Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Don't forget the SOAP

They say cleanliness is next to Godliness. In keeping with that idea, I've stumbled across a new idea for studying my scriptures, and it's been great. I adjusted it a bit to fit my specific religious ideals, rather than the other (as far as I know) non-denominational Christian place I got it from.
I have a notebook. As I am reading the scriptures, I watch for the one verse or passage that really speaks to me, that I feel is intended for me to get something out of. When I come across that scripture, I usually highlight it, then turn to the aforementioned notebook. Each scripture gets a page. The page looks like this:

Title- come up with the title after you finish the rest of the page.

Scripture- the reference
Observation- what is being taught in this scripture? What else is relevant to this scripture (background or interesting tidbits, thoughts, ponderings)
Application- how does this teaching apply to my life specifically? Why is this one being taught to me?
Practice- how can I put this teaching into practice in my life?

Then I go back to the top and create a title that summarizes what I've learned. I put that title and the reference on a table of contents at the front of the book, so if I ever need it, it's there.

I've really enjoyed this method of study. I still read a certain amount as close to every day as I can, but this lets me actually study and digest one particular passage, and I feel like I am being taught more. I don't come across something every time I read. Sometimes, it's just "so and so begat so and so and then they died". But I have been able to record my thoughts and feelings about certain passages, and personal revelations that I have received, in a way that will be accessible for me in the future. Go ahead and use it if you want it. I didn't create it. I just stole it. =)