2 Steps to Have Fun Reading the Bible...
Have you ever thought reading the Bible is boring?
I did.
For the longest time, it was a dry, boring book that didn't excite me.
I even felt guilty or bad for not loving it.
However, fast forward to today...
Scripture is interesting, intruiging and soul filling.
I love taking my time with it.
What changed?
1) Inviting Holy Spirit
2) SOAP Strategy
Let's talk Strategy...
There are many ways to read the bible, so I will show you what works for me.
It may not work for you or some of the pieces may work for you.
Cool.
Use what works.
Ask God to help you with the rest.
Step 1: Invite the Holy Spirit
- Holy Spirit is the only one that can make the Bible interesting.
- There's no life or intruige in the book unless Holy Spirit stirs your heart and reveals things to you.
- "Holy Spirit, open my spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear. Make your words come to life and stir my soul. In Jesus name I pray Amen."
Step 2: SOAP Strategy
- This is a way to read that Bible that help you go deeper and get more out of what you read.
- Each letter of S-O-A-P is an action step.
- S = Scripture: Pick 1 chapter to read in the bible. If you don't know where, start with the book of John. Read slowly. Read outloud if you can. Then pick 1 verse that popped out at you the most and write it down under "S" in your journal or a piece of paper.
- O = Observation: Ask "Holy Spirit, what do you want me to observe or notice about this scripture? What are you trying to say to me?". Sit still and wait. Write down anything you see, sense or feel.
- A = Application: Ask "Holy Spirit, how does this apply to me right now?". Sit still and wait. Write down anything you see, sense or feel.
- P = Pray: Ask "Holy Spirit, how do you want me to pray into this?". Sit still and wait. Write down anything you see, sense or feel.
Here's what one of my teammates shared...
Scripture:
(Only need to pick 1 verse, but she did 9 ^_^)
Luke 13: 1-9
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Observation:
The Jewish people have believed that a person's suffering is parallel to their sins; therefore a person who suffers much, sinned much and is suffering the consequences of their actions. This had also been the belief of Job's friends. Jesus explains that these events show how fragile life is, but to change the tragedy of death to the blessing of life, repentance is needed. Jesus then calls for national repentance, because what is important is not our life now, but judgment after death.
Application:
Repentance is one of the difficult parts of our life; it means admitting our mistakes, our failures, our sins. We easily see sin in others but have much trouble seeing sin in ourselves. Yet this passage tells us repentance is imperative or else we will perish.
Prayer:
Father, I know I'm a sinner and is unworthy to even look up to heaven. Yet when it comes to admitting my sins, I hesitate. I don't like pointing out my frailties and struggles to please You. Give me the wisdom to reject that which pains You, and seek what glorifies You. Keep me from walking in sin. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I hope you are tickled to implement this into your family, business or work place.
This is an easy way to bring Jesus into your life and share Him with others.
It's light.
It's easy.
It's portable!
Cheers to sharing Jesus in a whole new way!
