Where Do You Go From Here?

Go to Scripture!!!

Do not pass "Go", do not collect $200...

In other words, don't play games! You have Keys to understanding your Bible as never before, but keys are worthless unless you insert them into locked doors, open them and pass through into Higher Lands!

There are Higher Lands awaiting you -- and every Word proceeding out of the Mouth of God is a Door into the Kingdom of Heaven!

Don't forget what I said in the beginning about flexibility: You may do these steps to "rightly dividing the Word" briefly, or in depth -- but once you've learned to follow them, you'll avoid gross errors of misinterpretation.

Wherever in the Bible you have reason to study, that's a good place to begin. But if you'd like some suggestions, here are a few passages of Scripture that deal directly with the nature of Scripture itself -- powerful passages that can help you "nail down" what God has done in your life through this tutorial. Choose any of them or all of them -- you couldn't find meatier or more powerful texts to study.

• Isa. 55. 6-13: How is it possible for a merely human mind to become filled with God's superextraordinary thoughts? Don't neglect to draw a picture of verses 9-13 as part of your careful examination.)
  
  
• Ps. 1: Time to pull out your pencil and artist's colors again. Draw a picture (doesn't have to be great) of the tree and landscape, then afterwards label the different parts of the picture (including your own name, where appropriate.)
  
  
• 2 Tim. 3.14-17: What effect will the study of the Scriptures have on your life?
  
  
• James 1.21-25: How does this warning concern you?
  
  
• Mt. 7.24-27: Get out your artist's pencil again -- this deserves another of your pictures. After you draw, label the parts of the picture so you can better show how the drawing relates to the passage.
  
  

A Further Step
Do at least one whole book study. In the New Testament, the Gospel of Mark is an excellent choice: it was written for Gentiles who were unfamiliar with Hebrew customs -- it's brief, it's simple. Paul's letters may be short, but they're very deep. In the Old Testament, read through the shorter books such as Hosea (which I call the Gospel of Hosea!) and Amos, or even Ruth or Esther.

Do try a whole book study, though, and experience the tremendous gains that come from going beyond the "piecemeal approach" to Bible study. Capture everything you study in your journal!

Congratulations!

Every person who completes this tutorial and e-mails me feedback with suggestions for improvement or corrections to mistakes, will receive (via e-mail) the next, upgraded version of this online tutorial -- for free! Send your comments (or any questions, as well) to Emil & Michele Swift.

Also -- Emil is developing two additional helps for this tutorial which may be purchased via e-mail: (1) A set of e-mail worksheets presenting certain Scripture passages for practice which you may fill out and send back to him for comment and feedback, and (2) an e-mail newsletter in which issues are considered regarding problem passages which perplex students. Again, if you're interested, contact Emil.