In this talk, Grant Partrick presents ten adverbs to enhance our Bible reading, ultimately deepening our relationship with God and transforming our lives.
Key Takeaway
Engaging with Scripture requires intentionality, humility, and consistence.
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."
Everyone understands that the Word of God is a miracle and that we should read it, but many people have no idea how to interact with it.
For some of us, we may feel like failures because we can't understand His Word.
So, today, we want to help you read Scripture.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
"If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folk from digging into the Bible." - J.I. Packer
"Fill your mind with God's Word, and you will have no room for the lies of the enemy." - Unknown.
There are different methods of studying scripture, but many of us tend to leave it up to chance—flipping through the pages and going where we feel like it.
We have a miracle in our hands—God’s breath on a page. But how do we approach it?
Common Mistakes in Bible Reading
1. Magic 8-Ball Method – Randomly picking verses for guidance.
2. Pin the Tail on the Donkey – Reading without context.
3. Checklist Method – Viewing Bible reading as a task rather than transformation.
4. Google Method – Searching for quick answers without depth.
If reading isn’t your strong suit, pray for a desire to engage with God’s Word. God will answer.
If reading isn’t your strong suit, pray for a desire to engage with God’s Word. God will answer.
Here are 10 Adverbs to Transform Your Bible Reading:
1. Read Carefully
Be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) who examined Scripture daily.
“You cannot love God with all your mind without reading His Word with diligence.” – R.C. Sproul
Read Joshua 1:8.
2. Read Curiously
Don’t skip what you don’t understand. Ask questions, seek context, and use study tools.
When we come across something we don't know, we try to understand and constantly probe the Scripture. Questions lead to understanding.
3. Read Consistently
Read Psalm 1:1-2, Matthew 4:4, and Deuteronomy 6:6-7.
Create a habit: daily engagement brings transformation. Those who read Scripture consistently experience incremental change.
4. Read Repetitively
Jen Wilkin says to read Scripture until you can explain it.
A single verse can still reveal new truths even after decades of study.
5. Read Humbly
Read James 1:21.
We need teaching, correction, and training (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
We have to humbly approach and submit to this Word.
It's by process of obedience that we can be conformed to the likeness of the Son.
6. Read Prayerfully
Read Psalm 119:18 and James 1:5.
Ask God to help you—don't make this a checklist item for you to read Scripture.
“The only way to understand the Bible is by the illumination of the Spirit of God.” – Oswald Chambers
We're all as wise as we have asked to be.
7. Read Slowly
Bible reading is not a task; it’s an encounter with God.
Pacing reflects priority.
We want to read slowly—dwelling and planting in the text. It's not a means to the end, it's the end.
We don't read it to complete a spiritual chore but to be conformed into the likeness of Christ.
8. Read Strategically
Have a plan, time, and place for reading.
Without a strategy, intentions drift. Discipline turns desire into reality.
If we replaced five hours of phone time with Bible reading, we could finish it in two weeks.
Hold your plan loosely, but hold onto Christ firmly.
9. Read Expectantly
Isaiah 55:11 – God’s Word will accomplish His purpose.
Approach Scripture not just out of obligation but anticipation.
10. Read Relationally & Communally
Discussion Questions
- What are some common struggles people face when trying to engage with Scripture, and how can we overcome them?
- Why is it dangerous to approach Bible reading with methods like the “Magic 8-Ball” or “Google Method”?
- Psalm 119:105 describes God’s Word as a lamp to our feet. How has Scripture provided guidance in your own life?
- How can we develop consistency in Bible reading, and why is it important for spiritual growth?
- What does it mean to read Scripture humbly, and how does a posture of humility impact the way we understand God’s Word?
- Why is it important to approach Bible reading relationally and communally rather than as a solitary task? How can studying Scripture with others deepen our understanding?
- How can prayer transform the way we engage with Scripture, and why should we ask God for understanding before we read?
- What practical changes can you make in your daily life to create a more intentional and strategic approach to reading the Bible?
Scripture References
