Books

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts

Context

• What has happened so far in the narrative? Have there been any major events, characters

or themes?

• What has happened just prior to the section you are reading?

Observation

• What do you learn about the main characters in this section? How does the author describe

them? How do they describe themselves?

• Is time or place significant in the events that happen in the passage?

• Is there a conflict or high point in the passage?

• Do you think there is a main point or theme in this section of the story?

• What surprises are there?

Meaning

• Are there any ‘editorial’ comments from the author about the events in the narrative? How

do these comments illuminate what is happening?

• Does someone in the narrative learn something or grow in some way? How? What does this

person learn?

• What does the passage reveal about who Jesus is, and what he came into the world to do?

• How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?

Application

• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?

• Is there some attitude you need to change?

• What does this passage teach you about being a disciple of Jesus?

Books

Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah

Context

• What has happened so far in the narrative? Have there been any major events, characters

or themes?

• What has happened just prior to the section you are reading?

Observation

• What do you learn about the main characters in this section? How does the author describe

them? How do they describe themselves?

• Is time or place significant in the events that happen in the passage?

• Is there a conflict or high point in the passage?

• Do you think there is a main point or theme in this section of the story?

• What surprises are there?

Meaning

• Are there any ‘editorial’ comments from the author about the events in the narrative? How

do these comments illuminate what is happening?

• Does someone in the narrative learn something or grow in some way? How? What does this

person learn?

• How does the passage point forward to what God is going to do in the future? Does it

prophesy or anticipate Jesus Christ in some way?

• How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?

Application

• How does this passage challenge your understanding about who God is and what he is like?

• Is there some attitude or behaviour you need to change?

Books

Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2 and 3 John, and Jude

Context

• What can you learn about the person or situation to which the letter is written?

• What clues are there about the author and his circumstances?

• What was the main point of the passage immediately before this one? Are there logical or

thematic connections to the passage you are reading?

Observation

• Are there any major sub-sections or breaks in the text? Are there key connecting words (for,

therefore, but, because) that indicate the logical flow of the passage?

• What is the main point or points? What supporting points does the author make?

• What surprises are there in the flow of the argument?

Meaning

• How does this text relate to other parts of the book?

• How does the passage relate to Jesus?

• What does this teach you about God?

• How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?

Application

• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?

• Is there some attitude you need to change?

• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?

Books:

Psalms, Song of Songs, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job

Context

• Are there any clues about the circumstances in which the passage was written?

• What has happened so far?

Observation

• Are there repetitions or multiple instances of similar ideas? Do these repetitions make a

particular point, or point to the structure of the passage?

• What images or metaphors does the author use? What do they indicate about God or the

other people in the text? What might they indicate about modern readers?

• What is the tone of the passage? What emotions is the author arousing?

• What is the main point or points?

• What surprises are there?

Meaning

• Are there specific instructions/commands given to the reader? Does this passage mention

any consequences for not following God’s commands?

• How does the author motivate the reader/audience, or make his appeal?

• What does the passage teach us about God, and his people, and life in his world?

• Does the passage point forward to Jesus? Is the gospel anticipated or foreshadowed in some

way?

Application

• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?

• Is there some attitude you need to change?

• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?

Books

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi

Context

• Are there any clues about the circumstances in which the prophecy was given or written?

• Are any people or places mentioned that you aren’t familiar with? (Chase them up in earlier

parts of the book, or refer to a Bible dictionary or commentary.)

• Are other bits of the Old Testament mentioned or alluded to in the passage? What part do

these ‘memories’ play in the text?

Observation

• Are there repetitions or multiple instances of similar ideas? Do these repetitions make a

particular point, or point to the structure of the passage?

• Paying attention to when the prophet is speaking and when God is speaking, what does the

passage tell us about God’s plans? What does it tell us about God’s character?

• What kind of human behaviour, if any, is condemned or rewarded?What response is called

for (if any)?

• What is the main point or points?

Meaning

• Are there specific instructions/commands given to the reader? Does this passage mention

any consequences for not following God’s commands?

• Does the text have a sense of expectation about something happening in the future? What is to

be expected and when? How should this motivate action in the present?

• Does the passage point forward to Jesus? Is the gospel anticipated or foreshadowed in some

way?

Application

• How is your own situation similar to or different from those being addressed?

• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?

• How does this passage lead you to trust God and his promises in Jesus?

• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?

Book

Revelation

Context

• Are there any clues about the historical circumstances the literature is addressing?

• Are other bits of the Bible mentioned or hinted at in the passage? What part do these

‘memories’ play in the text?

Observation

• What images are used in the passage? What effect do they have?

• What emotions does the passage arouse (e.g. fear, expectation, awe)?

• How does the passage seek to reveal what God is like? Where in this passage might we find

hope for men and women?

• Is there a crisis in the passage? What is the tension/conflict about, and how does it relate to

readers?

Meaning

• Are there specific instructions/commands given to the reader? Does this passage mention

any consequences for not following God’s commands?

• Does the text have a sense of expectation about something happening in the future? What

is to be expected and when? How should this motivate action in the present?

• Does the passage point to Jesus? Is the gospel foreshadowed or looked back upon in some way?

Application

• How is your situation similar to or different from those being addressed?

• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?

• How does this passage lead you to trust God and his promises in Jesus?

• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?