Rx: Understanding & Studying God's Word

A prescription is defined as a written direction for a therapeutic or corrective agent. No matter what the diagnosis is, your prescription will be start with the foundation of studying and understanding God's word.  No matter the root cause, God's word is always at the center of alleviating any issues we may find ourselves dealing with. 

Rx: Transformation comes through renewal (Romans 12:2). Renewal comes through a relationship with Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit by faith (Ephesians 4:23). Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). ​


All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

Why RENEW?

The biggest key to every success I’ve had in my life has come through studying the Word of God. When I first got saved, I knew the word of God was important, but I was unsure on how to move forward with applying it to my day-to-day life. I was frustrated after attempting to read the King James Version of the Bible starting in Genesis and expecting my life to be transformed. What I found was that I was frustrated and felt like I had been set up to fail. I was told that I needed to read God’s word, but no one told me how. 

After talking to my Gigi, who helped me get a Bible translation I could understand and would have Bible study with me, I was on the right track. I quickly found however that I am a student by nature and was ready to go ever deeper than just a basic understanding of what was being said. I took my requests and honestly, my frustrations to God. In response, He gave me a system to help me.  God led me to Romans 12:2: 


Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2 NLT

Two very important concepts resonated in my spirit – renewal and transformation. The transformation I wanted to see started through renewing my mind. The word renew means to restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection; to make new spiritually; to regenerate. I knew I needed all of that. I could no longer simply read God’s word, but I needed to study His word to spark transformation. How? I needed to RENEW. 

I want to teach you how to apply this method of study to your time with God. I promise that the increased revelation will renew your mind and transform your life. Utilize the pages below, either digitally or print, to enhance your study time. Transformation starts with renewal! 


Study Topic: 

RENEW Masterclass

 

Foundational Text: Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.​

 

Objective: 

To provide understanding of the importance of God’s word and provide practical application to study God’s word (RENEW). 

 

Key Words 

Conform

  • Derived from the Greek word summorphoó (soom-mor-fo'-o). 
  • Definition: properly, sharing the same form from embodying the same inner (essential) reality

Transform

  • Derived from the Greek word metamorphoó (met-am-or-fo'-o). 
  • Definition: change after being with; properly, transformed after being with

Renew

  • Derived from the Greek word ananeoó (an-an-neh-o'-o).
  • Definition: Completing a process; properly, going up to a higher stage (level of sanctification) by God's power

The Disconnect - Reflection

How has the “disconnect” impacted your ability to study God’s word and hear from Him directly?  


“We often misuse and neglect people, relationships, and things when we don’t have a true understanding of the value of that person, relationship, or thing.” - Dr. Sharla Walker

God’s Word: Major Key Alerts 

  • God and His word are one. [John 1:1]
  • God’s word is how He speaks to us. [Hebrews 4:12]
  • God’s word reveals our purpose and God’s plans. [Matthew 28:18-20, Jeremiah 29:11]
  • God’s word equips us for our purpose. [2 Timothy 3:16-17]
  • God’s word declares and reinforces your TRUE identity. [Ephesians 2:8-10; Jeremiah 1:5]
  • God’s word is our blueprint for success. [Joshua 1:8]
  • God’s word provides clarity, wisdom, and revelation. [Psalm 119:105, James 1:5-8]​


The reason all hell breaks loose after you become intentional about living a life submitted to Christ is because you go from being in the reserves to active duty in God’s army. This makes you a threat and primary target of the enemy. - Dr. Sharla Walker


“The danger of you not studying God’s word is that you will always be on the defensive [receiving] end of the enemy’s attacks and never able to strike first on the offense. When we look at the armor of God, the Word is our only offensive tool.” - Dr. Sharla Walker


The danger of you not studying God’s word is that you will always be on the defensive [receiving] end of the enemy’s attacks and never able to strike first on the offense. When we look at the armor of God, the Word is our only offensive tool. Everything else we are given is for protection, to ward off attack - helmet, breastplate, shoes, belt, shield. The real gag is, Roman soldiers wore their belt as a place to carry their weapon.  



Disciple, from the Greek word, mathéteuó, which means someone who progressively learns the Word of God to become matured.

We are called to be disciples of Christ. By definition, is someone who progressively learns the Word of God to become matured. It also means to train or develop in the truths of Scripture and the lifestyle required. See also, helping a believer learn to be a disciple of Christ in both belief and practice.



The difference between studying vs. reading is devotion and intention.


The Transfusion 

By default, human beings have a heart defect. We are selfish and wicked without anyone having to teach us anything.


“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? ~Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to give us a literal blood transfusion. Then gave us His word as the prescription being the Great Physician that He is and all we have to do is take it as prescribed. The issue though is that our flesh prefers the taste of Flinstone vitamins so you’re taking over the counter chewables for a heart problem and lemme tell you sis…it ain’t gone help. 

Rx: Transformation comes through renewal (Romans 12:2). Renewal comes through a relationship with Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit by faith (Ephesians 4:23). Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). ​

RENEW: Bible Study Framework

  • R: Remove Distractions
  • E: Engage with the Text
  • N: iNvestigate 
  • E: Evaluate
  • W: Walk It Out


Remove Distractions

Practically this means being intentional about:

  1. Setting aside dedicated study time. 
  2. Putting systems in place to ensure your family is good (husbands, kids, fur babies). Feed them and go get spiritually fed. 
  3. Have a dedicated space to study. It can be your kitchen table… just get there. 
  4. Cast Your Cares
  5. Praise & Worship 


Engage with the Text

As you start reading:

  1. Ask questions 
  2. Engage your senses - visualize the places (maybe look at pictures), imagine the sounds, smells etc. You can use things like Google Earth to see what Jerusalem looks like.
  3. Read for context and summarize the passage 
  4. Put yourself in the story & empathize
  5. Write Out Practical Application From The Themes
  6. Write down and define any words that stand out to you, are repeated, or that you are unfamiliar with


Now that you’ve engaged in the text let’s make our way through it intentionally through finding out the following: 

  1. Who wrote the text? Why? 
  2. When did they write it?
  3. Where were they when they wrote it? 
  4. Who are they talking to? How is that significant? 
  5. What should I know about the culture at that time? 
  6. General, Greek, & Hebrew Definitions Of Words - Does this change the meaning of the text based on the root word? 
  7. What are the themes in this text? 
  8. What does the commentary say?


Evaluate

As you’re studying, intentionally ask God to reveal to you the lessons, significance, and application of what you’re studying to your life and situations. Authentically ask God to reveal to you His heart, plans, and wisdom for you through the passage you studied. ​

Ask God to highlight anything that is not pleasing to Him that needs to be addressed as it relates to the study. When He shows you areas where you need to tighten up, repent and obey immediately. 

Write down whatever you hear from God during these exchanges. 

 


Walk It Out​

The word of God renews and transforms so as we have more intimate encounters with God and His word and we grow in His wisdom we are responsible now to walk the Word out. This is why only examining the word second hand on Sunday morning isn’t enough to sustain us.

We are to be  doers of word (James 1:22-25). Our actions are what set us apart, not just what we know. Remember it’s not enough to just believe but we have let God rule over our life. Even the demons knew who Jesus was before he casted them into the pigs and the devil definitely knows scripture a lot of times better than those who claim we’re living for God. Know that the Holy Spirit is our guide and advocate in this area. Do what you can practically through obedience, setting boundaries, removing things and people as led by the Holy Spirit and allow God to do the rest.

Sit before Him and continue to RENEW daily.



Study Tools

It is so important to have the proper study tools to help guide you through your study time. The chart above will help guide you in understanding the different Bible translations. 

Under the study tools tab in the app, you will find a number of resources including my recommendations for study Bibles, concordances, topical Bible searches, scripture study flashcards and more to help guide you in your study. 


RENEW Masterclass Journal