WORK THESE WORDS INTO YOUR LIFE // A BLOG SERIES // PART 6
“Reading gives us breadth, but study gives us depth.” —Jerry Bridges
“Faith is not an achievement, it is a gift. Yet it comes only through the hearing and study of the Word.” —Martin Luther
“The Spirit is not given to make Bible study needless, but to make it effective.” —J.I. Packer
Acts 17:11 describes one of my favorite groups of people in the Bible. They were a group of Christians in a town called Berea. Today, Bible students affectionately refer to them as “the Berean Christians or just Bereans.” They became a model and pattern for what it looks like to hear truth taught, reflect on what is being taught, and then to test it with your own diligent study and research.
Acts 17:11 describes them like this:
“The Jews proved more generous-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they accepted the message most eagerly and STUDIED the Scriptures every day to see if what they were now being told [was] true.” —Acts 17:11 PH
Paul commended this group of believers because they “accepted the message” with eagerness and enthusiasm, but they also brought more than just raw passion and excitement to the experience. These believers respectfully and enthusiastically listened to what Paul taught, and then went home and opened up their Bibles — (keep in mind, they only had the OT) — and compared Paul’s teaching to the OT Scriptures. One translation says that “…they examined the Scriptures to see if they supported what Paul said…” (MSG)
This group wasn’t being difficult, they were being diligent. They were simply following the command of Jesus when He said, “Pay close attention to WHAT you hear…” (See Mark 4:24)
The Bereans didn’t leave Bible study to the paid professionals. They didn’t leave it to theologians and pastors. They believed that ordinary people like me and you, not only CAN, but actually NEED to read and study the Bible for ourselves. They believed that God wants all us to do more than just hear the Word, read it, meditate on it and/or memorize it. He invites us to study it!
Proverbs 25:2 says,
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”
God hides things FOR us. He doesn’t hide them FROM us. He longs for us to discover Him and the priceless treasures He has “hidden” for us in His Word! It is “the glory of kings.” And because of Jesus, you and I have become “kings and priests to God” (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6). So start “searching” things out.
The idea that, “Well, if God wants me to know it, I’m sure He’ll eventually show it…” is really just an excuse to be lazy and apathetic. The Word of God is filled with priceless treasures, just waiting for God’s people to discover them, claim them and act in faith on what God has already said!
The great revivalist, Leonard Ravenhill described it like this:
“One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it and believe it.” —Leonard Ravenhill
In 2 Timothy 2:15 Paul challenged his protégé, Timothy, with these words:
“STUDY and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15 AMP
The Living Bible paraphrases that verse like this: “know what His Word says and means.” That only comes through study.
The difference between reading and studying the Bible comes down to two things. When you study the Bible you,
1) always ask questions about what you just read, and,
2) you write down or record your insights.
Let’s break that down.
The “secret” to effective Bible study is asking questions about what you’re reading.
I believe that the ability to ask the “right” questions is a skill that anyone can learn.
Children are experts at question asking. If you’ve ever lived with or been around a three-year old, you know that they’re favorite question is, “Why? But, why? WHY?” Children seem to possess an insatiable sense of curiosity that drives them to ask that question again and again.
Unfortunately, the older we get, the less questions we ask. But QUESTIONS are the key to finding and discovering ANSWERS. Great students of the Bible learn to ask the “right” questions.
There are six classic questions every student learns to ask in any basic writing class. Do you remember them?
Six Classic Questions:
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
These are great questions to ask every time you study the Bible:
- WHO? Who wrote it? Who said it? Who are the principle people involved or described?
- WHAT? What did they write? What did they say?
- WHEN? When did they write or say it? What was the historical context?
- WHERE? Where did they write or say it? What was the cultural context?
- WHY? Why did they originally write it or say it?
- HOW? How does it apply to my life today?
THREE GREAT “WHAT?” QUESTIONS:
Here are three more great “WHAT?” questions to add to you list.
- WHAT does this passage teach me about GOD? (Who He is? What’s He like? What He has done?)
- WHAT does this passage teach me about ME? (About human beings, in general? About me, in particular? About, WHAT we were meant to be? HOW we were meant to live? And, WHAT has gone wrong?)
- WHAT does this passage teach me about the WAY I’m supposed to RESPOND? (WHAT has God done to address what has gone wrong? WHAT does He expect me to do in light of what He has done?)
SOME MORE GREAT “WHAT?” QUESTIONS:
- WHAT is the main subject of this passage?
- WHAT does the passage say about Jesus?
- WHAT is the context of the passage?
- WHAT is the main theme or big idea of the passage?
- WHAT did the passage mean to the original audience?
- WHAT does it mean to me?
- WHAT other passages reinforce this passage?
Finally, several years ago, Rick Warren came up with an acrostic that contains a series of nine questions you can ask yourself every time you read or study a passage of Scripture. While I don’t particularly like the “silliness” of the acrostic (SPACEPETS?), I do love the questions. Warren indicates that every time we study or meditate on a passage, we can glean every possible nutrient from the text by asking ourselves these nine questions.
S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. QUESTIONS:
Developed by Rick Warren
“Is there any…”
- S – Sin To Confess?
In other words, does this passage reveal a personal sin or temptation I struggle with and need to admit or confess to God?
- P – Promise To Claim?
Does this passage contain a promise I can or need to claim for my life personally, for my family, a friend or for my church?
- A – Attitude To Change?
Does this passage reveal an attitude I need to repent of, adjust or change?
- C – Command To Obey?
Does this passage include a command I need to obey? Is there something this passage is telling me to do or to stop doing?
- E – Example To Follow?
Does the passage describe an example that I need to follow?
For instance, if you’re reading Acts 16 that describes Paul and Silas being beaten, thrown into a prison cell and placed in chains but then choosing to “sing a robust hymn of praise to God,” God may want to challenge you to do the same in the middle of your circumstances or problems. He may be challenging you to worship Him even when things aren’t going your way.
Can you do what Paul and Silas did, and in the middle of your situation or circumstance, “…sing a robust hymn of praise to God”? Can you turn your pain into a prayer or into praise?
That’s an example you might need or want to follow.
- P – Prayer To Pray?
Does this passage contain a prayer that I need to pray?
- E – Error To Avoid?
Does this passage describe something I need to bypass or avoid?
- T – Truth To Believe?
The Bible contains absolute and authoritative truth. Sometimes a passage you’re studying describes a truth you needs to believe.
- S – Something To Thank God For?
Finally, maybe the passage describes something you can be thankful or grateful for. It could be a revelation of God’s character or the realization that He’s given you an incredible promise. When you’re reading and/or studying the Bible, be on the lookout for any opportunity to express thanksgiving and gratitude to God.
Study is another way to strengthen your grip on the “sword of the Spirit” and “work God’s Word into your life.” It’s not something relegated to the religious professional. It’s for every royal son and daughter of God!
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” —Proverbs 25:2
SOME OF MY FAVORITE BIBLE STUDY TOOLS and SITES:
ESV Study Bible (I use both a hardcopy and the digital version of the ESV SB. It is by far my favorite study Bible.)
BibleGateway.com (Allows me to view up to five translations at once.)
Blueletterbible.org (Several study helps, but I especially love to use this site for Word Studies.)
Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods – 12 Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word (An excellent book with 12 practical methods for Bible Study.)
