Eat the Word
Key Scripture: “Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.” - Ezekiel 3:3
Purpose: Eat the Word helps old and new believers alike get acclimated to God’s heart and voice using the integrity of the scriptures. We are helping people move from their head (what they know) to their heart (what they believe). It uses a simple set of filters that we use to take His Words in and let them become a part of us. Scripture must always be interpreted through the Author’s intent, which is the Lord. These Eat the Word filters are there to help us observe and discern, with the power of the Holy Spirit, what the Lord said instead of assuming what He means.
Phase of Discipling Best to Introduce: D1
Discipling Tips:
When talking with people about scripture it is common to hear them say, “What this means to me” or “I think it means.” Eat the Word provides them a way to interpret scripture more closely to how the Lord intended it to be interpreted as a new covenant believer.
Eat the Word is not the only way to help people understand the Word of God and what He is saying to them but it is a reproducible and effective way to teach people of all ages and maturity levels.
When you disciple people they must have a process to be washed by the Word effectively and to make it personal so they can see the power of it in their lives. Eat the Word is a great tool for this.
We are partnering with the Lord to move them from their head (what they know) to their heart (what they believe) so true transformation will occur (Eido).
You can use the “Overview Teaching Outline” in the Tool Resources section to help them know what Eat the Word is.
Start basic because you will get spiritual infants and it will not intimidate them. Remember you are in a discipling relationship with them, not just getting a one time shot with them.
With one of my M28 groups, in the first few weeks of our group, the Lord was talking to us about who He was to us and how He wants us to relate to Him. So, we ate Song of Songs 2:10-15 in an expanded translation just making observations without using BibleHub. We identified:
What part of the scriptures was the Bridegroom/Shepherd-King & Shulamite (us)
Underlined in different colors: Names He calls us, Our part, His part, His promises
It was a very rich time of Him in-birthing faith and truth deeper into our hearts and it was simple. He kept taking us back to this passage for months.
You are here to provide a path for them to experience the Lord through the tool of Eat the Word and how to partner with the Holy Spirit inside of them. NOT to teach them the revelation He has given you, although I know it is amazing! :) There is no right and wrong unless you do it apart from Him!
Lead them into an experience with the Lord through the tool of ETW
Communicate so they hear the voice of the Lord and not yours
Get everyone’s devices connected to Wifi, if available. If it seems slow you might ask some of them that are able to switch over to their data
DO NOT give the filters sheet out until the end. Infact, I never show anyone there is a “filters sheet” until the end when we go over it.
Wrapping It Up Section on the Filters Sheet (Their letter from the Lord)
Taking in the Word and allowing it to become part of you is imperative!
“Shema” is a Hebrew word that means to “hear and obey.”
“Rhema” is a Greek word that means “a spoken word made by the Living Voice.”
The final and most important step in Eating the Word is writing a couple of sentences, or more, from your observation about what the Lord is communicating personally to you. Spend some time sitting with the Lord about what He is speaking to you AND what you are going to do about it in your action steps moving forward.
Great scriptures to do Eat the Word with as you are getting people used to utilizing this tool.
Luke 10:18-20 = this has almost every filter on our filters sheet in these verses
The scripture the Holy Spirit showed them when they did S.O.A.P.
The key scripture(s) for a tool you are wanting to introduce
D1 Scripture ideas: John 3:16, John 15:4-5, John 17:3
Have everyone in your group give you their favorite scriptures and then pair them up and have them lead each other through them. That allows each person to lead each person and be led by each person. They learn so many things with the different gift sets and are able to develop their own style of using and leading Eat the Word.
Tool Specifics:
Pray and invite the Lord into your time together to help get everyone connected to Him.
Have someone read the full passage.
Establish context
Who wrote this? Who’s speaking? Who is being spoken to or about?
Start with questions like: “What observations do you have (sticks out to you) in these scriptures?” instead of teaching them the filters. (BibleHub comes after this)
Through questions lead them to use a few filters you see present in the scripture without them knowing they are filters (pronouns, verbs, lists, etc.)
Take them through the Bible Hub filter to see what the Author means vs what we think He means - Lexicon and Interlin
As they dive into different word meanings you can reread the verse with the expounded definitions
Pick someone who is engaged & ask them “What is in your heart right now about this? What are you hearing or thinking?” (You are guiding them into answering the question…what is the Lord speaking to you in this?)
Summarize and write a Dear_______ letter
Ask them if what you wrote is fair/accurate/right and adjust the letter accordingly
Guide them into an obedience part, if needed
Give everyone an opportunity to write their letters. This is the “Wrap it Up” section on the filters sheet.
Share letters (talk about how it is the written Word married to the Rhema word)
Pray over them
Pass out Filters sheets - What filters did they observe, which ones did they not
Give them a scripture to eat at home
The Power of Observation Eat the Word Filters:
Eat the Word: Ezekiel 3:1-3, Jeremiah 15:16, John 6:63, Hebrews 6:5
Scripture must always be interpreted through the Author’s intent (the Lord). The following are filters to help us observe and discern, with the power of the Holy Spirit, what the Lord said and what covenant they were spoken for.
Ask: Who wrote this? Who is speaking? Who is being spoken to or about?
New Covenant
Reading scripture through the New Covenant is vital for you to relate to God properly in who He is and who you are in Christ.
The Finished Work of Christ (Hebrews 10:14, Romans Ch. 5-8)
It is the “pathway” that made the New Covenant possible.
The Indwelling Life of Christ (Colossians 1:27, Galatians 2:20)
It is the “power” to live the New Covenant out.
Identity in Christ (Colossians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 1:30)
It is the “position” we operate from.
The New Economy (Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
It is the “practical” of living the New Covenant out.
Repetition of Words (Example: Psalms 136:1-26)
Can help tell the theme of the text.
How often is the word repeated?
Same meaning each time?
Contrast (Romans 6:23)
Two things that are strikingly different.
What is being contrasted and what about their differences?
Usually denoted by the word “but.”
Comparison (Example: Luke 10:18)
Things or ideas that are similar in nature.
What items are being compared and what similarities are being drawn?
Usually denoted by “like” or “as.”
Lists (Example: Ephesians 1:3-9)
A number of connected items.
What items are being listed and why are they important?
Cause and Effect (Example: John 15:5)
Something has to happen in order for the result to take place.
What is the first step (cause) and the result (effect)?
Could be denoted by “If/Then” statements.
Conjunctions (Example: Colossians 3:12)
Conjunctions tie ideas and sentences together.
Look for words like: “and,” “but,” and “therefore.”
Is there a significance in the words or verses being connected?
Action Verbs (Example: Romans 10:10)
A word used to describe an action.
Past, present or future tense? Or all 3 - “aorist” in Bible Hub
Subject - who/what did the action? Object - who/what received the action?
Is the verb an action for me to take or someone else (Ex. a command)?
Pronouns (Example: Ephesians 1:4)
Replacement or substitute for nouns.
Pronouns take the place of a noun.
Look for words like: he/she/us/we/they & replace them with the noun.
Word Meaning (www.biblehub.com)
Look at the way the word was used in its original language and context.
Select the drop down menu to choose the verse you are working on.
Use the feature Lexicon (LEX) or Interlin or the version “Strong’s NASB”
Choose words that you want to know more about and especially those that stand out to you in partnership with the Holy Spirit.
To find the meaning you will click on the blue word/Strong’s number.
Cross References
A reference to another scripture passage(s), typically given in order to elaborate on a point.
Englishman's Concordance in BibleHub gives a list of references within a particular Greek/Hebrew word.
Wrapping It Up (Your letter from the Lord)
Taking in the Word and allowing it to become part of you is imperative!
“Shema” is a Hebrew word that means to “hear and obey.”
“Rhema” is a Greek word that means “a spoken word made by the Living Voice.”
The final and most important step in Eating the Word is writing a couple of sentences, or more, from your observation about what the Lord is communicating personally to you. Spend some time sitting with the Lord about what He is speaking to you AND what you are going to do about it in your action steps moving forward.
As you continue on this journey you will get to where you can make multiple observations about a single text without ever going back to this sheet.
Tool Resources:
*Discipler Resources:
*Public Resources:
Originated/Adapted From:
Chris Moix’s Professor
Updated 2-16-2026