EASTER STUDY - SERVANT OF THE LORD

Isaiah 53 is a well-known and much-loved passage of Scripture by many. A prophecy of Isaiah which reveals the Good News about the Servant of the LORD who would come to save His people from their sins.

Who is this Servant of the LORD? How has He saved us? Join us as we discover the answers to these questions from God’s Word.

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Why do we mark words?

If you’ve ever done an Inductive Bible Study, you’ve probably been asked to mark certain words. Maybe you’ve wondered, Why? What’s the point? If you're new to this method, it might feel like extra work at first. But trust me - once you see how it transforms the way you read and understand Scripture, you won’t want to stop!

Why should I mark words in the Bible?

Marking words is a key part of the Precept Inductive Bible Study method, which is built around three simple but powerful steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. This approach helps us go beyond just reading the Bible - it helps us truly understand what God is saying and apply it to our lives.

At Precept, we encourage people to underline, circle, highlight, or even use symbols to set apart key words and phrases. Why? Because it makes us slow down, pay attention to what we’re reading and engage with it. Think of it like watching a football match: instead of sitting on the sidelines as a spectator, marking words puts you out on the pitch, actively engaging with God’s Word.

Four Benefits of Marking Words in the Bible

1. It Helps You Remember What You Read

Have you ever read a passage, closed your Bible, and immediately forgotten what it was about? You’re not alone! One way that you can improve your memory of Scripture is to engage with it actively - and marking key words is a simple way to do that.

Studies show that when we interact with a text - by highlighting, underlining, or taking notes - helps us retain the information better. The same is true for Scripture!

For example, if you're reading Matthew and take the time to mark every mention of the word “kingdom”, you’ll quickly notice how often Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God. And because you’ve highlighted that word, you’ll remember it long after you’ve closed your Bible.

2. It Helps You See Detail You Might Otherwise Miss

Marking words makes you more aware of what’s happening in the passage. It forces you to ask questions like:

• Who is speaking? (Marking names makes it clear.)

• Where is this happening? (Highlighting locations helps.)

• What is the main idea? (Noticing repeated words points to key themes.)

When we take the time to observe these details, our understanding of the passage deepens. And when our understanding grows, so does our ability to apply God’s truth to our lives.

Read Psalm 119:1-8, and ask yourself, what are these verses about? Then look for any words that are repeated (and any synonyms) and mark them. Did this confirm what you first thought the verses were about, or change it?

3. It Reveals Key Themes and Patterns

Sometimes we read a passage and miss the bigger picture. But when we mark words, we start to see themes emerge that we might not have noticed before.

For example, in Philippians, if you highlight “joy” and “rejoice” every time they appear, you’ll quickly realize that joy is one of Paul’s main messages - even though he was writing from a prison cell! Similarly, in Romans, if you mark words like “law,” “grace,” and “faith”, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what Paul is teaching about salvation.

Recognizing these patterns helps us grasp why certain books of the Bible were written and what God wants us to learn from them.

4. It Helps You Apply God’s Word to Your Life

The goal of studying the Bible isn’t just to gain knowledge - it’s to be transformed. Marking words helps us see what God is asking us to do.

For example, if you read 1 John and mark every mention of the word “love”, you’ll quickly see how central love is to the Christian life. But it doesn’t stop there - seeing it repeatedly reminds you to live it out! When you read, “Beloved, let us love one another” (1 John 4:7), marking the word “love” makes it stand out. And the more it stands out, the more you’ll be reminded to practice it in your daily life.

Final Thoughts: Give It a GO!

Marking words in the Bible is such a simple habit, but it makes a big difference. It helps you remember what you read, observe key details, recognize themes, and most importantly, apply God’s Word to your life.

So next time you open your Bible, try it out! Pick a passage, choose a key word, and start marking - you might be surprised at how much more you notice.

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P.S. One more thing…

Bibles are often printed on very thin paper, so some types of pens may bleed through to other pages. If you want to write directly on to the page, we recommend our Micron pens that don’t bleed through! Check them out here.

LENT STUDY

The season of Lent is an opportunity to take stock. A time to pause and to reflect. A time to assess our walk with the Lord and service for Him.

Yet where to begin? Don't worry we've created a study to help guide you.

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ADVENT STUDIES

What perfect gift does God offer to us? And what does that Gift tell us about Him - the Giver.

Join us as we explore the answers to these questions in our new Advent Study - The Gift & The Giver.

This is a two-part study which you can download in full for free by clicking the button below.

Advent is a time for people to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ, and to prepare for His coming again.

Download for free our latest advent study for children and help them know the Prince of Peace this Christmas.

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BETTER PROMISES

How great is our salvation in Christ?

Join us as we explore the answer to this question in our new four-part study series - BETTER PROMISES.

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