S.O..A.P. with an I

HEY!

Hope you liked S.P.A.C.E. P.E.T.S. yesterday!

Here's another tool to help you when you read/meditate on the Bible. It's called S.O.A.P.! However, I want to add an "I" to it, which makes it S.O.I.A.P. Print this blog out and go through as a "help guide" next time you open the bible!

Scripture
Observation
Interpretation
Application
Prayer

SCRIPTURE
the "S" simply means Scripture. Pray about and choose which Scripture you will read

OBSERVATION
The "O" means Observation- observe what is going on in the text. This when you become a detective! Act like you are the TV program, C.S.I. Good detectives ask 5 questions, and so will you in the Observation stage of bible study:

1. What?- what is being said? What is happening?
2. Where?- where is this taking place? Where have the characters been? Where are they going?
3. Why? Why is the event happening? Why are the characters saying what they are saying? Why did the author write this book? Why is God telling the people to do these things?
4. When? When did this take place?
5. How? How did God do what He did? How did the people respond?

INTERPRETATION
The "I" means Interpretation. Ask/answer 3 questions here:

1. What did this bible passage mean to the people in that day?
2. What does this bible passage mean to the church today?
3. What does this bible passage mean to my family and me today?

APPLICATION
The "A" means Application.
This is where you take what the Bible says...everything you just learned in "S", "O", "I" and plan to put it into action. Make a goal, for example:

Because the bible passage talked about being joyful always, I plan to not complain and smile when my mom and dad ask me to clean my room.

PRAYER
The "P" means Prayer. Praise God for His living and active word (Hebrews 4) and ask Him to help you live what you just meditated on.

Test Drive
Test S.O.I.A.P. out with one paragraph in Philippians and see if it helps you as you read, meditate, and pray through the bible!