Chapter Summary Method

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TheBibleasitwasoriginallywrittenhadnochapterorversedivisions.Infact,itwasn’tuntilA.D.1228thatBishopStephenLangtonaddedthechapterdivisions.ThesewereaddedtomakethevarioussectionsoftheBiblemoreaccessibletothereaders.Someofthesedivisionsarearbitraryandinterrupttheflowofawriter’smessage.Usually,however,theyprovidegoodbreakingpointsthatarehelpfulinBiblestudy.

Accordingtothesedivisions,thereare1,189chaptersintheBible.Ifyoustud-iedonechaptereachday,youcouldreadthroughtheScripturesinjustoverthreeyears.Ifyousummarizedtwochaptersaday,youcouldfinishinabout20months.Thispaceiscertainlynotrecommended,becauseyoucouldquicklygetboredwiththestudymethod.Instead,selectrandomchaptersofScripturethatyouwanttostudyandusethesummarymethodonthosepassages;oruseadifferentmethodforvariety.

Definition

TheChapterSummaryMethodofBibleStudy involvesgainingageneralunder-standingofthecontentsofachapteroftheBiblebyreadingitthroughatleastfive

2How to Begin Understanding

Chapters of a Book of the Bible

THe cHaPTeR sUMMaRY MeTHOD

Of BiBLe sTUDY

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times,askingaseriesofcontentquestions,andsummarizingthecentralthoughtsofthepassage.(ThismethodshouldnotbeconfusedwiththeBookSurveyandChapterAnalysismethods—chapters9and10.)

Why this methoD is imPortant

ThismethodisimportantbecauseitenablesyoutobeginunderstandingchaptersofthebooksoftheBible. It isapopularmethodforthosebeginningBiblestudybecausechaptersareusuallyfairlyshort,anditdoesnotrequiredeepstudytodoachaptersummary.Itisavaluablemethodbecauseitcanbequicklylearnedbyabrand-newChristianorsomeoneelsewhoisinterestedindoingmeaningfulBiblestudy. It isanexcellentmethodwithwhich tobegina lifetimeofpersonalBiblestudyforfourreasons.

1..This.method. is.easy. to. learn .Youcanbeginpracticing itassoonasyouunderstandthe10basicstepsthatfollowinthenextsection.Thestudyformandexampleattheendofthechaptershouldhelpyou.

2..This.method.does.not.take.much.time .Dependingonthelengthofthechap-teryouarestudying,youcancompleteachaptersummaryin20to30minutes.Thisisespeciallytrueifthechaptercontainsahistoricalnarrative—partsoftheOldTestament,theGospels,andthebookofActs,forexample.Youwillhavetospendmoretime,however,inthePsalms,thepropheticbooks,andthedoctrinallettersoftheNewTestament.

3.. This.method.does.not. require.any.outside.helps.or. reference. tools,.but. it.is.necessary.to.memorize.the.ten.steps .Thenyoucandoachaptersummaryinanysituationatany time,usingyourBibleandapieceofpaper.Wheneveryouhave extra time to spend—as in a doctor’s waiting room, a bus depot, or anairport—thisisthemethodtouse.PickabookoftheBible,startwithchapter1,andbeginrecordingyourdiscoveries.IliketousethismethodwhenIgotoaretreatandcannottakemyreferencetoolswithme.

4..This.method.is.a.good.type.of.study.to.use.when.you.are.engaged.in.a.rapid.reading.survey.through.the.Bible .Youcanmakeinitialnotesasyoureadeachchap-terbyusingtheChapterSummaryForm.

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ten easy stePs for Doing a chaPter summary

Inpreparingtofill inthestudyformforthismethodofBiblestudy,read.through.the.chapter.at.least.five.times .YouwillfindnobetterwaytogetacquaintedwithachapteroftheBiblethantoreaditoverandoveragain.ThemoretimesyoureadapassageofScripture,themoreitwillcomealivetoyou.ManyChristiansmissthegreatinsightsofScripturebecausetheyfailtoreadandrereaditspassages.

ThegreatBibleexpositorG.CampbellMorganwasfamousforhispowerful,excitingsermons.WhenaskedforthesecretofhisabilitytocommunicateGod’sWord,herepliedthathemadeitahabit toreadachapterorpassage30or40timesbeforehebeganworkingonitforasermon.Itisnowonderhissermonswereexcitingandmeaningful.

HerearesometipsonhowtoreadachapteroftheBible:

•. Read.it.in.a.Bible.without.notes .IfyoutryusingthismethodbyreadingaBibleinwhichyouhavemadenotes,youwillhavethetendencytocon-centrateonthesameideas.LetGodspeaktoyouinafreshwayandgiveyounewinsights.

•. Read.it.without.stopping .Duringyourfirstfewreadings,don’tstopinthemiddleofachapter,butreaditfromstarttofinish.Yourgoalistofeelthe

Step One — Caption

Step twO — Contents

Step three — Chief People

Step FOur — Choice Verse

Step Five — Crucial Word(s)

Step Six — Challenges

Step Seven — Cross-References

Step eight — Christ Seen

Step nine — Central Lesson(s)

Step ten — Conclusion

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flowofthechapter,sodon’tbeconcernedwiththedetailsattheoutset.Trytocapturethecentralmessageandthewriter’soveralltheme.

•. Read.it.in.several.different.contemporary.translations .Thiswillgiveyouadditionalinsightsasyouseehoweachtranslatorrenderedtheoriginalwriting.Makenotesontheinterestingdifferencesyoufind.

•. Read.it.aloud.quietly.to.yourself .Ifyouhaveaproblemwithconcentration,thiswill help tremendouslybecause youwill behearing yourself read.Manypeoplehavefoundthatreadingaloudhelpsthembetterfocustheirattentiononthetext.

Asyouarerereadingthechapter,begin lookingforthefollowing10specificthingsandwriteyouranswersonyourChapterSummaryFormoronablankpieceofpaper.Youmayfillinthe10Csinanyorder,savingStepTenforthelaststep.The10partsofyourstudyare

aptionontentshief Peoplehoice Verserucial Word(s)hallengesross-Referenceshrist Seenentral Lesson(s)onclusion

Step One    Caption

Givethechapterashort,descriptivetitle.Theshorterthetitle,themorelikelyyouwillrememberit.Infact,ifyouusethismethodoneverychapterinaselectedbookoftheBible,youcanrememberthecontentsofthewholebookbymemorizingyourchaptertitles.Useonewordifpossible(1Corinthains13mightbetitled“Love”)

c

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andfivewordsatmost(Hebrews11couldbe“HeroesoftheFaith”).Trytofindthekeywordofthechapterandfititintoyourtitle.

Ifyourtitleiscatchyorproducesamentalpicture,youwillrememberitlonger.Onecreativepersongave“Well-Well”asatitleforJohn4.Thetwokeyeventsofthatchapterarethewomanatthewellandthenobleman’ssonwhomJesusmadewell .

Step twO    Contents

Describe,summarize,paraphrase,outline,ormakealistofthemajorpointsinachapter.Themethodyouchoosewilldependontheliterarystyleofthechapterandonyourownpreference.Somepeopleliketosummarize;analyticalpeopleenjoyoutlining.Choosethemethodwithwhichyoufeelmostcomfortableandiseasyforyoutodo.Don’ttrytointerpretthechapter;justmakeobservationsonitscontents.recordonyourformwhatyoufeelthewritersaid.

Step three    Chief People

List themost importantpeople in thechapter.Askquestionssuchas,Whoarethemainpeopleinthischapter?Whyaretheyincluded?Whatissignificantaboutthem?Ifthechaptercontainspronouns(he,.she,.they,etc.)youmayhavetorefertothepreviouschaptertoidentifythepeople.Writedownyourreasonsforchoosingcertainpeopleasthechiefonesofthechapter.Whenyoucometolonggenealogies(listsofpeople),don’ttrytolisteachone,butsummarizethelist.

Step FOur    Choice Verse

Chooseaversethatsummarizesthewholechapteroronethatspeakstoyouper-sonally.Insomechaptersyoumayfindakeyversethatsummarizesthewriter’sargument;inotherchapterstheremaynotbeakeyverse.Onoccasionyoumaywanttopickaversefromwhichyouwillbewritingyourapplication,aversethatyoubelieveGodwouldhaveyouapplytoyourlife.

Step Five    Crucial Word(s)

Writedownthekeywordorwordsofthechapter.Manytimesthekeywordwillbetheonethatisusedmostfrequently(“love”in1Corinthians13and“faith”in

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Hebrews11).Sometimesthecrucialwordmaybethemostimportantwordbutnotthemostusedone.Inromans6,forexample,theword“count”(KJV,“reckon”)istheimportantwordeventhoughitisusedonlyonce(rom.6:11).Also,achaptermayhavemorethanonecrucialword.

Step Six    Challenges

List any difficulties you may have with the passage. Are there any statementsyoudonotunderstand?Isthereanyproblemorquestionyouwouldliketostudyfurther?Oftenwhiledoingachaptersummaryyouwillgetideasforothertypesofstudiesyoumaywanttodointhefuture.For instance,acertainwordinthechaptermaycatchyourattention.Takenoteofthatword;lateryoumaywanttodoanin-depthstudyofit(seechapter7).Aquestionaboutadoctrinalmattermightmotivateyoutodoatopicalstudyonthatparticularteaching(seechapter6).

Step Seven    Cross-References

Usingthecross-referencesinyourstudyBible,lookupotherversesthathelpclar-ifywhatthechapteristalkingaboutandlistthemonyourform.Askthequestion,Whatelse in theBiblehelpsmeunderstand thischapter?Cross-referencesareimportantbecausetheyarehelpfultoolsininterpretingthemeaningofachapter;theyenableyoutoseewhattheBibleasawholehastosayonanygiventeaching.Youcanlookforseveraltypesofcross-references,andthesearedescribedinthesectiononcorrelationintheChapterAnalysisMethod(seechapter10)andinchap-ter10ofWalterA.HenrichsenandGayleJackson’sbookStudying,.Interpreting,.and.Applying.the.Bible(Zondervan).

Step eight    Christ Seen

TheentireBibleisarevelationofthepersonofJesusChrist.Infact,JesususedtheOldTestamenttoteachhisdisciplesabouthimself.OnthedayofresurrectionontheEmmausroad,Jesustaughttwoofhisdisciples:“BeginningwithMosesandalltheProphets,heexplainedtothemwhatwassaidinalltheScripturesconcerninghimself”(Luke24:27).Asyoustudyeachchapter,bealertforstatementsthattell

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yousomethingaboutJesusChrist,theHolySpirit,orGodtheFather.Askyourself,WhatcanIlearnaboutthenatureofJesusfromthischapter?WhatattributesofGodinChristareillustratedhere?(Someexamples:hislove,justice,mercy,holi-ness,power,andfaithfulness.)Thisstepmaybethemostdifficulttocompleteinsomeportionsof theBible,particularly inOldTestamentnarrativesand inpas-sageswheresymbolismisused.

Step nine    Central Lesson(s)

Writedownthemajorprinciples,insights,andlessonsyoulearnfromthischapter.Askyourself,WhydoesGodwantthispassageintheBible?Whatdoeshewanttoteachmefromthischapter?Whatisthecentralthoughtthewriteristryingtodevelop? A possible answer might be “We should be loving in all interpersonalrelationships”(1Cor.13).

Step ten    Conclusion

This is theapplicationportionofyourstudy.Asdiscussed inchapter1,developaproject tohelpyou implement inyour lifea lessonyouhave learnedfromthechapterorportion.Itwillbenefityoutoconcludeyourchaptersummarybyaskingyourselftwoquestions:(1)Howdothesetruthsapplytomepersonally?and(2)WhatspecificallyamIgoingtodoaboutthem?

HOWTOFILLINTHECHAPTErSUMMArYFOrM

AttheendofthischapterisaChapterSummaryFormthatyoucanreproduceforyourownuse.The formhasaplace for listing thechapterof theBibleyouarestudyingandthe10stepsofthismethod.Fillintheblankspacesforeachofthe10partsjustdescribed.Ifyouneedmoreroom,usethebackoftheformorallowmoreroomonyourownpaper.

Sample Filled-out Form

Seetheexamplesattheendofthischapter.

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Assignment

SomechaptersonwhichyoucanstartusingtheChapterSummaryMethodofBibleStudyare

• 1Corinthians13• 2Timothy2• 1John1• John17•. ThegospelofLuke(chapterbychapter)

For Further Reading

The.Summarized.BiblebyKeithL.Brooks(Baker).Thisbookisanexcellentexam-pleofthismethodofBiblestudy.Dr.Brooksoffersachaptersummaryoneverychapterofeverybook intheBibleandshowshowJesusChristmaybeseen ineachchapter.Don’treadthisbooktohelpyoudothestudy;onlyuseitafterwardtochecktoseehowyouhavedoneonyourown.

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chapter Luke15 read 5 times˛ (check when done)

1. captiOn (title)    “LostandFound”

2. cOntentS this chapter contains three parables.

1.Verses3–7:Thelostsheep 2.Verses8–10:Thelostcoin 3.Verses11–32:Thelostson

3. chieF peOple 

TheshepherdwiththelostsheepThewomanwiththelostcoinThefatherwiththelostson

4. chOice verSe 

Luke15:7—“Itellyouthatinthesamewaytherewillbemorerejoicinginheavenoveronesinnerwhorepentsthanoverninety-ninerighteouspersonswhodonotneedtorepent.”

5. crucial wOrD(S) Lost(vv.4,5,9,24,32)Found(5–6,9,24,32)

6. challengeS (Difficulties i need to study)

Whatdoesthisversemean—“ninety-ninerighteouspersonswhodonotneedtorepent”?

1. Prayer ˛ (check when done)

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cHaPTeR sUMMaRY fORM7. crOSS-reFerenceS    Luke15:4–6

Matthew18:11–14 Isaiah53:6

John10:10–14 Psalm119:176

1Peter2:25

8. chriSt Seen

1stParable—JesustheGoodShepherdsearchingforlostsheep.2ndParable—theHolySpiritourrightfulOwnerfindingandrestoring.3rdParable—GodtheFatherwaitingtowelcomeushome.

9. central leSSOn(S)

insightsThesonwentawaysaying,“Giveme”(v.12).Hereturnedsaying,“Makeme”(v.19).Godcaresforsinnersandanxiouslywaitsforthemtoreturnhome.

characteristics of the immature brotherAnger—v.28Childish—v.28Jealousy—vv.29–30Wrongperspective—vv.29–30Grumbling—vv.29–30

10. cOncluSiOn    (personal Application)

Ineachofthethreeparablesaconcreteeffortwasmadetorecoverwhatwaslost.Manyofmyfriendsare lostwithoutChrist. IneedtodevelopspecificwitnessingplansforreachingthemwiththeGoodNews.IwillstartbysharingmyfaithwithmyfriendJimthisweekend.

IneedtoexpressmorejoywhenIhearofpeoplewhohaveacceptedChrist.

cHaPTeR sUMMaRY fORM

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chapter read 5 times ® (check when done)

1. captiOn (title) 

2. cOntentS 

3. chieF peOple 

4. chOice verSe 

5. crucial wOrD(S) 

6. challengeS (Difficulties i need to study)

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cHaPTeR sUMMaRY fORM7. crOSS-reFerenceS 

8. chriSt Seen 

9. central leSSOn(S) 

10. cOncluSiOn    (personal Application)