Searching the Scriptures

I wish I could tell you that being a Christian for as long as I have that I have the whole Bible study thing down.  I don't.  I love reading God's Word but when it comes to studying its one of those overwhelming tasks that almost paralyzes you.  Do I study by topic or by book?  Is there a right or wrong way?  Which way is the right way for me?

I think that reading and hearing the Word of God is wonderful but there comes a time where that is not enough.  I think I am at that point in my walk where it is time to get off the "spiritual milk" and more into the "meat" of the Bible which is why I am so excited to be reviewing Searching the Scriptures by Chuck Swindoll.  From the first chapter I knew I was on to something.  Maybe this is the answer to the Bible study prayer that I have prayed for so long?

If you want a thorough introduction to Bible study then this is a great place to start!  For me it's perfect!  Maybe I've been trying too hard.  It's time to get back to basics!

Mr. Swindoll breaks it all down for you step by step and compares the steps to something simple and something we all can relate to: cooking.  I have read several other books about various Bible study methods and it's almost like they're written in code!  They left me frustrated and no closer to understanding the Bible than when I began.  

Mr. Swindoll even mixes in wonderful stories that help you remember certain steps.  My personal favorite is a story about the importance of observation referencing Sir William Osler.  I won't spoil the story for you but trust me it's one that you will never forget.

There are four main principles in Searching the Scriptures:

Observation - What does the Bible say?

Interpretation - What does the Bible mean?

Correlation - What other Bible passages deal with this idea?

Application - What difference does this make to me?

Mr. Swindoll goes into each of these in detail so everything is explained for you.  There is also a "Your Turn in the Kitchen" section which allows you to go deeper with your understanding of that chapter as well as getting you more into God's Word.  This interaction was truly my favorite part and am still working on some of the questions from several of the chapters so I can go even deeper in my understanding.

I could see giving a copy of Searching the Scriptures to a new believer so that they can start with a firm foundation in the Word or a seasoned Christian who might want to take a different approach to Bible study.  

This is a must-have for anyone and will be apart of my Bible reference library for years to come.  If you would like more information about Chuck Swindoll's ministry Insight for Living please check out his website.  Also, if you like challenges there is even a Searching the Scriptures Quiz to test your Bible knowledge!

I'm off to study! :)

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review