If we, disciplers, are to be effective in preparing for, and leading scripture-focused prayer meetings, group discussion, or discipling sessions, then we need to have the proper tools at our disposal. You need to be able to navigate your way around the bible, be able to access resources to help you understand difficult passages, and be efficient in selecting the appropriate verses to “teach, rebuke, correct, and train” the members whom you are discipling according to God’s word.
In Acts 8:26+, we learn about the incident when Philip was prompted by an angel to speak to an Ethiopian who was trying to read scripture. Philip approached the man and asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (v30). And just like Philip with the eunuch, you need to be prepared to assist your members with their own reading of scripture.
The aim of our THIRST-DAY SERIES is to equip our pastoral leaders with a variety of tools, tips, techniques, exercises and guides in order to have “scripture-focused” discussions during their regular small group meetings.
Here are a few tools that I believe are absolutely essential to have, plus a few others that are really good to ambition to have and to use.
First, you must have access to a digital bible
I don’t mean to say that you should replace your hardcopy bible if you are comfortable with that, but for purposes of study and assisting others, a digital bible is a great blessing that the Lord has given to the cause of disciple-making. So, please download or purchase a digital bible onto your smart phone, tablet, and laptop.
BIBLEGATEWAY.COM — The easiest and most accessible way to connect to a digital bible is through the internet. I suggest you bookmark www.biblegateway.com as your go-to online bible. You can access this on any device that has wifi connection, whether your smartphone, tablet or laptop. At its most basic and fundamental use, you can open to any book, chapter and verse in the bible quickly and easily. The search button serves as your digital concordance, where you can easily list all scripture verses that have the word or phrase that you’re looking for. And because it is in digital form, you can select and copy verses as you need them, and paste them on your writing and note-taking platform. The only slight drawback is that you have to have internet connection or a data plan to access this.
TECARTA — There are downloadable bible apps that you can also use. A downloadable app means that once you’ve downloaded it and installed it in your device, you can access it anytime anywhere without need for wifi or data plan. There are several.
Many people favor the YouVersion bible app. For me, I’m partial to the Tecarta bible app. It is accessible through a regular browser with wifi https://tecartabible.com/home, but you can also create an account and download it onto any combination of devices. There is a small one time fee to purchase a bible version from Tecarta. You can purchase other tools like commentaries, devotionals, study bibles, reading plans, etc. The beauty of the Tecarta app is that it also has built-in note-taking capability, 4 different color markers to mark your verses, cross-references, and definitions all at the click of a button. If you also acquired a commentary or a study bible with Tecarta, you can have side by side views of the bible text, and the matching commentary alongside it. I highly recommend Tecarta to anyone who is serious in his bible study.
Second, a topical bible
I wrote a separate article about this, and posted it in our Thirst-Day Series page, entitled WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT …? Please be sure you’re familiar with this very simple, but practical resource.
Third, dictionaries, cross references, other translations
If you’ve ever encountered scripture passages and found yourself asking the tough questions: “ano daw?” “bakit ganon?” , or if you are confused with names and characters and places, or just simply want to understand what the verse means, then you need some handy tools that can shed some light on what the Lord is trying to tell you. Here are some “first-aid” suggestions:
- Read other translations. With biblegateway, you can easily switch from one translation to another.
- For a translation to modern day lingo, “The Message” is a blessing. I find that when I go through some really difficult Old Testament text, I peak through The Message, and it makes me go through the passage more easily and I don’t get confused.
- For some of the exhortations, I also check out the Tagalog version. Specially when I have to deliver a talk, some exhortations or promises are more impactful to our local audience if I read the language of our native tongue. Personally, I wish we all were more familiar with Tagalog scripture.
- You can do a cross-reference. Depending on the bible that you have, whether a printed or digital bible, there are usually some footnotes, and cross-references to similar verses found in other books of the bible. Try going to these other verses, and see whether this will help in your understanding.
- You can go to a bible dictionary or you can simply google it. Just type in the book, chapter and verse in the search box, and you’ll be amazed at how many people must have written something about it already.
Finally, study bibles
A great way to help you understand passages, is to check what other people have said about it. This is where study bibles come in.
Study bibles contain additional information, historical context, cross-references to other Bible passages, explanations of key doctrines, and more. These have been written by a team of bible scholars and preachers. These notes are printed alongside the actual verses. So, as you’re reading a passage, you may find a short note beside it which gives additional explanations or insights and applications which help enrich your appreciation of the verses that you are reading.
I recommend any one of many study bibles that are available in the market: both digital and hardcopy. In my personal digital library, with my Tecarta App, I’ve purchased the following digital study bibles which I find very useful for most of my daily reading:
A neat little bible study tool that I find, which is unique compared to most study bibles, is the NIV Quest Study Bible. I love this because it presents its comments in a Q&A form. This study bible has answered many questions in my head, and actually even answers questions I failed to ask.
I downloaded these digital study bibles through the Tecarta app. Each of them costs a minimal fee. The added bonus here is that I am able to access Tecarta from my phone, my tablet and my laptop. Note that Tecarta isn’t the only game in town. Check out also what is available in biblegateway.com, YouVersion.com, and in biblestudytools.com for study bibles and digital bible platforms.
Hard Core Guide: COMMENTARIES
Those who pursue serious, rigorous bible studies — and not just daily bible reading according to a reading plan — would also access BIBLE COMMENTARIES. These provide deeper understanding and insight into the Bible, and are often lengthy and detailed. Some commentaries actually tackle each and every verse for each chapter and each book in the bible. You can therefore imagine that commentaries are actually entire books in themselves, and in some cases, several volumes.
These are also available in digital format. If you go to biblegateway.com, you can freely access commentaries side by side with the verses that you are reading. Tecarta will also have commentaries available for downloading.
Although the average Christian who is serious in his reading plan can get by without needing to refer to a commentary, I mention it here because it is good to know that that there is such a thing that is readily available to all of us. Keep it in your toolbox. Who knows what heavy lifting you might you may have to perform one day.
Ready to GO
By having at least one bible study guide or commentary to accompany you in your own personal bible reading, you will discover a whole new level of understanding, appreciation, and interpretation of scripture. As a discipler, these tools will help increase your vocabulary, and your confidence in “teaching, correcting, rebuking and training” in righteousness through the Word of God.
Once you’re familiar with at least one study bible, it will be a good idea to pass it on to your own discipleship group or prayer group, and you can show them the value of referring to a study bible or a commentary during their own personal bible reading.
May you be blessed and “thoroughly equipped for this good work” of helping your members grow in love for scriptures.
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