From the Home Place

January 10, 2026

27 degrees at 4 a.m., headed for 43, with same mph. on the wind. Sure glad we get to stick around town today. We plan to go root for the Tigers basketball teams this afternoon, and then hunker down.

A while back I talked about digging a new outhouse hole for a neighbor when I was a kid. It was like digging in cement for the first three feet, and then I broke through the crust. The deeper I dug, the easier it got. The same is true for Bible study – digging deeper is the easiest and most rewarding way to explore God’s word.

As I have said before, I recommend that you read less for more when I comes to reading your Bible. I know many folks are reading through their Bible within this next year, and that’s great. But I want to talk about reading less for more. Pick a book of the Bible and read the whole book to keep everything within its context. After reading the entire book on the first day, now read a paragraph, digging deeper into just one or two verses of that paragraph each day of study. Continue that process for the rest of the book. Even Colossians should take several months to really study your way through it.

There will be days that one verse will be all that you cover, by the time you study the key words, study what the verse meant to its original audience, and then determining what it means to you, today. Also ask, “How am I to apply this verse, or passage in my life?” Without application, you’ve done nothing more than read. Remember, information does not equal transformation. That is why we must always seek to apply what Scripture we are studying.

So grab your Bible, a notebook and a pen. A dictionary will be helpful and a good study Bible, or a commentary on the Bible book you are studying. Make notes about what you find as you dig your way through a verse or two. Dig deep, finding context, meanings, and applications. Add one more question, “Was the Gospel message presented within today’s reading?” Be sure to write your answers in detail.

When you finish your study of a particular book, or topic, give your notebook to a child or grandchild upon their birthday, graduation, or marriage. Speaking of marriage, that might just be a really fun topical study for each one to do. Or study the topics of God’s nature, such as His holiness, truthfulness, gentleness, purity, or His being all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. Salvation will make an exciting topical study as well!

Be sure to dig into the cross-references listed in your Bible. Remember, other Scripture is the best proof text for the Scripture you are studying. Many times, the best golden nuggets are found in other passages. Be brave, keep digging and writing, always with the goal of drawing closer to God, and then also applying His word instead of just reading it.

Much like digging a hole in the ground, digging into your Bible will be tough for the first season, but then you will break through the crust, and it will become a daily adventure! Dig deep, find every golden nugget that is buried within the pages of God’s love letter to you, the Bible! “Grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ,” and apply, apply, apply!

By the way, a cup of coffee or tea helps with this process, along with a quiet spot, just you and the Holy Spirit, with your Bible and notebook.

Loving digging deeper with you, Neal

Resources: Logos Bible software(expensive), Miss Deb uses the Bible Gateway Plus app; a concordance; a commentary (The Bible Knowledge Commentary is a good one or build a set one book at a time as your study each book of the Bible), a dictionary, a spiral notebook and a pen. Pray before beginning each day and after each study, asking the Holy Spirit to help you live what you just learned.