Over the years, the Church of God has emphasized four keys to spiritual growth: prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting. The Bible reveals that these tools were employed by individuals who were close to God and who were used mightily by God. However, a challenge that many face in learning how to pray, study, meditate and fast is how to put these keys for spiritual growth into a proper perspective.
For people outside the Church of God, prayer, meditation, fasting and even Bible study are often viewed as rituals or routines to be accomplished. Perhaps people have previously learned certain prayers, and repeated them over and over. To some, Bible study may mean reading several verses each day, or reciting a few scriptural passages as part of a worship service. Meditation may include gazing at an altar, or repeating a word or phrase to induce a trance-like state of mind. For Roman Catholics, “fasting” may mean simply abstaining from meat on a specified day. For many Protestants, fasting is little more than something you watch on the news when someone goes on a hunger strike—a relic of Bible history, not something that Christians actually do.
Some have carelessly assumed that prayer, study, meditation and fasting make one a Christian. Christ, however, advised that real Christians will keep the commandments of God and show love for others (John 15:9–17). For many sincere believers, prayer and Bible reading are ways to feel spiritual or to endure a time of crisis. When things go well, these activities seem unnecessary. Sometimes people read the Bible to avoid feeling guilty for not reading it, or to appear spiritual to others!
Individuals who come into the Church from a nonreligious background—as do an increasing number of people today—often have no idea how to pray or even how to approach Bible study. Many today do not realize how much Eastern religious ideas have influenced their perceptions of meditation and fasting, and how much those ideas differ from biblical instructions. In this article, we will focus on one of these tools for spiritual growth. We will examine why Bible study is important, and how to actually study the Bible. We will also see how prayer, meditation and fasting relate to Bible study.
The Right Approach
It is fashionable today, especially in some “educated” circles, to view the Bible not as the inspired word of an Almighty God but rather as a primitive attempt on the part of ancient Hebrew people to formulate some sort of concept of God. This view of the Scriptures has discouraged many today from even looking into the Bible as a source of important, helpful and even vital information. It is amazing how our modern “sophisticated” views contrast with the views of people only a generation ago, and with biblical personalities like David, who is called a “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). David, as a king, spoke of the Scriptures as “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path… it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97, 105). David did not meditate by repeating a mantra over and over. He studied, and considered how to apply, the word of God in everyday life. David saw the commandments of God as more valuable than gold (Psalm 119:127), and he realized that those who lived by the commandments would be blessed (Psalm 119:1–2).
Jesus taught Christians that the meek [teachable] will inherit the earth and that “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who study and strive to live by the word of God—Psalm 119:172] will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). David clearly exemplified this attitude. He wrote: “Your word have I hidden in my heart… teach me Thy statutes… open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law… make me to understand the way of Your precepts… the entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever… Your law is my delight” (Psalm 119:11, 12, 18, 27, 160, 174). David had a prayerful attitude towards Bible study—he asked God to help him understand what he read. Daniel not only studied the Scriptures; he also fasted to show God his earnest desire to grasp the scope of God’s plan for His people (Daniel 9:1–3; 10:12).
The prophet Isaiah describes the attitude that God desires in a person, saying that “on this one will I look: on him who is poor [humble] and of a contrite spirit [repentant, desiring to do better], and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). The proper attitude for approaching Bible study is respect for the Word of God instead of doubt and cynicism, and a desire to learn instead of criticize. To develop this attitude, we must prove for ourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:21) that the Bible really is the inspired word of God and not just ancient Hebrew literature. With a proper approach to the Scriptures, Bible study can become extremely informative, profitable and exciting. But just why should we study the Bible?
Grow in Wisdom
One of the keys to success in life is learning how to make wise decisions—and how to avoid making bad decisions and foolish mistakes. Sadly, many never develop this vital quality—hence the saying “we grow so soon old, and so late smart.” The God of the Bible, who is described as a loving Father, understands this human frailty and has filled the Scriptures with dozens of practical principles. The book of Proverbs is loaded with information to help anyone who studies its content develop wisdom, understanding, discretion and judgment (Proverbs 1:1–6). Solomon states that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning [the starting point] of knowledge… and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). The correct approach to every important subject is found in the word of God, yet fools will despise this approach. We are not born with wisdom. But by studying the word of God, earnestly praying to God for guidance and seeking and listening to wise instruction from older, more experienced individuals, we can grow in wisdom (see Proverbs 2). This biblically based approach will lead to a longer, fuller and richer life (Proverbs 3:1–2, 13–16).
Solomon reveals that effective leaders rule with wisdom (Proverbs 8:5). David writes that studying the commandments of God made him wiser than his enemies, and gave him more understanding than his teachers (Psalm 119:98). The Bible warns young people about the dangers of trying to live life in the “fast lane” (Proverbs 7), about the folly and lack of understanding that leads to fornication and adultery (Proverbs 6:32) and about the consequences of pride, gossip, impatience, laziness and even talking too much (Proverbs 11:2, 9, 12; 12:13, 24). The Scriptures repeatedly stress the value of obtaining wise counsel, being willing to forgive, disciplining children and carefully choosing one’s friends (Proverbs 11:14; 12:16, 13:20, 24). Having a transcending vision and purpose for your life is also mentioned (Proverbs 29:18). In fact, it is only in the Bible that the true purpose of life can be found. Considering the gold mine of wisdom contained in the Scriptures, it is startling that so many today have been “programmed by society” to ignore studying the Bible!
Develop the Mind of God
We marvel at the ignorance of “educated” people who ridicule anyone who actually tries to live by the commandments of God. But even converted Christians sometimes wonder why it can be such a struggle to make time to study those commandments. However, the Scriptures hold the answer. We are all subject to spiritual influences, from God and from Satan. Unless we have repented, received God’s Holy Spirit and are making a determined effort to stay focused on God, we will be influenced by Satan. The Apostle Paul reveals that “the carnal [physical, unrepentant] mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be” (Romans 8:7). Unconverted people do not necessarily say that they hate God, but they will argue, twist and try to reason around the very clear intent of the Scriptures, because they simply do not have the mind of God!
This is why Paul wrote to the Philippians: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Christians with the mind of God will be humble and teachable, and will sincerely desire to follow God’s instructions in the Bible. They will make time to study the Bible, and will really strive to live “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We cannot live by the Bible if we do not study what is in it! Paul told Timothy to diligently study the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15), and said that “all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). When we read, study and meditate on the Scriptures, and are willing to be led by the Holy Spirit, we will learn to think like God thinks (Isaiah 55:8–9), and we will begin to develop the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:10–16). Regular Bible study is an important tool to foster this kind of spiritual growth. But there is more!
Preparing to Rule
Bible prophecies indicate that today’s Christians are ultimately called to rule on this earth with Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:4–6; 5:10; 20:6). As future kings and priests, we will function as civil and religious leaders in the coming Kingdom of God. Jesus told His disciples that their reward would include governing cities and regions (Matthew 19:28; 25:14–30; Luke 19:11–19). Isaiah reveals that the saints of God will be teachers in the kingdom (Isaiah 30:20–21) and that the laws of God will be promulgated from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2–4) to the whole world (Isaiah 11:9). However, before we can rule by the laws of God and teach those laws to others, we must first study—and come to understand and learn to live by—what God has recorded in His word. This is why the Scriptures provide specific instructions about Bible study.
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, he advised them that they were to learn, remember, obey and not alter the commandments of God (Deuteronomy 4:1–8). Parents were to teach their children about God, and to obey His laws (Deuteronomy 4:9–10). Moses also emphasized that future leaders of Israel were to make personal copies of the Laws of God, and study them daily, so that they would be able to rule wisely and in a godly manner (Deuteronomy 17:14–20). This is one reason why David meditated on the law daily (Psalm 119:97). Ezra followed these same instructions before returning to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity, “for Ezra had prepared his heart to seek [study] the Law of the Lord [the Books of Moses], and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Ezra is later shown effectively teaching and explaining the meaning of the Scriptures to the people of Israel—in public meetings—as a result of this diligent preparation (Nehemiah 8:1–8).
The New Testament continues this theme. God chose as Jesus’ mother a woman well versed in the Scriptures (see Luke 1:46–56). Jesus, as a result of careful parental training, was able at age 12 to discuss the Scriptures with such skill that He amazed religious leaders in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41–52). He said that we are to live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4). He taught in the synagogues of Palestine (Matthew 4:23) and sent out the 12 disciples and then 70 others to preach and teach “all things I have commanded you” (Luke 9:1–2; 10:1–2; Matthew 28:10–20). As the church grew, deacons were appointed “who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). That wisdom came from studying and meditating on the word of God. Paul mentions that one of the qualities necessary in Church leaders was that they be “able to teach” the Scriptures in an interesting and meaningful manner (1 Timothy 3:2). This is why Paul emphasized the importance of diligently studying the Bible, laying a firm foundation and avoiding foolish arguments and irrelevant issues (2 Timothy 2:14–19). Good shepherds must know their subject, and be able to handle difficult issues with wisdom and conviction (Titus 1:7–11). This requires careful study and thorough preparation.
As we see the end of this age approaching, we need to “wake up” and make sure that we are “redeeming [making the most of] the time” that we have at our disposal (Ephesians 5:14–15). If you are willing to put in the time to study the Bible, and learn how to explain and apply the Scriptures, you could be one of the laborers whom God will be able to use to accomplish His important end-time mission.
How to Study the Bible
- Take the Bible Study Course
The Bible Study Course published by the Living Church of God is a good place to begin learning what the Bible is all about. - Read booklets and articles
The Living Church of God publishes many booklets and articles that address specific biblical topics. By studying these materials and the Scriptures at the same time, you can come to understand a variety of important Bible subjects. - Become familiar with the Bible
- Read the Bible regularly
- Read Bible stories to children—and learn the lesson of each story
- Read and outline books of the Bible—learn the content of each book
- Play Bible games (e.g. Bible trivia)
- Obtain a Bible dictionary
Bible dictionaries define terms used in the Bible and provide background information about biblical subjects. - Use a Bible handbook
Bible handbooks (Halley’s, Unger’s, Eerdman’s, etc) outline the content of each book in the Bible and provide background information as to when the book was written, to whom it was written and other useful material. - Consult Bible concordances
Bible concordances list words that are used in the Bible. A concordance is a helpful tool to find words and verses where the word is used. A short concordance (Cruden’s) lists only some verses where a word is used in the Bible. An exhaustive concordance (Strong’s, Young’s) lists every occurrence of a word in the Bible and may also provide the meaning of Hebrew and Greek words. - Use several Bible translations
Reading the Bible in different translations can be helpful for understanding the meanings of Bible verses. - Read Bible commentaries
Bible commentaries give more detailed explanations of what Bible scholars think a verse means. Sometimes commentaries can be very helpful—sometimes not. Single volume commentaries often provide very little information. - Use Hebrew and Greek lexicons
Hebrew and Greek lexicons provide detailed information about how biblical words were used at the time when the Bible was written. - Study subjects and doctrines
Make a notebook of the main verses that support each biblical doctrine. Find out what the Bible really says by looking up all the verses that mention a particular subject. - Read books about the Bible, Church history and other Bible topics
Broaden your knowledge by selecting books that go into more detail about subjects related to the Bible. Learn to evaluate books by comparing their content and ideas with the Bible itself. - Develop your own program for Bible study
- Set a regular time and place to study the Bible each day
- Keep your Bible study materials in that place
- Pray before you study—ask God for guidance and understanding
- Map out a program of study for a year—set some goals
- Do extra Bible study on the Sabbath
- Review and meditate on what you have studied
- Practice explaining the Scriptures