Do you ever get in a rut with your Bible study? I’ve been studying the Bible for years and finding a lot of joy in my time in the Word. But every now and then I find the need to switch things up a bit and add something new.
Recently, that new thing was verse mapping. I had heard of it and even tried it before, but it wasn’t until I came up with my own system that I came to love it.
Tools You Need
- Bible and/or Bible App
- Journal or paper of some sort
- Pens, Pencils, Markers (I like colored gel pens and pencils, but color is not absolutely necessary.
- Commentaries, Bible dictionary, regular dictionary (all can be found in free apps, like the Blue Letter Bible app.)
Here are the steps I use to do my verse maps:
- Find a scripture to map. You can take scripture from something you’re already studying, find scriptures topically if there is a topic you want to study, or start with your favorite scriptures. For me, it is usually a verse within the larger context of a passage I’m already studying. Currently, I’m in the book of 1 John, so that’s where most of my verse maps have come from. Read the verse in several translations and decide which one you want to use. I generally stick with NIV, NLT, or ESV, but you can use whatever version you love.
- Write out the scripture. You can use a journal, a single sheet of paper, or anything you choose to write on. I started out using a lined journal but moved to an unlined sketch journal. I’ve seen people use notebook paper, graph paper, journaling Bibles, and even a digital document that can be edited.
- Read the verse in the context of the whole scripture, and write down anything that helps you understand it better.
- Circle key words you want to study further. Use the Blue Letter Bible App, a Bible Dictionary, or the Merriam-Webster dictionary app to look up the meaning of the word. The Blue Letter Bible App will tell you the meaning of the word as it is used in the scripture. You’ll want to click on the verse and go to the interlinear concordance.
- Underline key phrases that stand out to you that you have questions about or just want to dig into further. As you continue on through the steps, you will most likely have your questions answered and find a deeper meaning to the phrase.
- Look up Cross-References. The easiest way I have found to do this is to use a Bible that has cross-references in the middle margin of the page. You can also look up cross-references in the Blue Letter Bible app, but I have found that often there are so many, it’s hard to narrow down quickly. Write out the scriptures that are cross-referenced.
- Scan the scripture for any principles or promises you can hold onto. Write them out.
- Write out an application of the scripture. How does this apply to my life today?
- Read commentaries and write out any notes that capture your attention or help you understand the text better.
- Write out a prayer. Pray the scripture back to God. Sometimes this also includes a confession based on something the Lord has shown me that needs to be cleansed from my heart.
Ten steps might seem overwhelming. If that’s the case for you, you don’t have to do all of them. Consider only choosing a few to start with. I started out doing a lot less and added as I learned more.
You can take as little or as much time as you want to do your verse maps. If you don’t have a lot of time, you may want to divide the steps over several days.
There are also lots of ways you can add a flare of art. Use washi tape, colored pens and pencils, doodle, or even use watercolor paint. For more ideas follow #versemapping and #biblejournaling on Instagram.
If you want to see my verse maps, check out my Instagram account.