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This Simple Method Will Revolutionize the Way You Read the Gospels

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This Simple Method Will Revolutionize the Way You Read the Gospels

Matt invites his men’s Bible study group to dive into Scripture in a colorful way. Armed with a pack of colored markers, he prints out the day’s Bible reading and invites participants to circle verbs, underline names, draw arrows between repeating phrases, highlight details, and make notes in the margins before discussing the passage.

My friend, Christian—a member of Matt’s Bible study group, remembers feeling hesitant at first:

“Here I am with a group of guys who have nicknamed themselves ‘Manbeverages & Bibles’ and now rainbow markers are strewn all over the table where we’re meeting. It’s starting to feel like a Pinterest party.

But 15 minutes into the study, the Bible started coming alive in a whole new way,” Christian says. “Each of us started noticing details, phrases, patterns—God began speaking through the Scripture to each of us in a personal way.”

Christian’s story stuck in my mind. What had Matt discovered? Would a pack of colored markers really make that big of a difference in studying the Scripture?

The #LentChallenge is the perfect opportunity to find out. This year Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18.

Two years ago, we read through the entire Bible in 40 days. Last year, we read through the New Testament. This year, we’re inviting you to read through the Gospels in 40 days in order to prepare our hearts for Easter.

Download a free copy of the #LentChallenge Gospel Reading Guide by clicking here.

The #LentChallenge will require you to read 2-3 chapters of the Bible each day. And I’m challenging you to ask one question each day as you read:

What do you most need to read that you least want to hear?

MOSTNEEDTOREAD

Let’s move beyond our preconceived notions and ask the Holy Spirit to speak the words we most need to hear. Even if they’re hard to hear.

The Color Method

I’ve decided to riff on Matt’s idea and develop the following Color Method to reading.

Verbs are circled in red. Highlighting the activity of people and God.

Names are underlined in green. Additional mentions receive an extra underline.

Timing is circled in blue. Noting when, then, and after exposes God’s blueprint.

Numbers are circled in orange. Numerals often have Biblical significance.

The Holy Spirit, angels, the prophetic are marked in light blue. A steady presence.

Observations are scribbled in turquoise. Comments, insights, humorous notes.

Doodles appear in a variety of colors. Doodling allows the soul to reflect.

Now, marking this much in my bible would create a color fiasco, so I followed Matt’s lead and went to www.biblegateway.com. I searched for the day’s readings, selected a translation, removed verse references, and printed.

This allowed me to have the Scripture printed, without numbers, and begin to mark up with lots of margins and rooms for notes.

If you’d like the book of Matthew ready to mark up without verse numbers, click here. (MARK, LUKE, JOHN <–available if you click those links).

I’ve been discovering that Matt’s color method is genius. Phrases are coming alive. Imagery is popping off the page. Details are catching my eye (and heart).

Along the way, I’m allowing my inner doodler out. I draw like a 4-year-old. But as I draw, it provides time for the words, the phrases to sink deeper into my soul than just skimming would.

The Color Method

Doodling slows my pacing.

Doodling helps me recognize repeat words, phrases, and emphasis.

Doodling allows me to see patterns in the way God words, the way Jesus teaches.

Let me warn you! The Color Method slows reading considerably.

The daily reading for the #LentChallenge normally takes only 15 minutes. Adding the Color Method can turn it into more than an hour—you’ll end up reading through the passage several times over.

But maybe one day, or one day a week, it’s worth trying. Let your inner doodler shine.

If you do, here are a few tips:

1. I always begin with circling the verbs in red, because you’ll find more verbs than another colorful word.

2. Within a given story, I’ll add an extra underline each time a person’s name is mentioned. For example, each time Joseph’s name is mentioned in Matthew 1, it receives an additional underline. This allows the prominence of someone to emerge within a story. This becomes particularly interesting when you start to see how often the Heavenly Father is mentioned throughout certain portions of the Gospels. 

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3. Often on top of a number in Scripture, I write the actual numeral. Interesting to see which numbers keep popping up—when and where. 

4. I scribble lots of notes as I’m reading on the side.

5. I place question marks around confusing passages. During Lent, we’re joyful and grateful to have New Testament professor Craig Blomberg answering questions—yours and mine. So I’m collecting questions as I read. You’ll want to collect them to and send them to: jessica@margaretfeinberg.com or leave them a comment on our weekly blog posts. We’ll be doing a Q&A post once a week with Dr. Blomberg.

6. At the end of my doodle marking time, I reread the entire day’s text and then ask the question:

What do I most need to read but least want to hear?

Then I consider how I can respond in an active way that day. Sometimes it’s through prayer or repentance, giving or reaching out to someone. But I always ask God how I can be both a hearer and doer of the day’s reading.

This Simple Method Will Revolutionize the Way You Read the Gospels

This is just the method I’ve been using. Feel free to riff on this or develop your own. Try it one day a week or every day. This is just one more tool to help the Scripture come alive and trick men’s groups into having Pinterest parties. Thanks Matt!

Lent starts THIS WEDNESDAY. Download the FREE #LentChallenge Gospel Reading Guide, here. Subscribe via the YouVersion app, here. 

Download the Gospel of Matthew (in a word document without verse references) to begin the Color Method in your daily reading.

[metaslider id=30121]

UPDATE:

Click here to download MATTHEW without verse references.

Click here to download MARK without verse references.

Click here to download LUKE without verse references.

Click here to download JOHN without verse references.

*Original Photo Source 

91 Comments

  1. Nicole @ Three 31
    Nicole @ Three 31 on February 16, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Hey Margaret! I know I’ve been MIA on the comment forms but that doesn’t mean I’ve been completely MIA from your blog and events entirely. I love, love, LOVE that you shared a doodle-type Bible study technique. I was recently introduced to Bible Journaling and it has transformed the way I look and read at Scripture. Being knee-deep in God’s Word with a year-long reading plan and participating in “The Story” study at church is helping a lot too. But I’ve got my markers, colored pencils, highlighters, and stickers beside me at all times. As a writer and former language arts teacher, I love Matt’s approach in circling verbs, underlining, and marking Scripture accordingly. GREAT IDEAS! Thanks for sharing. Big hugs to you and Leif.

  2. Margaret
    Margaret on February 16, 2015 at 11:55 am

    Awww, love it. Miss you friend! Give that sweet baby a kiss from me!

  3. Sandie M
    Sandie M on February 16, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    I love the simplicity of this. I use a similar method in my personal study that I adapted from a number of places, including the Bible Quiz my girls participated in some years ago. The biggest difference is that I write out the scriptures in my own handwriting, then mark up the text / make comments / condense the information in the sidelines – in whatever way I believe the Lord is speaking to me. This way, I can create an ongoing record of what I am learning and look back to see overall themes in the text, and patterns in God’s dealings with me. I love the question: “What do I most need to read, but least want to hear?” It really pinpoints where God is working to change me!

  4. Margaret
    Margaret on February 16, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    I love the handwritten portion, Sandie. I bet that adds a whole new element to studying the Scripture. Maybe next year… 🙂

  5. SUE
    SUE on February 16, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    WOW! I’m going to try this!!! It’s like a whole new way of learning & understanding.
    Thanks for sharing! God Bless

  6. Margaret
    Margaret on February 16, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    It’s shining new light onto well-read passages. I’m loving it. Can’t wait to share what I’m learning with you during the #LentChallenge.

  7. Angela Stolpe
    Angela Stolpe on February 16, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    I’m really excited to try this during the #LentChallenge. Will you have Mark, Luke and John formatted this way too 😉

  8. Margaret
    Margaret on February 16, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Yes! Working on creating the documents now for Mark, Luke, and John.

  9. Angela Stolpe
    Angela Stolpe on February 16, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    Yay!! My whole book club is doing this together. We are very excited!! Thank you for the great resources.

  10. jill
    jill on February 17, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    Thank you so much for this approach! I’m planning to participate in the #lentchallenge and plan to go at it with this approach. Can’t wait to see what God does!

  11. Cherie
    Cherie on February 17, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    Looking forward to starting tomorrow. I think this method will bring out things we have never seen before. Can’t wait to get started! Thanks Margaret for your challenges. You get us purposefully into the Scriptures.

  12. Margaret
    Margaret on February 18, 2015 at 9:13 am

    So thrilled you’re joining us, Jill!

  13. Margaret
    Margaret on February 18, 2015 at 10:25 am

    Yes.Yes.Yes. Can’t wait to hear what God reveals and teaches you, Cherie!

  14. Laura Bender
    Laura Bender on February 18, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    This sounds like Kay Arthur’s Precept studying…is it?

  15. Margaret
    Margaret on February 19, 2015 at 10:40 am

    Very similar! I’m finding such richness already!

  16. Dennis
    Dennis on February 19, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    Thanks for your post, I just started doing this a couple of weeks ago, you help fine tune it.

    How did you create your copy of the bible chapters, when I try to make my own it comes out looking like a normal typed paper. Yours has wide margins on both sides, and less words on each line, and like an hour glass shape on the paragraphs.

    I prefer to use the ESV bible for my studies.

  17. Margaret
    Margaret on February 19, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    Hi Dennis! I just copied and pasted from BibleGateway.com and had it center-aligned to give a little margin space on either side. Hope that helps!

  18. Tara D
    Tara D on February 23, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    This sounds right up my alley. I already do some inductive study and doodle so this will be a perfect combination of the two! I am going to give it a try. Thanks!

  19. Margaret
    Margaret on February 23, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Thrilled you’re joining us, Tara!!

  20. Sandra
    Sandra on February 23, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    Hi friend,

    I have been using a color method for years. I learned the Kay Arthur method of Inductive Study. It was pretty intense, so I did a lighter version for myself. I don’t mark as much as I used too. However, it is an awesome study tool and once mastered you can never simply see scripture without going a wee bit deeper even in regular reading time. Your mind automatically drifts to seeing those things you needed to color to see before The color method here is slightly different… but way cool I am sure. I’ve not written or responded much this past year as I have been on my own “little” journey. I read your blogs regularly and enjoy praying for you along the way. I will most likely not meet you this side of heaven but look forward to an eternity getting to be your friend.

    Hugs,
    Sandra

  21. Margaret
    Margaret on February 24, 2015 at 9:39 am

    Sandra, hopefully I’ll get to hug your neck sometime on this side of heaven. Grateful for you!

  22. Heather Bleier
    Heather Bleier on March 16, 2015 at 11:00 am

    I love this! I do something called Verse Mapping to dig into verses I want to memorize, I’ll add this to my Bible study arsenal!

    This is my post on Verse Mapping if your are interested in checking it out.

  23. Margaret
    Margaret on March 16, 2015 at 11:36 am

    Love the Verse Mapping idea, Heather!

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