Deepen

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
 
-II Timothy 3:16-17
The Message

Sometimes digging into the Bible on your own can seem intimidating.  Here are some easy ways to start breathing God’s word. 


10/10/10

This study is done best with a small group.  Each group member simply reads the bible, on their own for ten minutes.  For the next 10 minutes everyone writes any thoughts that came to mind while they were reading.  For the last ten minutes each person in the group just shares what they read and wrote.  This is a great way to learn about the Bible as well as the people you study with.


S.O.A.P.

To do this Bible study you need a pen and a journal.  Acrostics can come across cheesy, but they’re simple and they work.  Simply pick a passage and follow these steps.

Scripture:  Simply write down the verse, or passage you are interacting with. 

Observation:  Write down an observation about the scripture you just wrote.       (Example:  This passage shows me _____ about God.)

Application:  Apply what you observed about God.  (Because God is _____ I know that I need to _____.)

Prayer:  Write down a prayer about what your observed and applied to your life.



One Verse Study

This study is more about living the word than memorizing it.  All you have to do is get a note card and write one verse on it that applies to your life.  Keep that note card with you for a week.  Instead of trying to memorize the verse for a week focus on becoming a living example of the verse.


P.R.A.Y.

Sometimes figuring out how to pray can be just as difficult as meeting God in his word.  Here is another reminder that makes relating to God through prayer easier.

Praise:  Take some time to praise God for what he’s doing in your life.

Repent:  Let God know how desperate you are for him and share with God your moral shortcomings (Don’t be shy he knows them anyways).

Ask:  Ask God for things you and even those around you need. 

Yield:  Let God take control of your life.  When I say this I mean your will, your gifts, goals, and dreams.  God has given you all this stuff anyways.  This is a great time to give it back to him.


Some Great Online Tools

Biblegateway.com:  This is site offers a great search engine for finding verses.  It also allows you to quickly look at passages in other translations.

BlueLetterBible.org:  Study page that offers many study tools such as bible language tools, dictionaries, and commentaries.

MarkMoore.org:  Home page of Ozark Christian College professor Mark Moore.  This has a great Q&A section, as well as essays and messages on common Christian concepts.

268generation.com:  Home site of Passion ministries.  Offers great message downloads as well as a great daily bible study.