If you have been reading your Bible and now wish to dive into studying it, I have an excellent resource for you. Several years ago at our church, my husband and I participated in a class focused on Bible study methods. The book they used was written by one of my favorite pastors, Rick Warren. It's called," Rick Warrens Bible Study Methods
There are 12 different study methods he presents in the book, but I'm going to talk about my favorite one. It is called the Chapter Summary Method. The first step is to choose the chapter you want to summarize. There are a few he recommends in his book,
1 Corinthians chapter 13, 2 Timothy chapter 2, 1 John chapter 1, John chapter 17, and Luke (chapter by chapter). Of course, you can start anywhere you choose. I like guidance , so I chose 1Corinthians to start.
Here is a breakdown of the chapter summary method:
First, read the chapter 4-5 times. I know that sounds like a lot, but the chapters aren't typically long .Plus, I don't know about you, but when I read something for the first time, my mind feels like a circus with thoughts being juggled about!
Second, give the chapter a title. Something simple that will help you remember what it's about.
Next, does the chapter have specific people it mentions? Make a list of those.
Are there specific verses that resonate with you? Write those down, either in completion, or the verse numbers.
Are there any challenges, such a verses you don't understand or want to look into further? Write those down so you can look into those later.
If the verses you are reading have related verses in other books of the Bible, they will typically be listed alongside the verses. For example, 1 Corinthians 13:1 says, "If I could speak all the languages of earth and angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." (Great verse, by the way!) Alongside that verse in my Bible (NLT) is 1Timothy:5 which says," The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith." You can see how those verses are related in that they are both stressing the importance of love.
Are any of the verses talking about Jesus? Is Jesus the main character? Are the verses symbolizing Jesus' character? These are things you can take note of. Sometimes it may not be obvious at first, but if you focus on the verses and the subject of the chapter, you will see Jesus and/or His character displayed.
Main lesson- What is the overall lesson of the chapter? There may be one or there may be more. Briefly summarize the chapter in your own way. Sometimes it's helpful to imagine yourself trying to explain it to someone who hasn't read it or doesn't understand it.
And finally, how can you apply the main lesson to your life? Does it speak to your life now or your life in the past? How could you use this lesson to help someone else? Afterall, we are called to be disciples! When we learn about Jesus, His life and how He sacrificed His own life for us, it is our duty to share with others!
If you would like to purchase Rick Warren's book, click on the title above. It is also available on Amazon.
Disclaimer: I am NOT affiliated with Rick Warren's book , nor do I make a commission.
If you would like to download a study form, I have one here you can print.
If you enjoyed this blog, please scroll down to rate and leave a comment.
Thanks for reading! God bless !
This might be a study guide I would actually continue to use. Thank you for sharing
Very interesting and helpful!