A Confusing Book

The Bible can be hard to read—seemingly old-fashioned religious practices, strange cultural rituals, and impossible-to-pronounce names! So how are Bible scholars, let alone teenagers, supposed to make sense of it all? I certainly felt this way in my tenth grade Bible class. By the end of the first month, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever read the Bible correctly. Maybe you’ve felt this way too. The good news? If you’re a Christian, the Holy Spirit is with you and will help you understand what you’re reading (1 Corinthians 2:4-16). One way He does this is by providing people and resources to help you better understand God’s Word. Below are some places to start: • First, pray, asking for understanding so you might hear God through His Word. We hear God in the Bible because the whole book points to Jesus—who is God. It is the true story of how He has reached out to rescue humanity. He is the only One who can save us from sin and death and restore us to a right relationship with God and others. When you read a confusing part of the Bible, ask, “How does this passage point to Jesus and what He has done?” • Second, read verses in context to help you better understand what God is saying through the verses. For example, if a verse starts with therefore, skim back a chapter to see what information the writer is pointing back to. • Third, check out other resources, such as study Bibles, that include notes to help you understand more difficult chapters of the Bible and explain the significance of stories. Daily devotionals like Unlocked can help you apply God’s Word to your own life as well. • Fourth, ask for help. Speak with a trusted Christian in your life, like a pastor, camp counselor, or youth leader. Remember, everyone has trouble understanding God’s Word sometimes (2 Peter 3:15-18). As believers, it’s important that we study the Word together as a group regularly (1 Timothy 4:13). We are not meant to study alone. We can know God will faithfully deepen our understanding of His good news in Jesus (Philippians 1:6). • Abby Ciona • Read Romans 12:1-3. What is this passage saying about what it means to walk with Jesus? • Now read Romans 11, going straight into Romans 12:1-3. How does this background information make the start of Romans 12 more meaningful? Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-17