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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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Rick WaRRen’s BiBLe sTUDY MeTHODs
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.
The.Chapter.Summary.Method.of.Bible.Study
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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
The.Chapter.Summary.Method.of.Bible.Study
53
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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Rick WaRRen’s BiBLe sTUDY MeTHODs
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
The.Chapter.Summary.Method.of.Bible.Study
55
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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Rick WaRRen’s BiBLe sTUDY MeTHODs
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.
cHaPTeR sUMMaRY fORM
57
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)
58
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
5�
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)