1. Open with Expectation, Not Pressure (1 Minute)

The goal isn’t to “check the box.”

It’s to meet with God.

Before you read, pause and pray:

“Lord, speak to me through Your Word. Open my eyes. Make me more like Jesus.”

You’re not studying to impress Him.

You’re listening because He’s already drawn near.

That shifts your heart from performance to dependence.

2. Read a Short Passage Slowly (5 Minutes)

Don’t try to cover chapters.

Cover hearts.

Pick a small section—4 to 10 verses.

A paragraph. A story. A command.

Maybe it’s the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12) or a few verses in Titus 1.

Read it out loud if you can. Read it again if something feels unclear.

Slow is strong.

You don’t get deep by reading more. You get deep by seeing more in what you read.

3. Ask These 3 Questions Every Time (5 Minutes)

1. What does it say?

→ Look closely. What words are repeated? What’s emphasized? Who’s speaking? Who’s being spoken to?

2. What does it mean?

→ Why was this written? What truth is being taught? What does this show me about God, about sin, or about grace?

3. What does it call me to do?

→ Is there a promise to believe? A command to obey? A sin to confess? A truth to remember?

Write down just one thing you learn.

You don’t need 12 insights. Just one truth that hits your heart.

4. Pray It Back to God (3 Minutes)

Turn what you saw into prayer.

“Lord, help me walk in this.”

“Thank You for showing me Your patience here.”

“I confess I’ve been ignoring this.”

“Give me boldness to obey today.”

This is where study becomes worship.

Where truth becomes transformation.

Where Scripture moves from your head to your heart.

5. Take One Small Step Today (1 Minute)

Ask:

“What would it look like to live this out—today?”

Not next week. Not in theory.

Today.

If you read about forgiveness, send the text.

If you read about humility, apologize.

If you read about truth, speak it.

You won’t grow if you don’t obey.

One verse obeyed will change you more than ten verses forgotten.

What Book Should I Start With?

Don’t start in Genesis.

Don’t start in Leviticus.

Don’t start in Revelation.

Start with clarity.

Here are 3 great options:

Titus – short, sharp, and full of truth and life application

1 John – written for clarity and confidence in salvation

Philippians – joyful, Christ-centered, practical

Each book has short chapters, deep teaching, and clear direction for how to live.

What If I Miss a Day?

You don’t need to catch up. You need to come back.

This isn’t a race. It’s a relationship.

And God is not waiting with a ruler in His hand. He’s waiting with open arms.

Missed a day? Start today.

Forgot last week? Open the Word now.

It’s never too late to start again.

Why 15 Minutes Works

You don’t need an hour to grow deep.

You need to be consistent.

15 minutes a day with an open Bible and a soft heart will do more than 3 hours once a month with distractions.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:4:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

That means the Word is your food.

Don’t skip meals. Even small ones nourish your soul.

Final Word

You don’t need to be a theologian to study the Bible.

You need a method.

You need the Spirit.

And you need the will to open the book—day by day.

So start small.

Start today.

And let the Word do its work.

God has spoken. He will speak again.

All you need to do is listen.

__________

📘 Want More Help Studying the Bible?

I’ve created a free, simple guide to help you go deeper in your Bible study—even if you’ve never known where to start:

👉 Download “50 Bible Study Tips” here

This free resource gives you practical, trustworthy steps to grow in clarity, confidence, and consistency.