In 1 Corinthians, we find the well-known description of love. Let’s take a closer look at it together. Verse one deals with loving communication.

It doesn’t matter how eloquently I speak or how clever my thoughts are shared. It doesn’t matter how much charisma I may have. If I speak without first making the deliberate decisions to benefit those who hear and to speak in a way they can hear and understand, I am really only talking to hear my own head rattle (at least that’s how Dad always described it).

Heavenly Father, Let Your love for me guard my tongue and let my love for You cause me to use my words wisely.

Let’s work together to grow deeper in our understanding of God’s Word. If you missed steps 1 and 2, scroll down to the bottom of the page and for links to those posts.

Did you find information about the author and reader from for today? In a couple of days, I’ll share more about where to get that information and share information from where I’m reading. If you didn’t get it, don’t worry. You can come back to this important step.

Today, let’s read for deeper comprehension. We want to truly understand better what the Scripture says. You will need a printed copy of the text you are reading. I prefer writing the text out myself in my journal, double-spaced. Writing it myself causes me to read more closely and it helps me spot words, ideas and phrases that are repeated or are intriguing.

Then pull out other Bible translations you might have or use a website to read different translations of your text. A great website to use is https://www.biblegateway.com/ . This doesn’t have to be a long, tedious process, but read enough translations that you have a fuller understanding.

We’ll talk later about different translations. You need to remember that translators are careful about the words they choose. But as time passes, the meanings of words may change too. That is why some versions are harder to understand. I find the New Living Translation (NLT) very easy to read and enjoy reading the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). Our pastor uses the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). You will find some translations that speak to you.

Now make some notes about what you have read – those repeated words, ideas, phrases. Ask God to help you understand what He wants you to know. And feel free to share in the comments.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the opportunity to come to You directly to learn. Thank You for Your Word. Your Word always brings life!

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Links to previous steps are here:

Step 1: Digging Deeper

Step 2: Checking the Seed

Let’s work together to grow deeper in our understanding of God’s Word. Did you read and re-read your Scripture yesterday? If not, start here: Digging Deeper

Let’s find out more about this Scripture so we’re reading. Here are two major questions we need answers to and suggestions about where to find this information.

QUESTIONS:

• Who wrote this? We know the Bible is inspired by God, but He worked through many authors. And these authors had different kinds of jobs and lived in different places . . . So it’s important to know who wrote the book and passage you are reading.
  • When was this book written? Knowing when the book was written can help with discovering the readers, the culture and the concerns of the time.
  • What is the genre of this book? Is it recorded history, poetry, an allegory? This will help us later in knowing whether we should be literal or not. Much of the Bible is literal.
• Who did the author believe the readers would be? Writers often have a picture of who their readers are, so they write in a way that those readers would easily understand. Who was this book written for?
  • What did the author (under the direction of the Holy Spirit) want the readers to do or respond after reading this book?

ANSWERS for the questions can often be found in Bibles at the beginning of each book. Find the beginning of the book and then look for reference pages there. The passage you are reading is a part of a book, so this information will help you understand why this book and your passage is so important.

And just think – Now you are holding His book. God put this in His book and He wants you to read it. Ask Him to show you how He wants you to respond.

I know examples are often helpful . . . so later today, I’ll post an example from the reading I’m doing in Genesis 3:1-7. But please, do your work before you look at mine. God wants to talk to you personally and you will find nuggets of His Truth that you would otherwise miss if you just read mine.

Dear Heavenly Father, create a love for Your Word in our hearts. Speak to us and show us how You want us to respond to you – personally.

Let’s work together to grow deeper in our understanding of God’s Word. Over the course of each week, I will share one simple step to do each day that will help you in this area. I will be doing these things, so you won’t be alone.

I am reading the main sermon text from my pastor’s Sunday morning message, but you can choose another passage or the texts your pastor used. So pull out your bulletin or your Sunday morning notes and take a look. Then pull out your Bible and ask God to show you what He wants you to see in those verses and read them for yourself – several times. If something is confusing, pull up another translation. (I find the New Living Bible to be a good resource when I get confused.)

Remember this is a simple step. You can do this.

I’m in Genesis 3:1-7. Where are you reading?