H.A.B.I.T.S.

Plumbline Devotional
Scripture Study

“In the end we retain from our studies only that which we
“In the end we retain from our studies practically apply.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
only that which we practically apply.” -
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Feb 12 — Feb. 18, 2009
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Scripture Study
Found these stats
online: Among 12-18 year olds
 39% prayed regularly within the last 30 days
 24% had told a friend about their religious beliefs (30% in ‘05)
 15% had invited someone to a church activity (19% in ‘05)
14% read the Bible regularly
What does this tell you? It tells me, among other things , that you are
more likely to share Christ with someone that you are to read the Bible.
And how, dear friend, are you to share Christ if you aren’t reading His
Word?? This week we are going to study some tips and tricks for getting
into the word.
Today we’re going to talk about the Devotional Method. What do you
think of when you hear the word Devotional?
Look up the definition in the back here and write it here:
So the devotional method is having your own little worship service. Feel
free to include singing, announcements, testimony and dismiss part of
your brain to children’s church so it doesn’t distract you.
First, read the passage. This week we are going to be working our exer-
cises out of John 21. Today read verses 1-7.
February 12, 2009
January 1, 2009
18. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourselfPageand
15
went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your
hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not
want to go." 19. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which
Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 20. Peter
turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.
(This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and
had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21. When Peter saw him,
he asked, "Lord, what about him?" 22. Jesus answered, "If I want him to
remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23.
Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple
would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said,
"If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" 24. This
is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down.
We know that his testimony is true. 25. Jesus did many other things as
well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the
whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
hods.
Devotional:
adjective
1. relating to worship; "a devotional exercise"
noun
1. a short religious service
Agapê: Unconditional or God love
Philia: Friendship, affinity, bringing pleasure
Storgê: To like or prefer one thing over another. A love that has its ba-
sis in one's own nature.
Dictionary
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Scripture References Steps

Step 1 - Pray for understanding and guidance as you apply the passage
John 21:1. Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of into your life.
Tiberias. It happened this way: 2. Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didy-
mus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two
other disciples were together. 3. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told
them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into Step 2 - Meditate on the verse(s) you have chosen for your study. Medi-
the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4. Early in the morning, tate just means to think through. Pause after each verse and think about
Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Je- what is being said to others or to you.
sus. 5. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No,"
they answered. 6. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat
and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net
in because of the large number of fish. 7. Then the disciple whom Jesus
loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him
say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he Step 3 - Write out some applications
had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8. The other disciples fol- you might take from this passage. I
lowed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from like to phrase these as a question. Like:
shore, about a hundred yards. 9. When they landed, they saw a fire of Do I jump in the water when I see
burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10. Jesus said to Christ a-waiting? Do I listen when he
them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11. Simon Peter tells me to do silly things like throw my
climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, net on the other side? Do I recognize
but even with so many the net was not torn. 12. Jesus said to them, him when he shows up?
"Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who
are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13. Jesus came, took the bread and
gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14. This was now the
third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the
dead.

15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon
son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, Step 4 - Memorize a verse from the passage that summarizes what you
"you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16. Again Je- have learned. Here comes that “B” back to haunt us.
sus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes,
Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17.
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Pe-
ter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?"
He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus Another tip for verse by verse study is to make use of all those little num-
said, "Feed my sheep.” bers in the margin and bottom of your Bible. Looking up these verses
could shed some light on what you are learning.

“Whoever raises his voice while studying will find that his learning endures, but one who
Scripture References reads silently will soon forget”
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Scripture Study Page 13

For more information about the study methods discussed here or to

learn about more ways to study the Bible for yourself you can check
out:

http://www.eachnewday.com/HowToStudyTheBible/
Character Study the_Bible_study_met18htm#Method_1

The Bible is filled with people who have a variety of backgrounds,

strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures. Just like you and me.
Sometimes studying one of these people can help you identify more read-
ily with what the Bible has to say to you.

Going along with our John 21 theme we are going to do a little work with
Peter. Read the following verses and write a little note about what they
tell you about Simon Peter.

Background:
Matt 4:18

Mark 1:30

Significant events:
Matt 14:25

Matt 16:16

Mark 8:29

John 13:36

After reading these passages, what do you think of Peter? Who does he
remind you of that you know?

Would you like him or not? Why?

February 13, 2009

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Scripture Study Page 5

What does he do that you would like to do more of?

What does he do that you have done and regretted?

As promised...here is a list of some great men and women

in the Bible who would enjoy being studied: Tools: When you do a character study it helps to have a Bible dictionary
so you can easily find all of the references about a particular person.

Hints: Sometimes a person can be

1. Abraham 1. Abigail
called more than one name. Our
2. Daniel 2. Abishag
Peter was called Simon Peter or
3. David 3. Anna
just Simon sometimes. A diction-
4. Elijah 4. Bathsheba
ary can help you sort out who’s
5. Elisha 5. Deborah
who.
6. Ezekiel 6. Delilah
7. Ezra 7. Dinah
Steps:
8. Isaiah 8. Dorcas
1. Choose a person (there’s a short
9. Isaac 9. Elizabeth
list of some characters at the back of this book)
10. Jacob 10. Esther
11. Jeremiah 11. Eunice
2. List all references concerning that person.
12. Jesus 12. Eve
13. John – apostle 13. Hagar
3. Note your first impression of the person after your first reading of the
14. Joseph – OT 14. Hannah
passages
15. Joshua 15. Jezebel
16. Moses 16. Jochebed
4. Make a chronological outline of the person's life after your second
17. Nehemiah 17. Leah
reading
18. Paul 18. Lydia
19. Peter 19. Martha
5. Identify some character qualities.
20. Pharaoh 20. Mary – Jesus’ mother
21. Samson
6. Show how some other Bible truths are illustrated in this person's life
22. Samuel
23. Saul – OT
7. Summarize the main lesson(s) you have learned
24. Solomon
8, Write out a personal application

“Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much are the

“In ofthe
three pillars end we
learning.” retain
- Benjamin from our
Disraeli
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Scripture Study Read Matthew 25:35-46 Page 11

What did Jesus say here about our responsibility to others?

Word Study What conclusions do you draw from these verses?

I first heard this word study a couple of Easters ago. I was familiar with
the passage but I never knew how the whole meaning of the passage
changes when you see the original Greek.

Read John 21: 15-19

As a little background...this is after Jesus has been crucified and resur- Here are some additional verses
rected. Peter denied Christ three times. Now Jesus is basically welcom- if you’d like to study more:
ing him back by asking the question three times.

In honor of our recently past Hallmark Holiday...we will do a little study Matthew 7:1-6
on the word love. There are three versions of the word love in the Bible.
Look up the definition (in the back) of these words and write them out.

agapê Matthew 5:38-42

philia

storgê

Look up the following verses that relate and see how they enhance your Tools: You will need a really good concordance for this one. Surprise
understanding of each usage: your parents and ask for a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance for your
Agape: John 3:16, John 17:26 and John 14:21. next birthday.

Steps:
Philia: Hebrews 13:1, John 5:20, John 20:2. Step 1 - Compile a list of words related to the topic you will study
Step 2 - Collect all references relating to each word
Step 3 - Consider each reference individually
Storge: Ro.1:31 and 2Tim.3:3. Step 4 - Compare and group the references
Step 5 - Condense the results of your study into a brief outline

“Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly
February 16, 2009 “In
profound and originalthe
insights end we only
are to be found retain from
in studying the our
exemplary.” - Warren G. Bennis
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Scripture Study Now, how does the mean of this passage change when you Page 7
see the Greek words substituted for their English equivalents?

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of
John, do you truly (agape) me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I (philia) you."
Top 25 Accounta bili ty Ques tio ns
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly (agape) me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I (philia) you."
"Simon son of John, do you (philia) me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?"
Topic study He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I (philia) you."
Sometimes, we are looking for some Biblical guidance about a particular How does this shift your understanding of the passage?
topic.

Read John 21:20-25

What is Peter’s main concern in this passage?

Tools: Mutiple translations of the Bible, Concordance,
Bible dictionary, English dictionary

Hints: Remember that often a single word in the original language may be re-
How did Christ respond to him? placed by many different words, or even phrases, when translated into English.

This would be a great place to start a topical study on a number of rela-
tionship topics. Maybe “What is my responsibility to others?”
Read Genesis 4:8-11
What question does Cain ask?
If God had answered yes or no which would it be?
*An exhaustive concordance such as Strong's or Young's are especially valuable for
this study since they associate each discrete original word to its English translation.
Steps
Step 1 - Choose the word you will study
Step 2 - Find its English definition in the English dictionary
Step 3 - Compare treatments of the word in the various translations
Step 4 - Note the definition of the original word (Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic)
Step 5 - Discover just where the word is used in the Bible
Step 6 - Find the origin and root meaning of the word, how the word was used by
the secular culture of the day
Step 7 - Determine how the word was used in the Bible and how it would have
been understood in the culture to which the Bible was originally addressed
Step 8 - Write an application

“Instead of studying for finals, what about just going to the Bahamas and catching some rays?
February 18, 2009 Maybe you'll flunk, but you might have flunked anyway; that's my point.” - Jack Handy
“In the end we retain from our
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Scripture Study Page 9

Other items: Where? When?

What words are repeated? Why are they important?

Use cross references to look up related verses. How do they enhance

Chapter Summary Method your understanding?

This is more of a big-picture study method. Start by reading all of John

chapter 21. Try not to look at the built in chapter headings.
How does this apply to your life?

If you were to write your own chapter heading for this section, what
would it be?

Who are the main people? Hints: Read the chapter from a Bible without notes in order to encour-
age fresh insights rather than reaffirming those already found.
Read the chapter without stopping in order to get a feel for the flow of
the chapter.
Read the chapter in various translations noting important differences
Create an outline of the main events discovered.
I.
Steps:
A. Step 1 - Give the chapter a short but descriptive heading.
Step 2 - Make a list or outline of the major point of the chapter.
B. Step 3 - Make a list of the major people.
Step 4 - Select a verse that is significant in the chapter or which you
find is important during this study.
Step 5 - Make a list of the key word(s) of the chapter.
Step 6 - Is there anything you don’t understand?
Step 7 - Use your cross references to find other passages in the Bible
that help you to understand this chapter.
Step 8 - List the major lessons taught in the chapter that you have
learned at this time.
Step 9—Application. How can you apply this chapter to your life?

“The bitterness of studying is preferable to the bitterness of

February 17, 2009 ignorance”
“In the end we retain from our