WEDNESDAY

2 Timothy 3:16

• How has studying Scripture helped you get to know Jesus better?

There’s an old episode of the 2010’s Disney Channel show Hannah Montana in which the main character, Hannah, is cramming for an exam on the human body. She must learn the names of all the bones in a short amount of time, and none of her methods are working. Someone suggests that she put the bone names to a song and learn it that way. As in every 20-minute sitcom, the solution proposed around minute 17 works sparklingly. Hannah aces the test, and every teenager in America had a new song stuck in their heads for the next…well, it’s been ten years now. Yikes.

Studying is like waiting in line at the DMV: it’s no fun, and it always takes longer than you think. When I was in high school, I hated studying. I’m guessing most people would agree with that sentiment. This is why, as a pastor, I sometimes loathe the encouragement from clergy to “study Scripture.” I struggle with this suggestion—not because I’m against studying the Bible, but because studying sounds so boring!

As we seek to understand God through Scripture, I want to challenge you to take the Hannah Montana approach: unapologetic creativity! Start by identifying a few hobbies of yours or how you like to express yourself. Hannah was a singer, so she wrote a song. Maybe you have an interest in nature, so start seeking out stories and texts in the Bible about the natural world. Maybe you love expressing yourself through your personal style—look into the fashion trends of ancient Rome. Studying doesn’t have to be torture. In fact, studying can be a delight. We just need to find a different perspective.