Don’t Just Take the Snippets: Why You Should Read the Bible for Yourself

Don’t Just Take the Snippets: Why You Should Read the Bible for Yourself 

We live in a world of summaries—tweets, reels, headlines, hot takes. Even in our spiritual lives, it’s tempting to settle for the highlights: the key verse on the screen during a Sunday sermon, the motivational post on Instagram, the quick devotional that tells you what to think in three easy paragraphs. And while all of these can be helpful starting points, they can’t replace what your soul truly needs: direct, personal engagement with Scripture. 

The Bible isn’t just for preachers. It’s for you.

The idea that the Bible is best handled by pastors, scholars, or professional theologians is a subtle misconception that’s crept into the modern church. But when Jesus spoke to the crowds, He often quoted Scripture and expected people to know it. When Paul wrote letters to early churches, he urged ordinary believers to be rooted in the Word. The Bible was always meant to be read, wrestled with, and lived by everyone—not just the person on the stage. 

Snippets can inspire. But Scripture transforms.

A Sunday sermon might give you a glimpse of truth—a powerful line that resonates, a passage that challenges you, a takeaway that lingers. But a snippet is just that: a piece. It’s someone else’s perspective, shaped by their study, their life, their calling. 

When you read the Bible for yourself, something changes. The words speak directly to you. The Holy Spirit can nudge your heart in a deeply personal way. You start to see patterns, ask questions, make connections. It’s no longer about what someone told you the Bible says—it’s about what God is saying to you, today. 

Reading the Bible grounds your faith in truth, not trends. 

Our world is full of voices. Preachers, influencers, authors, and social media all have something to say about God. Some of it is good. Some of it… not so much. How do you know what’s solid and what’s just noise? You go to the source. 

Reading Scripture regularly builds spiritual discernment. You begin to recognize truth from half-truth, conviction from manipulation, Scripture from soundbite. You’re less likely to be “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14) because you’ve anchored yourself in the unchanging Word of God. 

It doesn’t have to be complicated. 

 

You don’t need a theology degree. You don’t have to understand everything on the first read. Start simple. Pick a book—maybe John, Psalms, or James. Read a few verses. Ask: What does this tell me about God? What does it show me about myself? How does this speak to my life today? 

You can use a journal. Or not. You can listen to an audio version while you walk. You can read with a friend or in solitude. The key is to make it yours. Make it regular. Let the Bible speak directly to you.

Let Sunday sermons support your spiritual life, not replace it. 

Church matters. Community matters. Preaching has its place. But it’s meant to equip you, not spoon-feed you. It’s there to encourage and strengthen your walk—not to substitute for it.

So the next time you hear a powerful verse quoted in a sermon, don’t stop there. Go home. Open your Bible. Read the whole chapter. Sit with it. Pray over it. Let God speak. He has more to say than just a snippet. 

And it’s meant for you. < P 💗