My name is Dom and I am a huge nerd. In a perfect world, this news would come as a complete shock to you but my gut tells me that my obsession with collecting quotes and organizing digital photo albums gives it away. And by “gut,” I mean my wife tells me.

Years ago, I was introduced to what might be the ultimate Christian nerd-out: inductive bible study. Oh, how I love my highlighters, colored pens, rules, and symbols. I-love-me-some-symbols. If you are a person who enjoys putting little numbers over each facet of the fruit of the Spirit, underlining important geography with two perfectly-aligned green lines and obsessing over which symbol best differentiates man’s love from God’s love, you are my kind of people.

But while inductive bible study will always have its place, far too often I find myself obsessing over the method more than the relationship to the Author. This is particularly true in seasons where I cannot afford the time that inductive study demands, I start and become frustrated and so begins the dust collecting on my bible.

A few months ago, I began scouring the internet for a bible study method that incorporated some of the basic components of the inductive method (i.e. highlighting), easy to start and primarily devotional. (If that term is new to you, that term is it literally means that it is specifically meant to increase your personal devotional and relationship to Jesus Christ. This would differ from study that focuses exclusively on lists, doctrine, theology, etc.) After hours and hours of hunting, it was clear there was an opportunity to design something for myself that might even help others I saw looking for the same. Abracadabra, the intentionally-low-production-value Bible Marking Kickstarter was born and available to download below.

Here’s the simple list of what you can expect from this devotional kickstarter:

• Focus on God’s nature and character
• Hold on to promises and hope
• Remember commands to obey and exhortations
• Know what sin lifestyles to confess and avoid
• Find prayers, blessings and benedictions for yourself and others
• Short list of margin symbols focused on: memory verse, the Gospel, life principles, and where there’s a list

Here’s two quick examples of this method applied. First, 1 Corinthians 15:33-34. Second, 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5.

We immediately see Paul’s warnings and exhortations with a life principle: bad company corrupts good morals. Lord, thank You for the warning and be my strength to avoid deceit, be discerning and avoid sin.

This method started with a focus on God’s nature, promises to cling to, and prayers of the bible. This verse is a perfect example of those things jumping off the page. Lord, thank You for being faithful and strengthening me from the evil one. Continue directing my heart towards Your own.

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It would mean so much if you’d share your thoughts on the method, how you would improve it, what you’re planning on changing, how you would treat Old vs. New Testament reading, and how you’re growing in your personal relationship with Jesus!