"SOAP" Bible Study Method - Luke 3

This is an example of the "SOAP" Bible Study method that we are doing in Sunday School.Like I said, it is really easy, but gives great opportunity to stop and analyze a verse that jumps out to me as I read a chapter. This verse is a reminder that how we live is important and is not covered up by claims to be a church member or a Christian. The saying "Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying" comes to mind!

Scripture: Luke 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We are sons of Abraham," for I tell you that out of these stones, God can raise up sons of Abraham.

Observation: Addressing specifically the Jewish Leaders of the day as a "Brood of Vipers". The religious elite. Jesus addressed their hypocrisy as well. NLT says "PROVE by the way you LIVE that you have repented of your sins."

Application: Like the Religious Leaders of Jesus' day, we often say "I go to church", "My family has been members of such and such church for x number of years" or "I am a Christian" and find great comfort in this affiliation. We also use these identities to overshadow a grievous list of sinful actions. This word still rings true...Prove by the way you LIVE that you have repented. Don't just call yourself a Christian.

Prayer: Father Good, Help me to realize when my actions do not speak of my servant hood to you. I do want to bear good fruit. I want people who know the way i LIVE day by day to know that I serve You and that You are Lord of my life without me ever having to tell them that I am a Christian.

Sunday School All Week long

Our Sunday School teacher challenged us to read one chapter of Luke each day, pick a verse from that chapter, and write about it. This is RIGHT up my alley! I have LOVED it!!!! The method we are using is the "SOAP" Method. In a notebook, you write the date and chapter you are reading, then you write:

Scripture (the verse that sticks out to you)

Observation (what you notice about the verse)

Application (how can ya apply this verse or what have you learned from it)

Prayer

I have LOVED this exercise!!!! I have made an effort to find something new, something I have not noticed before in each chapter. I thought this would be difficult, being that the Book of Luke is one of the Gospels and tells the life of Christ. However, it has been easy...and INTERESTING. I am realizing that the verses that jump out at me are a good indication of where I am spiritually.

I want to share some of what I have learned these past couple of weeks, but before I do, I want to make sure that I say that I did not consult any commentaries or even the preacher to find out what the scripture is supposed to mean. I just read, picked out a verse that jumped out at me and wrote about what I thought about it. This is not meant to be a "lesson" so much as it is a peek into how I feel and think as I read Luke.

The most interesting thing to me has been how EASY this exercise has been . It takes me maybe 30 minutes or so to read the chapter and go through the exercise. The result is a lingering feeling of accomplishment and a growing feeling of closeness to my Savior and Lord as I search for new verses to study.

I'll share bits and pieces as I go, just because I think it is really neat to see how the Word of God speaks.