Most believers that have been connected to my ministry in one way or another or they just know me personally, know that I’m all about discipleship… leading people to truth and teaching them to be learners on their own. Jesus had the best conversations one-on-one – Nicodemus (John 3), Mary Magdalene (John 20), the woman caught in adultery (John 8). This is usually the best place for discipleship. Big conferences with gregarious speakers are good to a certain extent, but they often lack follow-up. When Billy Graham brought his crusade to the metro-Detroit area in 1977, multiple churches were involved. Hence, the church would follow up with those who made salvation decisions… they would take these new believers under their wing. Discipleship is a major part of the Great Commission.
I’ve been studying the Bible for the majority of my adult life. Back in the day, you really needed a library for resource materials or books. Most pastors had shelves of commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and books on specific Bible topics. Many of them still do… there is something really amazing about having a hard copy in your hand. But in this day, studying the Bible is much easier with the Internet. I realize that the Internet can be a tool for the enemy (and it is), but it’s also a venue God uses in mighty ways. When I’m writing a Bible study, the Internet becomes a huge resource for me. Today, I would like to offer you certain Internet sites that have become invaluable to me. Here are the sites and what they offer…
Biblehub.com – verse comparison, Greek and Hebrew meanings. Here’s an example. This morning, I was reading the story about the wedding at Cana in John 2. Jesus had not yet revealed who He was but when the hosts ran out of wine (which was disgraceful in that day), Jesus’ mother went to Jesus and told Him of this dire situation. I read Jesus’ response in the NLT, but I wanted to see how other translations translate this verse in Luke 2:4. So, I went to Biblehub.com. Enjoy it…
NLT: “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,”
NIV: “Woman, why do you involve me?”
ESV: Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me?”
NKJV: Jesus said to her, “What business do you have with Me, woman?”
NASB : “Woman, what does that have to do with us?”
This kind of made me laugh. Comparing translations might just open up a verse a little more. And Biblehub.com is perfect for examining the original languages of the Greek and Hebrew.
A couple other resources that have been really helpful to me are:
Openbible.info – looking up verses on a specific topic.
Gotquestions.org – Bible information about people, topics, and anything related Bible. This site is VERY solid and doctrinally sound. I have even donated money because I use them all the time.
You can find valuable resources on the Internet, including Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and Bible concordances. I will offer more Internet resources in the future, but one other thing I would like to mention. When you are doing your own personal Bible study, try to use a study Bible (in whatever version you love). I write studies from the NIV and more recently the ESV, but my favorite for personal use and teaching is the NLT. I have an NLT study Bible I use every morning and often, if I just need a little more, the answer can be found in the footnotes. Study Bibles also offer comparison verses or passages and offers insight into many things.
I want to encourage you to study on your own (but don’t negate my studies either… lol). There are so many treasures under the surface and sometimes we have to dig to find them. Don’t just rely on Sunday sermons or church groups to feed you. God speaks the loudest in our own personal time with Him as we open up His Word.