The Devotional Method

 Some of us may want to try the "Devotional Method" of Bible Study, as described by Rick Warren in his book "Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods."  Here is a brief outline and description:

1.  Pray

2.  Meditate

3.  Apply

4.  Memorize

1)  Pray - ask the Lord to give you insight into and understanding about the passage you are going to study.  Pray He would teach you and tell Him you are willing to hear what He has to share with you, and you are ready to obey!  :)

2)  Meditate - there are various ways to meditate on a passage of Scripture.  Here are some suggestions:

     A)  Visualize the scene in your mind.  Put yourself in the situation and imagine yourself as an active participant. 
           How would you feel? 
           What would you say? 
           What would you do?

     B)  Emphasize words - read a verse out loud several times and each time emphasize a different word.

     C)  Paraphrase the passage (either write your own, or read a published paraphrase).

     D)  Personalize the passage by putting your own name in place of the pronouns or nouns used.

     E)  Use the SPACEPETS acrostic (listed below as a reply to this discussion).

     F)  Pray the verse or passage back to God.

3) Apply - write out an application of the passage addressing four key factors.  

     A) Personal - write it in the first person singular (I, me)

     B) Practical - plan a specific course of action you intend to take

     C) Possible - make it something you know you can accomplish

     D) Provable - make it measurable, and set a follow up to check your success

4)  Memorize - pick a key verse from your study and commit it to memory - write it down on a post-it or index card and carry it with you throughout the day, regularly reviewing the verse.

SPACEPETS - Is there any...

1. Sin to confess?  Do I need to make any restitution
2. Promise to claim?  Is it a universal promise?  Have I met the condition(s)?
3. Attitude to change?  Am I willing to work on a negative attitude and begin building toward a positive one?
4. Command to obey?  Am I willing to do it no matter what I feel?
5. Example to follow?  Is it a positive example for me to copy, or a negative one to avoid?
6. Prayer to pray?  Is there anything I need to pray back to God?
7. Error to avoid?  Is there any problem that I should be alert to or beware of?
8. Truth to believe?  What new things can I learn about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or other Biblical teachings?
9. Something to praise God for?  Something to be thankful for?

Suggested starting points

1. a. Psalm 15
2. b. Psalm 34
3. c. Romans 12
4. d. I Thessalonians 5:12-22
5. e. I John 4