Remember that Scripture is for us, but not to us. Consider the “envelope” this book originally arrived in—Who wrote this? To whom is it written and where? When was it written? What style of writing is it? Use a study Bible or online resource like BibleHub to ensure you are interpreting the passage's purpose within its original historical and cultural context.

See the full picture: Your study passage is just one piece of the puzzle. You must read it within the context of the whole book to get the whole picture. So while your main focus for the week may be on a particular passage, ensure you are finding time to read through or listen to the whole book multiple times throughout the study. For now, use an outline from a study Bible or BibleHub to ensure you are identifying the overall theme of the book and how your passage fits in.

Be a patient learner: Now that you have the basic context down put away all study Bibles and external resources. Don't look at commentaries or seek answers from AI. Focus on the text and your reading of it, allowing the Holy Spirit to train your mind to see what is actually written. In a journal, begin to mark down main characters, settings and anything else that is jumping out to you. Don't worry there will be a time to verify your understanding with community and other external resources.

Find repetition and patterns. On a physical copy of the text, highlight or circle repeated words and phrases to visually identify the author's main focus and key themes.

Use a simple dictionary. When a word is confusing or theologically important (e.g., righteousness), use a simple dictionary or a quick Google search to clarify its basic meaning.

There are two major ways we can verify that we are not projecting our own bias into the text:

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First, verify your thoughts in your local church community. Diverse Christian community can help you see your own blind spots. Let everyone in the group go through the Dwell process and offer their thoughts on the central truth. Here are some stems to start conversation in a local small group:

• To test an interpretation: "I think this passage is showing that because God is [Idea X], we are [Idea Y]. Does that make sense to you, or am I missing something?"

• To share a new belief: "I'm starting to believe [Idea Z] about God, but I haven't found a lot of other Bible verses yet to back it up. Does anyone know of a verse that proves or disproves this idea?"

Second, verify your thoughts with the "great cloud of witnesses." Look to reliable commentaries to confirm your interpretation is historically grounded and faithful to the understanding of the the saints who have preceded you. Ask your pastors and church leaders for recommendations on trusted resources. 

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Update your central truth, based on what you have learned, before moving onto the final step of the process.

Start with your circles of influence. Reflect on how living out this truth could shape not only your own life but also the shared witness of the church. Consider its impact beginning in your home, then in your church family, your community, and beyond.

Stay in conversation with God. Write an A.C.T.S. prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) based on what you’ve learned. Return to it daily as a way of letting God shape your response. Consider also memorizing or meditating on key Scriptures from your study before jumping into the next one.

Lean on fellow image-bearers. Remember, the way you live out this passage may grow and change as you go deeper into the study. As clarity comes, consider sharing your next steps with a trusted friend in the faith and inviting accountability where it will strengthen your walk.