When homicide detectives are called to a crime scene, they receive some preliminary information provided from the initial 911 call and from the on-scene police officers who requested the detectives.
The detectives know this is preliminary, sketchy, and unverified information, so they record the information in their notes until later in their investigation when they can verify the accuracy and evaluate the relevance of this information.
- When the detectives arrive, they look over the crime scene and take notes about what they see.
- Next, they investigate by interviewing witnesses, interrogating suspects, and examining every piece of evidence related to the crime.
- Finally, when they have finished their investigation, they check all their notes, review the evidence, then summarize and report on their findings, taking appropriate action to complete their assignment.
Studying the Bible can be a bit like investigating a homicide. Both follow a process to learn something that leads to an appropriate response.
So, why study the Bible?
Watch the video (and/or read the transcript),
“Why should we read the Bible / study the Bible?”
R3 is a simple, scalable, transformational Bible study process1 that can help people grow in their knowledge of, relationship in, and service with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is:
- Simple, meaning it’s not complicated to learn or use.
- Scalable, meaning it can be used with various types of, sizes of, and depths of study.
- Stimulating, meaning it can encourage interest in the Bible and inspire action that pleases and glorifies God.
The basic concept of the R3 process comes from the book of Nehemiah, chapter 8:
- Read (verses 2-3, 8a, 9–12): “They read from the book, the Law of God.” (Requires Visceral Observation)
- Relate (verses 8b, 13-14): “They translated and explained it so that the people understood the reading.” (Requires Visual Investigation)
- Respond (verses 15-18): “The people responded according to the reading.” (Requires Volitional Cooperation)
The R3 Bible Study Process summarized:
| R3 Phases: | Read | Relate | Respond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Terms: | Observe | Interpret | Apply |
| Actions: | Visceral Observation | Visual Investigation | Volitional Cooperation |
| This Phase: | Inspires us | Informs us | Influences us |
| Watches for: | Wow!, Woe!, Huh?, How? | Who, What, When, Where | Why, How (So What, Now What) |
| To Answer: | What does the passage say? | What did the passage mean to the people in its day? | What is the message of the passage for people today? |
Footnotes:
- The R3 process is a series of 3 phases that are more cumulative than sequential, unlike a traditional method, which requires completing each step before moving on to the next. The R3 phases are conducted in a specific order to ensure structure; however, it is important to note that previous phases are not fully complete and should be updated as your study progresses through the subsequent phases. ↩︎
Thessalonian Faith 