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%%EOF Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? And with all who will trust and obey. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? Bible reading fits into the devotional category. eg'1{(yzJ*| 2. It will walk you through each step of inductive bible studies in details. Our Goal in Interpreting . It consists primarily in picturing up the actual state of things brought before us in our reading, whether it be an incident, a prayer, an exhortation, a proverb, a prophecy. Its worth it. For instance, the New International Version a popular modern translation of the Bible breaks sections in Philippians 1 down like this: Pauls Chains Advance the Gospel (vv. to which the context answers) for (every time you see a "for" at the beginning of a sentence pause and ponder why it's there and remember you can usually substitute the word "because" in place of "for" to help understand the meaning) Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. Anyone can use the inductive Bible study method by following three simple steps: This phase isnt about interpretation. 1 Kings Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Below I have written a simplified step-by-step guide . Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. Ruth 0000003614 00000 n After personal application, the best way to make the truth your own, is to teach it and even if you are not gifted to be a formal Bible teacher, there is always someone in your sphere of influence whom you are teaching by your life and your lips. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. Even those who have invested a lifetime into studying it will tell you their commitment has continued to pay off with new insights, understanding and spiritual growth. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. 0000004523 00000 n This awe is called by a proper name, reverence, or godly fear; when we consider Whose Word it is, namely, the Word of the Lord, Who is our God, and has a right to command what He pleases; to Whose will and word we have already yielded obedience, and devoted ourselves to walk worthy of Him in all well pleasing (Col 1:10-note, Ep 4:1-note, Php 3:17,18-note, 1Th 2:12-note); who can find us out in all our failings, as knowing our very thoughts afar of (Psalms 139:2), and having all our ways before Him, and being one of Whom we read, -- "He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins" (Joshua 24:19), that is to say, if we impenitently continue in them. He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? 0 Stout old Martin Luther used to say, All vital religion is in the personal and possessive pronouns. Is it not so? Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. Observation answers the question: What do I see? John MacArthur argues thatStudying Scripture without allowing it to penetrate to the depths of your soul would be like preparing a banquet without eating it. For the first question, you might think through your initial reading of Mark. Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. Owen wrote that To seek after mere notions of Truth, without an endeavor after an experience of its power in our hearts, is not the way to increase our understanding in spiritual things. Start with the obvious. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (NIV). Observation Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. endstream endobj 64 0 obj <>>> endobj 65 0 obj >/PageWidthList<0 612.0>>>>>>/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Properties<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 66 0 obj <> endobj 67 0 obj <>stream Turn Scripture into Prayer. When in a spirit of quiet thought we have thus resolved and revolved God's Word, we are prepared to pray over it. The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. truly, such a, promise is as a cluster of Eshcol, but it is in Eshcols valley and I cannot reach it there; but the promise applied is the cluster brought to me just where I am, and I can receive it, and delight myself in its luscious sweetness. never loses his sense of direction. (How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30). Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? If youve uncovered truth youve not known or understood before, what does it mean for your life, priorities, and decisions now that you do understand it? HLTkXw: )R z9=_)\_`w0s3^xT{bhi ?%\hMKINZ>0!L ik0%kjDb V >{f NGaE"VU{Z}M-9Eik$oflK pA!~~?\sDNSUke Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. It is not enough just to study the Bible. Will Graham Devotion: A Sacrifice That Costs Nothing Is Worth Nothing. But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. Nehemiah If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. This can train you to be more of an explorer in the future. What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? The best way to define application is to first determine what it is not. Haggai In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? In many ways, observation is the base of the Bible study pyramid. Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. James emphasizes the importance of follow through in inductive study exhorting us to "prove (ourselves) doers of the word, and not merely hearers (the Greek word was used of one who audited a class rather than taking it for credit -- are you just auditing the Bible or are you fully enrolled?) Is your heart conditioned to listen and obey? The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! When you break the discipline of Bible study down to its simplest forms, its just a few steps: Explore: What did God say (to the original readers)? For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. This is always a powerful application of Scripture. Careless Observation Did they know where the Messiah was to be born? But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. Jude 3:7f+, He 4:2+), (3) Response of obedience: Genuine faith will obey. We must meditate upon it. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger A lot of people have all sorts of news. If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? His Word from day to day, 1 Jn 1:7, 8, 9; Pr 28:13), (2) Response of faith: One of our reasons for meditating on the Word is to develop and build our faith. Local: 704-401-2432 6. Although the Bible tells one cohesive story, it does so through the work of many authors who wrote during times hundreds of years apart. What kind of flavor and preserving qualities do I bring to my circle of influence? Maybe this question will lead you to pray for God to show you ways to help others and make some resolutions about things that youd like to change. never the Bible to ourselves. ), Christian author Jerry Bridges writes that "As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgment upon our character and conduct. If youre not careful, theyll do all the work of observation and interpretation for you. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.". Part of this work is active: Youre wrestling with the text and learning to understand it. Resources Bible Study Inductive Bible Study. What was the result in his life and by way of application what will be the result in our life if we emulate his example? Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. Here are a few questions to facilitate application of the truth you have observed How does this truth apply to my life in four spheres in my(a) personal life (b) my family (c) work (d) church (e) neighborhood? Some use the term to describe a discussion group, which may discuss the Bible or some other uplifting book. 63 0 obj <> endobj Study the Bible to be wise Solicitation Disclosure Statement Apply: How do I respond to what God is saying? T Is there a Truth to memorize and meditate upon (Click here)? The better you know the Bibles teachings, the more grounded your faith becomes. Imagine trying to find a specific place in Scripture during a sermon without them. The butterfly was beautiful, and it would alight on a flower and then it would flutter to another flower and then to another, and only for a second or two it would sit and it would move on. After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. Inductive study should cause us to be mentally excited by the truth, yet we may still fail to be morally changed by it and when that happens, you know there is something wrong with your study of the Bible. Don't be deceived thinking that going to Precept inductive Bible study will make you more spiritual. (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. Using a trusted commentary can help in a few ways: It can help show you the details you missed in the observation phase. Then you could go back and look at how the other Gospels start: Matthew begins by giving us Jesus genealogy and then gives us a little glimpse into His birth. Trust and obey, for theres no other way As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. If you are a leader (and most of us are leaders in some sphere of influence) remember that a good leader is one who Knows the way, Pastor Houghton assiduously applied what he preached. This book walks through each of the three steps of the inductive method paying particular attention to historical, literary, and theological elements that come into play at each stage. 0000000536 00000 n We all need to ask ourselves are we studying the Word that we might be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees? For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. We study to gain knowledge so we know how to live our lives in light of what weve learned. There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. Its apowerful toolfor those who want to learn how to study Scripture well. Follow it by personally doing what it bids thee. The more work you do during this part of your study, the better you will do in the rest. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." To profess great love for Gods word or even to pose as a Bible student is a form of self-deception unless our increasing knowledge of the word is producing increasing likeness to the Lord Jesus. As for the doctrines, recollect that a doctrine killeth except as it is personally grasped and as you feel your interest in it. In most respects they might have been written in our own life-time. The word of God reveals to us our true selves. Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. These are the ideas that were true for the original audience and are equally true for you. And how does it show God redeeming that brokenness? H. P. Barker has a graphic illustration emphasizing the importance of both knowing and doing the Bibles truths As I looked out into the garden one day, I saw three things. Once you know what the passage means (interpretation), you are responsible to put it into practice in your own life. Pretend youre an investigator and youre just gathering the facts. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night (this is the parallel of observation and interpretation), so that you may be careful to do (the application) according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success (the blessing of proper application). (1 Sa 15:22) (cf Ps 51:16,17, Spurgeon note v16, note v 17), We learn Gods Word not to know but to grow by doing for "Obedience is the mother of true knowledge of God." That seems important to delve into deeper. Zechariah It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. Gather them. Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. (Mark 1:1, NIV), The purpose of this book is to tell the story of Jesus; its a historical narrative. Think of it as an appointment that you do not want to miss. Too often, people jump into the Bible and start connecting before theyve done the challenging work of examining all there is to see. endstream endobj 71 0 obj <>stream Mark Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. Isaiah 1ICR, The only Bible the world reads is the one bound in shoe leather: you and me! Zephaniah What are its elements ? Mark key words and phrases (see figure on page five) A key word is one that is essential to the text. Obadiah This seems to be the process called inwardly digesting God's truth. And when we do, like the bee, we will find that we never go away from God's Word empty. This is where secondary resources become really helpful. As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! Grasp these sweet promises. There are three basic approaches to Bible interpretation: A. Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. Not to make us smarter sinners The first verse of Mark youve been studying does not have immediate actionable teachings, but you still need to be open to the Holy Spirit moving as you study. Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. Write it all down (you can take notes directly in Logos), and once you feel like you have a good idea of whats happening in the text, its time to move on to the next step: interpretation. and Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? It is thework of applying something (I like that -- it make take a little "holy sweat" to apply what we have learned, but it is worth the effort exerted! Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong place: It begins with interpretation, and it also ends thereObservation plus interpretation without application equals abortion. Shows the way. To which he responded "Yes, she translated the Bible into her life, and was the most powerful translation I've ever seen!" I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee! Well, it is a very fine promise, but if it is read to me thus: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, what a transformed and glorified promise it then becomes! What did that word mean to them, and what kinds of feelings and hopes did it invoke? in my dealings with the world ? Youve observed the details in the text and drawn interpretive conclusions about what the author was saying to his original readers. The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. And that has made all the difference. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. 3. Words repeated multiple times in a passage, Words that indicate a change in topic or time, Words that contrast one thing against another. It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. Each book is usually read 4 - 5 times, and with each step you are given a new tool for uncovering revelation within the pages. THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD You cannot expect to approach the Bible with the same level of investment that youd give your favorite novel. Study the Bible to be wise. Showing God in action in and through His people. In the margin of many pages in D. L. Moody's Bible, he wrote the letters T and P, meaning "Tried and Proved." Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. 1 Timothy It is more needful for you to hear God's words than that God should hear yours, though the one will always lead to the other.