If you remember in my previous post I talked about the importance of diving into the Word and using the Word to know God on a deeper more intimate level. You can read that blog post here if you missed it.
In this week’s blog post I want to outline some different ways you can get into God’s Word, and show you some practical steps to do this on a more regular basis. I’m not saying it will be easy at first, no new thing is, but it will be SO worth it and become such a joy during your daily life! A sweet time spent with your Father!
1. Use Different Methods
These methods are great for groups or for diving deeper into the Word on your own. There are many other methods but I am going to highlight three of them here.
Idea Method
Identification-What’s going on in the passage?
Direction-What truth is the passage directing us to see?
Encouragement-What is this passage encouraging us to do?
Application-How can we personally apply the truth and wisdom in this passage?
Soap Method
Scripture-Write out one verse that was meaningful to you
Observation-What was interesting in this passage? What did you learn? What was God saying to you?
Application-How can you apply this Scripture to your life? How will you let it change you?
Prayer-Respond to God in prayer, use the Scripture as a guide. Ask God to help you meditate and apply the Scripture to your life.
Inductive Method
Observation-What does the text say?
Interpretation-What does the text mean?
Application-How does the meaning of the text apply to life?
2. Ask Lots of Questions
If you notice, the methods I outlined above ask a lot of questions. The only way to dive in deeper and understand more is to ask the questions you want to know the answers to or ask about the things you don’t quite understand.
Who wrote it? What is the context? What is it speaking to me? What parts are difficult to understand? What part do I want to learn more about?
3. Do a Chapter or Verse Study
Read through a chapter or verse and dive deeper into that part by looking at the context, the history, what was going on at the time, things that stick out to you, etc.
4. Do a Book Study
Start with a book in the Bible and first look at the context, who they were writing to, what was going on at the time, etc. Then dive into the book looking at major themes and what the book is talking about along with who it is talking to, and how it can apply to you today.
5. Read Through the Entire Bible in Order
Many people do this by reading through the Bible in a year. There are lots of read through the bible in a year, in 6 months, in 3 months, plans on the internet. Reading through in order gives you a timeline of events and helps you place different stories and people of the Bible.
6. Do a Word or Theme Study
A concordance is really helpful for this. Pick out a word or theme you want to study, like God’s love, his peace, his joy, and search for places in the Bible that have this word or theme.
7. Take Your Time
You don’t have to read an entire chapter, you can read 1-2 verses or more and still have a good study. Let the Holy Spirit lead you. When you get to a point you want to look into further, stop, and study that part.
When I have my time with the Lord I usually think I have to do, do, do…read devotionals, read the bible, journal, pray, and all at the same time. God has been showing me that it’s okay to meditate on even just ONE word during my entire Bible study time, and nothing else. Let him lead you!
8. Practice Journaling
This is a favorite of mine. Write down what drew your attention, what the Holy Spirit is speaking, or what you are learning in your day. You will be surprised when you read back over it how much God is speaking to you daily! And how much you are learning. It’s such a fun way to recognize God’s hand in your life and experience him speaking to you and transforming you.
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