As you immerse yourself in the process of intentional, systematic and consistent Bible Study I want to remind you a few things:

1. The Bible is understandable! However, there are some parts that are harder than other parts. The Bible is a Living Book and as your grow and mature spiritually you will understand more and more.

Here is what Peter had to say about Paul's writing: "His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as the do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16) - it is possible to interpret the Bible wrongly and it is not harmless, it will destroy you and those who follow you - ignorant does not point to someone without education. Some of the weirdest things in the domain of Biblical Interpretation I've heard out of the mouths of Ph D in Theology. - memorization and knowledge do not equal comprehension and wisdom or spiritual maturity So as you study, please remember the following: 1. The context rules! Take everything you read in context. Yes, even the punctuation. Theme, purpose and structure of the book dictate your context. (Remember that the original writer did not number verses or sectioned off the book or letter. Read it as a whole).

2. Always seek the full counsel of God's word. Don't draw a conclusion from one or two isolated verses even if they may fit your agenda. This is one of the hardest things for readers to understand - the Bible is like a puzzle and the only way to see the complete picture is to put ALL the pieces together.

3. Scripture will never contradict Scripture. You will find passages that compared one against the other seem contradictory but that is only so at an artificial understanding level. Digg deeper - look at how it fits in the entire picture, see the whole, ask God to help.

4. Don't create a theology based on obscure Bible passages. Base your faith and understanding on what is clear.

5. Interpret the Bible first literally. The audience who received the writings at first was meant to understand them and most had less education than today's equivalent of first grade - don't forget that.

6. Always ask yourself: What did the author mean to convey? What did it mean to the author? Don't ask What does it mean to me? How does this affect me?

7. Consult outside sources and check your conclusions against these sources.

8. Last but MOST IMPORTANT. ALWAYS start your Bible Study or reading with a PRAYER.

   I encourage you to print and read at least once the books of the Bible without verses or divisions. I know that the ESV Reader's Bible is as such. Read the book you want to study one time through just as you would read a letter from someone. Don't get lost in the details, try to see the larger picture of the author's intention.

   Once you are done, read the book again in its entirety but this time try to observe the things that are mentioned and repeated again and again. What is the author mainly talking about?

   Third time read the book again in its entirety but this time read it aloud as if you were reading it to someone. Write down your thoughts and understanding at the end.

   Fourth time read it again in silence and see if you can come up with a short summary of the book. If you and I were spending the last three minutes before catastrophe struck and you needed to convey to me what the book is about. How would you tell it to me?

   Read the book the fifth time and this time try to write a one sentence statement representative of the book.

For Ephesians for example: "By God's grace and truth, live like Christ in unity."

The Bible is an understandable book, we just have to be willing to put a little effort and thought into it and as we do our part, I assure you, God through the Holy Spirit will do His.