Tagged: bible study

Tools for Your Quiet Time #7 – S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S.

This is post #7 in a series of posts “Tools for Your Quiet Time.”  You can find the earlier posts here: #1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5 - #6

SPACEPETS (no, it’s not a joke)

This method is another form of the Question method, only with more specific questions. The name of this study method comes from an acronym used to help you ask questions of the passage you are studying. I first became aware of this method from Pastor Rick Warren, as covered in his book, “Dynamic Study Methods” which is now out of print.

BENEFITS

  • This method will help you to consider the meaning of a passage from a wide variety of angles.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

  • A trustworthy Bible translation (ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, RSV)

HOW TO DO IT

  • Read your selected passage. Perhaps read it again to get a better feel for it. Make sure you have a good grasp of the situation and context, as well as the basic ideas in it.
  • Begin walking through the questions below, asking them to yourself as you read the passage again.

In this passage is there any…

  • Sin to confess? Do I need to ask forgiveness of anyone or make any restitution?
  • Promise to claim? Is it a universal promise? Have I met the condition(s)?
  • Attitude to change? Am I willing to work on a negative attitude and begin building toward a positive one?
  • Command to obey? Am I willing to do it no matter how I feel?
  • Example to follow? Is it a positive example for me to copy or a negative one to avoid?
  • Prayer to pray? Is there anything I need to pray back to God?
  • Error to avoid? Is there any problem that I should be alert to, or beware of?
  • Truth to believe? What new things can I learn about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or the other biblical teachings?
  • Something to praise God for? Is there something here I can be thankful for?

Tools for your Quiet Time #6 – The Word Emphasis Method

This is post #6 in a series of posts “Tools for Your Quiet Time.”  You can find the earlier posts here: #1 – #2 – #3 – #4 – #5

THE WORD EMPHASIS METHOD

This isn’t really a full-blown study method… it’s more of a devotional tool. But it has proven very helpful to me because of the repetitive and varied nature of it. Sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? You’ll see what I mean…

BENEFITS

  • This method will enable you to hear, read, or speak a particular verse or passage a number of times, which will help to expand the meaning in your mind.
  • The repetitive nature of this tool helps you to recall the scriptures you’ve studied more easily.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

  • A trustworthy Bible translation (ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, KJV, RSV)

HOW TO DO IT

  • Take any passage of scripture and read it slowly. A single verse or phrase is usually most manageable.
  • Reread the verse, emphasizing the first word. Take your time in considering the meaning that emphasis gives to the verse.
  • Reread the verse, emphasizing the second word. Take your time in considering the meaning that emphasis gives to the verse.
  • Reread the verse, emphasizing the third word… etc., etc.

EXAMPLE

  • Scripture: John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
  • FOR God so loved the world… (emphasizes what God’s “reason” was for what He did).
  • For GOD so loved the world… (emphasizes “who” is the primary mover/actor in this verse).
  • For God SO loved the world… (emphasizes the “degree” or “amount” of God’s love for the world).
  • For God so LOVED the world… (emphasizes what God felt/did)
  • etc., etc. etc.

Many people find this method to be of great value in getting the full meaning of a particular verse. It can seem somewhat repetitive (really?), but is well worth at least an occasional use.

Tools for your Quiet Time #3 – Topical Bible Study

This is the third post in a series of “Tools for your quiet time” – Here’s where you can find part 1 and part 2

TOPICAL BIBLE STUDY is is a tried-and-true method of learning what the scriptures say about various subjects. Faith, love, hope, joy, the glory of God. The Bible speaks of all these and thousands more. If you would like a very in depth way of studying a specific subject, the topical method of study is for you.

Over time (possibly a very long time, depending on which subject you choose), you will gain a very comprehensive knowledge of a specific subject the Bible addresses.

BENEFITS
You can truly gain a very comprehensive knowledge of a specific Biblical topic.

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED

  • A study Bible
  • An Exhaustive Concordance for your Bible version (NIV, ESV, etc.)
  • OR Decent Bible Software (www.e-sword.net is free, comes with many Bible versions, including the ESV, and is something I use every week in sermon preparation. It’s more than adequate for what we are discussing here.)
  • A notebook or journal

METHOD

  • Choose your topic of choice. Look up the topic in your concordance or with Bible software (a concordance in the back of a study Bible will only give you the most important verses where the subject is addressed. To find every instance of a subject, you’ll need to use an exhaustive concordance or Bible software).
  • In your Bible, look up the first verse you find about the subject.
  • Read it. Seek to understand the situation and verses surrounding it.
  • Finally, what is being said about the subject?
  • Write down what you discover.
  • Move on to the next verse and do the same.
  • Continue through the list.

As you go, you might find it helpful to categorize the ways the concept is used, so that you can keep them separated in your mind. The topical study method is not meant to be completed in one sitting. In fact, it can easily take a good deal of time to complete, depending on what subject you choose and how much time you devote to it in a given day. It’s best to view a topical study as a long-term project, one that you will complete by taking baby steps every day.

Sermon Audio – Celebrate Recovery Step 6, part 1

You can find audio to download here or play it below…