One of my favorite ways to read and study scripture is to re-write and organize the information in a way that makes sense to me. I especially like this when reading the stories in the Old Testament. It makes them come to life for me and helps me pull out God’s truth. I hope it helps you as well!
Sometimes scripture seems so intimidating, but asking basic questions to understand the story is a great place to start.
One of the first things I ask is:
Who are the main characters? This is not earth shattering, but if you will write down everyone you read about in the story, you might be surprised at the characters you over look when just reading.
The next thing I write down is….
Where does the story take place? Don’t get caught up in trying to figure out where it is on the map and what the name is today. Yes, that is important, but there is a time and a place. For now, just write down all the places you see in the passage. I also, note any directions and landmarks.
Next…..
When does the story take place? Again, you don’t want to get bogged down in pinpointing a time in history. Keep it broad unless you know for sure. One of the easiest time frames is to determine Old or New Testament. Often the location will help determine a time frame. You can also look for clues like does it mention kings, do you know of relatives of the main characters, and does it refer to historical events?
After you’ve read through the story….
What do you think the point of the story is? I usually stop here and spend some time praying, asking God to show me why He would include this story in His Word.
Finally, I ask How does this relate to me today? Applying God’s truth to our lives today is what we always need to walk away with. Again, time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and understanding is recommended.
Now, use your notes and re-tell the story, filling in the time frame, who the characters are and how they are related, what the plot is, why you think God included it in the Bible and how it will affect your life today.
Take 20 minutes and try this on your own. Genesis 21:1-7 is a good passage to start with.