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NEW BOOKMARKS at bottom of this page

 SOAP is a simple plan for personal growth which includes two key ingredients for healthy spiritual growth of a Christian.  These are Scripture and Prayer. Follow the simple plan on a daily basis and you will discover a deeper and richer Christian experience.

You will want to write a title for each day's reading.  This will be the last item you will do each day even though it is at the top of the page.  After you have done the four steps below write a title that helps you remember what this section of scripture was about for your today. Limit your title to seven (7) words or less.

Scripture is a vital part of the Christian experience. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. We need to spend time here each day.  Just as you need to eat physical food to stay alive you also need spiritual food to stay alive spiritually.  The Scriptures are the spiritual food God has given us.

Each day write the scripture text you read and write out completely one verse that you want to remember.
This is were you write the observations about the text.  It is a lot like detective work. You want to ask who, what, when, why, and list any questions that you have after reading the text. This will make you more aware of what you are reading and help you watch for answers in future reading and study.
You need to apply the scripture you have read to YOUR life.  It is not enough that you know what the Bible says, but what does it say to you? This will be the hardest part at first, but it will become easier with practice. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." (NRSV)  Using this list you can see if the scripture you have read today is showing you any of the following:
  • Teaching - Shows up which way to go and how to live our lives as a Christian.
  • Reproof - Shows us when we have gone the wrong way.
  • Correction - Shows us how to get back headed in the right direction
  • Training in righteousness - Shows us how keep going the way God wants us to.
  • Proficient - Shows our need to be fitted or complete.
  • Equipped for every good work - Shows us direction for a particular item God wants us to do.
  • Prepare - Clear your thoughts of all that is not directly related to your prayer time. Take a deep breath and relax in the presence of your God. He is waiting to spend time with you.
  • Reflect - On the scripture you have just covered.  Pray that God will help you apply it to your life today.
  • Ask - There are needs in your life and those you meet everyday.  Take time to talk to God about these needs.  You may want to make a prayer list, but do not get caught up in the list and ignore God.  You can break your prayer request into three parts using the C3 program.
          Pray for your personal relationship with CHRIST
                         and pray for those individuals you will meet today.
          Pray for your local CHURCH
                         remember to pray for the members, ministry and leadership, especially your pastor.
          Pray for those in the surrounding COMMUNITY
                     that you might touch their life in Jesus name.
  • Yield - You will need to listen to what God wants to say to you.  You have spent time in the word, and talked to God, now you need to be willing to listen and to accept what God wants to say to you.  If there is some area in your life God wants you to deal with, you need to be surrender and ask God to help you make the necessary changes.
  • Enjoy - Make sure you thank God for all He has done for you.  Take time to just be happy and know that he has only good plans for you life.
  • Relinquish - means to let go. You will need to make sure that you are prepared to live your life today so that you can be used by God. When you say AMEN remember that means "so be it" or "God I want your will to be done in my life."
You can click on the picture at the left to see a full size sheet as an example to work from or the above directions are available in PDF format by clicking this link (SOAP DIRECTIONS).
You can click on the picture at the left to see a full size sheet as an example to work from or you can click on this link (SOAP LINK) and get a PDF copy you can print.

You can click on the picture at the left to see a full size sheet as an example to work from or click on the  Personal INDEX link for the PDF you can use with the SOAP program.

You can click on the picture at the left to see a full size sheet as an example to work from or click on the link below. Here are four SOAP monthly study guides to be printed and cut into bookmarks. Follow the directions and dig deeper into the word of God. BOOKMARKS