Fallen and Flawed

I’m definitely a fan of the repetition model that you describe above. I do it in the car on the way to work. My commute is about 20 minutes which is typically 3-5 chapters. I typically will get through the passage 15-20 times during the month.

Chris: I love listening to chapters on audio…but I always find my mind wandering in no time. How do you keep your mind at attention? Curious to know your thoughts.

Kind of like the ol’ inductive study approach. If one is interested, there are actually Bible’s produced to accommodate this style of study.

Out of curiosity, have you ever tried parallel reading? Pick an event or story in the NT and read the same account in the different gospels.

re audiobooks – my mind wanders unless I’m doing something so put the book on when you’re running, cycling or driving. As long as you’re doing something somewhat mechanical, it’s much easier to absorb the book. I’ve been doing this for years and it’s amazing, totally changed commuting and exercise.

Tyro, no, haven’t tried parallel reading. Not a bad idea.

re audiobooks: You’re right about the absorption: I do tune in to audiobooks, debates or sermons when I run or cut grass or clean house. Sometimes I’ll go back and listen to it again. I think your right, regardless if you are paying attn. it’s getting in.

For me, I have found discourse studies to be a valuable aid in following the flow of thought in the Bible.

Logos has a great bundle for this: Lexham Discourse Greek New Testament Bundle, if you have the spare money.

I have also used the parallel reading method as well (usually switching between ESV, NASB and NET).

Also have to thumbs-up the audiobook suggestion as well. This was great for while I was working… until my iPod went AWOL.

Paying attention to the formatting markers (especially in the NASB) is very helpful as well. Seeing where the verbs are actually in the present tense in the original Greek versus translators putting the verb in the past tense to make the sentence conform to English grammar rules makes you slow down and chew on why the Spirit had the Apostles use present tense in certain areas.

Finally and most importantly, Take Your Time. Don’t feel like you are in a competition with other Christians to prove how devoted you are.

Eric, you said:

Finally and most importantly, Take Your Time. Don’t feel like you are in a competition with other Christians to prove how devoted you are.

Excellent advice. Thanks for sharing.

This will sound counter to my last point, but please bear with me.

Another thing that helped me see connections was to do a “speed read” through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

From October 31st of last year, until mid January I gave up all entertainment for myself and did a marathon reading on the entire Bible. I purposely was not trying to glean every possible thing from every chapter and verse, but the pace I kept allowed the themes of the separate books to stay in my head throughout reading the whole Bible.

I would take the Bible in “rounds” using print and audio books. Once I finished reading several books, while working I would listen to those same books straight through on my iPod at work and while driving. While listening, I would listen for patterns in the speech used and when something caught my attention listening, I would go straight to the print version, or jot down a note to follow thoughts up.

The general jist of arcing (from what I understand) is to follow the logical flow of sentences. Every time there is a “therefore” or a “so” or a “for” you go back and attach it to whatever is justifying it so you can see that this causes that or this is the reason for that.

Bob Mumford was fond of saying, “whenever you see a therefore, find out what it’s there for.”

If interested, here’s a handy dandy lil’ gospel harmony chart I jimmied up..it’s small enough to reconfigure to put in your bible.

http://www.box.net/shared/ga02lnybzd

Bob Mumford was fond of saying, “whenever you see a therefore, find out what it’s there for.”

I’ve been saying that for years, but couldn’t remember where I’d picked it up– must have been from my days of association with Bob M. when he would frequently visit the Glendale/Burbank, CA area. Thanks, Richard DeV., for solving that mystery for me.

I use a fineline mechanical pencil (among other things) to mark my Bible. I used to use a rapidograph pen when my hand was steadier, but the pencil is more forgiving. I use it to connect pronouns to the nouns to which they refer. Sometimes the results look like a spiderweb [e.g. Eph.1],requiring me to colorcode as well (always a challenge as I’m fairly colorblind).

In the long run, I circle, box, star, underscore, highlight, and connect so extensively that, upon rereading at a later date, I pay special attention to anything that isn’t marked, to find out what I missed… What a wonderful and joyous occupation!

Matthew: Nice job! Downloaded and ready to roll.

Al: You and I must have been separated at birth…I too use a mechanical pencil!

Al: You and I must have been separated at birth…

Right– by about 40 years.

I too use a mechanical pencil!

I didn’t start doing that until they were invented…

[...] The Right-Brain Thinker’s Guide to the Bible: 10 Creative Steps [...]

Demian, I am just getting to this post. Saved it for a time when I had time to read it thoroughly. It was worth slowing down to read and be strategic. I need a better strategy than I have.

This past week, while working with youth, I meditated for days on a few verses that I would use for the group devotion one evening. The verses were unlocked during prayerful meditation (which included steps 1-4 that you wrote above). It was not brute intellectual force that opened the meaning, but quiet meditation and prayer. The Spirit brought understanding.

Meditation has often been the missing step in my Bible study. The mechanics of study ought not distract from quiet meditation. When they join forces, it is beautiful. What you’ve written – especially the part about all of the marking of the text – goes well with meditation, even further it.

The strategy is what has been lacking. I’ve relied on “accidental” meditation – if I have a verse on my mind while I mow the lawn, great. If not, my mind is somewhere else. A little more intentionality would be good. I’m thinking note card in my pocket, note taped to the steering wheel, etc.
Anyone have ideas for someone who has become a little aimless recently?

Anyone have ideas for someone who has become a little aimless recently?

Hi Daniel. If you have a good illustrated dictionary, you can find a picture of me alongside the entry for “aimless.” The thing is, we don’t become a little aimless lately– ever since the fall, we are born aimless. Worse, actually, we are born aimed in the wrong direction: away from God. While our second, new birth corrects that anomaly, we spend the rest of our earthly existence learning how to aim where we should.

The suggestions above can be very helpful if kept in perspective. Let the word “perspective” be synonymous with “Christ.” God looks at us in Christ, and we must view God from within Christ. If there were a methodology for attuning our hearts and minds toward God, we would utilize it to the utter neglect of Christ in the process. But since He has finished the work of bringing us to God, there is no other process for us but to actively trust in Him and in the efficacy of what He has eternally perfected on our behalf.

So, the text-marking, the meditation, the note cards are all good, but ONLY as they are utilized in Christ and not as ends, or even means, in themselves. “Intentionality,” as you so aptly put it, is expressed effectively ONLY in our consistent, fervent prayer, “Lord, make me mindful of Yourself, sensitive to the teaching of the Scriptures by Your Holy Spirit, responsive to Your wonderful works of love and grace, fearful of Your displeasure and wrath, delighted to do Your will at all costs, willing to lay down my life, take up my cross, and follow You.” For it is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

The joy of restful, strengthening meditation in God’s Word is a gift of God’s grace for which their is no formula by which it may be obtained. We may, can, and should put forth our best efforts to assimilate the Scriptures and to reflect deeply upon them, but their fruit will only be borne in us by God’s grace. Walk through a vineyard and you will see the tilled and fertilized soil at the vines’ bases, you will sense the dew and the sun upon them, you will witness the scars of their pruning, and you will feel and hear the breeze ruffling their leaves, but you will NOT witness the sight or sound of their straining to produce grapes. They do not because they cannot. They can only abide in the Vine, incapable of anything else but to trust the Vine to produce what He will in them. And He will, to His own eternal glory. Thank God that we can lay no claim to His glory!

Every time you realize that your “mind is somewhere else,” ask our Father to return it’s attention to where it should be, and He will show you the “method” du jour to get back on track. Have no confidence in the flesh, as if to lay out a behavior pattern that will “work,” knowing and trusting that He is faithful Who has called you, Who will also do it…

Al,
I needed that, thank you.

Regarding your question on how do I pay attention while listening? My mind wanders a bit too sometimes which is why repetition is important. Sometimes I’ll notice something the 5th of even the 10th time that I don’t recall hearing before. I have the same problem with reading though. I think the magic bullet for me (if there is such a thing) is going to be to mix reading and listening with some of the other ideas you’ve mentioned here.

Forgot to mention… after listening to the passage a few times I like to mix in an expositional commentary as well. My favorites are Wiersbe and MacArthur but there are obviously a lot of good ones out there. I like to wait until I’ve been through it a few times because it keeps me from simply relying on what someone else has to say.

Thanks Chris. Good thoughts.

[...] Bible study. Need ideas for creative ways to process the text? Take a look at Demian Farnworth’s 10 creative steps for right-brained thinkers to study the Bible. Do everything from marking key words with colored pencils to making topical lists. Get a grasp of [...]