Weekly Devotional: Unpacking Scripture — A Guide To Studying the Bible

Studying the Bible helps you understand God and gain the wisdom and discernment needed to follow Christ. It is a key part of Christianity, so understanding how to do it properly is crucial.

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Read time 5 minutes

Kate Webber

Published on Sep 26, 2025

The Bible is arguably the most significant historical text of all time. It has been taught and read every day for the past 2,000 years all over the world. The Bible is not your average book on a shelf; it averages about 1,300 pages of instruction, parables and history and tells the story of how the world came to be.

In the modern church, studying the Bible has become just a routine trip to church every Sunday. However, diving deeper into scripture and learning about God’s word can strengthen your faith and ability to spread the gospel.

You might be thinking, "Sure, the Bible is important to read, but you only need to read it once, so you get the facts and move on.” In reality, God gave us the Bible so our lives could be changed through it.

Why Study Scripture?

Think about what you do before you take a test. Do you read your note pages right before, trying to remember as much as you can so you can get a good score? Think of the exam room as a tough situation. Maybe you need to confront a friend about a conflict between you two. Using scripture as your study notes before a test can sharpen your mind on how to handle a situation and equip you with a godly perspective.

Understand God

Perspective is important, but the Bible also helps us understand God’s character the more we read it. The more we understand who He is, the better we can follow Him.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

— Psalm 103:8 NIV

The Bible constantly reminds us that God is good. It helps us through trials to be reminded that the one in control of all things is a merciful and kind God.

Gain Wisdom

Just like studying for a test, studying scripture makes you wise. You gain knowledge from reading scripture, not just about how to follow Christ but also many other things, such as how to pray.

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.’”

— Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

The practicality of the Bible is part of what makes it eternally relevant.

Scripture Protects People

The power of God breathed through the scriptures has the power to make demons flee. Notice how people say they feel better after they spend time in the Bible? Scripture is breathed through by God, and the Holy Spirit works through you to guide you in understanding.

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

— Proverbs 30:5 NIV

How Do I Do It?

Not every book of the Bible is easy to follow and learn from. For example, studying the book of Job will not be as smooth as studying the Psalms. I find that when I get back into spending consistent time in my Bible, I enjoy following along with a Bible study online or through a book. When I don’t have the time to sit with a bunch of books open, listening to a bible study podcast keeps my brain thinking about God.

Podcasts

An easy way to find a podcast is to search for a church near you and see if the pastor hosts a podcast on YouTube or Apple. If you’re looking for a certain topic, search for an episode you're interested in. If you’re on the go, put your headphones in and start listening. If you’re at home or able to take notes, sit down with your Bible and a notebook and write down what you learn. I find that when I take notes, it helps me remember what I studied, and I can go back to a specific topic when I need encouragement.

Books

It’s easy to find a book that will guide you through a certain study or even help you learn how to study. Often written by pastors or biblical scholars, books about the Bible provide context beyond what is found in the Bible and practical applications to modern day. Having a book open in front of you can also benefit you because you can annotate it however you please. These books are easy to find at a nearby bookstore or even a library.

Small Group

Getting involved with a diverse church group or just with other believers who desire to study the Bible more deeply can encourage you in your faith. Having people besides yourself to hold you accountable for spending more time in the word promotes consistency, not just desire. Small groups also encourage Christ-centered relationships that can change your day-to-day life.

Where Do I start?

There's a lot of talk about studying the bible, but where do you begin? The first step is prioritizing it. Those last 15 minutes before bed you spend scrolling on your phone could be spent reading multiple chapters of the Bible. Having a desire to learn more about the Bible is something God has already put on your heart, so fulfil His will by spending time in His word. You can start by reading a psalm every night and every morning. From there, pick a book in the Bible to start reading.

Genesis is a book that teaches about the origins of the world, showing us God’s sovereignty.

Matthew tells the account of Jesus’ life on earth, His death and resurrection.

The Psalms are a collection of prayers written by a group of followers of Jesus from His time.

These books are great places to start unpacking who God is and answering some questions you may have about Christianity as a whole.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

— 2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV

God’s Calling To His Followers

God calls us to read scripture to learn more about Him and get closer to Him. Start treating the Bible as holy and sacred as it is and thank God for your access to it. Because God is good and merciful, He wants the best for His children. He calls us to study His word to ultimately bring us to heaven. Where will you start?

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Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator of Spiritual Life on Sept. 1, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.