Basic SOS is all most people need, most of the time but let’s take a look at the next level.  “Sitz im Leben”. Are you OK, did you sneeze? No this is not a German blessing after a sneeze but it is the next level of studying the bible using a tool like S. O. S.  It sounds complicated but it’s not.  It is an old German phrase that roughly means “settings in life”.  It is just the process of putting the bible into the daily lives of people in its proper context. 

It will take scripture to at least 3 levels.

1. Looking at scripture from the perspective of the original person/people at the time of the event.
2. Then look at scripture from the perspective of the person who wrote the account of the event or letter.
3. Finally, look at scripture from your perspective today and how it applies to you.

There are other levels but these three are probably the most useful for everyday application.

Most people can get away with just using the basics so why go to the next level?  Ever read the same old scripture again and again?  Oh no, not this again we did this last week in the bible study group.  Boring….  Ever read scripture with a friend and then said "and so on, so forth and so forth" as you skipped down a particular well-known passage? What did you just miss out on that the Holy Spirit was just trying to show you?  This technique can dig down to the next level and take even the best-known scriptures and get you excited again like the first time that you read it.  (In other words, it can take you from drinking milk to eating meat).  It can be useful if you are writing an assignment or answering an exam question.  It can also be useful to help you listen to the  Holy Spirit on a matter that you are really struggling with...

In your private quiet time, ever wondered why God has you going back into a piece of scripture again and again sometimes?  You tell Him: “Yeah I got this the last time” or “I’ve already taken care of this? What is your point?” or “What ARE you trying to tell me I just don’t get it?”

In these cases, you may have a blind spot.  You may be failing some test over and over.  You may have a hardened heart in a particular area or He may be preparing you for something that you have not yet encountered.  There are many reasons why you might seem to be put in a holding pattern and circling the airfield.  (Reading scripture in groups and sharing readings is a good way for other trusted friends to help you with your blind spots by the way.  Basic SOS done correctly goes a very long way.)

The next level is sometimes a good way to break that mental barrier and get to land the plane.

The very first thing that you should always do is get on your knees and pray.  Ask your teacher what He wants you to get out of this.  If this pattern persists then adding fasting is also recommended.

Next use the tool again (we will assume you will be using SOS) but this time there is a difference.  To illustrate what we mean let’s use a specific story:

Let us examine the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in John.  (John 4:1-42).

Level 1:

The first setting in life: Jesus’ perspective, actually sitting at the well talking with the Samarian woman as well as her perspective actually talking to Christ.

S. Say – What did Jesus actually say to the woman?  What did the woman actually say to Jesus?  Why was this conversation so strange?  Dig right down and extract all that you can.  Don’t editorialise or try and apply anything just stick to the actual conversation and why it was so strange. (EG: Samarians were enemies of the Jews. They and anything they touched became unclean.  A Jew male teacher talking with a female, and one of ill-repute on any standards, etc.)

O. Obey – What did Jesus expect her to do?  What did she do?  What was the result of her actions?

S. Share – Did she share this with anyone? Who did she share this experience with?  What was the effect on her by her action of sharing?  What was the result of her sharing with the people that she did share with? Did Jesus share anything with anyone? What effect did it have on those disciples? Did they share Jesus' account with anyone else?

(Again try and use a few different translations of the story to get a rounder understanding of it.  It is most effective if this is done in a group setting and everyone gets a go!)

After fully exploring this level try to move on to the second level.

Level 2:

Second setting in life: The Author’s/editor’s/co-writers’ perspective.  In this case, tradition says it was John who penned this story (although he never signed his name to it like Paul did his letters).

S. Say – What was John trying to say with this story?  Why do you think he included this in his version of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  We are told that it would have been impossible to write down everything that Christ had done, so why do you think  John included this story above some of the others he left out?  Where did John place this story in the Gospel?  What is before it and what came after it?  Was it just in chronological order?  If it is grouped with other stories, and not just in plain chronological order, what do you think John is trying to convey to his audience with this whole grouping?

O. Obey – What do you think John would like his readers to obey in this?  What do you think John would like his readers to obey in any grouping of stories?  Do we know if anyone did obey this?  If so do we know what the result was?

S. Share - Who was his target audience? Why do you think he wanted to share this story with them? Why did he write the Gospel in the first place (after all up until now it had been shared freely orally)? Did he expect his audience to share this story with anyone in particular?  Who do you think they were expected to share this story with?  Why?  What was the result of this story being shared around in the early days of the Church?

Level 3:

Third setting in life:  Your perspective on the story. Here and now in the present!

This is the same as the Basic Part 1 S.O.S. that you have already read about and have hopefully attempted. 

S. Say – What does the actual text say?  Try other translations and put them all together.  Sometimes some versions may seem to be off track altogether or watered down.  No, somehow they mean all of them and you have to piece them together in one harmonious story.  English is a two-tone picture.  You can see an image in black and white and still make out it is a flower garden.  You can see it in yellow and blue, then green and red.  No matter the combination of two colours you can still recognise the same garden and its features.  Now try and imagine all these images put together to make one vibrant colour photo of the same flower garden with all its subtle shades and you are getting closer to the original language and intention of the text.  Sometimes it is not easy but your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, will make sure you get out of it what you need to know at this particular time.  (He may show you some other hues of colour the next time you read it as you have taken some time to digest the first bite and have grown a little.)

O. Obey – What does the Holy Spirit want you to obey out of this story right now in your life?  What do you think may be the result?  (Later revisit this question in your journal as see if it was the expected result or something completely different.)  What do you think may happen if you ignore this instruction without any attempt to obey it?

S. Share – Who is the Holy Spirit prompting you to share this text with right at this moment?  When are you going to pray for an opportunity to share with this person?  When do you think will be the earliest time that you can see if this person is interested in hearing what you have to tell them?  Who else can you ask to help you pray for this person?  Do you need someone to go with you to share with this person?  Is there anything that you have to do in relation to this story first - before you arrange to see this person? (Any preparation needed or perhaps even to get that log in your eye out first? - Matt 7:3-5)

Well there you have it - SOS the next level and you also know what Sitz im Leben is all about.  You can also have levels in between these three and even some after the last one too; but these three are the most useful practically in the field I think.  You can get too academic and lose touch with reality.

I hope this helps you sometime in the future.  Remember the Basic level (last level above) of SOS is what most people need, most of the time.

God Bless

The MGAH team.