The best learning is hands-on. Literally. If you want to get inside a Bible text, and let the text get inside you, grab a writing utensil and go to it.

• Write the text out longhand (or type it, or thumb it into your hand held device). Engaging the words and sentences with your own hands (as well as eyes and ears) speeds the learning curve.
• Underline all the verbs and think about the actions they represent. Go. Stay. Wait. Seek. Speak. Watch. Tell. Teach. Walk. Run. Flee. Stand. Hold. Endure. Remember. With remarkable frequency, actions speak louder than…well, you know.
• Underline all the nouns and think about the people, places and things. Get your head around who’s doing what, where. A king. A servant. A shepherd. A farmer. A priest. A mob. A child. The Creator. A lake. A kingdom. A village. A field. A mountain. A manger. An upper room. A garden. A cross. A tomb. Reflecting thoughtfully on what you know about people, places and things guarantees a deeper appreciation of words and actions.