Rubbish at Bible Study 5: The Devotional Method

Devotional Method.

* The book recommends starting with the least ‘technical’ end of Bible Study, in order to learn the key skill of ‘Application’ without which Bible Study is just about knowledge.

Here's a summary of Rick's instructions. There is a link to the form you need at the end of this section. Try going through 2 Corinthians 1 with this method, and we'll compare notes next Thursday night. Then post comments to let me know that this makes sense, whether or not you've accessed the form ok, and how your study is going.

Four Steps to application, as outlined on the form provided:


1: Pray for insight.
* Ask God’s help to apply the passage to your life.
* Ask to be able to obey Him.
* Ask to be able to share His truth with others.
* On the form, tick that you’ve done this, or note anything specific you asked.


2: Meditate by one, some or all of these methods, and make notes of your thoughts and observations:

* Visualized narrative:
Put yourself in a Biblical situation, or in a Biblical character’s shoes. Note your thoughts, reactions and feelings.

* Word Emphasis:
Go through a verse or phrase emphasizing different words in turn, and note what you learn.

* Paraphrase:
Put a sentence, verse or passage into your own words. This helps you to understand the text, and then apply it in a relevant way.

* Personalize:
Put your name in when you/I/they are mentioned. Note down the effect this has, and what it implies for you personally.

* SPACE PETS!
(Bizarre name, but tends to become a big favourite for digging into a passage!)

Look for these categories and note them down:
> Sin to confess?
> Promise to claim - universal or conditional?
> Attitude to change?
> Command to obey?
> Example to follow?
> Prayer to pray back to God?
> Error to avoid?
> Truth to believe?
> Something to praise God for?

* Pray the verse or passage back to God.

* If you want to use reference books or resources, such as commentaries, dictionaries, or any of the online tools from Session 1, feel free - but you don’t have to.


3: Write out an application:
* Personal: I need to ...
* Practical: I need to do ...
* Possible: Achievable and realistic.
* Provable: When? Will you know whether you achieved it or not? (A 'SMART' target)
* Consider being accountable and telling someone you trust so that they can pray, support, encourage, advise, etc.


4: Memorize a key verse.
* One that summarizes the message of the section you have studied.


5: End by praying.

* You can use the template form provided on PC/laptop
* or print it and write on it
* or use the layout/categories in a notebook.

NB: Rick advises writing something, as it helps you process what you’ve learned.

The template form to help you with this study outline can be found:
Here

When the page has loaded, choose the green download button on the bottom righthand corner of the screen.

Then save the pdf if you want to print it and write on it, or choose the Word Doc if (like me) your handwriting is so bad that you need to type on it and save it.

Have fun!