SPECKA is an interactive Bible study method used around the world to dive into the Word and gets everyone involved in processing and talking about a Bible passage.
SPECKA is an acronym that makes it easy to remember this study technique. I’ve used this method with adults in a small group setting, during personal Bible study time, and even with my kids!
SPECKA is a great tool to put in our Bible study tool belt as it gives us a tangible way to think through Scripture and provides a specific framework to glean some biblical truth from a given passage.
STEPPING INTO SPECKA
First, read a short passage from the Bible. (The Gospels or the book of Acts are great starting places to learn the ropes for this method.) Then work through each letter of SPECKA and write down your answers in a journal.
Here’s what SPECKA means:
S stands for sin. We see if there’s a sin to confess or that created a problem in the text.
P stands for promise. We look for any promises God made.
E stands for example. We think through what the people in the passage did and whether or not it’s an example to follow or not follow.
Even after pinpointing a specific action, the key is to think through the underlying principle. For example, when Jesus calls Levi to follow him, he does (Mark 2:14). But the underlying principle is something about who Jesus is compels Levi to give up everything to follow him.
C stands for command. We determine if God gave any commands in the text.
K stands for knowledge. Based upon what we read (or heard), what do we learn about God, ourselves, or the world?
A stands for application. We think through what we read from the Bible today and how this should impact the way we think, pray, speak, act, or view God.
Remember we don’t want to force an application, but think through the bigger picture of the text. For example, if we read a passage about how the religious leaders doubted Jesus was the Son of God while the tax collectors didn’t (Mark 2:13–17), the application could be to ask: Who is Jesus? And what is my response to him?
Sometimes a passage won’t have every letter! That’s totally fine! But this method teaches us to look for different elements in a passage and process through what is communicated on the pages of Scripture. Other times, some letters may have multiple answers. The text you're studying will determine which letters will have answers and if some letters have more than one answer.
Thinking through the text is like treasure hunting for truth. We don’t force anything as we read Scripture, but there’s value in looking at a passage from different angles. Utilizing this tool can help you unpack a section of the Bible and uncover biblical truth along the way.
Next week we'll unpack another Bible study method to add to your toolbelt.
