Since meaning in a passage comes "from the top down," or from understanding what is going on in the larger context/bigger picture, it's important to build your awareness of what the "big picture" of each book is, over time. Then you will have a more solid context within which to put smaller passages and understand their meaning.

One of the simplest ways to do this is to start making bookcharts of individual books of the Bible. Some of the reasons for this are given by Robert A. Traina, in his book Methodical Bible Study:

• charts help us learn, especially if you are a visual or kinesthetic learner (seeing a picture of the book's structure and purpose, as well as creating the chart),
  
• they help us remember what we've learned, recording it for future (easy) reference,
  
• they help us to see what is really important in the overall picture at one glance.

Traina also mentions some things that should be kept in mind when creating a book chart:

• make the chart inductive - that means drawing content/ideas directly out of the text, rather than reading something into it (like interpreting the "all things" in "I can do all things through Christ ..." to mean flying across the Grand Canyon, simply because you have a desire to do so - there is no evidence around that statement that allows you to interpret it that way),
  
• synthesize information from the text into your own words: summarize and make conclusions from what you read - don't just write down the exact words in the text (but this should be balanced by the first principle of drawing ideas from the text itself, not adding your own ideas),
  
• let the chart show both structural relationships within the text (contrast, comparisons, etc. - see "Some Structural and Literary Relationships within a Biblical Book or Biblical Passage" for some suggestions), and the information through which these relationships are shown (geography, biography, etc.), as well as the content/message of the book,
  
• it should show major ideas, not all the details - for example, it should not be so complicated that a year later you cannot understand what you wrote,
  
• try to make charts in a variety of forms (vertical, horizontal, etc.), and try to choose a form for each book which represents the particular style of that book (cyclical patterns, linear or chronological progression, many examples surrounding one main idea, etc.),
  
• make your chart continuous in form - it should all fit on one page and not have to split into parts to fit onto that page (i.e. a horizontal chart should stretch across the page, not split in half with one half above the other on the same page),
  
• include references in your chart (e.g. verse and chapter numbers, or extra-Biblical sources),
  
• try to discover the theme of the entire book and indicate it at the top of the page,
  
• and try to make the divisions of the chart proportionate with divisions within the text (give sections that are only briefly mentioned in the text little space on your chart, with more space given to lengthier sections).

I have included for you some examples of bookcharts that I have made. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you not be daunted at the idea of creating a bookchart (like I was at first) - don't let it keep you from just trying it. No one is perfect at first, but with practice you'll get better. Just jump in and give it your best shot, and don't give up. It's hard work, but it's worth it!

Proverbs 5

Habakkuk

Jonah