned earlier is with that mindset I mentioned earlier of understanding that uh we didn't of understanding that uh we didn't of understanding that uh we didn't deserve God's revelation. He could have deserve God's revelation. He could have deserve God's revelation. He could have left us in our ignorance, in our sin, left us in our ignorance, in our sin, left us in our ignorance, in our sin, but he has initiated a relationship by but he has initiated a relationship by but he has initiated a relationship by speaking to us. Uh and he sets the speaking to us. Uh and he sets the speaking to us. Uh and he sets the terms. approach your Bible desperately terms. approach your Bible desperately terms. approach your Bible desperately understanding that man does not live on understanding that man does not live on understanding that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes bread alone but on every word that comes bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. So, so we need from the mouth of God. So, so we need from the mouth of God. So, so we need God's word or we will wither and die God's word or we will wither and die God's word or we will wither and die spiritually. um approaching God's word spiritually. um approaching God's word spiritually. um approaching God's word studiously. And this is where I'm trying studiously. And this is where I'm trying studiously. And this is where I'm trying to encourage us, not just those of us to encourage us, not just those of us to encourage us, not just those of us with seminary degrees, but every with seminary degrees, but every with seminary degrees, but every Christian to think of themsself as a Christian to think of themsself as a Christian to think of themsself as a theologian in the sense that we're all theologian in the sense that we're all theologian in the sense that we're all um intended to go deep into God's word,

um intended to go deep into God's word, um intended to go deep into God's word, think big thoughts about him in light of think big thoughts about him in light of think big thoughts about him in light of how he's revealed himself. uh how he's revealed himself. uh how he's revealed himself. uh approaching it obediently and joyfully approaching it obediently and joyfully approaching it obediently and joyfully and realizing that those two things go and realizing that those two things go and realizing that those two things go together. That actually the path of together. That actually the path of together. That actually the path of holiness is the path of joy. Um holiness is the path of joy. Um holiness is the path of joy. Um approaching it expectantly. Uh that approaching it expectantly. Uh that approaching it expectantly. Uh that knowing that God loves to work wonders knowing that God loves to work wonders knowing that God loves to work wonders when people open his word even even when people open his word even even when people open his word even even taking them by surprise. I mean I think taking them by surprise. I mean I think taking them by surprise. I mean I think RC Sproul was converted by a obscure RC Sproul was converted by a obscure RC Sproul was converted by a obscure verse in Ecclesiastes about you know a verse in Ecclesiastes about you know a verse in Ecclesiastes about you know a tree falling and people do you know what tree falling and people do you know what tree falling and people do you know what verse I'm talking about league uh where verse I'm talking about league uh where verse I'm talking about league uh where the tree falls there it lies or the tree falls there it lies or the tree falls there it lies or something like that the Lord used to something like that the Lord used to something like that the Lord used to arrest RC and help him realize that he arrest RC and help him realize that he arrest RC and help him realize that he was like that that piece of dead useless was like that that piece of dead useless was like that that piece of dead useless wood and he needed to give his life to wood and he needed to give his life to wood and he needed to give his life to something greater than himself approach something greater than himself approach something greater than himself approach approaching your Bible communally. So, approaching your Bible communally. So, approaching your Bible communally. So, it's not meant to just be an it's not meant to just be an it's not meant to just be an individualistic me and Jesus endeavor, individualistic me and Jesus endeavor, individualistic me and Jesus endeavor, but we need to read our Bibles in light but we need to read our Bibles in light but we need to read our Bibles in light of um the riches of church history and of um the riches of church history and of um the riches of church history and in the context of a covenant community in the context of a covenant community in the context of a covenant community in the local church. And then finally, in the local church. And then finally, in the local church. And then finally, approaching our Bible cristocentrically, approaching our Bible cristocentrically, approaching our Bible cristocentrically, understanding that ultimately there is understanding that ultimately there is understanding that ultimately there is one plot, one hero, and one point, and one plot, one hero, and one point, and one plot, one hero, and one point, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's that is the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's that is the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's a resource that could be helpful for a resource that could be helpful for a resource that could be helpful for your people. Um it's called before you your people. Um it's called before you your people. Um it's called before you open your Bible. But that's before you open your Bible. But that's before you open your Bible. But that's before you open your Bible. Uh what about lig when

open your Bible. Uh what about lig when open your Bible. Uh what about lig when people have opened their Bible? Uh people have opened their Bible? Uh people have opened their Bible? Uh what's some general counsel that pastors what's some general counsel that pastors what's some general counsel that pastors can be regularly modeling but also can be regularly modeling but also can be regularly modeling but also telling their people when it comes to telling their people when it comes to telling their people when it comes to reading their Bibles responsibly? I reading their Bibles responsibly? I reading their Bibles responsibly? I think one thing is that the Bible needs think one thing is that the Bible needs think one thing is that the Bible needs to be read in public worship so that to be read in public worship so that to be read in public worship so that people can actually understand the flow people can actually understand the flow people can actually understand the flow of the passage. And uh and that means of the passage. And uh and that means of the passage. And uh and that means you don't rush through it. You know, you don't rush through it. You know, you don't rush through it. You know, you've you've got to read it like it's you've you've got to read it like it's you've you've got to read it like it's going to be listened to be comprehended. going to be listened to be comprehended. going to be listened to be comprehended. And if you'll just do that, uh very And if you'll just do that, uh very And if you'll just do that, uh very often that's the pastor doing a lot of often that's the pastor doing a lot of often that's the pastor doing a lot of the reading. Even if you have other the reading. Even if you have other the reading. Even if you have other people doing it, the pastor ought to people doing it, the pastor ought to people doing it, the pastor ought to work with them. so that they are able to work with them. so that they are able to work with them. so that they are able to read the Bible really well. And then you read the Bible really well. And then you read the Bible really well. And then you you instruct the people how to listen to you instruct the people how to listen to you instruct the people how to listen to that. You ought to be able to listen to that. You ought to be able to listen to that. You ought to be able to listen to a passage read out loud and and a passage read out loud and and a passage read out loud and and understand the basic argument of the understand the basic argument of the understand the basic argument of the passage. And if you do that as a pastor passage. And if you do that as a pastor passage. And if you do that as a pastor in the local congregation, it's actually in the local congregation, it's actually in the local congregation, it's actually going to help your people read the Bible going to help your people read the Bible going to help your people read the Bible better. They'll go, "Oh, wow. That better. They'll go, "Oh, wow. That better. They'll go, "Oh, wow. That actually there's an argument there in actually there's an argument there in actually there's an argument there in that passage that I can follow." Uh I that passage that I can follow." Uh I that passage that I can follow." Uh I think the other thing you you've you've think the other thing you you've you've think the other thing you you've you've already mentioned this. If a pastor is already mentioned this. If a pastor is already mentioned this. If a pastor is preaching from the Bible and explaining preaching from the Bible and explaining preaching from the Bible and explaining the Bible, people will go, "Okay, I see the Bible, people will go, "Okay, I see the Bible, people will go, "Okay, I see where the pastor got that from, I, you where the pastor got that from, I, you where the pastor got that from, I, you know, the pastor isn't just some wizard know, the pastor isn't just some wizard know, the pastor isn't just some wizard that pulled a rabbit out of the hat. He that pulled a rabbit out of the hat. He that pulled a rabbit out of the hat. He actually is showing me where he's actually is showing me where he's actually is showing me where he's getting the idea from." That's that's a getting the idea from." That's that's a getting the idea from." That's that's a huge help. But I do think there are

huge help. But I do think there are huge help. But I do think there are really good popular tools now to help us really good popular tools now to help us really good popular tools now to help us get some basic principles of get some basic principles of get some basic principles of interpreting the Bible that help us. I interpreting the Bible that help us. I interpreting the Bible that help us. I like to remind people that the Bible is like to remind people that the Bible is like to remind people that the Bible is one book, that it's two books, and it's one book, that it's two books, and it's one book, that it's two books, and it's a library of 66 books, at least in a library of 66 books, at least in a library of 66 books, at least in English. And by by saying that, I'm I'm English. And by by saying that, I'm I'm English. And by by saying that, I'm I'm wanting to emphasize this. wanting to emphasize this. wanting to emphasize this. >> You you may think that the Bible is this >> You you may think that the Bible is this >> You you may think that the Bible is this disjointed, disjointed, disjointed, you know, set of unrelated, but it's you know, set of unrelated, but it's you know, set of unrelated, but it's actually one book. And Jesus himself actually one book. And Jesus himself actually one book. And Jesus himself said, "The whole book is about God's said, "The whole book is about God's said, "The whole book is about God's plan of salvation through me." Jesus plan of salvation through me." Jesus plan of salvation through me." Jesus himself in Luke 24 twice. First he says himself in Luke 24 twice. First he says himself in Luke 24 twice. First he says it to the disciples on the road to it to the disciples on the road to it to the disciples on the road to Emmas. Then he says it to the disciples Emmas. Then he says it to the disciples Emmas. Then he says it to the disciples in the upper room that the scriptures in the upper room that the scriptures in the upper room that the scriptures are about me. So it that should are about me. So it that should are about me. So it that should encourage us when we're reading through encourage us when we're reading through encourage us when we're reading through Leviticus and we're going, "Oh my Leviticus and we're going, "Oh my Leviticus and we're going, "Oh my heavens, what in the world is this about heavens, what in the world is this about heavens, what in the world is this about or we're reading through Deuteronomy or or we're reading through Deuteronomy or or we're reading through Deuteronomy or we're reading through Judges or we're we're reading through Judges or we're we're reading through Judges or we're reading through Second Kings." reading through Second Kings." reading through Second Kings." Ultimately, the whole book is about God Ultimately, the whole book is about God Ultimately, the whole book is about God and it's about God's plan of salvation and it's about God's plan of salvation and it's about God's plan of salvation through Jesus. And so Jesus encourages through Jesus. And so Jesus encourages through Jesus. And so Jesus encourages us not to view the Bible as a book us not to view the Bible as a book us not to view the Bible as a book that's about all these disperate, that's about all these disperate, that's about all these disperate, unrelated topics. It's about one thing.

unrelated topics. It's about one thing. unrelated topics. It's about one thing. It's one book, but it's also two books. It's one book, but it's also two books. It's one book, but it's also two books. It's it's an Old Testament and a New It's it's an Old Testament and a New It's it's an Old Testament and a New Testament. It's before Christ and and Testament. It's before Christ and and Testament. It's before Christ and and after Christ. And uh and that's it's after Christ. And uh and that's it's after Christ. And uh and that's it's very important to understand how those very important to understand how those very important to understand how those two things uh fit. Our our mutual friend two things uh fit. Our our mutual friend two things uh fit. Our our mutual friend Mark De did a sermon series on every Mark De did a sermon series on every Mark De did a sermon series on every book of the Bible that got published book of the Bible that got published book of the Bible that got published into two volumes. And he titled into two volumes. And he titled into two volumes. And he titled subtitled the first volume promises Made subtitled the first volume promises Made subtitled the first volume promises Made and the second volume promises Kept. Old and the second volume promises Kept. Old and the second volume promises Kept. Old Testament promises Made New Testament Testament promises Made New Testament Testament promises Made New Testament promises kept. And that by the way you promises kept. And that by the way you promises kept. And that by the way you can our our listeners can get that from can our our listeners can get that from can our our listeners can get that from Crossway. It's called the message of the Crossway. It's called the message of the Crossway. It's called the message of the Old Testament and the message of the New Old Testament and the message of the New Old Testament and the message of the New Testament. By the way, that's one of the Testament. By the way, that's one of the Testament. By the way, that's one of the things I would recommend people do if things I would recommend people do if things I would recommend people do if they want to learn how to read the Bible they want to learn how to read the Bible they want to learn how to read the Bible better. Read some Bible book surveys or better. Read some Bible book surveys or better. Read some Bible book surveys or sermons on Bible books. I tried to do it sermons on Bible books. I tried to do it sermons on Bible books. I tried to do it like Mark did it. I'm not good at it. like Mark did it. I'm not good at it. like Mark did it. I'm not good at it. Mark is really good at overviewing one Mark is really good at overviewing one Mark is really good at overviewing one Bible book in one sermon. Crossway just Bible book in one sermon. Crossway just Bible book in one sermon. Crossway just reprinted those and I believe Sinclair reprinted those and I believe Sinclair reprinted those and I believe Sinclair Ferguson did the Ford for the Old Ferguson did the Ford for the Old Ferguson did the Ford for the Old Testament volume and Tom Shriner for the Testament volume and Tom Shriner for the Testament volume and Tom Shriner for the New Testament volume and and so that I New Testament volume and and so that I New Testament volume and and so that I find that kind of resource really find that kind of resource really find that kind of resource really helpful. You sort you say, "Okay, that's helpful. You sort you say, "Okay, that's helpful. You sort you say, "Okay, that's what Isaiah is about. Oh, that's what what Isaiah is about. Oh, that's what what Isaiah is about. Oh, that's what Jonah is about. Oh, that's what Micah is Jonah is about. Oh, that's what Micah is Jonah is about. Oh, that's what Micah is about." And that helps you as you read about." And that helps you as you read about." And that helps you as you read through the Bible. I think one thing we through the Bible. I think one thing we through the Bible. I think one thing we need to say as pastors to our people, need to say as pastors to our people, need to say as pastors to our people, they're going to run into things in the they're going to run into things in the they're going to run into things in the Bible where they go, "I have no idea Bible where they go, "I have no idea Bible where they go, "I have no idea what that meant." That that's okay. It's

what that meant." That that's okay. It's what that meant." That that's okay. It's okay to read a chapter and scratch your okay to read a chapter and scratch your okay to read a chapter and scratch your head and say, "I think I understood head and say, "I think I understood head and say, "I think I understood about 10% of that." Keep on reading. about 10% of that." Keep on reading. about 10% of that." Keep on reading. That's I mean, that's that's still my That's I mean, that's that's still my That's I mean, that's that's still my experience sometimes that I read parts experience sometimes that I read parts experience sometimes that I read parts of the Bible and I think I have no idea of the Bible and I think I have no idea of the Bible and I think I have no idea what that means. And I I still as many what that means. And I I still as many what that means. And I I still as many times as I've read the Bible, I still am times as I've read the Bible, I still am times as I've read the Bible, I still am learning the meaning of certain sections learning the meaning of certain sections learning the meaning of certain sections of the Bible. And I think to myself, how of the Bible. And I think to myself, how of the Bible. And I think to myself, how do I how did I not know that before? do I how did I not know that before? do I how did I not know that before? Because I've read this so many times. So Because I've read this so many times. So Because I've read this so many times. So I want to remind people the Bible is one I want to remind people the Bible is one I want to remind people the Bible is one book. It's two books, but it's also a book. It's two books, but it's also a book. It's two books, but it's also a library of books. And that's where you library of books. And that's where you library of books. And that's where you mentioned the idea of different literary mentioned the idea of different literary mentioned the idea of different literary genres, different types of writing. You genres, different types of writing. You genres, different types of writing. You need to know when you're reading need to know when you're reading need to know when you're reading history. You need to know when you're history. You need to know when you're history. You need to know when you're reading poetry. You need to know when reading poetry. You need to know when reading poetry. You need to know when you're reading something that is you're reading something that is you're reading something that is didactic. It's meant to teach something. didactic. It's meant to teach something. didactic. It's meant to teach something. It's meant to teach doctrine or living. It's meant to teach doctrine or living. It's meant to teach doctrine or living. You need to know the difference between You need to know the difference between You need to know the difference between wisdom literature that um is is not wisdom literature that um is is not wisdom literature that um is is not setting down a bunch of commands, but setting down a bunch of commands, but setting down a bunch of commands, but it's actually talking uh about it's actually talking uh about it's actually talking uh about principles of of life that are generally principles of of life that are generally principles of of life that are generally applicable. um you need to know the applicable. um you need to know the applicable. um you need to know the difference uh between apocalyptic difference uh between apocalyptic difference uh between apocalyptic literature that's talking about the end literature that's talking about the end literature that's talking about the end and and what God is going to do in the and and what God is going to do in the and and what God is going to do in the great consummation of all things from great consummation of all things from great consummation of all things from other and you get that in different other and you get that in different other and you get that in different places. You get that some in Jesus places. You get that some in Jesus places. You get that some in Jesus teaching. You get that some in teaching. You get that some in teaching. You get that some in Thessalonians. You get that some in Thessalonians. You get that some in Thessalonians. You get that some in Daniel. You get that some in Revelation.

Daniel. You get that some in Revelation. Daniel. You get that some in Revelation. And so helping people know some of the And so helping people know some of the And so helping people know some of the basic uh types of literature that you're basic uh types of literature that you're basic uh types of literature that you're going to run into in the Bible going to run into in the Bible going to run into in the Bible helps them