The Devotional to End All DevotionalsSample

Ready to learn a new Bible study method? The CUT method is a little more complex, so we’ll learn it in stages over the next three days.  

The CUT method is so named because it requires you to look at a passage of scripture three times before leaving it; once for Context, once for Understanding, and once for the application of Truth. In doing so, you’ll get a better understanding of what the passage you’re studying means and how it fits within the whole. 

When reading for context, ask yourself this question: “What’s going on here and how does it fit with what I already know to be true?”

1) If you’re jumping into the middle of a book, make sure to read over the content just before and after the passage you’re reading so you don’t miss any background or additional thoughts that would help you understand what you’re reading. 

2) Look for author, audience, and purpose: Who wrote it? To whom? Why?

3) Figure out time, place, and setting. When was it written? Where was it written? Under what circumstances was it written (consider both the events taking place in the author’s life and historical events affecting the social climate)? Do your best to get a “feel” for what was going on at the time. 

Some of the above information may be in the surrounding text, but the rest will probably have to come from outside sources. Study Bibles often include the above information in the introduction to each book of the Bible. Commentaries are very useful in discovering context as well.

Now for our lesson. 

God is love. God is full of mercy and grace, which means He is compassionate and forgiving. God is our Provider. 

Read today’s passages and look for context. Then, because you haven’t learned the whole CUT method, go back and use either the God Follower or Target method to study the same passages. 

Thank God for loving and providing for you in spite of the mistakes you make.