Luke Reading Plan
How To S.O.A.P.
Starting to read the Bible can feel overwhelming. It's a big book, and it's natural to have questions! Where do you even begin? How do you understand it? And how can you apply it to your life?
Many people try to read the Bible like a regular book, from beginning to end. But the Bible isn't organized that way. It's also not just meant to be read; it's meant to be studied, thought about deeply, and allowed to change your heart.
Think of the Bible as a love letter from God to you. It reveals His heart and who He is. It won't answer every single question you have, and sometimes it can be confusing. You might come across passages that are hard to understand or even seem strange. Don't get discouraged! Those "weird" parts might have been really important to the people who first read them, but we might not understand the historical reasons why.
As you grow in your faith, you'll learn more about how to study the Bible. But for now, let's focus on building a daily habit of reading. We'll start by looking at the Gospels, which tell the story of Jesus. It's important to get to know Jesus and understand who He is, because ultimately, everyone has to answer the question Jesus asked Peter: "Who do you say I am?"
To begin reading the Bible, we highly recommend the "S.O.A.P." method to help you get the most out of your reading:
#1 - Scripture: Write down the verse or passage that stood out to you.
Example: So, if the disciple is reading John 1, they may write John 1:4 that says “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
#2 - Observation: What do you notice about this passage? What's happening? Who are the people involved?
Example: In that scripture the disciple may notice that in Jesus is life. An observation they may write down is, “I notice that everyone may be searching for life, and this scripture says that it is found in Jesus.”
#3 - Application: How does this passage relate to your life today? How can you apply it to your own situations?
Example: In that observation, the reader may begin to realize that they have been searching for life, and may journal something more deeply like “Wow. I have been looking for life in so many places and I’ve yet to find it. Perhaps this is the life I’ve been looking for.”
#4 - Prayer: Talk to God about what you've read. Ask Him to help you understand it and apply it to your life.
Example: In that application, God may begin to prompt the reader to search for him more deeply. To that end, they may write down a prayer that says, “Jesus if you’re really the way that leads to life, can you show me that? I’m sorry that I’ve looked for life in so many places, but I’m thankful that you are showing me who you truly are so that I can finally live the life I was meant to live.”
We hope this helps as you jump into the book of Luke with the rest of the Hill City family!