Category: Resources

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.

Today’s method we’re sharing involves a three-step process. As we study a passage using this method, we’re like investigators doing a deep dive asking three sets of questions. We’ll share the three steps and some key questions and encourage you to study Psalm 1. 

1. Observation: “What does it say?” or ”What do I see?”

As you look at the verse, what words stick out? Are any words repeated? Look at the context of the verse and passage, specifically looking at the verse prior and following. Is the passage/verse a question, statement, or command? Is the writer describing something or recounting a story or narrative? What did the author see when they wrote the passage? Try to put yourself in their shoes and make some observations. Practically, you can mark anything you observe in your bible or in a journal.

2. Interpretation: “What does it mean?”

What do you think the author intends in this passage? This is where you can ask a bunch of questions of the text and where you seek to find answers to those questions. For example, if you studied John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”) you could ask: Why is Jesus crying? What led Him to start crying? Are there any other times Jesus wept? As you study the passage and its context, you put your questions and answers together as you attempt to interpret the verse/passage.

3. Application: “How does it work?” or “What do I do?”

Now that we’ve made some observations and made efforts to understand what the Scripture means, we need to figure out what we do with it. How does this passage apply to me? What do I do about it? How will this passage impact my life or the lives of those around me? James 1:22-25 describes a man who looks in the mirror and sees what he looks like and then turns around and forgets what he saw in the mirror. We don’t want to be people who look into God’s Word and forget what it says. Rather, we want to be people who allow God’s Word to change and transform us, so that we might become more and more like Jesus Christ.

Remember, the best method to study the Bible is the method that you will use. Keep engaging and studying scripture. His Word is a light, it is eternal, it stands firm (Psalm 119). Today’s method is the APPLE method. Using A-P-P-L-E, we’ll dig into Hebrews 12:1-2. Grab a journal, Bible, and pen to get started. 

A- List any ATTRIBUTES about God you learn or observe from the passage. (Describe His character. What is He like?)

P- List any PROMISES from God you learn or observe from the passage . (What has He done? What will He do?)

P- List any life PRINCIPLES hidden in the text. (Are there commands? What is God asking of His people?)

L- List any LESSONS learned. (Any sins to avoid? Are there examples of ungodliness? What is God trying to teach His people? What is God trying to teach me?)

E- List any EXAMPLES to follow. (In what practical way can I implement this truth? What action needs to be taken?)

It’s important to remember that there’s no one “right” way to study scripture. The most important thing is that you are studying it. God’s Word doesn’t return void (Isaiah 55:11), so just by engaging with Scripture, you are going to grow and benefit from it. Today’s method, similar to yesterday’s, involves another set of questions for us to ask ourselves after reading the passage. With a journal nearby, these five questions can help us explore each passage on a deeper level: 

1. What do you like about this passage? What emotions does this passage stir up in you? What jumps off the page at you?
2. What surprises you about this passage? Did you read anything you’d never thought about before? What makes you go, “huh” as you read it?
3. What do you learn about God? What does this passage teach you about the character of God? Any attributes of God that this passage highlights?
4. What do you learn about humanity? What does this passage teach you about human nature? Any patterns you see that are still repeated today?
5. How do you apply these truths to your life? What can you take from this passage and apply to your life right now? How are these truths the same today as they were thousands of years ago?

These questions give us a little bit of everything. They can help you categorize your thoughts, feelings, and convictions after reading a passage. It also gives you an opportunity to apply what you read and live out what it means. Take some time today and practice this method with the passage below.

Today’s method we’re sharing involves a three-step process. As we study a passage using this method, we’re like investigators doing a deep dive asking three sets of questions. We’ll share the three steps and some key questions and encourage you to study one verse.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Hebrews 3:13

1. Observation: “What does it say?” or ”What do I see?”

As you look at the verse, what words stick out? Are any words repeated? Look at the context of the verse and passage, specifically looking at the verse prior and following. Is the passage/verse a question, statement, or command? Is the writer describing something or recounting a story or narrative? What did the author see when they wrote the passage? Try to put yourself in their shoes and make some observations. Practically, you can mark anything you observe in your bible or in a journal.

2. Interpretation: “What does it mean?”

What do you think the author intends in this passage? This is where you can ask a bunch of questions of the text and where you seek to find answers to those questions. For example, if you studied John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”) you could ask: Why is Jesus crying? What led Him to start crying? Are there any other times Jesus wept? As you study the passage and its context, you put your questions and answers together as you attempt to interpret the verse/passage.

3. Application: “How does it work?” or “What do I do?”

Now that we’ve made some observations and made efforts to understand what the Scripture means, we need to figure out what we do with it. How does this passage apply to me? What do I do about it? How will this passage impact my life or the lives of those around me? James 1:22-25 describes a man who looks in the mirror and sees what he looks like and then turns around and forgets what he saw in the mirror. We don’t want to be people who look into God’s Word and forget what it says. Rather, we want to be people who allow God’s Word to change and transform us, so that we might become more and more like Jesus Christ.