I'm reading this other book my pastor gave me that day - One to One bible Reading: A simple guide for every Christian by David Helm. It's fantastic. It's about practical ways we can read the bible with another person, and how to approach bible reading. I'm up to chapter 10 "Help with reading different biblical genres", and there are different thinking questions for e.g. old testament narrative (Genesis) and the gospels (Matthew). They employ the COMA method (Context, Observation, Meaning, Application) and have provided different sets of questions to go under those categories for the different biblical genres. I'll be using their suggestions to extend my SOAP outline.
S - Genesis 3
Context - What has happened so far in the narrative? Have there been any major events, characters, or themes?
What has happened just prior to the section you are reading?
The serpents tempts the woman and she ate it to be like God. She gave it to Adam and he ate it too :( Their eyes were opened to the good and evil, and they felt the need to cover their nakedness.
God confronted both of them, cursed the serpent, increased the woman's pains in childbearing, and sent Adam to toil the ground for food. v20 "Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living." God made clothes for them, and banished them from the Garden of Eden lest they were tempted again and ate from the tree of life to live forever. v24 "...he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way tot he tree of life."
Theme - Sin, Man falling to temptation
O - What did you learn about the main characters in this section? v20 God still clothed them afterwards?!?!?!? That just show's his unconditional love.
How does the author describe them? v1 "the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made".
How do they describe themselves?
Is time or place significant in the events that happen in this passage?
Is there conflict or high point in this passage? When God deals out the punishment for their sin.
Do you think there is a main point or theme in this section of the story? If you sin (disobeying God's word) you will have to bear the consequences/wages of sin. Man is less innocent after commiting sin/succumbing to temptation of the evil one. Their relationship with God is destroyed.
What surprises are there? How easy it was for the serpent to tempt Eve!
Meaning - Are there any 'editorial' comments from the author about the events in the narrative? How do these comments illuminate what is happening? I don't really know whether this question refers to the editor's footnotes or use of language :/
Does someone in the narrative learn something or grow in some way? How? What does this person learn? Adam and Eve changed after eating the fruit from the tree of good and evil. v10, v22
How does this passage point forward to what God is going to do in the future? Does it prophesy or anticipate Jesus Christ in some way? Relationship between God and man has changed forever as he cursed the land and woman. He deals out the punishment just as he commanded the good things in creating this earth.
How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?
A - How does this passage challenge your understanding about who God is and what he is like?
God shows his wrath and anger when we sin and disobey him. The consequences of sin have to be borne as they are God's commands too.
Is there some attitude or behaviour you need to change?
Treat all sin seriously.
P - Be conscious of the sin I commit. Disobeying God, or parents, or not loving the people around me are easy ones to lose track of.
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