The 5 Rs of Interacting with the Bible

I came across this idea recently on how to apply scripture using the 3 R’s method. Because I like numbers and alliteration, I decided to update it to 5 R’s.

The general idea is when we read Scripture or hear a sermon, we can respond in three ways: rejoice, repent, or request. I want to bookend this with two more R’s—receive and repeat. Let’s look at each R on its own. 

1. Receive

Step one, we receive God’s Word either through hearing a sermon or reading the Bible on our own. We can’t respond to something and be changed if we don’t first receive. We need to open our hearts and minds to truly receive God’s life-giving Word. This takes effort and time, and is the first step to becoming more Christlike. How can we set ourselves up to receive God’s Word every day?

2. Rejoice

After receiving God’s revelation about Himself, one of the most natural responses is praise and thankfulness. It’s helpful to ask ourselves reflective questions. How can I praise God for something I learned about Him? In what specific ways can I be thankful for God? Psalm 50:14 says, “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God.”

3. Repent

The Bible reveals a God who is perfect, holy, and completely “other” than us. This in turn should cause us to repent for missing the mark. We reflect on the last few days. How have we not measured up to Christ’s complete standard? Where have we wandered away from Him? What do we need to stop or start doing to obey God more fully? Christians repent, it’s just what we do. 

4. Request

The simplest and most profound prayer we can utter to simply cry out to Jesus and say, “Help.” This is known as interceding, and we can do this for ourselves and others. Did you hear a story in Scripture about God’s healing and forgiveness? Ask Him to heal your friend who’s suffering and to help you forgive that person who wronged you. Did you read a Psalm about God being our fortress? Ask Him to encourage your brother or sister who’s going through something tough. Don’t think too hard about it, you don’t have to use fancy words or format your prayer a certain way. Simply ask Jesus to do what He does best.

5. Repeat

It’s a new day—you reflect on your time in God’s Word yesterday and how it caused you to marvel at God’s greatness, made you sorrowful for your sinful thoughts, and drove you to your knees on behalf of a friend—now the only thing left to do is to do it again. Ask God to reveal Himself to you again. Rejoice in Him again. Repent of sin again. Request God’s help again. 

Interacting with God’s Word is simple and life-giving, and everyone can do it.

1. Receive
2. Rejoice
3. Repent
4. Request
5. Repeat

Sources:

1. thedisciplemakingparent.com/the-three-rs-of-application
2. thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/how-to-pray-using-scripture