HOW TO APPLY THE BIBLE

From cover to cover, the Bible is a book about God. Therefore we should look for God on every page. Much like a conversation, a response is needed to fully engage in a deeper relationship with God through His Word. The goal when reading the Bible is not just to be smarter, but to be transformed. So make sure to pray for understanding and a renewed mind every time you open your Bible.

Ask these questions as you go to Apply the passage:

*Pray: “Lord, what do you want me to learn and how should I apply this to my life?” 

Reflect: What specific questions do you have upon further reflection of the passage?

*Ask: What do you learn about God - His character, attributes, or desires?

Yield: What personal, cultural, or religious bias and assumptions do you bring to the text? What do you need to surrender, if anything, to be in harmony with the Bible? 

Express: What fears or concerns do you have about applying what you’ve learned? 

Respond: What was expected of the original audience and what principles make sense for us now (is it a cultural or timeless truth)?

NEW TO CHARA? Start with the questions we ask the most—they are noted with an *asterisk.

KEY PRINCIPLE

Although the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. Therefore, you must first determine the original meaning of a verse or passage before applying that same meaning to your life today. Because the Bible cannot mean now what it didn’t mean then, save application for last, as you first consider the Context, History, what the Author meant back then, and Research deeper into the text.

RESOURCES TO HELP WITH APPLY

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