‘The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” Psalm 119:72
I. Making it a Priority
Why is it important to read and apply God’s word?
It is commanded. – “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8
We are commanded to read, meditate on and apply God’s word to our lives. The devotional bible study method enables us to do all three.
It nourishes our spirits. – “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
God’s Word is our spiritual food. We need to read it on a regular basis to grow and be strengthened in our faith.
It trains us in righteousness. – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” II Timothy 3:16
God wants to use His Word to teach, rebuke, correct and train us in righteousness.
It exposes our innermost selves. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Only God’s Word can show us what’s in our hearts. It cuts away our rationalizations and exposes our sin.
How do I get started?
Establish a time & place. Try and find a time of the day and a place to read your Bible each day.
Select a passage. We need to have a systematic plan for reading through the entire Bible. Bible reading plans are available in Christian bookstores and on-line.
Gather some tools. You will need a Bible & notebook for the devotional bible study method. You may also want to consider purchasing a parallel Bible that contains several translations and a Bible dictionary to define key terms. Spiral bound note cards are useful for scripture memory verses.
II. A Devotional Bible Study
The Main Objective:
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
The main objective of the devotional bible study method is application.
The Method:
Read ~ Read the passage slowly, out loud and repeatedly.
Meditate & Apply ~ Write these four things in your journal and check back later to see if you have put into practice what you learned.
1. Briefly summarize the passage.
2. What does the passage teach me about God’s will for a holy life?
3. Where and how do I fall short?
4. What are some practical steps I can take to obey God’s will?
Memorize ~ Choose a verse that reminds you of what you learned and try and memorize it.
The main objective of the devotional bible study method is application.
The Method:
Read ~ Read the passage slowly, out loud and repeatedly.
Meditate & Apply ~ Write these four things in your journal and check back later to see if you have put into practice what you learned.
1. Briefly summarize the passage.
2. What does the passage teach me about God’s will for a holy life?
3. Where and how do I fall short?
4. What are some practical steps I can take to obey God’s will?
Memorize ~ Choose a verse that reminds you of what you learned and try and memorize it.
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