When I was a young
minister, my pastor Dr. James Lougheed at the Flint Baptist Temple (Burton,
Michigan) would remind me all the time that 90% of the time you spend studying,
reading and preparing the message, and the other 10% you spend in the pulpit
having fun.
As Pastors, Associate, Youth
Pastors, Bible teachers, and college professors it is important that we dig
deep (become scholars/students of the word) into the word of God personally,
before going into the pulpit or classroom to preach or teach!
Pastors, I found an
outline in some old notes in my office, I have no idea who shared them
originally, so I took the liberty to use them and added a few thoughts of my
own.
What?
So What? And Now What?
What do I need to know personally to
understand a book or passage of the Bible?
1) Who
wrote the book?
2) To
whom was it written? (was it an individual?
or was it to a church?)
3) When
was it written?
4) Why
did the author write the letter or book, what was his purpose or intention?
5) What
tools or literary devises did the author employ? (did the author use a parable,
miracle, or etc.?)
6) What
kind of literature is the book/passage? (i.e. prophecy, poetic, etc.)
7) Who
is speaking in this passage?
8) What
are the key ideas, words, concepts, or issues that are addressed?
a. How
has meaning of the words used in this passaged changed over time?
b. What
current terms would evoke similar images or thoughts?
c. What
are similar issues in our culture?
9) If
the passage is a narrative, what are the characters like? It is important we
try to see the story from their point of view.
So What? Now that I have a sense of the
passage/book, how shall I use the information?
1) How
does the passage speak to me personally?
a. What
does it mean?
b. What
does it move me to do/not do?
c. Is
there discomfort/conviction created by this passage?
2) Does
my church feel, think, or believe the same way I do?
a. If
not, why not?
b. What
is my role at this point in the church?
3) How
can I recreate the discomfort/conviction by this passage for the church
members?
a. Do
the literary forms suggest anything?
b. How
can I recreate the movement of the passage?
4) What
shall we do as a result of the text?
a. Is
it a matter of belief, values, or action?
b. Is
immediate response called for, or longer-term transformation?
Now What?
1) Begin
to prepare the message itself.
2) It
is important to take the first century concepts and culture and make it
relevant today?
3) Develop
images, stories, or illustrations that you want to share
4) Make
the abstract concrete and general specific (Make it understandable)
5) What
is the purpose of this message?
Suggestions:
1) Do
not run to commentaries or other external resources too quickly, live with the
passage yourself for a time.
2) Do
not begin writing the message too quickly, let the ideas from your study brew
for a while.
