R.E.F.L.E.C.T.

During “Legacy” we gave some helpful tips for Bible study using the acronym “REFLECT.”

Read

It seems obvious, yet so many Christians want insight into how to live their lives while neglecting to read God’s word, our primary source for that insight. You can’t reflect on what you haven’t read. You can’t gain insight into what you don’t study. The more you read God’s word, the broader and deeper your ability will be to reflect on it.

Examine

Read for understanding. Examine each word to make sure you understand the sentence. Don’t worry about how much ground you cover but instead concentrate on how much you understand. Pay close attention. Don’t just skim over something because you don’t understand it; understanding is the point.

Focus

Pay attention to the context of what you are reading. Read what came before and what goes after in order to gain insight into the point of the passage. Doing this can make an otherwise obscure passage become clear in its meaning. It can also keep you from misinterpreting a passage’s meaning.

Listen

Before you begin reading spend a moment in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to give you understanding and insight. This is a divine book, seek divine guidance.

Explore

After you take the other steps begin to explore what others say about the passage. Join a small group study. Use a study Bible. There are several good study Bibles; the NIV Study Bible would be an excellent choice. Consider purchasing a Bible Study program for your computer. There are a number of programs available; you can find them on sites like christianbook.com or amazon.com. There are also some free Bible Study programs available online. Feel free to call the office for recommendations or with any questions you may have about these resources.

Compare

Compare and cross-reference words, or topics, to other passages of scripture. Read the passage in a different Bible translation. A study Bible, Nave’s Topical Bible, and an exhaustive concordance will be of great help in this! Some helpful websites include: biblestudytools.com, bible.org, and biblegateway.com.

Translate

Put the passage in your own words. Ask the question “What does this passage mean to me?” Next, look for an application in your life; ask the question “What does this passage mean for me?”