Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Week 2)

Step into SPECKA

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.

Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Week 1)

Dive into In-depth Bible Study

“Why didn’t anyone teach me how to study the Bible for myself sooner?” one woman from a Bible study group asked me. Two other ladies nodded their heads in agreement.

Recently I finished leading an in-depth Bible study with a small group of women. We didn’t trudge through a Bible study or work through a devotion written by someone else.

Instead, we followed simple steps to dive into the riches of Scripture ourselves and ensure we were rightly handling the Word of God. And the results were beautiful.

While utilizing Bible studies or devotions can be great tools, we don’t want to depend upon them as our only source of spiritual nourishment. We want to directly engage with Scripture and hear the voice of our beloved Savior from studying the Bible for ourselves. Without someone else leading us through God’s Word.

When we lean into the messy, but meaningful work of studying the Bible we position ourselves to experience Scripture—and Jesus—in powerful ways. But sometimes, like the women in my recent Bible study group, we aren’t always trained how to do so well.

STEPPING INTO THE GAP OF BIBLE STUDY

Fifty-seven percent of those who attend Protestant churches acknowledge it’s difficult to understand the Bible when they read it. This means over half of churchgoers find it challenging to take what they read during their own devotional time and connect it to biblical truths.

The Bible is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and the last thing we want to believe is that we need to purchase yet another devotion to meaningfully connect with the Lord. While devotions can be a quality resource on our faith journeys, we want to acquire the skills to tap directly into the riches of the Bible so we can hear God speak to us through His written Word.

Here’s the good news: We can learn how to study the Bible. We can uncover deep, biblical truth by trusting the same Holy Spirit who speaks to those who write Bible studies and devotions and teaches on a Sunday morning, can also speak to you and me.

We don’t need a seminary degree to know and treasure God’s Word. (Although, that’s a lovely skill set to possess and pour into our churches!)

We should be careful to not take the Bible out of context, but with the right framework and tools we can glean biblical truths from Scripture.

ONE WAY TO STUDY SCRIPTURE WELL

While there are a variety of methods and tools to study the Bible well, one I return to again and again is called inductive Bible study. This technique allows us to observe a passage, interpret Scripture, and reach an application based on what we’ve studied—and we can do it if we’re willing to put in the hard work.

Let’s unpack what this process looks like:

1) Read through the chosen book of the Bible to study. This provides an overview of the book and allows us to observe key themes by reading it as a whole before diving into smaller chunks. If we don’t feel like we have the capacity to read the entire book, then skim it. Jot down key points and overall impressions.

2) Next, we want to understand the context. Determine the type of literature the book is (narrative, letter, wisdom, etc.), who the author is, who is the target audience, when this book is written, what’s happening during this time, and why the book was written. This information can often be found in study Bibles or from free online resources (see section “additional resources to consider” below).

3) Divide the book by chapters and/or sections based on what seems to fit together. Give each section a short title. (If you don’t enjoy this, lean into how your Bible divides sections and try to combine sections together that seem to fit.) Then consider what a key theme of the book might be and write that down. Jot down any assumptions (or things you feel you already “know”) about this book and ask the Lord to help you rely on the Holy Spirit as you study.

Now it’s time to dive into smaller sections of Scripture to study more in-depth. For each passage you decide to tackle (from a few verses to a couple of chapters), repeat the following steps:

4) Read the passage, then note repeated words, things contrasted or that are similar. What are the connections between paragraphs? Consider the meaning of these connections and write it down. (Sometimes reading the passage in a couple of different translations can be useful.)

5) What is the main truth of this passage? Distill it into one clear sentence.

6) Consider how to respond to this passage in light of your study. Is there a truth to find joy in? Or something to obey? A promise to hold on to? Take time to praise the Lord and ask for this truth to be walked out in your daily life.

(If you have time, jot down notes from a trusted commentary, podcast, article, or sermon on the passage you’re studying. What did this additional perspective add to your own studies?)

Once you’ve reached the end of the book, it’s time for the final step.

7) Take time to consider how the different truths you discovered link together. What’s the key theme of the book? Write it in one sentence. Does this match how you viewed the book at the beginning of your study? Write a prayer of praise for what God has revealed from your time studying this book of the Bible.

Putting these steps into practice can provide a guide for our personal devotion time. When I was studying through the book of Mark, we divided the book into six sections so we studied a few chapters each week. Before starting the focused passage studies, I worked through steps 1–3 to provide context and a foundation for the Bible study during the first week. I didn’t complete all the steps at once, but worked through steps 4–6 on the designated section of Scripture throughout the week.

Like any new skill, we can continue to grow and deepen our Bible study skills. We can keep growing, diving deeper, and adding new elements leveraging the inductive Bible study method, but this overview of the method is a great starting place for learning how to study the Bible well.

We don’t have to rush through these steps or become bogged down in them either. We want to move at a pace that allows us to reflect and process the passage of Scripture. We won’t catch everything—and that’s the beauty of the Bible. We can return again and again and the Holy Spirit can reveal something that’s always been there, but we missed before. But each time we embark on personal Bible study, we can think deeply about sections of Scripture and walk away with solid biblical truths.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO CONSIDER

Here are some free resources that can come alongside your personal Bible study (consider just looking into one during your next time in the Word):

The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary - This provides lots of resources to study deeper such as online commentaries, podcasts, recommended resources, courses, etc. There's a wealth of useful tools at your fingertips to help go deeper.

NET Bible - If you're curious about translation of a text and word meanings, this is a useful online tool. It can provide a glimpse into some detailed explanations behind a text.

Study Light - Bible study tools (commentaries, encyclopedias, concordances, bible dictionaries), language tools, historical writings, and resources to study more deeply.

Blue Letter Bible - Audio and video commentaries, Bible references, topical indexes, theological resources (step 5 on the sheet), courses, language resources to study well.

Bible Gateway - Multiple translations at your fingertips.

Bible Project - Great short videos, guides, and podcasts to assist in studying the Bible.

The direct study of God’s Word can transform us and lead to lasting spiritual impact. As we cultivate the skills and invest the time to study the Bible, may our love for Jesus and His Word increase.

We can study the Bible. And we can start today.

Stay tuned as I share three more methods to study the Bible.

*Adapted from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA

Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Intro)

No devotion. No Bible Study. Just you, the Lord, and solid Bible study methods.

Imagine waking up every morning, ready to dive into Scripture and engage directly with God’s Word.

Over the next four weeks, I’ll share a different, but simple Bible study method to help you study Scripture on your own.

Cultivate the skills to study the Bible well.

I have a background in biblical languages and training in how to study the Bible using different methods. I’m not an expert, but someone who believes everyone can study the Bible for themselves with simple tools.

Learn some quality methods you can use again and again.

Some of the Bible study methods I’ll share are used around the world. You can study the Bible and rightly handle God’s Word.

Grow in treasuring Jesus and the Word.

My goal is to make studying the Bible attainable. 

Curious about the four methods I’ll share? Let me give you an overview of what we’ll unpack in the coming four weeks:

1) In-depth Bible Study: I’ll walk through seven steps to help you dive deeply into Bible study on your own. You’ll learn to observe, interpret, and discover applications based off the text you studied.

2) SPECKA: SPECKA is an interactive Bible study method that is used around the world to dive into the Word and get everyone involved in talking about a Bible passage. SPECKA is an acronym that makes it easy to remember this study technique.

3) Journal Questions: Utilizing five simple questions, you’ll be equipped to unpack a passage of Scripture.

4) Lectio Divina: Learn an ancient tradition of Scripture reading and contemplation that slows us down and helps us reflect on a passage of Scripture in meaningful ways.

Ready to grow your Bible study skills in the coming month? Get equipped to study the Bible and have more tools to do so well.

Starting January 1st, I’ll post how to do one of these methods here on my blog. 

Simple. Free.

Let’s do this!

Songs of Light Devotional Available

 

Walking through seasons of hardship can feel dark. In this 21-day devotional, discover the light Jesus offers even when it hurts. I collaborated with Sarah Frazer and other Christian writers to create this devotional (available in digital and print).

Hardcopies are available to order until November 4, 2024. Plus, you won't want to miss out on the audio teachings that dive deeper into various psalms and include valuable jewels authors can't always squeeze into the devotion.

Dive into Songs of Light today!

3 Reasons to Study the Book of Revelation

Revelation has been misunderstood, overlooked, skimmed, and avoided by many due to its confusing contents. It has the least amount of commentaries and by the time most Christians reach it in their Bible reading plan, it’s time to speed read past the chaos without asking too many questions just to finish.

And yet when I found my heart shattered over the brokenness of this world and the feeling of evil triumphing instead of Jesus, this was the book God used to bring healing, a deeper understanding of the love of God in suffering, and reminding me of God’s sovereignty over all—past, present, and future. Perhaps you have struggled with the darkness of this world and feel as though evil is prevailing. Maybe you’re confused about where God is in the midst of painful circumstances. Perhaps you are weary with resisting the lies of this world and pondering if it’s really worth it to keep following Jesus. My dear ones, the book of Revelation is for you—it’s for all of us. This book can sooth our fragile hearts because it speaks of the deep love of God in the midst of suffering, the worthiness of Jesus, and the promised day when He will bring justice.

3 REASONS TO STUDY REVELATION

Studying Revelation can feel like trying to take a sip of water from Niagara Falls. While no one has all the answers to this well-crafted book of the Bible, here are my top three reasons every momma should study the book of Revelation (and why you should sign up and join me as we dive into this study).

1) Revelation promises to bless anyone who seeks to read and obey it (Rev. 1:3).

Those who dare to study and obey Revelation will indeed be blessed. No other book of the Bible promises such a direct reward, but perhaps some incentive is needed as its contents are daunting and involve some heavy lifting. This promise of blessing isn’t from some door-to-door salesman or internet scammer, but straight from the pages of Scripture. The One who made this promise is faithful to deliver on it—and it will not be rationed, but overflowing as fits the generosity of our Creator. The reward is Jesus—and this is something we do not want to miss.

Whatever amount of time we have to devote, the one who commits to studying Revelation will not be sorry, but receive the promised reward for digging into and obeying this final book of the Bible. And this offer isn’t a one-time, limited deal. We can return to study Revelation again and again over the years as our understanding expands and Jesus calls us into deeper intimacy.

2) Revelation should be a go-to book on the love of God in our suffering.

This book should be at the top of our list as we process the love of God in our suffering. Revelation was written to churches experiencing suffering and persecution. Believers during the time period Revelation was penned (around 90 AD) were being killed (Rev. 2:13), put in jail (Rev. 2:10), persecuted by the government for not worshipping the emperor (Rev. 13:15), wading through false teachings (Rev. 2:2, 14), banished from society for their faith (Rev. 1:9) and struggling with sins like sexual immorality (Rev. 2:20).

During the Emperor Domitian’s rule (the same time frame Revelation was likely written), worshipping the ruler became commonplace. For a season, Christians were spared because of their association with Jews who had been previously exempted from this decree because Christians weren’t yet considered a separate religious group. But as time progressed, Christians became identified as a separate group (perhaps even from angry Jews who wanted Christianity to cease and notified the government of this) and were now subject to participate in the cult of emperor worship. Believers were forced to either remain faithful to Jesus or succumb to worldly pressures. Those who refused to worship the emperor suffered the consequences—socially, economically, and physically.

Revelation addresses the difficult path believers found themselves on and provides the encouragement of a God who walks among us in our suffering and an eternal perspective necessary to endure in their faith.

3) Revelation provides a fuller picture of who Jesus is.

Since Jesus is the author of Revelation (Rev. 1:1), this book helps Christians gain deeper insight into who He is. While Jesus described Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29), He uses Revelation to shed light on the powerful warrior He is—which is a necessary component to grasp as it sometimes can feel as though darkness is triumphing over light. Our Messiah is not weak (Rev. 1:14-16; 5:5; 19:11-16), but the One who is coming and reigns over all (Rev. 1:6,7; 5:13; 19:16; 22:7). He will defeat the evil one, mete out perfect justice, and bring the final judgment.

Jesus unveils the warrior king aspect of His character, but His fierceness does not diminish His love or gentleness. He is the Lamb who was slain, yet leads His people in victory over the forces of darkness. Jesus remains the God who delights to be with His people (Rev. 7:17; 21:3), but those who are not His will be punished. The only right response to the mighty Jesus depicted throughout the book is to fall down on your face and worship Him (Rev. 1:17; 5:6-10; 7:9-11). Revelation teaches us that everything is not as it seems from our worldly perspective and that a slain Lamb can indeed defeat evil forever. We need to be reminded of who Jesus is to persevere in our faith—because who He is compels us to endure with hope.

As we struggle to faithfully follow Jesus through our own paths of confusion, pain, sin, and trials, Revelation is Jesus’ letter crafted to give us hope in this broken world.

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS

1) Join my FREE 10-week study, "God's Love When It Hurts:  A Study Through the Book of Revelation." Sign up soon because it launches on May 10th!

2) What typical comes to your mind when you think about the book of Revelation? Do you see this as a book that could impact your daily life? Why or why?

3) Have you studied the book of Revelation before? Why or why not? Which of the three reasons to study Revelation most stands out to you?

4) Spend some time meditating upon who Jesus is and what He has done on our behalf from Revelation 1:5, “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”