EXAMPLE “SOAP” BIBLE STUDY – Mark 2
This is an example of how to use the SOAP Method of Bible Study
12/02/22 SOAP BIBLE STUDY – THE NEW WINE SKIN
I have been using the S*O*A*P method of Bible study and am really enjoying it. Today I studied Mark 2.
S: Study the scripture.
O: Observe what is quickened.
A: Apply it to my personal life.
P: Pray over the application.
STUDY: THE OLD VS THE NEW
What I saw in context was that this chapter is about the old way of legalism vs the new way through Jesus (and thus the Holy Spirit). Jesus was challenged by the pious religious of the day because His role modeling of God was outside their box.
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he said unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they came and said unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not?
Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
OBSERVE: To my ears, the following scripture was the climax or point of the tension between the challenges of the Pharisees and His way. He was saying their ways just wouldn’t hold His way.
Mark 2:21-22 No man also sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up tears away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no man puts new wine into old wineskins: else the new wine does burst the wineskins, and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined: but new wine must be put into new wineskins.
APPLY & QUESTION: The first thing I wondered was that when the paralytic man was lowered into the house so that he may be healed, Jesus said his sins were forgiven him. I always read that to mean that the reason why he was in the bed was because he had sinned. But that is the way of legalistic Pharisee thinking.
[John 9:2-3 And his disciples asked him, saying, Teacher, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.]
What I saw this time was that the man had been challenged, just like Job… what sin did you or your parents commit to be paralyzed? Jesus saw the torment of this man’s soul – what his heart was crying out for – wanting his sins to be forgiven. Jesus’ compassion FIRST ministered to the torment of his heart. This forgiveness brought the man long waited relief. And then Jesus healed him.
I fell and cracked my rib this week. I kept asking Lord did I do something wrong? And the Lord saw the cry of my heart – to please Him and walk in His way. Jesus told me that He paid for all my debts and there were no charges against me. Precious Lord Who sees the torment of our souls. It is not an accident that I saw this paralytic scene through a different perspective this time!
PRAYER: Lord grant me Your new wine skin. The old way of duty does not allow room for the leading of Your Spirit. Give me grace to forsake the old skin and put on the new. If there is anything of the old left in me, let me see it.
HIS ANSWER: WOW, WOW! He answered that prayer in about 5 seconds. I turned to W2P website and this one popped up!
SCHEDULING TIME WITH ME 7/06/19
Dear one, when I was on earth ministering to so many, even I had to schedule My time to be with My Father. Before and after the demands of crowds, I went as often as I could to be with Him, Whom My soul longed. I understand the great longings you have. I understand how you want to please Me. I understand all that pulls at your soul and what weighs you down. Precious one, simply come! I AM placing no expectation upon you except that I wait with open arms to welcome you into My embrace! How precious you are to Me, how very precious. I will comfort you dear one, simply come.
Mr 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a lonely place, and there prayed.
Mr 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Lu 4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and would have kept him, that he should not depart from them.
Lu 22:39 And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
Lu 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
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It is exactly what is left in me of the old duty! Yesterday when I sat down to do my AM devotions I did not feel like doing them. I was weary from the fall the night before and it hurt to breath. But I did my devotional time anyway in hopes that He would speak to me. This is what He said to me yesterday:
Precious Child. You are wounded. Advance, it’s not necessary. Just rest. You are welcome to enjoy your day.
He is saying that even in my morning devotional time, even in our routines, He wants full access to switch things around to be Spirit lead and not do things out of any sense of duty. We come to Him because we desire to come and because we desire to please Him. We come to Him for reciprocal fellowship.
