ave you ever said, "I love to read the Bible, but I don't seem to grasp what it is saying" or "I don't understand how to apply what I read in the Bible to my daily life"? Or perhaps you've thought, "I have tried to read the Bible, but a lot of it doesn't seem to apply to my life, so I do not read it much any more."

In each of these scenarios, you need to read "Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible," by Howard Hendricks and William Hendricks (Moody Publishers, 2007).

As I studied the book, I learned there are ten strategies for reading the Bible. I also found that, if you want to study the Word of God, it is an activity far deeper than just reading a verse or a chapter or even an entire book in the Old or New Testament.

I had not realized that so many verses and books of the Bible relate to one another. We must compare verses with like verses in other books.

Did you know there are six things you should be looking for in each verse?

I have always wondered about the difference between interpretation and application. Most of the time, I have relied on someone else's writing for the interpretation but often thought it does not apply to me.

There are five chapters relating to proper interpretation and more about application, which will transform the way you read and study.

Maybe you have wondered what to do with verses that seem to contradict other verses.

For example, one of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shall not kill." Yet, in the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, God sent snakes to bite and kill many of them.

How can we reconcile that apparent contradiction? "Living by the Book" answers this question.

Whether you are a new Christian just starting to study the Bible, someone who has been reading and studying it for many years, or a Bible School student or in seminary, I highly recommend you place this book in your library. A companion workbook is also available.

It is well written, easy to understand and has many exercises to get you started with proper study habits. I believe it is an excellent tool for learning how to study the Bible - no matter what stage of the Christian life you are in.