Head | Knowable Word

Aplicar la Biblia a Tu Cabeza

August 18, 2026 By Peter Krol

This is a Spanish translation of a post from our archive. For the original post in English, please click the “Publicación original” link at the top of the post. For further explanation of why we’re posting articles in Spanish for a season, see this announcement.

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Publicación original de Peter Krol, traducida por Sarah Oiler

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“Head” by Tinou Bao (2006), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Montones de cristianos – incluyéndome a mí – hacen cosas tontas. Decimos cosas tontas y ejecutamos decisiones tontas.

Cada vez que hablo con alguien que se ofendió por un comentario hiriente y estúpido que fue dicho en el nombre de Jesús, quiero escribir un manual de instrucción oficial para el crecimiento cristiano. Sería algo así:

“Toma la Biblia. Léela, estúdiala. Aplícala con fuerza contra la cabeza.”

La primera esfera de la aplicación es la Cabeza. Es crítico que entendamos esto hoy en día. Conocer a Dios por medio de su Palabra cambiará tu manera de pensar.

Considera 1 Timoteo 4:16, donde Pablo anima a Timoteo a vigilar a sí mismo y su enseñanza, porque al hacerlo se salvará a sí mismo y a quienes lo escuchan.

Considera Efesios 4:22-24, donde Pablo describe el crecimiento cristiano como un proceso de tres pasos:

Quitarse el ropaje de la vieja naturaleza.
Ser renovados en la actitud de su mente.
Ponerse el ropaje de la nueva naturaleza.

Considera Romanos 12:2, donde la transformación ocurre cuando un cristiano renueva su mente.

Considera Mateo 22:46, donde Jesús demostró tal sabiduría que sus oponentes no pudieron armarse de valor para pedir más preguntas taimadas.

Pero, ¿cómo hacemos esto?

En nuestro pecado, reemplazamos la verdad de Dios con una mentira (Romanos 1:25). Por eso, el arrepentimiento involucra hacer lo opuesto.

Por eso, tres pasos te permiten aplicar la Biblia a tu pensamiento.

Primero, identifica lo que piensas.
Segundo, identifica lo que Dios quiere que pienses.
Tercero, empieza a pensar nuevos pensamientos.

Por ejemplo, ¿cómo aplicarías el propósito principal de Lucas 2: 1-21 (“Dios envió a Jesús para nacer para que pudiera salvar a los humildes y reinar sobre ellos con bondad. Esto glorifica a Dios al máximo.”) a tu cabeza?

Normalmente pienso que necesito ser perfecto antes de que Jesús me preste atención. Debo pensar más en su glorioso rescate que en mi propio desempeño.
Normalmente pienso que es algo malo cuando mis debilidades se revelan. En realidad, puede ser algo muy bueno.
Normalmente pienso que necesito empezar a comportarme correctamente para poder guiar a otros. Es más importante que ellos me vean confiando en Jesús y dándole la gloria.

Y no olvides la aplicación hacia fuera también:

¿Expreso aprobación o decepción hacia los demás solamente por su desempeño? ¿O creo que, aunque Dios requiere la perfección, la proveyó en Cristo?
Hay personas en mi vida que creo que, en el fondo, no pueden ser salvadas. Necesito arrepentirme de esa incredulidad y confiar en Dios y en su habilidad poderosa para obrar a través de los humildes.
Generalmente pienso que no soy una persona sociable, que no tengo talento para evangelizar y que solamente puedo mostrar Cristo a otros por medio de mis acciones. Necesito aprender a verme a mí mismo como un embajador, testigo o portavoz del Señor Jesús.

¿Qué otras aplicaciones puedes pensar de Lucas 2?

Tres esferas de aplicación

August 11, 2026 By Peter Krol

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Publicación original de Peter Krol, traducida por Sarah Oiler

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La semana pasada escribí sobre las dos direcciones que podemos seguir con nuestra aplicación. Esta semana, quisiera proponer otra manera de pensar en la aplicación: las tres esferas. A lo largo de las próximas semanas, explicaré cada una de ellas con más detalle. Después las integraré en un solo modelo que te dará pasos prácticos para seguir cuando quieres aplicar cualquier pasaje de la Escritura.

Las tres esferas de la aplicación son la Cabeza, las Manos, y el Corazón. Estas esferas representan tres aspectos diferentes de tu vida en los que puedes obedecer al Señor y ser conformado a la imagen de Jesús.

La Cabeza representa todo lo que piensas y crees. Esta esfera involucra pensar los pensamientos de Dios y creer su verdad. También involucra identificar las mentiras que crees así que puedes reemplazarlas con la verdad.

Te rebelas contra Dios cuando crees lo que no es la verdad (Romanos 1:25).
Cuando conoces la verdad de la Palabra Conocible de Dios, ella te liberará de la esclavitud al engaño (Juan 8:31-32).
“La fe” es lo que demuestras cuando dejas a un lado el engaño y confías profundamente en lo que es verdadero, aunque no sea visible inmediatamente (Hebreos 11:1).

“Hands” by John Lambert Pearson (2007), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Las manos representan todo lo que haces. Esta esfera involucra imitar al Señor y sus embajadores, aprender nuevas habilidades para ser más eficaz en la edificación del Reino de Dios, y abandonar los patrones viejos de conducta egoísta.

No te has arrepentido verdaderamente de tu pecado hasta que tu vida cambia (Lucas 3:7-8, 10-14)
El cambio involucra creer la verdad (lo cual coincide a la esfera de la Cabeza), renunciar a tu conducta vieja, y desarrollar nuevos hábitos de obediencia (Efesios 4:20-24, con ejemplos específicos en Efesios 4:25-32).
Cualquier “fe” que solo se preocupa por una declaración doctrinal no es la fe verdadera. Tu doctrina importa (otra vez, la aplicación de la Cabeza), pero solamente si se pone en práctica (Santiago 2:14-17).

El corazón representa quién eres. Esta esfera involucra llegar a ser una persona nueva que desea al Señor más que todo y refleja una sabiduría piadosa y un carácter abnegado.

Cambiar tu comportamiento sin cambiar tu corazón es una abominación (Isaías 29:13-14).
Conocer lo correcto (la aplicación de la Cabeza) y hacerlo (la aplicación de las Manos) sin haber renacido y sin tener nuevos deseos y esperanzas en Cristo no vale para nada (Gálatas 6:15-16).
Un corazón semejante a Cristo con amor por Dios y por el prójimo es mucho más valioso que la religiosidad y el buen comportamiento (Marcos 12:32-34).

Cada una de las tres esferas son importantes. Gran parte del desafío de la observación es descubrir cómo aplicar con cada esfera sin perder el equilibrio de las tres.

¿Cuál de las tres esferas es más fácil o más difícil para tí? ¿Por qué?

The Sluggard in Every One of Us

September 20, 2023 By Peter Krol

Scott Hubbard wants you to know four things about the Bible’s portrait of a sluggard:

‘A little’ adds up.
Neglect grows weeds.
Our desires often deceive us.
Hard work flows from the heart.

Hubbard does a great job correlating the teaching of Proverbs on the character of the sluggard. In the process, Hubbard models terrific head and heart application.

Check it out!

More Than Doing

August 25, 2023 By Peter Krol

How do you know when you’ve successfully applied the Bible to your life?

Of course, obedience is a life-long practice, which we’ll never be finished with. But when you are studying a passage of Scripture, how do you know when you have arrived at appropriate application? At what point can you say you’ve done enough study? You now know what you must go and do, and you’re ready to go and do it.

I think it depends on your definition of “doing.”

The Definition of “Doing”

In my experience leading Bible studies, one of the most common conceptions I find people have is that application = doing. As in, until you have something concrete and particular to add to your schedule or task list, you haven’t yet done application. And if a teacher doesn’t give you specific actions for your schedule or task list, that teacher hasn’t yet helped you with application.

So I find it crucial to remind people that application involves more than doing. Yes, the Bible often calls us to do something. But sometimes it calls us believe something. And sometimes it calls us to love or value something. All such calls could be properly labeled “application.”

To put it another way, application is not only about the hands but also about the head and the heart. All three spheres can be considered legitimate ways to apply the Scripture. One of them (hands) involves doing. But that’s not the only thing application involves.

Examples

We cannot improve on the sorts of applications the apostles themselves sought from their readers.

Of course, the apostles sometimes proposed hands (doing) applications:

Outdo one another in showing honor … contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Romans 12:10-13

Yet sometimes, the primary application they’re after is head application:

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
1 Cor 3:16-18

And yet other times, they go for the heart. They want Christians to become people of character who receive and rest upon Jesus Christ and nothing else.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31

Have At It

Of course, doing is one of the spheres, so I would never encourage you not to get applications on your schedule or task list.

But if a particular text lends itself more to believing or loving, have at it. Don’t feel guilty. Don’t conclude that you haven’t yet “applied” the Scripture.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
1 Thess 1:2-5

Don’t Apply the Bible?

March 16, 2016 By Peter Krol

Crossway’s blog has a provocative article by David Mathis, who argues that practical application can sometimes be a red herring that distracts us from careful Bible study.

So then, is it right to think of “application” as an everyday means of God’s grace? Is this a spiritual discipline to be pursued with every Bible encounter? The answer is yes and no, depending on what we mean by application.

Good teachers have claimed that every encounter with God’s Word should include at least one specific application to our lives—some particular addition, however small, to our daily to-do list. There is a wise intention in this: pressing ourselves not just to be hearers of God’s Word, but doers. But such a simplistic approach to application overlooks the more complex nature of the Christian life—and how true and lasting change happens in a less straightforward way than we may be prone to think.

Mathis goes on to argue that Bible study doesn’t always produce specific additions to our daily to-do list. Often, it should produce astonishment at who God is, and worship. Such astonishment and worship change us on the inside. And we will see specific change on the outside after only long periods of reflective astonishment.

Mathis makes some important points, and I don’t disagree with him. However, terminology can trip us up. Mathis argues against daily “application,” which he considers a red herring, but he narrowly defines “application” to include only detailed behavioral changes. He offers the substitute of astonishment and worship as a better daily practice.

But in the process he almost replaces one kind of application (hands) for another (heart). He argues against overly ethical application (too much focus on the hands), but seems to suggest an overly pietistic application (too much focus on the heart). I humbly suggest both approaches are imbalanced; we should regularly do both. In addition, let’s not forget also to apply the Bible to our heads. Remember the application matrix, which enables us to stretch our application into every category.

So I’m happy to recommend Mathis’s article to you. But when he writes of “the red herring of Bible application,” hear him describing, not application itself, but “the problem with focusing exclusively on hands application.” Don’t ever remove “application” (hands, head, and heart) from your Bible study. And with this clarification, the article is right on target.

Check it out!

How to Encourage Heart-Oriented Application

January 2, 2015 By Peter Krol

Practical application often has a bad rap among Christians.

Some people read the Bible and believe they’ve done the work of applying it if they come away with a list of truths about God. “But that’s not practical,” many object. “When does the truth get out of your head and into your life?”

Others read the Bible and believe they’ve done the work of applying it if they come away with a list of behaviors to carry out the next day. “But you can’t reduce the knowledge of God to 10 easy steps,” the first group objects. “It doesn’t matter what we do if it’s not grounded in the truth of the gospel.”

And both groups are right, after a fashion.

What is Application?

Applying is believing. John wrote his Gospel with one purpose: “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). Have you studied that book lately? You may find each chapter pretty repetitive, and fresh or innovative application will seem like a long-lost dream until you move to another book. I once had a guy stop coming to a Bible study in John for this very reason.

Applying is doing. James wrote his epistle to highlight the “doing” life of the scattered people of God. “Be steadfast under trial.” “Be doers of the word.” “Show no partiality.” “Do not speak evil against one another.” And so on. Theology is not absent from James, but it covers itself in thick layers of action and imperative.

Capturian (2010), Creative Commons

Let us not forget, however, that applying is also loving and cherishing. We can know the truth and still be far from God (James 2:19). We can do all the right things and yet not come to the only one who can give us life (John 5:39-40).

As we lead Bible studies, we do well if we help people to believe and do. But we must not neglect the opportunity we have week in and week out to help them deepen their love for God and be conformed to the image of his Son. Our application should target the heart.

How to Target the Heart in Bible Study Discussions

It’s not rocket science, but it does need forethought and intention.

1. Show them how to do it. “Follow the leader” isn’t merely a game for preschoolers. Your group members play it every week. You must apply the Bible to your heart, and you must do so publicly with your group. Only then will they see how it’s done and that it’s not so scary (Heb 13:7, Phil 4:9, 1 Cor 11:1). Figure out why vulnerability is so hard for you, and repent.

2. Ask about obstacles or hindrances. When we hit a good, solid “do” application from the text, I find it helpful also to ask people, “what keeps us from doing this thing God wants us to do?” When people answer that question honestly, they’re usually cracking open the door to their heart. It often reveals what they value more than obedience, or more than the Lord himself.

3. Suggest options. Getting to the heart is not as complicated as some may think. We love something other than God, and good leaders can expose those loves and offer more godly alternatives. Are you concerned with what people think of you? What would happen if you didn’t get that [promotion, mobile device, spouse, child] you want?

4. Celebrate progress. We get more of what we reward, and we foster micro-cultures in the process. So when someone gets it and identifies character deficiencies or expresses desires for deep-seated change, I’m all over it. If I give more air time to those folks than to the folks who want to discuss their third cousin’s upcoming surgery, the latter folks learn quickly how to target their own hearts as well.

Everyday Application

June 18, 2014 By Peter Krol

Bible application is exhausting. Must we do it every time we study the Bible? Must we constantly add one more thing to our to-do list?

At Desiring God, David Mathis says it depends on what we mean by Application. If we mean that we must come up with something new to do each day, then no. We’ll never be able to keep up. But if we mean that we must be changed in our thinking or desires, then yes.

Rather than dictating specific actions, he wants to see us formed into the kind of persons who are able to “discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10).

In Scripture, we see the Lord. As we see, we will become amazed. In our amazement, we reflect and meditate until the word is written on our hearts. Then, over time, we’ll see gradual and specific change in our lives.

Mathis is on to something, though I’ve used slightly different language for it. I suggest the 3 spheres for application as a helpful model: Head, Heart, Hands. Yes, change should occasionally hit our hands and produce new behaviors or action steps. But we must not neglect the other two spheres, where we address our thinking and character. Head and Heart application rarely produces doable behaviors, but it makes us into the kind of people who are more attuned to the Lord and his commands. Such people will then see behaviors change over time.

But can we confidently say there’s something for us to apply in every passage? Absolutely!

Yes, take every word as spoken to yourself, with this essential anchor in place: Seek to understand first how God’s words fell on the original hearers, and how it relates to Jesus’s person and work, and then bring them home to yourself. Expect application to your life as God speaks to us today through the Spirit-illumined understanding of what the inspired human author said to his original readers in the biblical text.

Mathis shows us how to follow this plan to bring the Bible home to our hearts. I recommend the article to you.

Check it out!

Bible Study is for the Heart not Just the Head

May 28, 2014 By Peter Krol

According to Dave Kraft, “How You Approach Scripture as a Leader is Critically Important.” He writes of his experience with OIA Bible study (though he labels the first step as “Information” instead of “Observation”) and of how easy it is for such study to influence merely our thinking.

But character matters, too. In fact, if you are not learning from the Bible, you are not in a position to be teaching it.

Check it out!

Apply the Bible to Your Head

February 1, 2013 By Peter Krol

Tinou Bao (2006), Creative Commons

Gobs of Christians – myself included – do dumb things. We say dumb things and execute dumb decisions.

Every time I talk to someone who was offended by a hurtful, idiotic comment delivered in the name of Jesus, I feel like writing an official instruction manual for Christian growth. It would go something like this:

Take Bible. Read it; study it. Apply with force to head.

The first sphere of application is the Head. It’s critical in our day that we get this. Knowing God through his Word will change your thinking.

Consider 1 Timothy 4:16, where Paul urged Timothy to keep a close watch on himself and on his teaching, for by so doing he would save both himself and his hearers.

Consider Ephesians 4:22-24, where Paul describes Christian growth as a 3-step process:

Put off your old self.
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Put on your new self.

Consider Romans 12:2, where transformation takes place when a Christian renews his mind.

Consider Matthew 22:46, where Jesus was so freaking smart that his opponents couldn’t muster the courage to ask any more sneaky questions.

But how, you ask, does one do this?

In our sin, we replace the truth of God with a lie (Rom 1:25). Therefore, repentance involves doing the opposite.

Therefore, three steps will enable you to apply the Bible to your thinking.

First, identify what you think.
Second, identify what God wants you to think instead.
Third, begin thinking the new thoughts.

For example, how might you apply the main point of Luke 2:1-21 (“God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.”) to your head?

I usually think I have to perform adequately before Jesus will take notice of me. I ought to think more of his glorious rescue than my performance.
I usually think that it’s a bad thing for my weakness to be exposed. Actually, it can be a very good thing.
I usually think I must have my act together in order to lead others. It’s more important for them to see me trusting Jesus and giving him glory.

And don’t forget to take your application outward as well:

Do I express favor or disappointment toward others based only on their performance? Or do I believe that, although God requires perfection, he provided it in Christ?
There are people in my life that I believe deep down are beyond salvation. I must repent of such unbelief and act toward them out of a true faith in God’s mighty working through the lowly.
I generally think of myself as “not a people person,” “not gifted at evangelism,” or “witnessing to Christ through my example.” Really, I am in love with my comfort and reputation. I must learn to think of myself as “ambassador,” “witness,” or “mouthpiece” of the Lord Jesus.

What other Head applications can you think of from Luke 2?

Three Spheres of Application

January 25, 2013 By Peter Krol

Last week, I wrote about the two directions we can take with our application. This week, I’d like to propose another way of thinking about application: the 3 spheres. Over the next few weeks, I’ll explain each of these 3 spheres in greater detail. Then I’ll pull it all together into a single model that will give you practical steps to follow when seeking to apply any passage of Scripture.

The 3 spheres for application are Head, Hands, and Heart. These spheres represent 3 different aspects of your life where you can obey the Lord and be conformed to the image of Jesus.

Tinou Bao (2006), Creative Commons

The Head represents everything you think and believe. This sphere involves thinking God’s thoughts after him and believing his truth. It involves identifying lies you believe so you can replace them with the truth.

>>You rebel against God when you believe what is not true (Rom 1:25).
>>When you know the truth of God’s Knowable Word, it will set you free from your slavery to deception (John 8:31-32).
>>”Faith” is what you demonstrate when you lay aside your deception and hold on to what is true, even if it’s not immediately visible (Heb 11:1).

John Lambert Pearson (2007), Creative Commons

The Hands represent everything you do. This sphere involves imitating the Lord and his ambassadors, learning new skills so you can be more effective at building God’s Kingdom, and laying aside your old patterns of selfish behavior.

You haven’t really repented of sin until your life changes (Luke 3:7-8, 10-14).
Change involves believing the truth (this overlaps with the “Head” sphere), quitting your old behavior, and developing new habits of obedience (Eph 4:20-24, with specific examples in Eph 4:25-32).
Any “faith” that cares only about the doctrinal statement is not true faith. Your doctrine matters (“Head” application, again), but only if you put it into practice (James 2:14-17).

"Lego Hearts" by Bill Ward (2009), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Bill Ward (2009), Creative Commons

The Heart represents who you are. This sphere involves becoming a new person who desires the Lord above all and shows godly wisdom and selfless character.

>>Changing your behavior without changing your heart is an abomination (Isaiah 29:13-14).
>>Knowing the right thing to do (“Head” application) and doing it (“Hands” application), without being born again to new hopes and desires in Christ won’t count for anything (Gal 6:15-16).
>>A Christ-like heart with love for God and men is much more valuable than good religion and proper behavior (Mark 12:32-34).

All 3 spheres matter. Much of the trick of application is figuring out how to land in all three areas without imbalance.

Which of the three spheres do you find easiest or most difficult? Why?