ONE-2-ONE BIBLE READING
INTRODUCING
THE "COMA"
DISCUSSION GUIDE:
C: Context
O: Observation
M: Meaning
A: Application
GET STARTED:
STEP 1: Choose a Partner
STEP 2: Choose a Book of the Bible to read through.
STEP 3: Follow-through to meet frequently (at least bi-weekly), and discuss COMA questions together.
MEETING EXAMPLE:
(Try to keep meetings to an hour)
5 min – meet and catch-up
10 min – share one thing to give thanks and to request, then pray.
40 min – read the passage aloud together and talk through COMA
5 min – pray from the passage studied.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Book: David Helm, One-to-One Bible Reading (Matthias Media, 2011)
Article: https://trinitycity5pmchurch.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/seminar-1-1-bible-reading-caroline-litchfield.pdf
Article: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/one-to-one-bible-reading/
COMA DISCUSSION GUIDES
(BY GENRE):
-
Books
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts
Context
• What has happened so far in the narrative? Have there been any major events, characters
or themes?
• What has happened just prior to the section you are reading?
Observation
• What do you learn about the main characters in this section? How does the author describe
them? How do they describe themselves?
• Is time or place significant in the events that happen in the passage?
• Is there a conflict or high point in the passage?
• Do you think there is a main point or theme in this section of the story?
• What surprises are there?
Meaning
• Are there any ‘editorial’ comments from the author about the events in the narrative? How
do these comments illuminate what is happening?
• Does someone in the narrative learn something or grow in some way? How? What does this
person learn?
• What does the passage reveal about who Jesus is, and what he came into the world to do?
• How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?
Application
• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
• Is there some attitude you need to change?
• What does this passage teach you about being a disciple of Jesus?
-
Books
Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah
Context
• What has happened so far in the narrative? Have there been any major events, characters
or themes?
• What has happened just prior to the section you are reading?
Observation
• What do you learn about the main characters in this section? How does the author describe
them? How do they describe themselves?
• Is time or place significant in the events that happen in the passage?
• Is there a conflict or high point in the passage?
• Do you think there is a main point or theme in this section of the story?
• What surprises are there?
Meaning
• Are there any ‘editorial’ comments from the author about the events in the narrative? How
do these comments illuminate what is happening?
• Does someone in the narrative learn something or grow in some way? How? What does this
person learn?
• How does the passage point forward to what God is going to do in the future? Does it
prophesy or anticipate Jesus Christ in some way?
• How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?
Application
• How does this passage challenge your understanding about who God is and what he is like?
• Is there some attitude or behaviour you need to change?
-
Books
Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2 and 3 John, and Jude
Context
• What can you learn about the person or situation to which the letter is written?
• What clues are there about the author and his circumstances?
• What was the main point of the passage immediately before this one? Are there logical or
thematic connections to the passage you are reading?
Observation
• Are there any major sub-sections or breaks in the text? Are there key connecting words (for,
therefore, but, because) that indicate the logical flow of the passage?
• What is the main point or points? What supporting points does the author make?
• What surprises are there in the flow of the argument?
Meaning
• How does this text relate to other parts of the book?
• How does the passage relate to Jesus?
• What does this teach you about God?
• How could you sum up the meaning of this passage in your own words?
Application
• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
• Is there some attitude you need to change?
• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?
-
Books:
Psalms, Song of Songs, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job
Context
• Are there any clues about the circumstances in which the passage was written?
• What has happened so far?
Observation
• Are there repetitions or multiple instances of similar ideas? Do these repetitions make a
particular point, or point to the structure of the passage?
• What images or metaphors does the author use? What do they indicate about God or the
other people in the text? What might they indicate about modern readers?
• What is the tone of the passage? What emotions is the author arousing?
• What is the main point or points?
• What surprises are there?
Meaning
• Are there specific instructions/commands given to the reader? Does this passage mention
any consequences for not following God’s commands?
• How does the author motivate the reader/audience, or make his appeal?
• What does the passage teach us about God, and his people, and life in his world?
• Does the passage point forward to Jesus? Is the gospel anticipated or foreshadowed in some
way?
Application
• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
• Is there some attitude you need to change?
• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?
-
Books
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
Context
• Are there any clues about the circumstances in which the prophecy was given or written?
• Are any people or places mentioned that you aren’t familiar with? (Chase them up in earlier
parts of the book, or refer to a Bible dictionary or commentary.)
• Are other bits of the Old Testament mentioned or alluded to in the passage? What part do
these ‘memories’ play in the text?
Observation
• Are there repetitions or multiple instances of similar ideas? Do these repetitions make a
particular point, or point to the structure of the passage?
• Paying attention to when the prophet is speaking and when God is speaking, what does the
passage tell us about God’s plans? What does it tell us about God’s character?
• What kind of human behaviour, if any, is condemned or rewarded?What response is called
for (if any)?
• What is the main point or points?
Meaning
• Are there specific instructions/commands given to the reader? Does this passage mention
any consequences for not following God’s commands?
• Does the text have a sense of expectation about something happening in the future? What is to
be expected and when? How should this motivate action in the present?
• Does the passage point forward to Jesus? Is the gospel anticipated or foreshadowed in some
way?
Application
• How is your own situation similar to or different from those being addressed?
• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
• How does this passage lead you to trust God and his promises in Jesus?
• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?
-
Book
Revelation
Context
• Are there any clues about the historical circumstances the literature is addressing?
• Are other bits of the Bible mentioned or hinted at in the passage? What part do these
‘memories’ play in the text?
Observation
• What images are used in the passage? What effect do they have?
• What emotions does the passage arouse (e.g. fear, expectation, awe)?
• How does the passage seek to reveal what God is like? Where in this passage might we find
hope for men and women?
• Is there a crisis in the passage? What is the tension/conflict about, and how does it relate to
readers?
Meaning
• Are there specific instructions/commands given to the reader? Does this passage mention
any consequences for not following God’s commands?
• Does the text have a sense of expectation about something happening in the future? What
is to be expected and when? How should this motivate action in the present?
• Does the passage point to Jesus? Is the gospel foreshadowed or looked back upon in some way?
Application
• How is your situation similar to or different from those being addressed?
• How does this passage challenge (or confirm) your understanding?
• How does this passage lead you to trust God and his promises in Jesus?
• How does this passage call on you to change the way you live?