The Dragnet Method

 The Any Many Principle

 

I’m a fan of personal Bible Study.  It sounds scary and time consuming, but I have tricks and tips to study bit by bit.  Regularly I plan to share my tips to present my personal belief that “Every word of the Bible can speak to me, and you, on any day and in many ways.”

 

I am barely old enough to remember the television show “Dragnet”.  The show chronicled the detective work of Sgt. Joe Friday of the Los Angeles Police Department.  Stored in my memory is Sgt. Friday beginning his witness interview with “Just the facts, ma’am.”

 

So, today’s tip is when you read a story in the Bible, especially in the Gospels, list just the facts.  Skip over the descriptive words and make an orderly list of what happened.  You may be surprised what you see for the first time.  You may discover a new fact, new perspective, or new word.

 

Here’s my example from my favorite story of the compassion of Jesus, Luke 7-11-17:

 

1.     Jesus and the disciples went to Nain.

2.     Large crowd followed.

3.     Encountered a funeral procession with a large crowd.

4.     A widow’s son had died.

5.     Jesus felt compassion.

6.     Jesus said, “Don’t cry.”

7.     Jesus touched the deceased.

8.     Jesus said, “Get up.”

9.     Son sat up.

10.  Jesus gave the son back to the mother.

11.  News of this event spread.

 

My very first thought: Jesus said: “Don’t cry.”  How cool is that? He said the same thing we might have said but (even cooler) He knew what was coming next!

 

Give the Dragnet tip a try on Luke 8:22-25.  Have fun and be surprised!

 

(P.S.  I searched for the origin of the phrase, “Just the facts…”. Apparently, Joe Friday never used the phrase in the TV show.  Parodies of the show coined the phrase.  Regardless, it is stuck in my brain and has served me well in my study time.”)