Most women feel insecure in using their voice for God because they feel they do not know the Bible enough. The plague of Biblical Illiteracy even among pastors and leaders is alarming. If you desire to grow in your understanding and comprehension of the Bible you must do the work to connect the dots. This quote from RC Sproul is convicting to me “We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy.”

Are you ready to do that work? Let’s start by defining Biblical Literacy.

Celina Durgin, who writes for The Biblical Mind defines Bible literacy as “a thorough familiarity with the key narratives, people, order of events, and basic, clear themes throughout the whole Bible.

You CAN improve your Biblical Literacy and increase your confidence in the Word of God as you apply yourself.

3 Building Blocks of Biblical Literacy

1. Curiosity

   • In order to improve retention and comprehension, read your Bible in an environment where you can focus. Reading carefully and with curiosity will lead you ask the right questions.

   • Proverbs instructs us to “get wisdom and insight” twice in a short spans of verses. Proverbs 4:5,7 This highlights the importance of caring to learn.

   • Curiosity is a verb. it takes action to GET wisdom and insight. It takes time. It takes investment. It takes reading, growing, stretching, learning.

2. Conversation

   • Conversing with others who know the Bible more than you will help you connect the dots in your own mind about important Biblical occurrences.

   • When we say what believe out loud, we are able to hear ourselves articulating our thoughts. Sometimes this is all it takes to know if what has been roaming about in our minds is truth. Isolated beliefs are dangerous.

   • Hearing others speak their beliefs and convictions helps us know what we truly believe. Iron sharpen irons.

   • In the Jewish culture, debate is the way most communication happens. Around the table. At meals. Learning through debate is huge.

3. Conventions

   • Conventions: way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity.

   • The best course of action in studying the Bible is to first study the macro level. Once you get a hold of the big picture then you can move into the mirco level of understanding.

   • No need to reinvent the wheel. There are people who have committed their whole lives to providing resources to guide you into further understanding.

Recourse to increase Biblical Literacy:

A daily Bible Reading Plan – Most important

Bible Project – If you are a visual learner

ESV Commentary – For all the academics

Although it is important to “study to show ourselves approved,” we can not allow that to stop us from sharing what we DO know as we are learning more.

SUPER EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

Echo Weekend is BACK! We will be hosting our 12th Echo Weekend Workshop in West Palm Beach, Fl. The dates are September 22-25, 2022. Find all the details here.