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How to Study the Bible (part 2): Interpretation and Application When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. David Shepherd rightly exhorts us to leave out not "step" in study of God's Word but to be diligent to Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. Permissions Luke gives us the most information about Jesus birth and even provides us with a glimpse of Jesus as a child (Luke 2:4150). Using a trusted commentary can help in a few ways: It can help show you the details you missed in the observation phase. In His Words: What Billy Graham Once Said About Eternity. Don't be deceived -- Every time we hear the Word of God, we are either a little closer to heaven or a little further away. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application How about Son of God"? Inductive Bible Study | Bible Study Resources | The - The Navigators 8. 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. This means youre going to start by reading the whole thing hopefully in one sitting before you begin to deal with smaller portions of it in greater depth. Now that weve observed and interpreted what the passage has to say, its time to talk about what it means for us. Be sure to visit the Precept Ministries International Web site to go deeper into inductive Bible study. Inductive Bible study draws its conclusions from the text, not our assumptions. Hebrews Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? Mark says hes starting at the beginning. Let's face it, most of us have a built-in "early-warning system" against spiritual change and the moment truth gets too close and too convicting, an alarm goes off and we begin to defend ourselves. The whole Bible tells the story of how God, in his grace and mercy, comes to the rescue of rebellious people living in a broken world. Sow a character, reap a destiny! Obadiah S Is there a Sin to avoid, forsake or confess? The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? But to make us more like our Savior. Are you ready and willing for Gods Word to cut deeply into your own life (reproof), to lay bare the hidden places of your heart, and to do its work of convicting, convincing, and converting your mind in any and every area? Why are we deluded in this way? Daniel Observation answers the question: What do I see? This volume incorporates insights from contemporary evangelical hermeneutics into an approachable, step-by-step process moving from observation through interpretation and on to the application of God's Word. Sow a habit, reap a character. Goldsmiths keep bottles of acid by which they test everything that is offered them for sale, whether it is gold or merely tinsel, and the Christian should keep Gods word near at hand and treasured in the soul, to test thereby all that he hears. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". While there are several great methods of studying the Bible, heres a simple method one can follow: Observation, Interpretation, Transformation and Application. Its easy to become reliant upon commentary to explain the text to you, and this circumvents many of the benefits of study. He will be inquired of by us. Instead, we need to be Bible "bees", using inductive study to go deep into the Scriptures obtaining its divine nectar and then allowing God's "nectar" to change us. -- F. B. Meyer, Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. Read Online Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And 2 Timothy It will walk you through each step of inductive bible studies in details. Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? Read the Bible as a man reads his relations will, to find what legacy there is in it for himself. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. ", As William Temple said "Every revelation of God is a demand and the way to knowledge of God is by obedience. And while pastors and teachers are wonderful, individual Christians should also be able to pick up any passage and read it with basic understanding and application. It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. Youve observed the details in the text and drawn interpretive conclusions about what the author was saying to his original readers. Do with the Bible as the sick man does with the doctors prescription. Some passages will not have a clear application. But the bee would light on a flower and it would sink down deep into the flower and it would extract all the nectar and pollen that it could carry. But for your study time, its helpful to use them as secondary sources after youve done some preliminary work. Puritan Thomas Manton comments thatThere is an awe of the Word, not that makes us shy of it, but tender of violating it, or doing anything contrary to it. Identify chapter themes There are three basic approaches to Bible interpretation: A. Some seem as if they read the Bible in order to know how not to do, and the more God commands the more they will not obey. As part of this step, take some time to identify where the beauty of the gospel comes into the passage. Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. 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. 12-26). Saturate the study of Scripture with prayer. Overview of Inductive Study with Observation Worksheet and example of how to mark a page, Click for Introduction to Inductive Bible Study using PowerPoint (2002), The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word, How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30, Skip Heitzig How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It, Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics, Chicago Statement on Biblical Application. A lot of people have all sorts of news. Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. A Silly yet Serious document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 It is packed with revelation, lessons, instruction, and theology. The growing numbers of sermon-sippers and seminar-sitters who flit from one doctrinal dessert to another like so many busy, buzzing hummingbirds are most assuredly deceiving themselves unless they are also choosing to assimilate (heed) the truth ("honey" Ps 119:103-note) which they have tasted (cp Jas 1:22, 23, 24+, Jas 1:25+). Well, this is it. A key discipline for good study is not to be too quick to fall back on what you think you know. You want to focus on things like: Practice observation on the first verse of the Gospel of Mark. How can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? Notice how Jesus observes the Old Testament text in verse 42, interprets it in verse 44, and applies it in verse 43 (implying that his listeners should believe the truth and make some changes in their lives). %PDF-1.4 % The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. Girdlestone in his 1887 classic "How to Study the English Bible" has a chapter on application that speaks to "THE PRACTICAL AND DEVOTIONAL USE OF THE BIBLE" - We have now come to the last and most important stage of our subject. John Blanchard underscores the crucial discipline of applying God's Word sounding the caution that "There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus.". Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). Acts This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Jeremiah In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? I shall be telling this with a sigh We will not fully comprehend the extent of the "return on our investment" until we enter Paradise and stand before our Lord at His bema (judgment) seat. What does the term Messiah mean? Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. What Do We Lose When We Forget the Importance of Prayer? You haven't completed your Bible study until you've allowed the Bible to "study' you and you respond accordingly to it's teaching (which tells us what is true and right and so structures our thinking), reproof ( tells us when we are out of bounds), correction (reveals sin and provides the dynamic whereby you can conform to Gods will) and training in righteous living (Gods means of showing you how to live), all in order that we as men and women of God might be complete or whole and what we were created to be so that we might be thoroughly equipped for good work (2Ti 3:16, 17-note). Bible Study: Traditional Method (Observation, Interpretation Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. Jesus warned that Bible study as the end in itself, can be deceptively dangerous declaring to the Jewish leaders You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. It is a trustworthy (pistos = faithful; cp Paul's 4 "faithful sayings" - 1Ti 1:15, 4:9, 2Ti 2:11+, Titus 3:8+) statement deserving full acceptanceit is for this (godliness) we labor (kopiao = to the point of exhaustion; present tense = continually) and strive (agonizomai = as when striving in an athletic contest emphasizing concentration, discipline, conviction, effort; present tense = continually)." For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. 74 0 obj <>stream Learn more 2. Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. 10 Questions the Internet Is Asking about the KJV. Believe that the text means what it says. These three parts are observation, interpretation, and application. (John 7:17). Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. The inductive method is an investigative way of studying Scripture that can be used by both new and seasoned students alike. Our Lord taught that those who are, blessed (makarios [word study]) are those who hear the word of God and observe (phulasso [word study]) it. Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. Before the Word of God can bring change to our world, it must first change our life. What a terrible delusion to be content with, to delight in hearing the word, and yet not do it. So when Mark tells you hes starting at the beginning, its safe to say hes talking about the beginning of Christs ministry. Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. the good hand of his God was upon him (which should prompt a "Why?" There is always something new to uncover in the Bible. 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. The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. In most respects they might have been written in our own life-time. Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. But for transformation. P Is there a Prayer to pray or a Priority to change? 3 John 1 Kings (Ezekiel 33:31), Hearing and not heeding the word is as foolish as cooking an expensive filet mignon and then not sitting down to eat it! Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word, MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth by Spurgeon. James Lesson 12: Observation | Bible.org Nevertheless our duty is clear. You haven't really learned the Word until you live the Word. Pretend youre an investigator and youre just gathering the facts. And how prevalent the sight of multitudes of Christians listening to the Word of God most regularly and earnestly, and yet not doing it! (Basic Bible Interpretation). Ephesians (Ro 10:17+). Too often, people jump into the Bible and start connecting before theyve done the challenging work of examining all there is to see. Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. Memorizing God's Word - Why? 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 In other words, am I applying this truth? Jonah (He 4:12, 13-see notes He 4:12; 13). What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. m>YQ;^6dA`H^JETi.i I* >B 9KHc,:h0{c-I#d8#<9@F RJa2A*K-8PDSDdM@ $%Cc3s0L %!'VKKB$iUrmg:SP1~)7v`^P%V E406 H8 S4Ti0elV'jxu~ 2 Corinthians You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. Nahum Used by cults. and the Scriptures to yourself. To an active mind knowledge gives pleasure. 0000003614 00000 n ((this mirror = Gods Word = unique for it shows our inner nature as a regular mirror shows our exterior. So even though you might be familiar with the word Messiah, you might want to focus on Mark and his original audience. Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like eating without chewing. These four steps help you to orient yourself to a passage, wrestle with what its trying to communicate and examine your life in light of Gods Word. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Precept Ministries International was founded by internationally-known Bible teacher Kay Arthur, along with her husband, Jack, with the vision to establish people in Gods Word. If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Apply: How do I respond to what God is saying? Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study Will Graham Devotion: How Do You Know Whats True? Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Matthew Privacy Here, you want to go back over the passage and your observations and ask as many questions as you can. 2 Thessalonians THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD Not just for knowledge, but much more-- 3:7f+, He 4:2+), (3) Response of obedience: Genuine faith will obey. In other words, every time you observe and interpret but fail to apply, you perform an abortion on the Scriptures in terms of their purpose. If youre not careful, theyll do all the work of observation and interpretation for you. -- David Shepherd, Be alert for the following deceptive dangers regarding application. Fourthly and this is very hard work Read And Practise. The only Bible the world reads is the one bound in shoe leather: you and me! mo!zZJ:%3EAOnaY`z)p%Vv"-H=m>!MX|ov:Hh7vNmm%pZCY&,Z&!#+SzdOP ]LQ)A3_V@UU@Gz @mC-+BvH4sbC}&3A{ BV_$hyr0>Kiw>B/'/,fWGv>o|%vEQ mU0b-rxOw2)5t^_^~~p- (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). 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. And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Yogi Berra's advice is appropriate at this juncture -- When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it. Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? Heb. 0000004118 00000 n When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. This can train you to be more of an explorer in the future. The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. You might see the word Messiah and think, I know what that means. But that can undermine your ability to discover new things. In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . Grasp these sweet promises. 2 Samuel You may start with reading a specific book of the Bible for five to 10 minutes every day and setting aside one day a week for a more intentional time of studying Scripture. 2. If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. Study the Bible to be wise. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? They were the local authorities. Were so used to being exposed to chapters and verses that we lose sight of an authors intention for the whole book. --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ Bible reading fits into the devotional category. The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution (A good application). The records of human need and Divine generosity are not far-fetched ; they answer to our own case. What are its elements ? And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). 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). The difference between studying and applying the Scriptures is somewhat like the difference between drifting in a boat and rowing toward a destination. ", 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 older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin.