Observation- What do I see?

The bulk of your time is spent here. Ask a lot of questions of the text.

Read, reread, then read again. Consider reading the whole book in one sitting before doing a deeper dive. Prayerfully consider the passage, meditating on it. Mark anything confusing or words you don’t understand. Look for these six things:

Six Things To Look For:

• Emphasized- amount of space, stated purpose, order  
• Repeated- if it gets repeated, it gets remembered
• Related- questions and answers, cause and effect, if/then conditions
• Alike- similes, metaphors
• Unalike- contrast
• True to Life- what does it tell us about reality

Interpretation: What does it mean?

Every passage has ONE interpretation, with MANY applications. Here we are finding that one interpretation. What was the intent and purpose the author had the first time he wrote this?

• Content- essentially, do the work of observation.
• Context

• Literary Context- How is this connected to the words before and after today’s passage? How does it all connect?
• Historical Context- When, where, what, why?
• Cultural Context- What was culture like when this was written?
• Geographic Context- Where did this take place?
• Theological Context- Where does this passage fit in in the whole context of scripture? Is it before or after Christ’s life, death and resurrection?

• Comparison- Check cross references, define words, character studies
• Consultation- Commentaries, articles, atlases, etc.

Try paraphrasing the passage and summarizing the author's intent in one to two sentences.

Application: How should this change me?

Based on what you read, how should you live differently? Worship differently? Understand God differently? Who do you need to seek forgiveness from or serve? Here are some questions to help you consider how this passage should change you. .

        Nine Questions to Ask

1. Is there an example for me to follow?
2. Is there a sin to avoid?
3. Is there a promise to claim?
4. Is there a prayer to repeat?
5. Is there a command to obey?
6. Is there a condition to meet? (look for “if” statements)
7. Is there a verse to memorize?
8. Is there an error to mark?
9. Is there a challenge to face?