Summer Series Countdown: Verse Mapping with a Twist

It’s hard to believe, but we are nearing the end of our Summer Series Countdown.  The #2 all-time most popular post here at the blog puts a bit of a twist on a familiar theme.  Join me for —

Verse Mapping with a Twist

If you know me or have spent much time around the blog, you know that one of my all-time favorite methods for digging deeper into Scripture is Verse Mapping.

For those who may not yet be familiar with Verse Mapping, it is a process of examining a verse more closely.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”Verse Mapping helps you familiarize yourself with a verse and really digest it, allowing its meaning to penetrate your heart. @HaddixDeborah” quote=”Verse Mapping helps you familiarize yourself with a verse and really digest it, allowing its meaning to penetrate your heart.”]

A quick review of the process:

1. Write out your verse leaving plenty of white space around it.

2. *Choose any or all of the following ideas for mapping your verse:

• Personalize it by crossing out personal pronouns (you, we, whoever, etc.) and substituting your name.

• Highlight phrases or words that jump out at you.

• Read the verse in context.

• Read the verse in at least two other Bible translations.

• Locate cross references.

• Circle a word or two and do a word study.

  • Look the word/s up in a dictionary and record the definition/s.

  • Look up synonyms and antonyms.

  • Use a topical index and/or concordance to find other verses where the word appears.

• Write out what you are learning.

• Record your thoughts on how the Scripture can be applied in your daily life.

• Close your study time in prayer and write the prayer out on your map.

*It is important to note that there is absolutely no right or wrong way to map a verse.  The choice is yours.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you each time you engage in the process.

Imagine my delight when I discovered that I can use one of my favorite tools, Verse Mapping, to map other things!

Last year as I was contemplating how I might observe Advent, I checked my Pinterest board and came across The Names of Jesus Advent Chain.  This is a great activity for children posted by Maureen Spell over at Spell Outloud.

The pin got my attention.  The names of Jesus always draw me in.

But I no longer have children at home and the grandchildren who live nearby are very young.  As a paper chain, the activity did not really meet my needs for this particular season.

So, I decided to do my own take on Maureen’s Advent Chain – Verse Mapping the Names of Jesus.  A name a day using the Verse Mapping process.

How might you use Verse Mapping?  I’d love to hear.