How to Study the Bible: APPLICATION. How does it work?

Word from Bro. Craig.   How to Study the Bible: APPLICATION. How does it work?

James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (ESV). This means that our study of God’s word must lead to transformed lives. What good is it to know what God’s word says if we don’t do what it says? Doing what God’s word says is application. Rick Warren in Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods advocates using the S-P-A-C-E P-E-T-S acrostic. The acrostic asks: Is there any…

• Sin to confess?
• Promise to claim?
• Attitude to change?
• Command to obey?
• Example to follow?
• Prayer to pray?
• Error to avoid?
• Truth to believe?
• Something to praise God for?

Hans Finzel in Unlocking the Scriptures suggests four categories of application with specific areas to consider under each:

1. A.      WITH GOD
   1. 1.       A truth to understand
   2. 2.       A command to obey
   3. 3.       A prayer to express
   4. 4.       A challenge to heed
   5. 5.       A promise to claim
   6. 6.       A fellowship to enjoy

1. B.      WITH YOURSELF
   1. 1.       A thought or word to examine
   2. 2.       An action to take
   3. 3.       An example to follow
   4. 4.       An error to avoid
   5. 5.       An attitude to change or guard against
   6. 6.       A priority to change
   7. 7.       A goal to strive for
   8. 8.       A personal value or standard to hold up
   9. 9.       A sin to forsake

1. C.      WITH OTHERS
   1. 1.       A witness to share
   2. 2.       An encouragement to extend
   3. 3.       A service to do
   4. 4.       A forgiveness to ask
   5. 5.       A fellowship to nurture
   6. 6.       An exhortation to give
   7. 7.       A burden to bear
   8. 8.       A kindness to express
   9. 9.       A hospitality to extend
   10. 10.   An attitude to change or guard against
   11. 11.   A sin to forsake

1. D.      WITH SATAN
   1. 1.       A person to resist
   2. 2.       A device to recognize
   3. 3.       A temptation to resist
   4. 4.       A sin to avoid and confess
   5. 5.       A piece of spiritual armor to wear