A Practical Guide to Hearing, Heeding, and Holding Fast to the Word of God
Introduction
Imagine holding in your hands a letter from home. Not just any letter—but one handwritten by your Father, sent from eternity, filled with words of comfort, truth, instruction, and joy. The Bible is exactly that—a divine correspondence from the heart of God to the hearts of His people.
In this six-part series, How to R.E.A.P. the Bible, we’re inviting you into a journey that’s more than study—it’s a way of life. R.E.A.P. stands for Read, Examine, Apply, and Pray—a simple, yet profound method to engage Scripture not as a textbook, but as a living conversation. This series is designed to equip ordinary believers with extraordinary tools to grow in their love for God by knowing and obeying His Word.
Whether you’ve walked with Christ for decades or are just opening the Bible for the first time, the REAP method provides a clear, reproducible approach to understanding God’s truth, applying it to your life, and sharing it with others. You’ll learn not only how to observe a passage, but how to interpret it in context, apply it with wisdom, and pray it with personal conviction.
Why this matters
C.H. Spurgeon once said, “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” Augustine called Scripture “our letters from home.” But far too many believers today visit Scripture only occasionally—and often without confidence or clarity.
This series was born from a desire to change that. Our goal is not merely to fill your head with facts, but to ignite your heart with a passion for God’s Word. When we truly read the Bible, we discover God’s character and His ways. When we examine it carefully, we uncover timeless truths. When we apply it personally, we experience transformation. And when we pray it back to God, our relationship with Him deepens in beautiful ways.
What to Expect
Throughout this series, we’ll explore:
- Why Bible Study matters—and how Scripture is infallible, inerrant, sufficient, and life-changing.
- The R.E.A.P. Method—a four-step model for daily engagement with God’s Word.
- Barriers to Bible Study—and how to overcome common misunderstandings, distractions, and doubts.
- How to read with your eyes, heart, and mind wide open—identifying structure, repetition, literary forms, and historical context.
- Principles of faithful interpretation—learning to handle God’s Word with reverence and care.
- Pathways to practical application—moving from information to transformation through repentance, obedience, and prayer.
- The devotional life of prayerful study—learning to make God’s Word personal, powerful, and prayerful.
Along the way, we’ll look at examples like The Greatest Commandment and equip you with resources, tools, and encouragement to become not just a reader of God’s Word—but a doer of it (James 1:22).
A Word from Chris
“Every Christian should study the Bible until their blood is bibline. They said of Apollos in the New Testament that he was ‘mighty in the Scriptures.’ That’s my prayer for you—not to master the Bible, but to be mastered by it. To know it, love it, obey it, and be changed by it.”
— Chris Reighley
If you’ve ever wondered how to study the Bible on your own, if you’ve longed to go deeper than devotionals and Sunday sermons, or if you simply need a fresh vision for opening God’s Word each day—this series is for you.
So grab your Bible, your pen, and your prayer journal. It’s time to learn how to R.E.A.P. the Word—and reap a harvest of wisdom, joy, and truth that will last for eternity.
Lesson 1: The Bible / The Story
Discover the power, beauty, and authority of God’s Word in this foundational lesson on the Bible. Explore why Scripture is infallible, sufficient, and life-changing—and how it shapes the story of your life and eternity.
Jeremiah 15:16
Lesson 2: The R.E.A.P. Study Method
Learn the four-part R.E.A.P. method—Read, Examine, Apply, and Pray—that helps every believer dig into Scripture with confidence. This lesson offers practical steps to make Bible study personal, powerful, and Spirit-led.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
Lesson 3: Read (Observation) Part 1
Good Bible study begins with seeing clearly. This session explores how to read the Bible with spiritual insight—learning to observe key terms, structure, and atmosphere so you can unlock the meaning of God’s Word.
Psalm 119:18
Lesson 3: Read (Observation) Part 2
Take your reading deeper by learning how to read purposefully, prayerfully, and imaginatively. In this second part of “Read,” you’ll gain ten practical strategies to make your time in the Word more fruitful and focused.
Hebrews 4:12
Lesson 4: Examine (Interpretation)
Move from observation to understanding. This lesson unpacks how to interpret Scripture faithfully—by considering context, comparing passages, and consulting wise resources—so you grasp what the Bible really means.
2 Timothy 2:15
It’s not enough to know the truth—we must live it. Learn how to apply the Bible in real life through questions, reflection, and transformation. God’s Word isn’t just to be studied—it’s meant to be obeyed.
Romans 12:2
Prayer turns Bible study into communion with God. This final lesson teaches how to pray Scripture, personalize it, and plan your spiritual growth with intentionality—equipping you to walk with God every day.
Psalm 119:18