Don’t go looking for the “right” way to make a chart. Many people might examine the same passage of Scripture and come up with a completely different—yet equally effective—way to present the material. Instead, look more for variety. Then when you begin to think of how to compose your own charts, you’ll have a good assortment of possibilities to get you started.
41
H
OW TO
S
TUDY A
S
ECTION OF
S
CRIPTURE
Read the entire section completely. In fact, try reading it two or three times, perhaps in different translations.
Identify the paragraphs, and put a label or title on each paragraph. Remember that the paragraph is the basic unit of study. So it’s important to grasp the main idea or theme of each paragraph, and then state that in a word or two.
Evaluate each paragraph in light of the other paragraphs. Use the six clues you’ve already learned: things that are emphasized, things that are repeated, things that are related, things that are alike, things that are unlike, and things that are true to life.
Evaluate how the section as a whole relates to the rest of the book, using the same six principles.
Try to state the main point of the section. See if you can boil it down to one word or a short phrase that summarizes the content.
Keep a list of observations on the section. Better yet, record them in your Bible, using brief, descriptive words.
Study the persons and places mentioned. See what you can learn about them that throws light on the section as a whole.
Keep a list of your unanswered questions and unresolved problems. Those become avenues for further investigation.
Ask yourself: What have I seen in this section that challenges the way I live? What practical issues does this passage address? What change do I need to consider in light of this study? What prayer do I need to pray as a result of what I’ve seen?
Share the results of your study with someone else.
These suggestions are reprinted from the end of chapter 24 of
Living By the Book.
If you desire further review, you’ll find more specific examples in that chapter.
42
M
AKING A
S
TART
WITH
Y
OUR
C
HART
As you study a text, assign titles and labels to the content in a way that summarizes the material. Be creative. Placing your own titles on the verses, paragraphs, sections, and books of the Bible is one way to “read acquisitively” and make the text your own. They help you retain your insights in neat packages.
As you visualize your chart, ask: What are the relationships? What am I trying to show? What’s this chart all about? When I’ve finished it, how am I going to use it?
