Understanding starts with observation — simply noting what’s being said. To observe well, pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and reveal, and become a detective. Look for:
The goal is to grasp the passage’s main idea to the original audience. With good observation, you should be able to give a detailed answer to the question:
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
In this step, you build on observation and seek to understand the passage’s meaning to the original audience. The resources listed in the next section are very helpful here. Look to answer:
You want to find what the author would say if asked:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The last step is to apply the author’s intended meaning to our lives and context. Primarily, we want to grasp what the passage reveals about our nature that requires redemption and what it reveals about God’s nature that provides redemption. Some questions that are helpful:
You’re looking to answer:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
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