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Scripture Confident Living Blog

I want to study the Bible, but I don’t know where to start.
Bible Study Tips, Devotionals Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips, Devotionals Ellen Hopkins

I want to study the Bible, but I don’t know where to start.

Bible study ideas just flow out of me. That hasn't always been the case. Like many of you, I once stared at this big book called the Bible with a complete feeling of overwhelm, wondering, "Where in the world do I start?" Knowing that many of you feel slightly paralyzed by this and other questions that are holding you back, I developed a 5-day email course called "Busting Your Top 5 Bible Study Roadblocks." Today, I'm giving you a little sneak peek here on the blog.

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Unveiling the Authorship of the Bible
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Unveiling the Authorship of the Bible

The Bible is more than just a book—it's a timeless compass, offering wisdom and insight for life's journey. Have you ever wondered about the individuals behind its pages and how their words made it into this ancient, revered text? Well, you're not alone. Understanding who wrote the Bible and how it came to be can boost your confidence in its trustworthiness and deepen your connection to its message.

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What Does It Mean to Be “In Christ”?
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

What Does It Mean to Be “In Christ”?

Before long, any believer will come across the phrase “in Christ” either while studying the Bible or hearing another believer talk about matters of the faith. Who is “in Christ”, and what does that phrase mean? Let me help you better understand Bible passages that use the phrase “in Christ”.

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Is this promise for me?
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Is this promise for me?

The Bible is full of God’s promises to His people. We love to read them. We love to apply them to our lives. We use them to remember that we serve a good and giving God. But are all those promises for us? Do we have the liberty to apply them to any life situation? After all, we serve a God who does not change and His promises are true.

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The Best Bible Version for Bible Study
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

The Best Bible Version for Bible Study

If you are bilingual, have taken a foreign language class, or have a close friend whose first language is different from yours, you are familiar with one truth about languages: Nuances and meanings don’t always fully translate. When your bilingual friend wants to explain one of his culture’s popular phrases, he may first give you a very literal translation, then compare his phrase with a popular American one that uses different words to communicate a similar concept, then combine the two for a happy medium. Can we replicate this for the Bible to take in God’s words more fully? 

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5 Steps to Truly Connecting with God during Your Quiet Time
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

5 Steps to Truly Connecting with God during Your Quiet Time

What's the point of a regular quiet time anyway? Is it to check something off a list, to earn God's favor, or is it to connect with Him? I hope you spend time in God's Word to learn about your Creator and connect with the King of your life! In fact, I hope not a day goes by without a time of worshipping your Savior whole-heartedly and allowing God to fill your cup.

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Understanding Bible Genres
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Understanding Bible Genres

The Bible contains books in various genres. This knowledge greatly impacts how we interpret a given Bible passage. For example, we want to take narratives literally, believing they actually happened as described, while we will more carefully interpret poetry, which - like modern poetry - often describes true observations with figurative language. Let's consider each of the genres of the Bible and how they flex our interpretation muscle.

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How Often Should I Study the Bible?
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

How Often Should I Study the Bible?

It’s commonly said that Christians should read their Bible every day. Is that a biblical command? Are we required to read the Bible daily? What if we can’t figure out how to make that happen? How often do we need to study the Bible to be faithful followers of Christ?

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Reading Epistles as Intended
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Reading Epistles as Intended

Did you know that the epistles (Romans-Jude) are letters written by an apostle or religious leader sent to an early church community? Can you imagine how they read this letter when they first received it? I bet they didn’t pick their favorite verse and forget about the rest. Instead…

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Making Bible Study A Habit
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Making Bible Study A Habit

Have you ever wondered how to make Bible study a habit? I mean, start strong and keep reading Scripture daily? Reading the Bible every day is such a valuable Christian discipline. Let me help you get started and loving it!But how can you get started? Whether you have tried before (and possibly failed) or are brand-new to developing a Bible-study habit, here are some tips to start this new habit.

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Your Bible’s “Early Manuscript” Footnote Explained
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Your Bible’s “Early Manuscript” Footnote Explained

You are reading your Bible and come across a little [a]. You check your Bible’s footnote to find a notation that early manuscripts show a different rendition of this verse or possibly omitted it altogether. Questions start piling up in your head: What are these early manuscripts? Which version of the verse is trustworthy? Which is inspired by God? Do we have a trustworthy copy of the Bible?

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Meditating on Truth with Bible Coloring Pages
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Meditating on Truth with Bible Coloring Pages

The Word of God is alive and active, my friend (Hebrews 14:12). Dwelling on its truth refreshes our soul and renews our minds.

I've been asking God to teach me about patience this year. In response, He has convicted me of my need to take more times of resting in Him. Truly, it has been something that I've had to intentionally practice because it does not come easily to me.

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Tracing the Bible's Storyline Through 66 Books
Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins Bible Study Tips Ellen Hopkins

Tracing the Bible's Storyline Through 66 Books

You’ve seen portions of the Bible - maybe you’ve even done a read-through - but there are so many different texts you are still wondering: What is the Bible about? Now you hear me saying there is actually one storyline in the Bible, and your skeptic radar is going off. How is that possible when every page you turn seems to talk about a different topic? 

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