During the month of August, we will be digging into the Zonegathering vaults to bring you some of our Bible Drill Wednesday Greatest Hits. Today, we are reprinting Bible Drill Wednesday: The Chapter Summary Method, written by Sarah Owen and first published on Wednesday, August 30, 2006. This is a fantastic Bible study tool.
Instead of zooming in and focusing on a book of the Bible, I thought it may be fun to change things up a bit and provide some background on a Bible study method. I have been reading and practicing the methods outlined by Rick Warren in his book Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word, and I love the Chapter Summary Method because it is a good bridge between merely reading God’s Word and full-on inductive Bible study. One of the best things about this method is that you just need your Bible (particularly a study Bible with cross-references) and a pen and paper. (This is a great method for those who are still a bit scared of commentaries, word studies, and exhaustive concordances.)
Rick Warren defines the method this way: “The Chapter Summary Method of Bible Study involves gaining a general understanding of the contents of a chapter of the Bible by reading it through at least five times, asking a series of content questions, and summarizing the central thoughts of the passage.” He goes on to outline the 10 steps which comprise the Chapter Summary Method, which I will overview briefly.
1. Caption – after reading through the passage at least five times (it can be helpful to read the chapter in more than one translation and to read it aloud), give the chapter a short, descriptive title. Warren advises on keeping the title short (1-5 words) and including a key word so that it will be easy to remember.
2. Contents — Describe, summarize, paraphrase, outline, or make a list of the major points in a chapter. You will get more out of this exercise if you use a Bible that doesn’t already contain headings.
3. Chief People – Identify and list the most important people in the chapter. Warren suggests asking questions about them — who are they? Why are they included? What is significant about them?
4. Choice Verse(s) — choose a verse that summarizes the whole chapter or one that speaks to you personally. If you want to practice memorization, this would be the verse to use.
5. Crucial Word(s) — identify and write down the key words of the chapter. This is a critical component of inductive Bible study, but in the Chapter Summary Method, serves as a way to help you observe the passage and ensure that you don’t miss the idea the author is trying to communicate.
6. Challenges – this is the place were you can write down any difficulties you may have with the passage. Is there a verse you don’t understand? Is there a theogical question that arises? You won’t spend time researching the answers now; however, keeping a list of challenges can give you fodder for future in-depth studies on particular topics or passages. (In an inductive Bible study, you would dig in to word studies and commentaries to interpret the verse(s) in question. In this method, you identify them for futher review at a later time.)
7. Cross-references – if you have a Bible with cross-references, look up the other verses that clarify or expand on what the chapter is talking about. This will enable you to see what the Bible as a whole has to say on the subject, and can enhance your understanding of the passage you are studying.
8. Christ Seen — Rick Warren acknowledges that “the entire Bible is a revelation of the person of Jesus Christ.” As you study the chapter, be alert for statements or verses that tell you something about Jesus, God, or the Holy Spirit. Make a note of what you learn and of any characteristics you should be imitating in your own life.
9. Central Lesson(s) – Jot down any major principles, insights, or instructions you glean from the chapter. Warren advises on asking yourself “Why does God want this passage in the Bible? What does He want to teach me from this chapter?”
10. Conclusion – This is the application part of the study — studying the Bible doesn’t do us much good if we don’t live the Word and apply it to our lives! Warren recommends asking yourself two questions: (1) How do these truths apply to me personally?; and (2) What specifically am I going to do about them?
As an example, let’s look at how this method can be used for 1 Corinithians 13.
Caption (Title) — Love
Contents — (1) Verses 1-3: Deeds/gifts meaningless without love; (2) Verses 4-8a: Love defined; and (3) Verses 8b-13: Love perfects/matures
Chief People — no people directly identified. The author (Paul) refers to himself in the first person.
Choice Verse(s) — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13
Crucial Word(s) — love (1,4, 8,13) and prophecy/prophesy (2, 8-9)
Challenges — What does this verse mean — “But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away” (13:8). Does it means these gifts are no longer used/applicable, or does it simply reflect the superiority of love to all? (Note: follow up with study on spiritual gifts?)
Cross-References (for 1 Corinthians 13:4-8) — Proverbs 10:12, 17:9; 2 John 4; 3 John 3; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 10:24
Christ Seen — Jesus is love — He is the perfect embodiment of everything love is.
Central Lessons –
Insights: Love perfects and matures us. The love we have is not just for the benefit of others, but to grow, strengthen, and enrich us. Love makes us more like Christ.
Characteristics of Love: patient, kind, not jealous, does not boast, not proud, not rude, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong, does not delight in evil, rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, never fails
The characteristics of love seem to be similar to the gifts of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Conclusion — God desires me to become more like Him and to love others the way Jesus Christ does. I do not love as this chapter instructs. I need to be more patient and kind to others, and I need to forgive them when they wrong me instead of holding a grudge. I need to refrain from jealousy and put the needs and feelings of others above my own. 1 Corinthians 13 is not a platitude to be read in a marriage ceremony — it is a description of godly love, the only thing which lasts, and a call to live a life of love.
If you want to try this method on your own, here are a few chapters Rick Warren recommends: 2 Timothy 2; 1 John 1; John 17; and the gospel of Luke (chapter by chapter). God will bless you for the time you spend in His word — whether you use the Chapter Summary Method or another method, greater communion and intimacy with God is the ultimate goal. This method is merely one means to grow closer to Christ.
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