STrategies while reading
Handwrite it
Copy the scripture by hand. Feel free to underline or make a bulleted list. You can switch up print/cursive/all caps or size or color. This exercise slows you down - intentionally.
Try it:
“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”
Question-ify
Change statements into questions to provoke thought.
““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
Example questions for v 24-25:
IN WHAT WAYS are those who hear and do Jesus’ words like a man who builds his house on a rock?
WHEN did the rain fall?
AM I LIKE the wise man?
WHAT is my house?
WHY does a foundation make a difference?
“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Try it:
How can you turn the statements from v26-27 into questions?
Mark it up
Use a printed out or handwritten copy of the scripture you are studying. Choose some words or themes to focus on and color code or draw symbols everywhere you see that in the text.
Examples:
Make something visual
Make a chart, an infographic, or even a tattoo design.
Examples:
Compare/Contrast Chart
Flow Chart
Stick figure comic strip
Timeline
Idea web
use some “template” questions
Pre-made Bible studies are great, but you are limited to the parts of the Bible the study author chose. These questions can be used to help you begin studying wherever you are reading.
But remember, the goal isn’t to fit every piece of scripture into a pre-made mold. Rather, it is to force ourselves to interact with, really think about, remember, and respond to what we are reading.
4, 3, 2, 1 Go
On Your Own (HHYC)
Discovery Bible Study
(Bookmark courtesy of Gabe & Erica Wait)
Five P’s of Bible Study (Priscilla Shirer)
Bookmark inspired by Can We Talk by Priscilla Shirer