Engaging His Word

When I read a portion of Scripture, unless I actively engage myself in the reading, I walk away unchanged.  Mindlessly reading His Word without seeking truth to apply to my life and to encourage others is foolish. Like studying myself in the mirror and forgetting what I look like…

 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. – James 1:22-24

In order to study and apply Scripture to my life, I need a systematic approach. A Bible Study method with enough freedom to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me through His Word.

Many years ago I attended an AnGeL conference by Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham’s daughter). She introduced a simple but engaging way to study Scripture, the 3-Question Study Method.

I contacted the wonderful staff at AnGeL ministries to get permission to share her approach with the readers of Do Not Depart. They welcomed the opportunity.

The 3-Question Method

Each week one chapter of the Bible is studied. The chapter is divided into five sections with about 5-7 verses targeted each day. For each verse do the following:

1. Read God’s Word
2. List the facts (What does God’s Word say?)
3. Learn the lessons (What does God’s Word mean?)
4. Listen to His voice (What does God’s Word mean to me?)

Let’s do try this method together:

1. Read Galatians 1:3-4:

 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

2. What does God’s Word say? (facts):

• Verse 3- Grace & peace to you from God our Father;
• Verse 4- Jesus gave himself for our sins, to keep us from evil, according to God’s will

 3. What does it mean? (lessons):

• Verse 3- True grace and peace comes from above, not from men
• Verse 4- We need to be rescued from sin. Jesus rescued us according to God’s will.

 4. What does it mean for me? (listen):

• Verse 3- Do I seek grace and peace from people or from God?
• Verse 4- Am I aware of my need to be rescued? Do I realize that only Jesus, who gave His life for me, can be my Rescuer?

Typically I would read the entire passage (usually 5 to 7 verses). Then answer all 3 questions for the first verse. I would continue answering the 3 questions with each subsequent verse.

My favorite aspect of this method is its use with any portion of Scripture, anywhere I am (home, work, vacation, etc.). All you need is a Bible, paper, pen and the Holy Spirit.

On the AnGeL Ministries website you can find wonderful free resources, including an overview of the Bible Study method (Learning to Hear His Voice: A Journey to Jesus) with a video introduction. You can download a 10-week study (Journey to Jesus) to learn the 3-Question method.  She offers several other free Bible studies using this method (Acts, Ephesians, 1 & 2 Peter, John).

Have you used an inductive study method like the 3-Question approach?