James Wibberding

One reason Christians splinter into so many denominations is that Christians don’t know how to study the Bible. When we sit down at the Word of God, strange behaviors take over. Instead of taking in the whole message and letting it guide our thoughts, we look for key statements that we can string together to support views we already hold. It is the only source of vital information I know of that people resist being informed by.

I think I have room to speak, because I am describing my own behaviors in a not too distant time. I would have never thought to take a collection of isolated statements from the morning newspaper and construct the day’s events as I thought they should be. So, why such behavior with God’s Word?

Before you claim innocence, consider this: Do you read the Bible with a study-guide or a concordance? Or do you look for the story as it unfolds before you? Broad reading is the only way to receive the message as it comes. After the big message has been received, filling in the details with a more directed study (i.e. concordances and study guides) is appropriate. But, I am convinced that the bread and butter of Bible study is broad reading.