Is the Bible actually boring? Or have we made it boring in the ways we consume it?
If you’ve been going to church for decades, sometimes your Bible time starts to fall flat. This happened to me. After graduating from Bible school, I was so burnt out from using the Bible as a textbook that I stopped being excited about God’s Word for a while. I knew God’s Word was important, but I could not stand to do one more exegetical text study for an extended time.
So, I had to get creative. This felt like new territory for me because much of how I’d been taught to read the Bible followed the same template every time. It felt strange to try something new. But in the end, creative ideas helped me to get excited about the Bible again. If you need to rediscover the delight of God’s Word, then maybe it’s time to try something a bit unconventional:
1. A Bible Poster
If you’re sick of Bible reading plans that you inevitably get behind on, then maybe it’s time to try something new. When I was burnt out from Bible reading plans and devotionals, this poster motivated me to get back into God’s Word. The concept is simple: It’s got a box for every chapter of the Bible that you can fill in or check off as you read. There’s no time frame or order that you have to follow or feel restrained by. Simply read whatever chapter you want and then visually see your progress as you go. This is also a great way to stay consistent if you’re an out-of-sight-out-of-mind person. Simply hang this poster on your wall and have an instant reminder to read your Bible every time you see it.
2. A Page Protector
This is probably my most unconventional Bible idea, but I have memorized more Scripture with this method than any other. You know those transparent plastic page protectors you can buy at every office supply store? Simply print off a passage of the Bible you’d like to memorize, slip the page into the sleeve, and tape it onto your shower wall. Most of us have nothing better to do while shampooing our hair. And this is great for neurodivergent folks who retain more information while they’re moving than they do while sitting still.
3. A Tattoo
If the page protector isn’t your vibe, then this tattoo subscription might be a better alternative. Did you ever have a Sunday school teacher write a Bible verse on a dry-erase board and slowly erase words until only the first letters of each word remained? This is a common trick to memorize Bible verses, but you can’t take a dry-erase board with you throughout your day. So, the founders of Dwell Differently came up with a better idea: temporary tattoos. These temporary tattoos are designed to include the first letters of a Bible verse arranged into an eyecatching illustration so you can memorize God’s Word on the go. With a Dwell Differently subscription, you will receive a set of new tattoos every month with new Scripture to dwell on.
4. A Meditation App
If you grew up in the Evangelical tradition, you might not be familiar with the practice of Lectio Devina. It’s a historical method that people have used for centuries to pray through a passage of Scripture. The Lectio 365 app takes this practice to a whole new level by providing audio and visual Scripture meditations each day for you to listen to. If you’ve been feeling a bit bored with your typical Bible study method, this might be just what you need to switch things up.
5. A Hip-Hop Bible
Whenever people are bored of Bible reading, I’m always a big proponent of Bible listening. There’s more than one way to consume Scripture. But sometimes, the British-sounding trans-Atlantic accents of the readers make it seem stuffy and out-of-date. If you would rather listen to the Bible with a beat, then you should try the Streetlights Audio Bible. It’s a modern take on audio Scripture that utilizes hip-hop beats behind each verse. It utilizes a range of diverse voices and connects with people with all learning styles so they can grow with God.
If you struggle to delight in God’s Word, don’t be discouraged. We all have seasons of our lives when time in the Word feels dry. But rather than burying yourself in a pit of shame and obligation, it might be time to give yourself permission to get creative. Before a Bible book ever existed, God’s Word was passed down through campfire stories and communal songs. God’s Word is living and active because it’s much more than just (tiny font) words on a (really thin) page. So, let 2024 be the year that you become excited about the Bible again! It’s time to learn to enjoy God’s Word in new and different ways. Are you ready to step outside of your comfort zone? This could just be the adventure that changes the game for you. But first, you have to give it a try.
