How can we apply this (the bible) to our lives?

This is a commonplace in sermons, Bible studies, Christian non-fiction, and even conversations between Christians. We always are trying to figure out how to apply the bible to our lives. “Let’s read the sermon on the mount…(5 minutes later)…how can we apply this to our lives?” People sit in silence and look at the ground listlessly. Eventually someone spouts out some abstract answer about how we shouldn’t worry. I’m not sure if we have the order right on this maxim. Instead of taking scripture and attaching it to our lives, shouldn’t we make scripture the solid foundation that we build our lives upon? Instead of making the gospel fit onto our lives, should our lives fit the gospel? How can we apply our lives to the bible? Shouldn't that be the question?