Consider the view you have from an airplane approaching an airport in a large city. Such a view from several thousand feet up helps you see the terrain, the buildings, and any other big picture idea of what the city is like. The details of that city come later, like when the plane lands and you get a rental car and head out of the airport. You begin to see what the city is like in the details once you’re on the ground.

Such is the benefit of a study Bible. It grounds you in the basic terrain of Scripture. It’s not that the details are unimportant - far from it. But a study Bible helps you get your bearings before heading into a detailed study of a particular book or passage.

More important than owning and using a Study Bible is owning and using a Study Bible that helps you understand Scripture better. The goal of reading and studying Scripture is always a right interpretation of Scripture so that one can apply it to the glory of God.

We read nothing about the apostles forming a committee to see why they weren’t reaching the community like they knew they could. We hear nothing about how they systematically arranged the Sunday services to appeal to the watching world. Obviously, there was no Monday morning meeting led by a worship leader with his team problem solving how to make the music louder or softer, or whether to use more lights or less lights in order to put on a better show.

The account each Christian gives to God can be viewed from two angles. The first sees us giving an account for things we are guilty of doing that we shouldn’t have done. The second sees us giving an account for things we didn’t do that we should have done. Viewed from the second angle, a gospel minister has a particular responsibility to do all he can to faithfully proclaim the gospel, and defend God’s truth.

Bible reading plans keep us systematically and consistently in the Word of God every day. One would be hard pressed to find a legitimate argument against Christians reading the Bible every day. On the other hand, its not hard to think of several reasons why failing to read the Bible daily spells trouble.