Prayer is the best way to start studying scripture. Before you open your Bible, ask God to give you a hunger for his word and help you grow closer to him through your studies.
It's also important to keep praying as you read. Talk to God like you would talk to a friend. When you find a verse that stands out to you or triggers a memory from your life, tell him about it.
Also, pray over verses you don't understand. Ask God to lead you to trustworthy teachers, resources and commentaries that can help you understand the Bible's original culture and language.
It isn't uncommon to slip into autopilot while reading scripture, especially if it's a familiar passage. Many seniors of faith have read the Bible for years, and it can be beneficial to mix things up once in a while. A few ideas to try:
If you tend to gloss over passages while reading, try saying them out loud. It's all right if you aren't certain how to pronounce the names of certain towns or people. The important part is that reading out loud stills your thoughts and helps you focus on what you're reading.
In the same way, writing verses by hand or typing them out on a computer makes you slow down and focus on copying the verse. This can help you study the individual words you're reading. It can also improve retention so you remember more clearly what you've covered.
Bible journaling lets you write down the verses and your thoughts at the same time. This is an excellent way to record revelations and questions for continued study later.
Most older believers have a favorite Bible translation they use for study and memorization. However, exploring several translations of the Bible can help deepen your understanding of the passages you read.
The Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. Each of these languages has very different rules for grammar and sentence structure than English. Translating the text is much more complicated than simply exchanging the equivalent words from, for example, Hebrew into English.
Some translations use a thought-for-thought method that makes them easier to read, while others apply a word-for-word translation that can place more emphasis on the meaning of the text. Comparing these methods can illuminate the context of the original text.
One of the simplest methods of studying the Bible is to pull out your dictionary. Scripture is God's way of communicating with us and teaching us who he is. However, without a solid grasp of our own language, it's easy to miss the message being conveyed.
For example, in the NIV version, Matthew 5:3 states: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The word poor is usually used to describe poverty. An additional meaning of the word is to be humble or contrite.
Scholars chose each word as they translated the Bible from its original languages for a reason. By diving into the meaning of the words, seniors can enhance their understanding of familiar verses and concepts of faith.
Seniors with limited space in their assisted living apartments may find it easier to access online resources than attempt to store dozens of translations, concordances and dictionaries.
Websites and apps, such as BibleGateway and the Blue Letter Bible for Android, make it easy for you to read and compare various versions on your tablet or computer. Many online Bibles have the option for enlarged print or audio clips to make studying easier.
Additional sites, such as Through The Bible With Les Feldick and Bible Discovery TV, offer seniors the ability to stream dozens of Bible studies to their devices for free.
Study partners can offer many benefits for studying scripture. Being accountable to your friends can help motivate you to read and memorize passages, even when you're tempted to let it slip.
Also, hearing others talk about God and give their testimony can help you see the Bible from new points of view. While differences of opinion can arise in study groups, these can be overcome by focusing on the Bible and the fundamental truths of faith.
Besides staff-led worship services, many of the assisted living communities under the Bethesda Senior Living Communities umbrella have resident-run Bible studies. Talk with your caregivers and chaplain to learn more about what's available or how to start a study in your apartment or one of the common areas.
