How to Read Your Bible | SavedNotSoftPodcast

Summary

Emmy Moore introduces the episode as a practical guide to reading and studying the Bible. She says the goal is not to depend on podcasts or sermons for spiritual insight, but to learn to study Scripture personally and build biblical literacy.

Moore shares that reading the Bible began to matter to her after she became a Christian and attended a Passion Conference. John 1:1 was the first passage she recalls understanding as a personal revelation.

The P.O.I.M.A. Bible-Study Method

Moore teaches a five-step structure: Prayer, Observation, Interpretation, Meditation, and Application.

1. Prayer

Begin by making room for God to speak, treating prayer as a dialogue rather than a one-sided list of requests or problems. Before studying, Moore recommends praying for:

• An open mind: Set aside preconceived ideas, personal agendas, and assumptions about what the passage ought to say.
• Understanding: Ask for help grasping difficult language, ideas, and passages.
• The text to speak for itself: Seek the passage’s meaning rather than trying to bend it to personal preferences.

Moore emphasizes reading Scripture reverently, as God-inspired, while approaching it with humility.

2. Observation

Read the passage carefully and write down questions, including questions about unfamiliar words or details that might seem minor. Ask what the passage actually says rather than reading personal opinions into it. Moore contrasts this with eisegesis—bringing one’s own ideas into a text—and advocates examining the text on its own terms.

Consider the context:

• Who wrote or is speaking in the passage?
• Who was the intended audience?
• Where and when does it take place?
• What is happening around the passage?
• What was the author’s intent, and what enduring truth might the passage communicate?

Moore also recommends paying attention to the Bible’s original languages—Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—because a word’s meaning can differ from its modern English associations.

As an example, Moore discusses Hosea’s marriage. Asking who Hosea was, what God asked him to do, and what the situation represented can help clarify the book’s purpose.

3. Interpretation

Answer the questions raised during observation, using the passage’s context and meaning rather than assumptions. Moore stresses that this step is crucial: misinterpretation can lead to a mistaken understanding of what Scripture teaches.

She gives John 10:10 as an example, saying she heard a sermon that interpreted the passage’s immediate context as referring to false prophets rather than directly to the devil. Her point is that context can change how a verse is understood.

Moore recommends consulting study resources and checking interpretations against trusted sources rather than relying on a single quick answer.

4. Meditation

Take time to think deeply about the passage and let its message settle, rather than moving immediately from reading to the next activity. Moore describes meditation as focused reflection, not witchcraft or a particular ritual.

She compares the process to making room in a sponge to absorb something new: distractions and competing concerns can make it harder to receive and retain Scripture. Allow the passage to prompt reflection and, in her Christian framework, conviction from the Holy Spirit. She distinguishes conviction—which can lead to change—from condemnation, guilt, and shame.

5. Application

Put what has been learned into practice. For Moore, Bible study should not stop at understanding a passage intellectually; it should affect how a person lives.

She summarizes the desired progression as head, heart, hands:

• Head: Understand and interpret the text.
• Heart: Reflect on it until it resonates and prompts conviction.
• Hands: Act on what has been learned.

Moore connects this to the idea that wisdom is knowledge put into practice and that actions can be evidence of faith. As an example, she describes reconsidering modesty after a conversation with Amoy, then changing her behavior following reflection and conviction.

Overall Message

Moore encourages listeners to treat the Bible as a firm foundation and pursue its meaning rather than imposing their own preferences on it. She argues that religious knowledge alone is insufficient if it does not shape a person’s heart and actions. She urges listeners to try the P.O.I.M.A. method and read Scripture outside of church services and media.

She also says podcasts and sermons can be useful tools, but should not replace personal Bible study or time with God. The episode closes with brief announcements about merchandise, donations, and the ministry’s support for missionaries, nonprofits, and churches.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Emmy Moore — Host and primary speaker.
• The Bible — Central source discussed; passages mentioned include John 1:1, Psalm 39:1, Deuteronomy 18:9, John 10:10, and Hebrews 4:12.
• An unnamed pastor or mentor — Credited with teaching Moore the Bible-study structure she presents.
• John Piper / Desiring God — Recommended by Moore as a study resource.
• Enduring Word — Recommended Bible-study resource.
• Haven — A Bible-reading tool that Moore says she sometimes uses for quick answers, which she then checks against other sources.
• Philip Anthony Mitchell — A preacher whose teaching Moore cites regarding the context of John 10:10.
• Amoy — Mentioned in an example about a conversation on modesty; not presented as a speaker in this episode.