1. 12 Ways to study the Bible Session 1 The Devotional Method

2. The Aim Of All Bible Study Not Interpretation, But Application... 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1v22-24

3. The Key To All Bible Study Asking questions of the text Asking lots of questions of the text Asking the right questions of the text Keeping a record of the questions asked and the answers found

4. Preparing to Study Set the time aside Keep a notebook Equip yourself with the right tools Pray –Confess and deal with any known sin and ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit –Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your study

5. The 12 Methods in Brief 1.Devotional Method 2.Chapter Summary Method 3.Character Quality Method 4.Thematic Method 5.Biographical Method 6.Topical Method 7.Word Study Method 8.Book Background Method 9.Book Survey Method 10.Chapter Analysis Method 11.Book Synthesis Method 12.Verse by Verse Analysis Method

6. A Devotional Method Definition: Taking a passage (short or long) and meditating on it until the Holy Spirit reveals a way of applying it’s truth to your life. Why is application so important?

7. Application is... Important Necessary Hard work

8. A Devotional Method Four Steps to Practical Application 1.Pray for insight 2.Meditate on the verses 3.Write down the application 4.Memorise a key verse or verses

9. Four Steps to Practical Application Step 1: Pray 2 things you can always ask –Show me what you want me to do –Help me to share what you show me with others

10. Four Steps to Practical Application Step 2: Meditate Visualising the scene Emphasise words in the passage Paraphrase the passage Personalise the passage Use the S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S. acrostic

11. Sin to confess? Do I need to resolve to act? Promise to claim? Is it universal? Do I meet the criteria? Attitude to change? Negative to positive... Command to obey? Am I willing despite feelings? Example to follow or avoid? Prayer to pray? Anything to pray back to God? Error to avoid? Something to beware of or alert to. Truth to believe? What have I learnt about the Father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit or any Christian doctrine. Something to praise God for?

12. Four Steps to Practical Application Step 3: Write down an application Applications need to be... Personal Practical Possible Provable

13. A personal example Ecclesiastes 6v7 All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

14. Ecclesiastes 6v7 applied to me... 1.Personal I need to... 2.Practical I need to lose some weight 3.Possible I need to lose 10lbs 4.Provable I need to lose 10lbs by July 20th

15. Four Steps to Practical Application Step 4: Memorise a key verse or verses Find a way that works for you Memorise for a purpose Stick with it

16. How to use your notebook for a Devotional Study Preliminary information Prayer Meditation Application Memorisation

17. Luke 12v22-26 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

20. Some Suggested Passages for a Devotional Study Psalm 15 Psalm 34 Romans 12 1 Thessalonians 5v12-22 1 John 4

21. This form of study can fit into quiet times without destroying intimacy 2 Timothy 2v15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. NIV