Chapter By Chapter is a framework for reading Scripture one chapter at a time with clarity and confidence.

For each chapter, you’ll write down just three things: a summary, what it means in context, and a significant verse. Keep the summary and meaning to 150 words or fewer combined. They don’t have to be the same length, but neither should be more than twice as long as the other. The significant verse is separate from that word limit.

Let’s look at an example from the book of Mark. Start by reading the chapter all the way through. Pay attention to who is involved, what they do and say, when it happens, and where they are. Turn that into your summary.

After you finish reading, if a verse jumped out at you as particularly important, or relevant, or just pretty, write that down.

The meaning comes last. Where does this chapter fit into the whole book? How does it relate to the previous chapter, the next chapter, and the whole story? (If the summary is who, where, when, and what, meaning is why.)

Here’s what it looks like when I put it all together. Your results should be different.

1
The beginning of Jesus's ministry. John the Baptist baptizes Him, and Satan tempts Him. Jesus calls disciples, preaches, prays, and heals in Galilee.
Jesus is anointed by John and by God as the Messiah and prepared for His ministry by the temptation of Satan. He begins his ministry in Galilee.
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."—1:15

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