Discussion Series | Rooted | 5. How to read the bible without making it about you

Most of us were never taught how to read the Bible. We were just told to read it. And when you figure it out on your own, you end up with a faith built on verses taken out of context, personal feelings dressed up as Scripture, and a Bible that somehow always agrees with you. In today's conversation, we break down the difference between devotional reading and proper interpretation — and why learning to read the Bible correctly changes everything about your faith. Key Topics Covered The difference between devotional reading and biblical interpretation Why context, genre, and author intent matter How to approach different types of writing in the Bible How proper Bible reading always leads you back to Jesus Key Scriptures Referenced 2 Timothy 2:15 — Correctly handling the word of truth 2 Timothy 3:16–17 — All Scripture is God-breathed Luke 24:44–46 — Jesus opening the whole Bible to His disciples Nehemiah 8:8 — Reading with understanding and meaning Key Takeaways The Bible was not written to you — it was written for you. That distinction matters. A text without context becomes a pretext. The Bible contains many genres — narrative, poetry, prophecy, letters, wisdom literature — and each one reads differently. Meaning doesn't change. Application does. Random verse-picking produces a fortune cookie faith — sweet for a moment, no real substance. The goal of Bible reading isn't to find yourself in every story. It's to find Jesus. Reflection Questions When you open your Bible, are you reading to hear from God — or to hear from yourself? Has a verse ever meant something personal to you that turned out to be taken out of context? How did that shape your faith? What would change if you started reading whole books of the Bible instead of single verses? How do you balance personal encounter with Scripture and proper understanding of it? Want to Go Deeper? According to Plan — Graeme Goldsworthy How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth — Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart The Jesus Storybook Bible — Sally Lloyd-Jones (a great reminder that every story whispers His name)