Jesus promises us in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), “For I know the plans I have for you.” These plans are there “to prosper you and not to harm you…to give you hope and a future.”
But do you know it doesn’t necessarily mean God will bless you with money and riches?
As humans, we have the tendency to misinterpret what the Bible says if we do not understand the context.
As such, in this blog, we will study the following:
- What is the importance of understanding the Bible
- Who should understand the Bible
- How to understand the Bible
Can’t wait to dive in? Let’s go!
The Importance of Knowing the Bible Stories
How well do you know Jesus? Do you only know Him from films and stories?
When you understand the Bible, you get to really know Jesus. And to be able to know Him, we need to learn His message for us by studying the Bible.
When you read the Bible, it’s like reading a love letter from God. Sometimes, He will send stories. And sometimes, He will just tell you a message.
But the most important message we need to receive is about Jesus and His plan. Yes, His plan to save you and me.
So, is it essential to really study the Bible? Studying the Bible is not just knowledge. It is building a relationship with God. Just like when you meet a new friend, you always contact them.
The more you get in touch, the more you find out who they are. It’s the same with building a relationship with Jesus. He speaks to us through His Word in the Bible. And when we understand what He truly means, our relationship with Him becomes stronger.
The Bible and the Nonbelievers
Having a relationship with God is not only limited to Christians. Even those who do not believe in God are welcome to read the Bible.
But you could ask, why do they need to read it? They don’t need lectures and messages from God.
This subject was taken from the discussion of Pastor Sam Neves, creator of Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game, and Carlton Byrd of Bread of Life.
According to Carlton, even if you’re not a believer, it doesn’t matter. The Bible is for everyone. And you can learn values and principles from it.
You can simply view the Bible as a “handbook” in life. God is the principal who wrote it. No one would want to teach the students bad things like cheating in class or lying to parents. And with the stories in the Bible, it will become your inspiration to be better.
Let’s say you live of sex, money and sin. And you happen to hear about Mary Magdalene. She was a sinful woman in the Bible. But when she encountered Jesus, she was forgiven, and her life changed.
With that, you get to reflect and read the Bible stories more. Later on, you may find yourself becoming a believer in Christ. That is the power of God’s Word.
Ways to Understand the Bible
How well do you understand Philippians 4:13? It says, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (ESV).
Learning the Bible is not just reading a few verses whenever you feel so. It is more than that. You need to read and understand within the context. Why? So you won’t misinterpret the message.
There are many ways to understand the Bible. But the 2 notable ways are Devotion and Bible Study.
1) Devotion
If you’re dating someone, how often would you like to go on a date with your partner? Or even spend quiet time at night on the couch talking?
Doing a devotion is like that, but with God. It’s your intimate time of the day with the Lord.
During your devotion, you connect with God. How? Through prayer and reading His message for you in the Bible. The scriptures will convey to you that it’s God directly talking to you.
Just as Carlton relates to it, he doesn’t rely on a single Bible to fully understand the scripture. He would read the same verse in different versions to fully grasp what it means and what God is trying to say.
Aside from this quiet moment with God, devotional life is a way to bring yourself closer to God and understand the Bible deeper.
2) Bible Study
Bible study is usually conducted by churches. You often gather and discuss a specific scripture. After that, you have some snacks, and you go home. But did you really get the essence of the Word, or did you fall asleep in the middle?
In this modern-day, studying the Bible can be done in many ways through applications and platforms.
Gadgets can now be a platform and a way for modern spiritual life. Yes, you can just download an app and do Bible Study there. There are many cool virtual Bible apps, and Bible Trivia apps Christians can enjoy guilt-free.
Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game, for instance, has a Bible study feature called the Big Questions. Here, you encounter the most frequently asked questions about the Bible and the answers to them.
Not only is it fun and engaging to do, but you will also definitely find out more than you thought you would.
Heroes’ Mission in Understanding the Bible
Let’s face it, we spend more time on the phone than actually listening or talking to each other. Because of that, churches developed ways to keep themselves connected to people.
That’s why apps like Heroes are developed to continue spreading the message of God even when times are changing.
We all know that the only constant thing in the world is change. Aside from God’s love, of course!
And with this modern era, the church also needs to catch up and stay connected. From live telecasts of church services to Bible Study sessions, God cannot be stopped. You can even find learning the Bible and the Heroes fun and exciting.
Users of the app can experience the same feeling, just like playing other trendy games. Heroes has carefully crafted gameplay and high-quality graphics and sounds. Not to mention the research and study dedicated to delivering the true meaning of the Bible scriptures.
And what’s so great is that the vast access to the internet can reach more people. This means that the Bible can be read and learned by anyone, anywhere, anytime!
What Time is It?
It’s Bible time! Whether you read the actual Book or on your mobile app, it doesn’t matter. What really matters is that your heart is into it.
Opening the Bible is the very first step to understanding God. Once you understand Him, you’ll grow deeper in His love. It will be the best connection you’ll ever experience.
For a different kind of Bible learning experience, you will love this Heroes Bible Study feature.
