I’ve received a high number of responses about the helpfulness of the blog entry i wrote on the ABCDE Bible study method used to study an epistle. Here is a Bible study method to use for studying any one of the four Gospels. Meditate on any passage of a Gospel and ask yourself or the person you’re studying with these questions:
- What did Jesus say? There’s a reason why Bibles are printed with Jesus’ words in red. They are important! Meditate on the words of Jesus.
- What did Jesus do? Often you hear in today’s culture, “live what you preach.” Jesus actually did this. His actions embodied what the book of James says: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds (James 2:17-18 NIV).” Meditate on what Jesus did.
- How do we respond? Studying the Living Word of God and what Jesus said and did always calls for response in our life. Again James, in his book, explains this more elequently than me: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do (James 1:22-25 NIV).”
- What does this passage say about the character of God? I’ve heard the Bible explained simply as a rule book for life. If we read the Bible merely as a lifeless textbook, it can become very legalistic. Theology is the study of God. The Bible is the living Word of God revealing God’s character; who God is. However, being touched by the character of God and how He saved us through the Good News of Jesus does, it also propel us through the power of the Holy Spirit to live like Jesus did! [shareable]You’re picture of who God is impacts EVERYTHING in YOUR LIFE.[/shareable] What is the Gospel passage you’re reading reveal to you about the character of God?
This Bible study method has not only deepened my relationship with Jesus, but it has also given me a simple but effective way to study the Bible with someone else. What has helped you study the Life of Jesus? Who are you going to ask this week to study the life of Jesus with you?
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