Understanding Scripture: How to Learn to Love God’s Word

How Understanding Scripture Can Transform Your Faith

If you’re a Christian, you most likely love the Bible (or at least know that you’re supposed to).

You probably have verses on display around your house, on your clothes, maybe even in a sticker on your water bottle—but when it comes down to actually reading and understanding Scripture? Now that’s a different story entirely.

We know God’s Word is living, active, and relevant for our lives (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16), but sometimes our lived experience doesn’t seem to match.

That’s why Mentor Mama (Coffee and Bible Time Podcast host Ellen Krause) sat down with Faith Womack to learn how a deeper approach to understanding Scripture can awaken joy, clarity, and confidence in our study of God’s Word.

Faith—known online as “The Bible Nerd”—is passionate about helping believers move beyond surface-level reading and into understanding Scripture through rich, life-giving study.

Faith’s story is marked by redemption: she grew up in a home where Scripture was misused, yet God used that brokenness to give her a hunger for truth. Today, she helps millions rediscover the beauty of the Bible.

Below are three big takeaways from the conversation that can help you deepen your own journey of Understanding Scripture.

The Bible Is About God

One of the subtlest, but most impactful shifts we can make when it comes to understanding Scripture is realizing that the Bible is not about us. It’s about God.

“People typically get mad at me for saying this, but the Bible isn’t about us. It’s for us, but we’re not the main character.”

Faith Womack

How many times have you opened your Bible asking, “God, what do You have for me today?” But according to Faith, the better question is: “God, what are You revealing about Yourself today?”

When we shift the focus from self to God, something beautiful happens. Scripture becomes richer, deeper, and more life-giving. As Faith puts it:

“The Bible as a story of God redeeming his people for his glory is actually really good news… and spoiler, there’s gonna be very rich application from that for every season of your life.”

Faith Womack

Understanding Scripture begins with seeing the grand story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration—and finding our place within His story, rather than forcing Him into ours.

This is not to say that the Bible isn’t practical—it is (more on that later)! But if we turn to it the same way we might reach for a self-help book, we will be let down. Because the Bible is so much more than self-help.

Key Scriptures:
• Psalm 19
• Luke 24:27

Context Is Everything

The other big mistake people make when trying to understand Scripture? Skipping the context.

“[When] we take our Bible verses out of context…we’re robbing it of its richness.”

Faith Womack

A well-known example is Philippians 4:13—a favorite verse for many athletes, students, or high-achievers. By itself, the verse reads:

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

It’s beautiful, right? And many quote it to mean “I can achieve anything,” but let’s read back a few verses.

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. ¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

Philippians 4:10-15

These verses were written by a specific man, to a specific group of people, for a specific reason. They were written by Paul, and he wasn’t writing an autobiography about how he won the Olympic gold medal. Rather, he was thanking a church for supporting him in a time of distress, and telling them how he was doing.

“In the context… Paul is saying he can be beaten, starving, sick… but the Lord is enough for him.”

Faith Womack

Philippians 4:13 is still a beautiful verse. But with context, it takes on a different meaning—one that deepens and enriches our lives.

When we learn the historical, cultural, and literary context of the Bible, our understanding of Scripture will start to grow exponentially.

3 Tips For Finding Context:

1. Read the introduction to each book of the Bible—it will tell you who it was written by, who was originally reading it, where they lived, and what was going on at the time.
   Tip: if your Bible doesn’t have book introductions, try using the ESV app instead.
2. Use a Bible dictionary to look up people, places, and key terms
   Tip: click here to see some of our favorite tools.
3. Notice the genre of the book—poetry, narrative, prophecy, or letters.
   Tip: for deeper learning, try taking the In-Depth Bible Study Academy course on understanding context.

Bible Study Is an Invitation to Know God

Deep study, though requiring effort, ultimately leads to delight.

“I’ve barely scratched the surface… and I get to go on this lifelong journey of loving the Word and finding so much life in it.”

Faith Womack

Don’t be afraid to dig deeper into understanding Scripture. Tools like commentaries, study Bibles, and theological resources are not in competition with the Holy Spirit. They’re gifts God uses to illuminate His Word.

If reading the Bible feels boring, Faith says it may simply be unfamiliar. But the more we learn the story, patterns, themes, and threads woven throughout the Bible, the more alive it becomes.

4 Practical Ways to Enrich Your Bible Study:

• Understand the big storyline of Scripture
• Study with others—mentors, small groups, or Bible classes
• Learn to ask good questions
• Embrace being a lifelong student

Key Scriptures:
• Psalm 119:18
• 2 Peter 1:20–21

A Final Word

Faith reminds us that understanding Scripture is not about mastering information—it’s about knowing the God who speaks through His Word. When we slow down, explore context, ask better questions, and focus on God’s character, we discover that Bible study isn’t boring at all. It’s one of the most exciting and life-changing journeys we can take.

Enjoyed this Conversation? Go Deeper with the Coffee and Bible Time Community

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