Personalizing Scripture





Bible Study Skills

 

Hi Everyone! Thanks for joining Bible Study Skills Day!

I have a question for you: Have you ever treated reading your Bible like something to ✔︎ … check off of your to-do list?

I’ll admit it, I have. I remember reading my Bible every day just to get a gold star beside my name in Sunday School Class.

The truth is, I was reading it everyday, but I had a hard time relating to it. So I asked my Sunday School teacher how something written so long ago could have anything to do with my life today. She told me to “pray about it.”

Honestly, I was not happy with that suggestion. If I get REALLY honest, I thought it was a boring list of do’s and dont’s, it was hard to understand and it was impersonal! Can anyone relate?

My goal is to focus on study methods to help us transform the way we study the Bible! In the coming weeks and weeks past, we’ll build on our Bible Study Skills.

So let’s get started!

Personalizing Scripture

Personalizing Scripture is super easy! It allows us to take timeless truths from God’s Word and apply them to our lives today! There is something so powerful in knowing that Jesus knows our name!

 

Let’s personalize this verse of scripture! “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 (You can use your favorite version of the Bible to personalize this verse as well)

Here are some things we can do to personalize Scripture:

·        Write it out. Use a journal, notecards or whatever you like, but give yourself enough room to work. (Writing things out will also help us to memorize it!)

·        Replace key pronouns with your name (or add your name). (This should sound as if God is speaking to you personally.)

·        Highlight words that stick out to you. (You can study those later.)

·        Look up words in the dictionary. (Even looking up words you’re familiar with can help deepen your understanding.)

·        Write synonyms to key words. (Choose a word that sounds like one you would personally use.)

·        Get personal! How is this verse speaking to you personally?

 

Prayer and reading our Bibles are two of the most important things we can do if we desire a personal relationship with God. We communicate with Him through prayer, and He communicates to us through His Word.

 

Blessings,

Cheryl