How to Read the Bible and Journal

For some, reading the Bible can be confusing and hard to understand. I recently was introduced to Robby Gallaty's HEAR method of journaling the scriptures.​1​ .

I have been using this for about a month now and find it very beneficial. The HEAR stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Response. Gallaty's webpage referenced in this post explains in more detail on how to use this method of Bible reading and journaling.

Here is how I have been using it and and a sample journaling of a passage of scripture I was personally challenge by .

1. Read the passage of scripture on hand and Highlight what draws your attention

2. Explain what this passage is saying and what it meant to the original readers and the culture it was written in.

3. Apply the passage and its message to our current day culture

4. Respond . What is my response to this passage for my personal life?

Here is a copy of my journal for March 23, 2022

Date:3/23/2022

Passage:1 Thessalonians chapter 5

H-ighlight: The verse(s) that draws my attention.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation."​2​

E-xplain What this passage means, (in the culture when in was written)

Paul spent the first 2 chapters of this letter to the church in Thessalonica affirming and reestablishing his relationship with them. He affirmed and praised the believers when he says that they “became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea”

Paul had sent Timothy to check to the believers, to see how they were doing. He expresses his Christian love toward them by writing this letter to encourage them and remind them of the Lord’s second coming.

A-pply How do I apply this ? (in current culture)

There are only two kinds of people in the world, those who belong to Jesus( the day), and those who belong to the darkness (those who do not believe). Paul says in vs 5 'For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. '. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 3

In light of the fact that the second coming of Jesus is near, we need to be self-controlled, put on the armor of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation.

R-esponse (in my life)What is my action step? My action steps are listed right here in scripture, 

1. be self-controlled in how I think, and spend my time

2. put on faith and love others more, and

3. continue with the hope of salvation for that day when Jesus comes back and we can be with him forever and ever.

I have found benefit from using this method of Bible reading and journaling and I trust you can also. Creating a template in your word processor, then creating a new copy and naming it for each journal entry makes it easy to reference back to previous entries when needed.

If you prefer a hand journal, Gallaty has one available HERE on Amazon

Be well and stay healthy. Until next time

1.

Gallaty R. What is a HEAR Journal? What is a HEAR Journal? Published September 2019. Accessed April 2022. https://replicate.org/what-is-a-hear-journal/

2.

1 Thessalonians 5:8. 1 Thessalonians. https://my.bible.com/bible/1713/1TH.5.CSB#:~:text=8But%20since%20we,hope%20of%20salvation.

3.

1 Thessalonians 5:5. 1 Thessalonians. https://my.bible.com/bible/1713/1TH.5.5