Hey there Word Nerds! Are you guys loving digging deep into your Bibles? Who knew that geeking out could be so fun?! Today I’m sharing a new Bible journaling process video and how my word study led me in a different direction than I was expecting!
A friend and I are currently studying through the book of James together. I’m using the Word Nerd kit to study words that James repeats in his letter so I can better understand what he was trying to communicate to his readers. This week I looked at the word mercy used in James 2:13.
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:12-13, ESV)
When I visited blueletterbible.org to begin digging in to my word, there were a few boxes I couldn’t complete because the information was simply unknown. If you find that to be the case, that’s ok! I moved on to the cross references listed in the margin of my study Bible and saw Matthew 18:32-35 listed. I flipped to the passage and read Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant.
As I read, a lightbulb went off! How neat (nerd alert!) to read the parable that could have very well inspired James’ teaching! I love how we see these connections the more we study. If you have an extra few minutes I’d encourage you to read both passages and note the connection :)
Instead of journaling my notes next to the focus verse in James as planned I decided to journal in Matthew and use the book/chapter/verse stamp included in the kit to point back to my focus verse. I used Mandy Ford’s Notetaker’s Toolkit from the Print & Pray Shop for a journaling spot and added a few Word Nerd crosses, too.
Anyone else hear Uncle Jesse (from Full House) when they read the title? Yea, me too!
I love seeing which words you are studying and how you transfer them into your Bibles! If you share, be sure to use #if_wordnerd so we can geek out along with you!
additional supplies: Avery 8665 clear label paper | StazOn jet black ink
