Is your Bible study on break for the holidays? Many studies end before Thanksgiving and don’t resume until January. What can you do over break to stay in the Word? Here are some good ideas.
On the study you just finished:
- If you skipped or missed a lesson, study it now to fill it in the gaps.
- Explore one of the “rabbit trails” you didn’t have time to explore earlier.
- Organize your notes so they will make sense to you when you look at them in 10 years.
- Write a 1 paragraph summary of the main theme(s).
- Revise/combine your chapter outlines in an overall summary of the book which you can use in the future to quickly remember the flow and content of the book.
- Identify the key verses to remind you of the main points and themes.
- Using your outline and theme summary, write a summary of what you learned.
- Reflect, meditate and/or journal about what you learned.
Prepare for your next study:
- Read a new book on how to study the Bible. For example, if you plan to study Old Testament prophecy next, read something that will increase your understanding of Hebrew poetry.
- Research the culture and/or historical setting of the next book you plan to study.
- Decide which commentaries you want to use to supplement your next study.
- Read through your next study in 3 different translations.
Do something different:
- Read something completely different. For example, if your last study was inductive, read something devotional or topical.
- Invite a friend for coffee and ask each other questions about what you learned. This can be especially fun if your friend was in a different study.
- Listen to a new bible study or sermon podcast.
- Relax and revisit one of your favorite devotionals.
How do you spend your Bible study breaks? I’d love to hear your ideas.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
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