Read the passage
35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
36Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.
37A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
38He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”
39He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.
40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”
41They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
01
Find a manageable place to begin
You do not have to understand the whole Bible before reading a short passage. Begin with one complete scene in a Gospel, a short psalm, or the opening paragraph of a letter. Use a book overview to identify what kind of writing you have opened.
For this lesson, read Mark 4:35–41 below. It is a scene with a beginning, a change, a conversation, and a closing question. That shape gives you something concrete to follow without requiring a large amount of background information first.
02
Make a first pass without stopping at every question
Read the whole scene once to understand what happens. Imagine following the account as a reader, but do not add dialogue or details that the passage does not give. Your first task is a short, accurate retelling.
Now read again. Notice who speaks, what changes, and how the scene ends. If you meet an unfamiliar detail, write a question and continue. Some questions become clearer within the passage; others will need another reading. You can leave them visible without filling the gap with a guess.
03
Separate three useful sentences
Write one sentence beginning with I notice. Make it something another reader could locate in the text. Next, write I wonder, followed by a question. Finally, write My response might be, followed by a tentative reflection or action.
Those labels prevent a first impression from quietly becoming a claim about what the passage says. They also let you begin before you feel certain. A question is a real outcome of reading, and a response can remain provisional while you learn more about the book.
04
Finish with a place to return
Before closing, note the reference and the next reading. You could reread the same scene or continue to the next complete section. If you continue, begin next time by recalling the closing question of this scene.
A useful beginning is one you can revisit. You do not need a decorative notebook, a long streak, or an answer to every question. Keep the passage, one observation, and one unresolved question close together. Over time, those small records make it easier to see what your reading is teaching you.
For the complete method and a worked example, continue with how to study the Bible for beginners. Use the same observation, interpretation, and response headings when you return to your notes.
OUR EXPLANATION · SEPARATE FROM SCRIPTURE
A worked example
Observation: the disciples wake Jesus during the storm, and the scene ends with their question about him. This follows the words and movement of the account. It does not require a claim about what every future storm in someone’s life means.
Question: why does the ending keep the disciples’ response in view after the wind and sea have become calm? A fuller reading of Mark can help you consider how the question of Jesus’ identity develops.
Possible response: I want to notice what I assume about this scene before I read it. That is a personal response, not an additional sentence from Mark. Another reader may respond differently while attending to the same details.
YOUR TURN
Try it for yourself
Retell the scene in three sentences. Underline the sentence that describes the turning point. Then write the final question of the scene as a reference or an exact quotation with its translation. Leave one line underneath for a question of your own.
Questions along the way
How much should I understand on a first reading?
Begin with who is present, what happens, and what question the passage leaves you with. You can deepen that understanding later. A precise small observation is more useful than a large conclusion without support.
A SPACE FOR YOUR OWN WORDS
A thought to keep.
Saved only in this browser on this device. Your words are not sent to us. Clearing browser data removes these notes.
Write a few words when you are ready.