What if the greatest problem in our Bible reading isn’t that God isn’t speaking—but that we haven’t learned how to listen?

In 1 Samuel 3:10, young Samuel responds to the voice of the Lord with a simple but life-changing prayer: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”  That posture becomes the foundation for this teaching. We don’t come to Scripture merely to gather information, check a box, or learn religious facts. We come to hear from the living God—and to respond in obedience.

So as you watch, ask yourself:  When I open the Bible, am I simply reading words on a page, or am I truly listening for the voice of God?

In  Jeremiah 15:16, the prophet says, “Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart.”

But how do we move from simply reading words on a page to truly hearing God speak through Scripture? In this teaching, we explore the “Explain” step of Bible reading—learning how context, careful observation, and dependence on the Holy Spirit help us understand what God is saying.

When you open your Bible, do you slow down long enough to ask, “Lord, what are You really saying here—and how does this point me to Christ?”

What happens when we read the Bible—but walk away unchanged?

In this teaching , we look at  James 1:22–25, where Scripture warns us not to be “hearers only” but “doers of the word.” We’ll also practice applying God’s Word through  Philemon 8–19 and  2 Kings 5:1–15, seeing how the Bible confronts our sin, reshapes our view of God, and calls us into real obedience.

So here’s the question: When you open the Bible, are you simply trying to learn something—or are you willing to let God change something in you?

In the final session of How to Read the Bible, Pastor Brad helps us take the next step from simply reading Scripture to truly responding to God. If the Bible is God speaking to us, then our reading should lead somewhere—toward prayer, obedience, repentance, trust, and a deeper relationship with Him.

This session will encourage you to approach God’s Word not just as information to understand, but as a personal invitation to hear from the Lord and answer Him with your life. 
Question for you:  When you read the Bible, do you usually stop at understanding what it says—or do you take time to ask, “God, how are You calling me to respond?”