Preparation

Am I willing to change because of what I find? Submit to what the Holy Spirit will show me? Is my heart open and teachable?

Observation

What can I find here? Who wrote and to whom is it written? What is it about? Are there repeated words or phrases? Where was it written and when? What else was happening? How is it written (poetry, letters, history, wisdom/sayings, prophecy, etc.)? How does style of writing affect understanding? How does the style of thought in the original language affect the text? Why was the section written? Why is God showing it to me right now?

Study

What background (historical, cultural, literary, etc.) would help me to understand the text? What do important words really mean? Are they used in an unusual way? Am I bringing assumptions to my understanding of which I am not aware? Can I use other resources (dictionaries, concordances, word studies, commentaries, discussion, etc.) to expand my understanding?

Examination

Does the text offer sin I must confess? A promise to claim? An attitude I must change? Command to obey? Example to follow? Prayer to pray? Error to avoid? Truth to believe? For what can I thank God?

Application

Am I viewing my journey with God as a cruise ship or a battle ship? What do I intend to DO with what I am learning? I am better off with a little truth that I DO than a lot of truth that I am NOT doing. How does what God is saying here apply to my life right now? Am I committed to follow through in obedience?

Meditation

Am I a tourist here or an explorer? Am I gleaning the high points only this time, or digging for the exciting truth? Is my heart open to the Word's depth?

Memorization

How can I apply the truth if it is not hidden in my heart? I need to digest the truth, one bite at a time, absorb it to live it out.

Validation

How do I know I am yielded to live what I study? How much do I submit to God to control my tongue, my service to others, my heart? Do I live as if I believe what God says is true? Is my mind being renewed constantly, unstained by the world? Where is the servant's heart of Christ? Is it in me?

Some Verses to consider after Bible study: James 1:19-27, Nehemiah 8:1-18, Joshua 1:8-10

Copyright 1998, G Efting