Archive for bible study methods

Bible study questions method – Quiet Time Tips #8

Posted by Carey

· Friday, February 22nd, 2013

I’m doing this series of posts because I believe that in order to center your home around Christ, you have to first get your OWN spiritual life on track. These posts are for your benefit, to help you find tools that will enable you to do that!

Other posts in this series

#1, #2, #3, #4

#5, #6, #7,

The Bible study questions method

This method of Bible study is actually a part of all the other methods, but deserves to be addressed all on its own because of how useful it can be when you focus on it more intently.

The Bible study questions method is exactly what it sounds like.

You ask a series of questions about the passage you are considering to help you better understand the context and meaning.

BENEFITS

This method will open up new doors of understanding for you.
It’s so easy, anyone can do it.
It will force you to look at the context carefully so you can get a more complete understanding of the passage.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

A trustworthy Bible translation (ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, RSV).
A journal or notebook (optional).

HOW TO DO IT

Read the passage you’ve chosen.
Begin to ask questions about the passage:

WHO is speaking?
WHO are they speaking to?
WHAT are they saying?
WHY are they saying it?
WHAT importance does it have?
WHAT is the main point of what is being said?
WHEN was this said (in history, in the story, etc.)?
WHAT is being said about behaviors, attitudes, or heart motives?
WHAT does it say to me, my situations, my life?
WHAT is happening in me as I begin to understand this truth?
DOES the passage reveal God’s thinking or heart about a subject?
DOES it show me something I should change in my life?
AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT COME TO MIND…

Write down the answers to the questions you ask (optional).

Do you get the point? (Another question there… get it?)

These are only suggested questions; you could ask thousands of questions about every passage you read.

Feel free to make up your own!

You’ll find that you understand the passage to a much greater degree as you ask and answer questions about it.

How do you see the Bible study questions method being helpful? Leave your comments below!

Categories : Spirit Health

Tags : bible study methods, bible study questions, quiet time

The scripture and prayer bible study method – Quiet Time Tips #5

Posted by Carey

· Monday, January 28th, 2013

Scripture and Prayer Bible study method – Quiet Time Tip #5

For most of my Christian life, my time in the scriptures has been good, but my prayer time has been weak. In trying to figure out a routine for both that really worked for me, I stumbled upon this method… and it has worked tremendously!

I’ve come to call it the “Scripture and Prayer” method because it centers around meditation on scripture and a prayer response to what you have read and considered.

It’s one of my favorite ways to spend time with the LORD in the scriptures!

Before I give you a full-blown description of how the scripture and prayer plan works…

there are two scriptural truths that have helped it to be of particular value to me:

God answers our prayers when we ask things He wants to give us (1 John 5:14).
Our hearts are sick without Christ. We can’t even have the right desires if God does not give them to us (Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10-18)

These two, very different scriptural truths combine to help me with this study method in two ways…

As I realize that I am unable to do what scripture is instructing me to do (Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10-18), I find myself more dependent on God, and more eager to see Him work in my life to overcome my natural wretchedness.
So, I ask Him to do in me what the passages instruct me to do… the very things I cannot do on my own. And believing that what He instructs me to be is what He desires me to be, I have great confidence that He will do what I’m asking Him to do, because I’m praying according to His will (1 John 5:14)

Those two truths have encouraged me in my daily walk with the LORD countless times.

Because of them, I’m typically eager, hopeful, and excited to meet with Him. I can’t wait to see what wonderful things He desires for me, that I will be able to understand and ask Him for as I meet with Him.

And I find myself more eagerly looking for His work being fulfilled in my life, because I know He will answer my prayers for these types of things!

BENEFITS OF THE SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER METHOD

You will develop a greater appreciation for what the scriptures are saying.
You will learn to pray biblical prayers, prayers that ask God for the things He delights to give to His children.
You will be able to incorporate your personal Bible study and personal prayer together, with some limitations… in other words, you will be able to study the scriptures and pray during the same daily time. But your “prayer list” will have to be addressed in some other way.
You can use any passage of the Bible, though the New Testament Epistles and the Psalms and Proverbs lend themselves to this method particularly well.

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED

A trustworthy Bible translation (ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, RSV)
A notebook or journal, or a Bible with wider margins (I first began this method by writing things in my Bible margins, but have now decided to use a journal to record more extended thoughts and prayers.)

HOW TO DO IT

Read the passage you’ve selected, verse at a time, seeking to understand what the author is saying about God and His relationship with people/the world. Take it in bite-sized pieces.
Jot down what the passage says about God’s attitude toward people, His actions toward them, and what He requires or instructs of the people in question.
Pray the verse back to God, personalizing as you go (a brief example is below).
Write out your prayer if that is helpful to you.

EXAMPLE

Psalm 1:1-2 – “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”

Notes: I see that God Himself says that those who have association with people whose lives are characterized by wickedness or sin will not be blessed by Him. He blesses those who do not have those kinds of regular associations. God blesses those who delight in His law, those who meditate on His law consistently.

Prayer: Father, make me to delight in Your word/Your law. Create in me the kind of heart that truly delights in the truths You have to say to me. Make my soul love it, make my mind and heart crave it. Teach me how to seek Your will through Your word. Teach me how to apply it honestly. Give me the self-control and discipline to regularly, habitually meditate on Your word.

Then move on to the next section of your passage. However, this method is very flexible. You can stop mid-way through a chapter if time does not allow you to continue, or you can do more if you are able.

What do you think about how the scripture and prayer aspects of this method work together? Describe how it might benefit you.

This post is reworked from my book, “RECHARGE“

Categories : Spirit Health

Tags : bible study methods, learn to pray the scriptures, praying the scriptures, scripture and prayer

Add some SOAP to your Bible study method – Quiet Time tips #4

Posted by Carey

· Monday, January 21st, 2013

Try out the “S.O.A.P.” Bible Study Method

There are many ways to study the Bible.

At times you’ll need to find something that “fits” your personality or bent.

Other times you’ll need something fresh to help you get re-energized about your Bible study time.

The next few posts are going to give you some alternatives to what you have been doing… to give you a chance to spice things up a bit!

WHERE THE S.O.A.P. BIBLE STUDY METHOD COMES FROM

This method is a “daily devotional” type study method that takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes per day, depending on the scripture passage you are using. As far as I know, this method was first devised by Pastor Wayne Cordiero of New Hope Fellowship on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

BENEFITS
• You can have a meaningful time in the scriptures in a relatively short time.
• Teaches you the basics of how to approach the scriptures wisely.
• Helps you develop the habit of daily scripture study without being overwhelming.

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
• Trustworthy Bible translation (ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, RSV)

• A notebook or journal

• A scripture reading plan that covers no more than 1 chapter of the scriptures daily.

You can use a ready-made plan, or make up your own. You could even begin at the beginning of any Bible book and work through a chapter or less each day, depending on what fits your need.

HOW TO DO IT
• Each day’s time in the scriptures will include 4 sections of focus, listed below…

S – Scripture – Read the scripture you have chosen for the day. Make sure you take the time to understand what is being said, who is saying it, and why they are saying it. In your notebook, hand write the part of the scripture that stands out to you.

O – Observation – Ask the Lord to teach you through the passage. What do you think He is saying to you through what you’ve read? Paraphrase and write down what you think He is telling you.

A – Application – Write out how the passage applies to your life. Are there attitudes or actions you need to change in light of what you’ve read? Are there conflicts you need to resolve, promises you need to receive, encouragement you need to hear?

P – Prayer – Ask the Lord to apply the truths of the passage to your heart. Ask Him for the strength you need to apply what you have learned with honesty.

The S.O.A.P method is a great starter plan, something to get you going in a way that is not too cumbersome or difficult. The only additional suggestion I’d make is that you write down the most meaningful part of the scripture for each day to take with you for review throughout the day (note card, index card, etc.)

What benefits do you see in the S.O.A.P. Bible study method? How do you think it might benefit your relationship with God?

This post is reworked from my book, “The Elder Training Handbook“

Categories : Parenting, Spirit Health

Tags : bible study methods, christian discipleship, christian disciplines, how to study the bible, plan for bible study, spiritual disciplines