Respond

To God and His Word

RESPOND Characteristics

Influences
Involves Volitional Participation
Goal is to answer the Question:
- What is the message of the passage for people today?

This phase of the study process is where the important work is done.

Informational AND Transformational

God's word was written to inform us AND to transform us:

All Scripture is

God-breathed

and beneficially advantageous

- - for teaching
    - for convicting
    - for correcting
  - for training in righteous;

so that the person of God may be complete,

thoroughly equipped for every good work.

-- 2 Timothy 3:16-17, MSV

RESPOND Process Concepts

God has shared His message AND His methods with us through His word. He did so for two reasons -

1. To Inform us.
2. To Transform us.

Too often, people "study" the Bible like they do a news article. They learn some things, remember some facts, and talk about it with others. Rarely do news articles actually transform someone's life.

God has a different goal for His word. He wants us to respond in tangible ways that transforms our lives (Romans 8:29) and to equip us to help others to do the same.

Imperative verbs are words of pleading, instruction and command. They are words that urge us to do something. There are 4,243 imperative verbs in the Old Testament (LHB*), and 1,955 in the New Testament (LSB*). It seems quite clear that God wants us to do more than think about and talk about His word - He wants us to do something - to respond to His word.

This is not an automatic process. It takes volitional decisions and intentional actions to respond to God in obedience to His will and His word.

This phase of our study urges us to make volitional decisions and take intentional actions to respond to God in obedience to His will and His word. The steps described here can help you do that.

You must complete your READ and RELATE studies of the passage before starting this phase of your study.

- "We cannot apply the Bible without knowing what it means"
- "Keep in mind that there is a vast difference between knowing how to apply a biblical text and actually applying that text in your life. Once you know how a text could be applied, it is up to you to submit to the Spirit of God and live out the application."

J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word:
A Hands-on Approach to Reading, Interpreting,
and Applying the Bible,
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 213.* LHB = Lexham Hebrew Bible; LSB = Legacy Standard Bible

RESPOND Process Steps

Volition: "the power of an individual to make conscious, deliberate choices or to act in a deliberate manner"

Stanley J. Grenz and Jay T. Smith, Pocket Dictionary of Ethics
(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 127.

While reading the study passage, Interrogate yourself to find ways to respond to God, prompted by questions like these:

So What? (Questions/Statements of Significance or Principle - making it personal) Examples:
- What’s so important about the study passage?
  - This question seeks the timeless principle that identifies the Main Idea of the Text to them then, and to us now.
- What did God want people to know, feel, think, say, or do back when it was written?
  - ‌This is usually found in the text or context of the passage, sometimes it’s stated, other times it’s implied.‌
- What does the study passage say about me?
  - You need to spend some personal, self-evaluation time with the passage to see how you measure up to God's will and His word.
- What does God want or not want you to know, feel, think, say, or do?
  - ‌‌Remember, the Bible contains God’s message AND His methods. You need to discern what God wants you to know, feel, think, say, or do; His will, His way.‌

Now What? (Questions/Statements of Relevance or Participation - making it applicable to various situations) Examples:
- What can/should/must I do in light of and in response to the study passage?
  - Can refers to options. You should prepare yourself ahead of time in case an opportunity to participate with God in obedience to His word comes along.‌
  - Should refers to opportunities. You never know when a situation will come along, giving you an opportunity to participate with God in obedience to His word that will help that situation. ‌It's a matter of preparation. Think, "What should I do if this happens?"
  - Must means you have an obligation. This is when you participate with God in obedience to His word because you are there, and because you can help that situation, having prepared yourself ahead of time.
- Plan how you can participate with God according to the study passage.
  - This is where the rubber meets the road; The chips are down; It’s time to face the music. What will you do?
  - This requires intentional, transformational movement
    - From them/then to us/now.
    - From facts to faith.

One last thought about studying the Bible.‌

“Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3)

Jesus did the hard work for us. Considering Hebrews 12:1-2*, we need to participate with Him in obedience to His word.

* “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1–2, BSB)

It is my prayer that you never grow weary or fainthearted in studying the Bible or participating with God in response to His word.

(This Page Last Updated 12/21/2024)

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