Abide

John 15:4-5

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Luke 24:27

Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Brief Overview

Jesus tells us to remain in Him, attached to Him, taking our nourishment from Him. It is by spending time in His word that we remain connected and grow.

Key Points

  • The Holy Spirit will guide you and allow you to gain insight even if you do not understand everything you read.
  • It doesn’t have to be difficult. The 5 questions of the Discovery Bible study method provide a simple guideline.
  • The more familiar we become, the more we grow to love His word.

Common Questions

Don’t be discouraged if you struggle to understand the Bible, you are not alone! First of all, be encouraged, that the same Holy Spirit of God who wrote the Bible lives in each person who trusts in Christ. So, you can understand what you need to. Even if you don’t understand everything, you can understand enough to shape your life and love of God. Focus on applying what you do understand and then seek understanding for what you don’t.

Take your questions to other Christians in your life. We need to be discussing in community, not struggling in isolation. Also, websites such as desiringgod.org or thegospelcoalition.org have many helpful articles. You can find study Bibles (we recommend the ESV Study Bible) or commentaries that provide insight and background that help you understand and then apply the truth to your life. The Bible Project has short videos that explain each book of the Bible and major themes. One of the beauties of the time and place we find ourselves in is the richness of resources that can help us interpret and apply all of the Bible.

You can follow the Discovery Bible Study method described in the Abide module. Simply ask the 5 questions when you read a section of scripture each day. It is helpful to have a Bible reading plan. There are countless plans available.

Here is a plan that walks through the big story of scripture: Discovery Bible Study – A safe place to see for yourself what the Bible says

Here is a plan that will take you through the whole Bible in a year: Navigators Bible Reading Plan

Resources