Practicing the Way: Scripture — STUDY

Devotional

Day 1: Scripture Forms Us, Not Just Informs Us

Learning scripture is not about gaining trivia or ammunition for debates, but about nurturing a deep, reflexive connection with God. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, what came out of him was not fear or anxiety, but the very words of God—showing that true study leads to transformation, not just information. The difference between Jesus and the devil in their use of scripture was not who could quote it, but who was faithfully attentive to God’s heart through it. As we immerse ourselves in God’s word, our automatic responses in times of stress and temptation can become trust, truth, and even joy, rather than fear or pride. [26:40]

Luke 4:1-13 (NIV)
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Reflection: When you are under stress or temptation, what “oozes out” of you—fear, anxiety, or God’s word? What is one way you can begin to let scripture shape your reflexes this week?

Day 2: All Scripture Is God-Breathed and Useful

Scripture is not just a collection of ancient writings, but a unified story that is “God-breathed” and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Even when the Bible feels confusing or distant, it is not because God is hiding, but because we are crossing cultures and centuries to meet Him. By studying with humility, curiosity, and the right tools, we allow God’s truth to become part of our lives, shaping how we live and love those around us. [29:25]

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can approach your Bible reading this week with more curiosity and humility, allowing it to teach or correct you?

Day 3: Context Matters—Reading Scripture Literarily

The Bible is a library, not a single book, and each part must be read according to its genre and context. When we rush to apply verses without understanding their original setting, we risk misusing God’s word and missing its true message. By reading “not literally but literarily,” we honor the diversity of scripture and allow its unified story to lead us to Jesus, rather than using it to advance our own agendas. [32:25]

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Reflection: Think of a favorite Bible verse you often quote—have you ever considered its original context? How might understanding its background change the way you apply it to your life?

Day 4: Study to Know God, Not Just About God

It is possible to study scripture diligently and still miss Jesus, becoming informed but not transformed. True study is motivated by love and relationship, not pride or the desire to master the text. As we keep listening and returning to God’s word, we begin to hear the Father’s heart in the “accent” of the text, and study becomes a way to nurture intimacy with God rather than just a task to complete. [43:24]

John 5:39-40 (NIV)
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Reflection: In your current approach to Bible study, are you seeking to know God personally, or just to know more about Him? What would it look like to let your study become an act of love this week?

Day 5: Let the Word Read You—Study in Community

Studying scripture is not meant to be a solitary pursuit; it is a communal practice that shapes us together. By asking good questions, using the right tools, and sharing what we learn with others, we allow God’s word to “read us” and transform us as a community. When love is the motivation, study becomes worship, and we are formed not just as individuals but as the body of Christ for the world. [49:21]

Acts 17:11 (NIV)
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Reflection: Who can you invite to study a passage of scripture with you this week, and how might sharing your discoveries together deepen your understanding and joy in God’s word?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the film "Past Lives," I was struck by the image of a husband learning his wife's heart language—not for efficiency, but for intimacy. This is a beautiful picture of what it means to study Scripture: not to pass a test or win an argument, but to know God’s heart more deeply. Scripture is not just a text to be read, but a language to be learned, a relationship to be nurtured. When we study the Bible, we are learning to speak the language of God, to understand His heart, and to let His words shape our lives.

Jesus Himself modeled this for us. In His moment of greatest testing, what came out of Him was Scripture—words from Deuteronomy, spoken not as a weapon, but as a reflex of trust and truth. Yet, even the devil can quote Scripture, twisting it for his own ends. The difference is not who knows the Bible best, but who is faithful, who pays loving attention to God through His Word. Our goal is not to become Bible trivia experts, but to be so formed by God’s story that, under pressure, what comes out of us is trust, truth, and even joy.

Studying Scripture is challenging because we are crossing languages, cultures, genres, and centuries. The Bible is not a single book, but a library—a unified story that leads to Jesus. To read it well, we must read not just literally, but literarily, honoring the genre and context. Many misunderstandings and misapplications come from reading verses in isolation, without understanding the larger story or the original context. When we study, we learn to see the Bible as a story of God’s faithfulness, not a collection of disconnected moral lessons.

True study is slow, patient, and often communal. It’s like cooking: the real work happens in the kitchen, not just in the plating. We ask good questions, use the right tools, go slow, and do it together. The goal is not to master the text, but to let the text—and the Master behind it—shape us. We study not to impress, but to be impressed upon; not to know more about God, but to know God Himself. When love is our motivation, study becomes worship, and we are drawn deeper into the life of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Study Scripture for intimacy, not information Studying the Bible is about drawing near to God, learning His heart, and nurturing a relationship, not just accumulating facts or arguments. Like learning a loved one’s language, it’s an act of love and intimacy, not mere efficiency. This approach transforms study from a duty into a delight, making it a means of communion with God. [24:19]
2. Context and genre matter deeply The Bible is a library, not a single book, and each part must be read according to its genre and context. Misreading or misapplying Scripture often happens when we ignore its literary form or historical setting. Honoring the context allows us to hear God’s voice more clearly and avoid turning verses into slogans that miss the heart of the message. [32:25]
3. Let the unified story lead to Jesus Scripture is a unified story that points to Jesus, not a collection of disconnected moral tales. Understanding where we are in the story helps us interpret difficult passages and see God’s faithfulness across time. This perspective keeps us from getting lost or making the Bible about ourselves, and instead centers us on Christ and His redemptive work. [35:26]
4. Study in community and with humility The Bible was given to a community and is best understood together. Studying with others sharpens our understanding, keeps us accountable, and helps us apply God’s Word faithfully. Humility and curiosity are essential, as we recognize our need for guidance and the richness that comes from shared discovery. [45:57]
5. Let study become worship When love is the motivation, study becomes an act of worship, not just an intellectual exercise. The goal is not to master the text, but to be mastered by the God who speaks through it. As we slow down, ask good questions, and let the Word read us, we are transformed and drawn deeper into the life and love of God. [49:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Learning the Language of Love
[03:12] - Scripture as Relationship, Not Duty
[06:30] - Jesus and the Temptation: Scripture Under Pressure
[10:15] - The Devil’s Use of Scripture
[13:40] - Forming Reflexes of Trust and Truth
[16:55] - The Heart Cannot Love What the Mind Does Not Know
[19:30] - Four Challenges of Studying Scripture
[24:19] - Language and Interpretation in the Bible
[29:25] - Context and Genre: Reading Literarily
[32:25] - The Bible as a Unified Story
[35:26] - Common Misreadings and Their Contexts
[40:59] - The Danger of Missing Jesus in Study
[43:24] - Practical Tools and Approaches for Study
[49:21] - Study as Worship and Invitation
[57:45] - Communion and Closing Blessing
[71:57] - Prayer and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Luke 4:1-13, what is Jesus’ response each time he is tempted by the devil? What do you notice about the way both Jesus and the devil use Scripture in this passage?
According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, what are the purposes of Scripture? List each one mentioned.
In John 5:39-40, what does Jesus say is the real purpose of studying the Scriptures?
The sermon described the Bible as a “library” rather than a single book. What are some of the different genres or types of writing found in the Bible? [32:25]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus responded to temptation by quoting Scripture, and what does this reveal about his relationship with God’s Word? [24:19]
The sermon said, “The difference isn’t who’s biblical or who’s quoting Scripture, it’s who is faithful, who is paying loving attention to the living God through the words of Scripture.” What does it mean to pay “loving attention” to God through Scripture? [24:19]
How can reading the Bible “literarily” (honoring genre and context) change the way we understand and apply it, compared to reading it as a list of rules or slogans? [32:25]
According to the sermon, what is the danger of studying the Bible only for information or to “master the text”? [49:21]

Application Questions

The sermon compared learning Scripture to learning a loved one’s heart language—not for efficiency, but for intimacy. In your own Bible reading, do you tend to approach it more for information or for relationship? What would it look like to shift toward intimacy with God? [24:19]
Think of a time when you or someone you know used a Bible verse out of context (like Jeremiah 29:11 or Matthew 7:1). How did understanding the context change the meaning? How can you be more careful with context in your own study? [38:33]
The sermon encouraged us to study the Bible in community. Who are the people you can study with, and what might keep you from doing so? What is one step you could take this week to invite someone into your study or join a group? [45:57]
The speaker said, “We study not to master the text, but to let the text—and the Master behind it—shape us.” Is there a part of your life where you need to let God’s Word “master” you, rather than just learning more information? What might that look like? [49:21]
The sermon suggested asking questions like “What does this show me about God? What does it reveal about us? Where is the good news?” Choose a passage you’re reading this week and try these questions. What did you discover? [49:21]
The Bible was described as a unified story that leads to Jesus. How does keeping Jesus at the center help you when you encounter confusing or difficult passages? [35:26]
The sermon said, “When love is our motivation, study becomes worship.” What practical changes could you make to your study habits so that your time in Scripture feels more like worship and less like a chore? [49:21]

Sermon Clips

It’s more than just God’s word that’s meant to come out of us, and that’s what makes the story so striking. Because Jesus and the devil are both quoting scripture. The difference isn’t who’s biblical or who’s quoting scripture—it’s who is faithful, who is paying loving attention to the living God through the words of scripture, and who is using scripture to advance their own agenda. If Jesus needed to know scripture well enough to resist distortion, how much more do we? [00:25:47] (36 seconds) #FaithfulNotAgenda

The goal in reading scripture is to read not literally but literarily, which means to honor the genre on its own terms. Finally, the last challenge is that this book was written over—the story was written over a 1,500-year time period. But despite that, the Bible isn’t a random collection of writings—it’s what the Bible Project calls a unified story that leads to Jesus. Scriptures are a unified story that lead to Jesus. [00:32:54] (32 seconds) #ReadLiterarily

Some commands in the Old Testament, the Hebrew scriptures, carry over for all time—they’re repeated by Jesus and the New Testament, so we still follow them today. But there are others that were for a time, an earlier part of the story. We need to figure out what those are. That’s why we study. When you know where you are in the story, then the scriptures open up and suddenly it begins to lead us to Jesus. [00:35:07] (27 seconds) #KnowYourStory

But real study happens in the back, in the kitchen. It’s messy, it takes time, there’s heat, it takes patience, and sometimes it smells a little bit burnt before it smells good. When we rush to plate the Bible without letting it simmer, we end up misreading it. We grab verses out of context and we turn them into slogans for our lives that they were never meant to be used for. [00:37:12] (31 seconds) #StudyTransforms

There’s a warning when it comes to studying scripture—it comes from Jesus himself to the Pharisees in John chapter 5. He says, “You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have life, yet these are the very scriptures that testify about me.” You see, it’s possible to study the words of this text and completely miss Jesus—to become informed rather than transformed. [00:42:41] (30 seconds) #LoveBuildsUp

You may know some people who study the Bible obsessively, yet they’re still closed-minded, they’re angry, they’re mean-spirited and arrogant. See, studying scripture is no guarantee for maturity in Christ. That’s why the apostle Paul says knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. And that’s why studying scripture must take place in the context of being formed by Jesus as his apprentice. That’s the goal—the motivation for study must be love. [00:43:11] (38 seconds) #HearingGodsHeart

Did you know that that word “create” or “bara” in Hebrew is only used when God is the subject? That means God is the only one who does the act of creation. Everything else that humans do is an assembly of what God has already created. That tiny detail opens up awe. Study helps us notice these treasures that have been hiding in plain sight. [00:47:23] (28 seconds) #StudyTogether

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