“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
2 Peter 1:3
If we are to help each other grow in Jesus, then we must be filled with the Bible.
Yes, there are absolutely parts that are hard to understand.
Yes, there are passages that may seem difficult to relate to.
Yes, it may be tough to know how to apply what we understand.
BUT… all of the Bible is useful, and in it, God has given us all we need for life and godliness. So, if we are to help each other become more like Jesus, then understanding and applying the Bible is of utmost importance.
A simple way we can apply the Bible is to chat over a sermon. Each Sunday, we share a little handout sheet that has the key points of the sermon, and some questions for application at the bottom. It can be helpful to use this sheet to reflect and think more deeply about what God is saying to us through his word.
Another way we can help each other read the Bible is to use the ‘Swedish Method.’* It’s a helpful tool to know and use in different situations - 121s, Bible Studies, on your own, etc.
PRAY
Firstly, it is always beneficial to pray before we read God’s word. The only way we will truly benefit from reading the Bible is by the Spirit bringing it to life in our hearts
READ
Take time to read the passage. Read it to understand what you’re reading, so take your time. It may help to read the passage more than once.
LIGHTBULB
Firstly, what shines out? What stuck out to you as you read the passage? Maybe a phrase, or particular verse. Maybe something you hadn’t thought of before, a theme, or an incident you hadn’t understood or known.
QUESTIONS
It’s great to ask questions. What things did you not understand from the passage? What words are confusing? What happened that you don’t get? Write down questions so you can come back to them – you might not get all the questions answered, and that’s ok!
CROSS
How does this passage show us Christ? If it’s in the Old Testament, how does it point forward to Jesus? If it’s New Testament, what does it tell us about Jesus? How do we see his character, his actions, his teaching?
ARROW
How then can we apply what we’ve read? What does it look like to repent and believe what we’ve read? What difference does this passage make to our daily lives?
SPEECH BUBBLE
Finally, how can we share what we’ve read and applied with others we know? What can we take to encourage other believers? How can we share something with folks we know who don’t yet know Jesus?
PRAY!
Take time to pray in response. Use words, phrases and thoughts from what you have read to shape your prayers. Pray the Lord would work in you by his Spirit to bring the word to life.
*It may or may not be called Swedish Method because this is a DIY Bible Study tool…
Check out here for more about the Swedish Method:
https://www.challies.com/christian-living/faith-hacking-the-swedish-method/