Finding Your Way into God’s Word
Reading the Bible strengthens our faith, nurtures our spiritual growth and deepens our understanding of God. But it can also feel daunting, routine or one more task in an already busy day. Kelly Cooper spoke with three Salvationists to learn how they engage with God’s Word and what keeps it alive in their daily lives.
The Bible is not just one book, but a collection of books written across centuries by many authors. Its pages contain stories, poems, songs, prayers, laments, wisdom, law, prophecies, letters and eyewitness accounts. It wrestles with joy, grief, faith, doubt, hope and disappointment. There is quite literally something for everyone, in every season of life.
Whether you’ve been reading the Bible for many years and are looking for a fresh approach, or you’ve always wondered where to begin, the good news is that there is no one-size-fits-all way of engaging with Scripture.
This month, Captain Chonny Bryan, Major Mat Badger and Salvation Army Chaplain Sharyn Olds share their personal approaches to reading the Bible and offer inspiration for anyone looking for a new way to enjoy and engage with God’s Word.
Captain Chonny Bryan—corps officer, Dunedin City Corps, Dunedin Bridge chaplain
One of the gifts of having a neurodivergent brain is the ability to hyperfocus. This allows me to dive deeply into God’s Word, exploring its rich layers of history, culture, context and meaning. It’s especially valuable when preparing a message, as I can follow threads and discover connections that might otherwise be missed. While this can be a real strength when preparing to teach and encourage others, I’ve learned that it isn’t always a sustainable way to engage with Scripture for my own personal reflection, growth and direction.
Consistency can sometimes be a challenge for me. What helps me stay connected with God is remembering that there isn’t only one way for Him to speak. Some days He meets me through a devotional, other days through listening to Scripture, drawing, journaling or writing out Bible verses by hand. Giving myself permission to engage with God’s Word in different ways has allowed me to keep hearing His voice and remain open to what He wants to say.
There are many excellent Bible apps and reading plans that help me engage with Scripture in fresh ways. I have learned not to feel guilty if I don’t complete a plan within the suggested timeframe. The goal isn’t to keep pace with an app; it’s to spend meaningful time with God. Sometimes I move quickly through a study, and other times I linger on a single passage for days. Both are valuable.
My approach to reading the Bible may look a little messy from the outside, but I’ve come to see beauty in that. God isn’t asking for a perfect routine—He simply wants my eyes and heart to be turned towards Him. As I seek Him, He faithfully guides me towards the practices that help me hear Him best on any given day.
Major Mat Badger—corps officer, Johnsonville Corps
When I was a young person, I had a mentor who taught me a method for reading the Bible. Mr McCullough was a Bible scholar and introduced me to the three-marker system. This wasn’t an original idea, but as a twelve-year-old, it showed me a new way of engaging with Scripture. He taught me to place one bookmark in the Old Testament, another in Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and a third in the New Testament. He then challenged me to read at least one chapter from each portion every day.
His rationale was that as we read the Bible like this, we learn more quickly because different parts of Scripture begin to shed light on one another. Whenever we met, this elderly gentleman would ask me whether I had noticed any links or similar themes in my daily readings. And I often had, even at that age.
I also remember his wise words that if the Bible really is God’s Word, then we need to treasure it and that it deserves a place in our daily rhythms of life. Some of Mr McCullough’s sayings are still etched into my memory: ‘Remember the marvellous wonders of the enormous glories of God contained in these pages are far beyond our comprehension. Therefore, when we read our Bible, we must consult the Author. So, before you read, pray, pray and pray again!’ Another favourite saying was, ‘If we take Scripture to heart, it will change us. If we look after Scripture, then Scripture will look after us!’
Over the years, I have maintained this three-bookmark method of reading the Bible. Because of this, I have made profound discoveries that have deeply impacted how I understand Scripture, the story of redemption and my place in it. This approach has helped shape my values and cemented the calling God has on my life.
Sharyn Olds—Salvation Army chaplain, Auckland District Court
When we were kids, it used to drive me nuts that my sister could save her Easter eggs and I couldn’t. Did she have some sort of superpower? My approach was to carefully peel back the purple foil, smooth it flat in anticipation… and then with gusto crack into the goodness of my Cadbury hollow egg, filled with chocolate buttons.
By Easter Sunday evening, my egg was long gone.
My sister, on the other hand, took her time. She would savour each piece slowly and somehow make her Easter egg last for weeks to come.
I was reminded of this when asked to consider a Bible reading practice that is meaningful to me. I love Lectio Divina, but it couldn’t be further from my Easter egg approach. Lectio Divina, which means ‘divine reading’ or ‘sacred reading’, is an ancient way of reading Scripture slowly and prayerfully. Rather than trying to get through lots of chapters, the focus is on spending unhurried time with a small passage and allowing a heart-to-heart conversation with God to unfold naturally.
This way of divine reading is, like all the very best things, both simple and profound. Read (lectio) a passage of Scripture slowly and pay attention to words or phrases that the Holy Spirit may be drawing you to. Meditate (meditatio) on the text by pondering and exploring any deeper layers of significance. Turn your meditation to prayer (oratio) by responding to God in ways that feel alive and right for you. Allow Him to gently take the lead in your conversation. Lastly move into contemplation (contemplatio). Cease to ruminate and think and simply rest quietly in God’s loving presence.
When I engage in this practice, I gently open my heart to the loving heart of God. I soften my spirit for an encounter with God and slow down to explore and go deeper with Him. Instead of rushing or surface reflection, I make space for a real and relaxed conversation with God about what He is inviting me to notice and be nourished by that day.
It turns out my sister may have been on to something after all. Some things are best savoured. Lectio Divina invites me to savour Scripture—to slow down, listen to God and allow the goodness of His word to shape me.
