Getting Started

You might do a couple of things as you work through Mark. First, you might just read through it relatively quickly, like one chapter each time you sit down to have a MUG time (aka quiet time). This will give you some knowledge on a broad scale. You could do this in just a few weeks. If you wanted to supplement this with some study materials or methods, great. Knowledge is okay, it is just not enough by itself.

After that, I would suggest you start over again and do what is called reflective bible reading. When you do this, your purpose is not to get through a passage, but to slow way, way down. Here you carefully and inquisitively read. You might reread a sentence several times. You might ask yourself some questions and maybe try and visualize what it was like when it was going on. For example, in Mark 1:5: Imagine what that must have been like. I wonder how the people knew he was out there. Probably word of mouth. Imagine some dude coming up to you and telling you about some bug eating guy wearing a gunny sack preaching a strange message about God. Would you go? Why? Curiosity or out of some need? Think you would be excited to go? Would you be inclinded to join in with the others and let him dunk you in the water? ...

After this, you might just be quiet as you reflect on some of these images, questions, and ideas. This is important, as this is likely when God will "speak" (in the metaphorical sense).

Try this and let me know how it goes. A pratical point: get yourself a digital kitchen timer at Walmart. At each MUG time, set it for 10 minutes. Do your bible reading until the timer goes off. It frees you from worrying about the time. Also, try doing a reading on the top of pinnacle mountain sometime. I guarentee it will not be a boring MUG time, ask Clay!