Do you struggle to apply God’s word to your life in a PRACTICAL way? A recent poll (religiousnews.com) indicates that only 25% of American Christians read their bible on a daily basis. No matter how many times we will ourselves to be more consistent, we likely fall off after experiencing short-lived success. Perhaps the reason is not because we don’t have the desire to read our word, but rather that we simply just don’t know how. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, created a helpful acronym to help make Bible study more applicable to your daily life. The acronym is S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S (weird, huh?). Each letter stands for a question that you should ask while reading the Bible. In this blog I want to provide an example of how you can use these 9 questions to enhance your personal bible study.

QUESTION #1 – Is there a SIN to confess?

Is there sin in the bible that you are reading about that you are currently committing that you need to stop right where you are and confess it to God? For instance, the Bible speaks of IDOLATRY as one of the many sins were are commanded not to practice. Idolatry, in its simplest sense, is putting anything before or in the place of God. Instead of thinking of idolatry in terms of an object, perhaps you need to confess your sin of giving all of your time, energy and affection to something else other than to God.

QUESTION #2 – Is there a PROMISE to claim?

Is there something that God is promising you as you read? If you look hard enough they are all over the Scriptures.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

Psalm 23:4

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Cor. 12:9

No matter what your weakness of struggle is, God promises that He has enough grace to cover you, no matter what.

QUESTION #3 – Is there an ATTITUDE to change?

Does the scripture suggest a need for an attitude adjustment?

• Phil. 2:3-11 – Paul reminds us to do nothing out of SELFISH ambition but to the interests of others. He then proceeds to point to Jesus as the ultimate example of selflessness, sacrifice, service and submission.
• Phil. 2:14 – Immediately following this Paul reminds us of another attitude to change when he says,

Do everything without complaining or arguing.

QUESTION #4 – Is there a COMMAND to obey?

Is there something in the text that God is commanding you to do?

Therefore GO and MAKE disciples…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:19-20

Did you know that God has COMMANDED us to make disciples? In other words, we are to reproduce what we know in someone else. No matter how much or how little you know there is always someone who knows less. Use your knowledge and experience to disciple and teach someone else.

QUESTION #5 – Is there an EXAMPLE to follow?

Is there something that someone did that specifically gained God’s approval?

She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, ‘Come on, sleep with me!’ Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Gen. 39:12

Notice Joseph didn’t play around with sin. He didn’t kid himself into thinking he was strong enough to resist this temptation. He got out of there QUICKER than QUICK!

QUESTION #6 – Is there a PRAYER to pray?

There are some great prayers sprinkled throughout the Bible. One such prayer is found in Col. 1:9-14. Pay close attention to the words you can pray over someone’s life.

⁹ We ask God to give you complete KNOWLEDGE of his WILL and to give you spiritual WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING. ¹⁰ Then the way you LIVE will always HONOR and PLEASE the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good FRUIT. All the while, you will GROW as you LEARN to know God better and better. ¹¹ We also pray that you will be STRENGTHENED with all his glorious POWER so you will have all the ENDURANCE and PATIENCE you need. May you be filled with JOY, ¹² always thanking the Father.

QUESTION #7 – Is there an ERROR to avoid?

Is there something that someone did that God was clearly displeased with? For example in Acts 5 a guy named Ananias and his wife Sapphira promised to give money that he earned from selling property to the church to use. However, when it came time to give, he kept a portion of it back but claimed that he was giving the full amount. This slight dishonesty angered God and, well, God struck he and his wife down. What’s the point? God is displeased with even the slightest crack in our integrity.

QUESTION #8 – Is there a TRUTH to believe?

Suppose you are struggling with the idea that Christianity is the only way to get to heaven. Suppose you read scriptures such as John 14:6 where Jesus says,

I am THE way, THE truth and THE life. No man can come to the Father but through me.

God may be challenging you to believe this truth even if you don’t understand it completely.

QUESTION #9 – Is there SOMETHING to praise God for?

One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 103:8-12 which reads…

The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
 He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.

When you read a scripture as powerful as this, stop and take a moment and praise God for His goodness!

SUMMARY

I encourage you today to ask these 9 questions of every Bible text you read and ask God to help you apply the word of God to your life so that your Bible study is fruitful, meaningful and exciting. Let me know how these Bible tips help you by leaving a comment in the CONTACT ME section of my website. I’d love to hear from you!

*9 study question guide came from the http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/spacepets-probe-the-bible-with-these-questions