The HEAR Bible Study Method

I was talking with a friend over coffee a few months back, catching up on life, family, work, etc. I asked him what he did for his devotional time. He replied, “I wanted to ask you. I feel spiritually dry and am looking for any ideas.” I explained the HEAR Method to him, told him I would send him the steps, and gave him an assignment: Galatians 1. That’s it. I said, “Resolve this week to work through the HEAR steps for Galatians 1 and let’s chat about it.”

A week later, he told me how much he got from just that one exercise, saying he’s seeing things he hadn't noticed before. He went on to finish Galatians. The disciple of Christ hungers and thirsts for God. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps. 119:103). But, it is daunting to hold a Bible and think, “Where do I begin?”

There’s no magic to the HEAR method, but there is power when the Spirit accompanies our intentional surrender to meet with God in His Word. It moves our time with God in His Word from information to formation. It slows us down by asking questions that force us to listen for God to speak. It creates space for the Spirit to shape our hearts, not just our minds.

HEAR is an acronym that guides your time in Scripture:

H – Highlight
Read the passage and highlight a verse or short section that stands out to you.

•  Which verse or phrase stands out to me most?
•  What caught my attention as I read this passage?
•  Is there a word, command, promise, or idea I can’t move past?
•  What feels emphasized or repeated?

E – Explain
In your own words, write what the passage means.

•  What is the author saying to the original audience?
•  What is happening in this passage?
•  What does this passage reveal about God, humanity, or God’s plan?
•  How does this verse fit within the surrounding context?

A – Apply
How could this be applied?

•  What is God inviting me to believe, do, or change?
•  Is there a sin to confess, a truth to trust, or an action to take?
•  How does this passage challenge my attitudes, habits, or priorities?
•  What would obedience look like today or this week?

R – Respond
What will you do? This can be something you commit to do today, or this week, a call to action, a prayer. This is where the rubber meets the road.

•  How do I want to respond to God based on what I’ve read?
•  What do I need to confess, thank God for, or ask Him for?
•  How can I express trust or surrender in light of this passage?

 
You can take a chapter, a handful of verses, or work through a reading plan. HEAR is not the only method, but it is a simple and useful one. Begin today to move information to formation.

[1] The HEAR Method is a product of Replicate, created by Robbie Gallaty. You can find it and many other resources here - https://replicate.org/resources/hear-journal