THE BIG FIVE—IT WORKS FOR THE REGIMENT AND FOR THOSE WHO GET SERIOUS ABOUT BIBLE STUDY
When I use the term "The Big Five" many of you will instinctively think back to your time in the Regiment. It is hard to remember a time I served in the Regiment where training was focused on anything outside of the Big Five. The 75th Ranger Regiment uses the Big Five Philosophy: marksmanship, physical training, medical training, small-unit tactics and mobility to ensure the success of both the individual Ranger and the overall Ranger mission. I think the number 5 is helpful because, let's face it--there are some STRONG Rangers who might have a hard time focusing on much more than a handful of things. I think walking with the Lord requires a similar strategy, especially when it comes to how you handle the Bible.
There is a Christian Ministry called "The Navigators" that focuses on discipling military members and college students around the world. They have developed an illustration called The Word Hand that uses a five-fold philosophy of learning from the Bible. If you are going to truly and effectively walk with Jesus, Bible intake is essential to your success in exactly the same way that the Big Five are essential to the Regiment's success.
The Word Hand illustration is an easy-to-remember tool highlighting five methods of learning from the Bible. I encourage you to use it to both spur your own spiritual growth and to inspire others.
Little Finger – Hearing
Pastors and teachers teaching from the Word provide fresh insight into the Scriptures. You need to be in a place or group where the Bible is used frequently. The weakest finger (the pinkie) represents hearing, because we retain only five percent of what we hear. Romans 10:17
Ring Finger – Reading
Reading gives us an overview of the Bible and is the foundation of a daily quiet time. How did you learn the Ranger Creed? By simply hearing it or by reading it from your newly assigned Blue Book once you signed into RIP/RASP. Reading is represented by the ring finger because we generally retain about 15 percent of what we read. Revelation 1:3
Middle Finger – Studying
Studying the Scriptures deepens our convictions. It requires greater time and effort but results in increased knowledge of the Bible. We can equate this to the way many will remember studying notes for promotion boards. Most people retain about 35 percent of what they study. This is represented by the middle finger. Acts 17:11
Index Finger – Memorizing
God’s Word enables us to use Scripture, “the Sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), to overcome temptations and to have verses readily available for ministering to others. The index finger, our strongest finger, represents memorization. Sustained Airborne Training was always provided from memory. This represented a deep knowledge by the Ranger Jumpmasters that calmed and comforted all inexperienced jumpers. When something goes wrong during an airborne operation, there is not time to look up an answer from the book—instead, the answer needs to be fully known from memory! We remember 100 percent of what we memorize if we consistently review it. Psalm 119:9-11
Thumb – Meditation
Meditation is the process that accompanies each of the other four methods of Scripture intake. The thumb is the only digit that can easily interact with each finger; this is why meditation is assigned to the thumb. By meditating on God’s Word as we hear, read, study, and memorize, we discover its transforming power at work in us. Psalm 1:2-3
If you want or need this in an easy-to-remember format, please click the following link navigators-the-word-hand.pdf
May God Bless and Keep You as you dig into the Bible!
Rangers Lead the Way!
Chaplain Dan Knight