STEP 1: READ
God speaks to us through the Bible. If we want to know Him, we must read what He has to say to us.

• Choose a book of the Bible or use our Explore the Bible Reading Plan from Life Groups
• Choose a time to read (morning, at lunch, before bed)
• Set an alarm for that time
• Find someone to talk to about what you are reading
• Continue until you finish!

**The YouVersion Bible app also has many reading plans to choose from**

STEP 2: HEAR
We don't want to merely form a reading habit, we seek to know God through His Word and be transformed by it. In order to understand His Word more clearly, we study it and HEAR it. 

• H - Highlight
  • Write out the passage of Scripture
• E - Explain
  • What is the main point of this passage?
  • How does this passage fit with the verses before and after it?
  • What does it teach me about God?
  • What does it teach me about people like myself?
  • How does it point to Jesus?
• A - Apply
  • How does this apply in our current culture & context?
  • What is the specific way(s) that this applies in my life?
• R - Respond
  • How does this verse lead me to pray?
    • What sin do I need to confess?
    • What do I need to ask God’s help with?
    • What do I need to give thanks for?
  • What does this verse lead me to change in thoughts, desires, words, or actions?

STEP 3: PRAY
Prayer is vital; it is our communication back to God. There is no specific way to pray, but if you do not know where to start, here are some helpful formats to choose from:

• Simply turn the verses you've read into a prayer
• Follow the example of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15)
• Use the PRAY acronym:
  • P - Praise God
  • R - Repent of your sin
  • A - Ask your requests
  • Y - Yield to His will
• Use the ACTS acronym:
  • A - Adoration (praise God simply for who He is)
  • C - Confession (confess & repent of your sins)
  • T - Thanksgiving (give thanks for your forgiveness & many blessings)
  • S - Supplication (ask God to work in mighty ways in your life & the lives of others)