Annotation Guide

Wether you are new to Church or have been attending your whole life, studying the Bible can be intimidating, but, it doesn't have to be. In this guide we will talk about some important steps in reading the Bible for yourself and some helpful ways to mark what your are learning!

Just like any piece of text, it is important that we read it in the correct context. Before you read a passage of scripture, either look at the introduction of the book in your study Bible or look it up online. It is important to know the time period and characters of the story before you begin reading. More importantly is knowing the type of writing you are reading. The Bible is not just one type of text like a history book. Rather there are multiple genres within. There are narratives that tell us a story, poetry that use words to paint a picture of more complex ideas, and prophecy which use imagry sometimes literal and other times figurative to tell us about something that will happen. Knowing what you are reading will help you understand how to apply what is said. For instance if you are reading about the dimensions for an ark you won't necessarily need to build one or if you are reading a story where someone acts sinfully, you should not do that just because it is in the Bible.

After you know about the Context you can start reading. Use the following marks to note things you notice. 
★Key Truth - A foundational truth or especially important teaching
! Conviction - A verse that challenges your thinking or behavior
? Question - Something you don't understand or want to investigate
→ Application - Something you can put into practice
↔ Connection - A connection between two passages or ideas
△ Warning - A warning about sin, temptation, or disobedience
♡ God's Character - Something that reveals God's nature, heart, or attributes
† Gospel - A passage concerning Jesus, salvation, grace, or redemption
✓ Promise - A promise made in Scripture, noting its original audience and context
⟳ Repeated Theme - A word, phrase, or idea that appears repeatedly

Single underline- An important statement or A key truth about God
Double underline- A foundational truth or A central teaching about salvation
Dotted underline- A word or phrase to investigate or A repeated or unfamiliar word
Wavy underline- A statement that challenges or convicts you or A command you need to take seriously
Bracket around a passage- A complete thought or section or A paragraph explaining an important teaching

GOD - What this passage reveals about God
ME - Personal reflection or self-examination
DO - A practical response
WHY - A question about meaning or purpose
CROSS - A related passage to study
CONTEXT - Historical, cultural, or literary background
GOSPEL - Connection to Jesus and the message of salvation
REMEMBER - A truth worth returning to
WARNING - A danger or behavior Scripture cautions against
THEME - A recurring idea throughout the Bible