What is the HEAR Method and How Do I Use It?

There are many helpful ways and tools to study the Bible. A popular method is the HEAR journaling method. This approach promotes reading the Bible with a life-transforming purpose. No longer will you focus on checking off the boxes on your daily reading schedule; instead, your purpose will be to understand and respond to God's Word.

What is the HEAR Bible study method?

The acronym HEAR stands for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. Each of these four steps helps create an atmosphere to hear God speak. After establishing a place and a time to study God's Word each day, you'll be ready to hear from God.

How do I use the HEAR method?

For an illustration, let's assume that you begin your quiet time in the book of 2 Timothy and that today's reading is chapter 1 of the book. Before reading the text, pause to sincerely ask God to speak to you. It may seem trite, but it's absolutely imperative that we seek God's guidance in order to understand His Word (see 1 Cor. 2:12-14). Every time we open our Bibles, we should pray the simple prayer that David prayed:

After praying for the Holy Spirit's guidance, you'll be ready to record your notes. At the end of each day's entry, we have provided a place for you to write your HEAR journal. This exercise will remind you to read with a purpose. In the course of your reading, one or two verses will usually stand out and speak to you. After reading the passage of Scripture, highlight each verse that speaks to you by copying it under the letter H. Record the following.

• The name of the book

• The passage of Scripture

• The chapter and verse numbers that especially speak to you

• A title to describe the passage

This practice will make it easier to find the passage when you want to revisit it in the future. After you've highlighted the passage, you'll move to the letter E. At this stage you'll explain what the text means. By asking some simple questions, with the help of God's Spirit, you can understand the meaning of a passage or verse. Here are a few questions to get you started.

• Why was this text written?

• To whom was it originally written?

• How does this text fit with the verses before and after it?

• Why did the Holy Spirit include this passage in the book?

• What does the Holy Spirit intend to communicate through this text?

At this point you're beginning the process of discovering the specific, personal word God has for you from His Word. What's important is that you're engaging with the text and wrestling with its meaning.

After writing a short summary of what you think the text means, you're ready to move on to the letter A which examines what it means to apply the text. This application is the heart of the process. Everything you've done so far culminates under this heading. As you've done before, answer a series of questions to uncover the significance of these verses to you personally, questions like:

• What does this text teach me about God?

• What does this passage mean today?

• What would the application of this passage look like in my life?

• Does the text identify an action or attitude to avoid or embrace?

• What is God saying to me?

These questions bridge the gap between the ancient world and your world today. They provide a way for God to speak to you from the specific passage or verse. Answer these questions under the A. Challenge yourself to write between two and five sentences about how the text applies to your life.

Finally, below the first three entries, you'll see the letter R for respond. Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write a call to action. You may describe how you'll be different because of what God has said to you through His Word. You may indicate what you're going to do because of what you've learned. You may respond by writing a prayer to God. For example, you may ask God to help you be more loving or to give you a desire to give more generously. Keep in mind that this is your response to what you've just read.

Notice that all of the words in the HEAR formula are action words: highlight, explain, apply, and respond. God doesn't want us to sit back and wait for Him to drop truth into our laps. Instead of waiting passively, God wants us to actively pursue Him. Jesus said:

Think of the miracle of the Bible. Over centuries of time, God supernaturally moved in a number of men in an unusual way, leading them to write the exact words of God. He led His people to recognize these divine writings and to distinguish them from everything else that had ever been written. Next, God's people brought these sixty-six books together. The preservation and survival of the Bible are as miraculous as its writing. Then God gave men, beginning with Gutenberg's printing press, technological knowledge to copy and transmit the Bible so that all people could have it. All because God has something to say to you.

What does a HEAR Bible study journal entry look like? Here is an example of what your HEAR journal entry could look like.

Read: Philippians 4:10-13 Date: 08-22-25 Title: The Secret of Contentment

H // Highlight

"I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).

E // Explain

Paul was telling the church at Philippi that he had discovered the secret of contentment. No matter the situation in Paul's life, he realized that Christ was all he needed, and Christ was the One who strengthened him to persevere through difficult times.

A // Apply

In my life I will experience many ups and downs. My contentment isn't found in circumstances. Rather, it's based on my relationship with Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives me the strength I need to be content in every circumstance of life.

R // Respond

Lord Jesus, please help me as I strive to be content in You. Through Your strength I can make it through any situation I must face.

Want to learn more about using the HEAR method? Check out studies from Robby and Kandi Gallaty that use the HEAR method.