This method can be used whether you have 10 minutes or 10
hours! Determine the amount of scripture you will cover based on the amount of
time you have. The intent is not a deep
scholarly study, but devotional in nature.
But it certainly can be a springboard for deeper study!
Read the passage.
1. What are the core facts in this passage?
In Summary: Write down the lessons/truths that
you find in the passage.
Write down your response to the questions.
Begin by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to lead your
study time and to open your spiritual eyes and ears so He can teach you what
you need to learn through the passage you are about to study.
Read the passage.
Write down your responses to the following three questions.
Who? What?
When? Where? Why? How? (All of these may not be answered in the passage.)
In Summary: Write down the facts OR a brief summary of the facts of the
passage.
2. What are the life lessons I can learn from
this passage?
Look for a
warning, a command, or a promise.
Is there an
example to follow or not to follow?
What is the
main truth or principle of the passage?
What does
the passage reveal about the character of God? (His attributes, ways of
relating to people, emotions, views about something, reasons to love Him more,
etc.)
Not all of
the above examples will be in every passage. These are only suggestions to help
you get started.
3.
What are some application questions that will
help me apply these lessons?
Look back at the facts(Q1) and the
lessons (Q2).
Write
down any application questions that help you apply this lesson to your
life, NOT yes/no questions.
Write down your response to the questions.
It is very difficult to write short summary statements of Scripture, because all of Scripture is important and we fear leaving out something very necessary when we try to be brief.
ReplyDeleteJan's comment one night as we were all sharing our summaries was that we don't have to rewrite or paraphrase the entire passage. Maybe it is best explained that we are simply trying to jog our memory as to what the passage was about, rather than trying to duplicate every important word. Or maybe we can view it as boiling it down to a core truth in as few words as possible.