Dive Deep

We are going to divide this series into two main parts:

Scripture Reading (in our time with the LORD)

Prayer (in our time with the LORD)

We will begin with the Scripture Reading and look at our first method

Just note: these are not official names of Scripture reading methods…just my names for this series

Purpose:

The purpose behind this method is that there is more to the Scriptures than just our surface level understanding. We should look to the Scriptures as a largely untapped wealth sitting on your bookshelf. Words with the power to change hearts and lives and bring us to look like Jesus if we would only read deeply and apply them to our lives.

Tools to help accomplish this method:

Pray before you begin

Part of the role of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the meaning and depth of the Scriptures

Ask/Write Questions

We will use this method for an example below

Understand how to use a Concordance

This would best help with the dive deep topically method

Free Online Commentaries

Two Methods:

Dive Deep topically (understanding the nature of prayer; or the character of God [our last series])

For instance if you were to study all of the prayers in the New Testament, you would find the majority of the time, someone is praying for someone else, the person praying almost never prays for a change in situation, but rather greater understanding and faith in that particular situation

This can help you better understand how to pray...by seeing how Jesus and the Disciples prayed

Dive Deep by the book (take reading it slowly, dwell on each verse for as long as you can)

Example: Romans 1:2-3a - Ask questions method

Who & What

Who...is the ‘He’ in “He promised beforehand”

God? Well yes, but read further and examine each word

Follow the pronouns…

“He promised….His Prophets...His SON”

So yes the answer is God, more specifically, it is God the Father being talked about.

What...is the ‘He’ (God the Father) doing

He:

Promises beforehand

Through His prophets (the Old Testament Prophets)

About the Son - that is Jesus

You just learned, by asking 2 questions, about God the Father, and part of His role in Salvation

Now if you were to continue this method through verse 4 you would learn about each member of the Trinity in their role in Salvation

So, learn to ask questions!

Here’s what I try to do...I ask who, what, when, where, why, how, questions about everything I can, as many times as I can…

There is not just one question you can ask...for example:

What is God the Father doing?

What is the purpose of what He is doing?

When did He do this?

Was it accomplished?

When was it accomplished?

How was it accomplished?

Etc…

Ask questions about everything you read.

If it’s a quote from the Old Testament...where is it from?

What does the rest of that passage say?

Why did the author quote this passage here?

You might not always get an answer but that’s okay. because….

Remember, this will take time. You will not read for 2 seconds and have a deep and profound thought. No deep and profound thought has ever come quickly. Give your brain a workout. Think about hard things, take time, pray, reflect, go back and write more….etc.