5 Common Bible Study Mistakes & How to Overcome Them

Learning how to read and study the Bible is a common struggle for a lot of Christian women.

Biblical literacy in general is a major issue within the American church. Many of us are never taught exactly how to do more than follow a reading plan or listen to sermons.

The Bible is full of such rich goodness, but many of us are stuck in the shallow end because we were never taught how to swim.

This leaves us to try and fend for ourselves and this can lead to us picking up some habits that might hinder our growth in learning God’s Word.

So, here are some issues that may arise when learning to study the Bible and what to do about them!

Mistake #1: Going Too Fast Through The Bible

Many Christians struggle to understand Scripture because they are simply going too fast. In my opinion, reading plans like the Bible In A Year is just too quick for depth and understanding to take place.

Doing any more than a chapter a day can be too quick for most people, myself included.

Many people enjoy these plans, but they often only work well for seasoned Christians who have been studying the Bible for many years.

Being a student of God’s word is a life-long endeavor. There is no need to rush through it just to say you’ve read the whole Bible or to complete a plan.

The most important thing is that we are learning about who God is and the life He has called us to live. How much we have read means nothing if we’ve not gained understanding.

In my experience, quality is much more fruitful than quantity. I often spend months and months in just one book of the Bible.

Take this as permission to slow down and go deeper into God’s Word, no matter how long it takes you.

Mistake #2: Relying Solely on Devotionals

Devotionals are wonderful tools and have their place, but they are not a substitute for personal Bible study.

RELATED: Devotionals vs. Bible Study: What is the difference?

There are seasons where theologically sound devotionals are such a blessing, such as when you are walking through a season of grief or have a big life transition and your energy is limited.

Using a devotional is like ordering pizza when you are too tired to cook instead of making a nutritious home-cooked meal. It’s sustaining and will fill you up, but it is not the most nutritious option.

Relying solely on devotionals for too long will cause your faith to become stagnant.

If you are in a season where you need to utilize a devotional, be sure you can do your own in-depth Bible study at least occasionally in place of the devotional.

I have heard it said that if you can feast on the Word occasionally, you can survive on breadcrumbs in between.

Mistake #3: Jumping Into Reading Too Quickly

How can I start reading the Bible too quickly? What do I mean by this?

We can often make the mistake of not taking time to still our hearts and minds before diving into the passage.

Before we approach the Word of God, we need to prepare our hearts to be taught. We need to sit in worship and adoration for a moment. We need to pray and give thanks.

Spending time with the Lord is so much more than just reading the Bible and learning to still ourselves before Him will make our time in His Word so much more fruitful.

Take a few minutes at the beginning of your quiet time to pray and praise. It will make a world of difference in the depth of your time with God.

Mistake #4: Going Straight to Personal Application

This one is one of the biggest mistakes I see Christians making. I was guilty of this too.

I’ve got a secret for you that will change the way you view your Bible: it is not about you.

There is absolutely instruction and guidance for us on how to live a Godly life (2 Timothy 3:16-17), but the ultimate purpose of Scripture is for us to get to know God more intimately and learn about how He wants us to live.

First and foremost, the Bible is about God and His goodness and His righteousness and His love for His children. The focus of reading the Bible is God, not us.

We must take the time to observe what the text says and what it means before we go to apply it directly to our lives.

Some passages are more directly applicable to us, such as passages with commands, but even then we should be careful to sit with the Scripture before we go straight to the application.

Mistake #5: Not Paying Attention to Context

This is the #1 mistake I see Christians making when it comes to the Bible, and it’s an easy one to make.

There is a huge gap in the Biblical literacy of Christians and this mistake is a direct result of that. Most of us are not taught how to study the Bible as a historical document (which it is).

Though absolutely relevant for us today, the Bible was written in a completely different time and we must undergo the labor of seeking meaning in the correct context.

Ignoring context in Scripture is a dangerous thing to do. I often see people making conclusions and teaching things from Scripture that are not accurate because the context has been ignored.

God’s Word is precious and it should be handled with care and reverence. This includes taking the time to understand it accurately.

I pray you receive a new infilling of a desire for Scripture and as you study, God would reveal the depth of meaning of His Word to you.

Your Sister in Christ,