1 Kings We build up a reservoir of responses so that whenever the truth gets too convicting, weve got a multiplicity of reasons why it applies to everyone else but us! I have known of some, too, who gloried in final perseverance, but who, if they had finally persevered would certainly have been in hell, for they were on the road there. 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. Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. 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). And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; 0000008074 00000 n Next, youll want to figure out what youre going to study. Just like Matthew, Luke gets to the baptism in the third chapter. (John 17:3), Heart appropriation, not merely head apprehension, is the true goal of Bible study. We must mix faith with what we read and hear. As youre reading along, you can check the commentary to gain insight into cultural, linguistic and interpretive considerations. To go on gaining an intellectual knowledge of the Bible without obeying it can be a trap instead of a blessing. But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal study. You have remained in right site to start getting this info. Here are 14 important reasons to read it. Why did Mark feel this title was necessary on top of calling Jesus the Messiah? This method makes observations on a passage of Scripture and then draws conclusions based on those observations. 0 :L If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. Of the three steps of Bible studyobservation, interpretation, and applicationthe middle one is often the most daunting. It will make "all the difference" in this life and the next for as Paul wrote godliness (eusebeia) (produced by discipline and diligent application of God's Word) is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. And what thou understandest well, thou canst not too well teach; Follow it by personally doing what it bids thee. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. Could that be a clue about his intended audience? Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components. Your goal in observation is to notice as much as possible. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is universally compatible following any devices to read. 0000002043 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. The New Testament gives us further teaching about the way of approach, and makes new demands on our spiritual life, whilst offering us a new standard to live up to. Every time we encounter spiritual truth, we need to seek to apply that truth to our lives. With Logos Fundamentals, youll find the truth for yourselfno matter what questions arise as you study the Word. never the Bible to ourselves. Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! %%EOF Numbers Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. Acronym to Aid Application. The student has sought God's blessing on the Word, and has endeavored to find out its meaning and teaching; and it remains for him to ask, How does this passage apply to me? But when the report came of His birth, did they go to check it out? 0 Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. 0000004523 00000 n Only in this way can believers grow spiritually. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Not just for knowledge, but much more-- Why are we deluded in this way? Instead of studying by chapter, its smart to look at pericopes. my heart stands in awe of Thy words. While there is only one valid interpretation of a passage, there can be many applications. Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). A pericope is a section of the text that forms a complete thought. What are its elements ? If the Bible seems dry and unexciting, check your attitude (Ed: Also do some personal inventory with 1 Pe 2:1+and then you'll be able to move on to 1 Pe 2:2+!). Spiritual maturity, in which we become more like Christ, comes not just from knowing more about the Bible. B. O/uE 4l"iI.l#e \c@pZFi7lq?3@hv?7 Il` We all need to ask ourselves are we studying the Word that we might be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees? When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. Are for them who will trust and obey. And what thou readest, thou canst not read too well; Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Bible reading fits into the devotional category. There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. 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. When God got his attention, Samuel responded appropriately: "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Sa 3:10). Study the Bible to be wise. Did they know where the Messiah was to be born? Read the Bible as a man reads his relations will, to find what legacy there is in it for himself. Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? And so prayer is not a substitute for action, but the deliberate contact of the soul with God, whence we draw an enabling force whereby we go forth conquering and to conquer. The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. (Keying into the term good news early will help you understand Marks Gospel, as its a critical term that he uses repeatedly.). never loses his sense of direction. T Is there a Truth to memorize and meditate upon (Click here)? Use this guide to help you lead your small group to encounter Jesus through the three main parts of an inductive Bible study: Observation, Interpretation, Application. Men may have in their study of the Scriptures other ends also, as the profit and edification of others. One of the best ways to study the Bible is through "inductive" study. It is impossible to study the Scriptures diligently without running head-on into the need for application, "for the word of God is living and active (energetic, effective) and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge (sifting and analyzing) the thoughts and intentions of the heart and there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open (the bending back of the neck thoroughly exposing it to the eye of the skillful surgeon or the criminal on trial with a sharp dagger bound to his neck with the point just below the chin, so that he could not bow his head but had to face the court) and laid bare to the eyes of Him with Whom we must give account." The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. When you take a book like Romans one piece at a time, you can miss the forest for the trees. Keeping some form of journal will allow you to go back and review what God has been teaching you. Stout old Martin Luther used to say, All vital religion is in the personal and possessive pronouns. Is it not so? This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. 0000004118 00000 n This fundamental step must be taken if one desires to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word. Have I overlooked anything or made any assumptions? 2 Peter HhT=k&^-l (6WBbN~WPe4`!Mr`+^p!MO,LP/_n]aFBcp) Ask God that his threats may drive you out of your sins, and drive you to seek pardon in Christ. (Ro 10:17+). Then I watched a little longer out my window and there came a botanist. Luke gives us the most information about Jesus birth and even provides us with a glimpse of Jesus as a child (Luke 2:4150). Everyone has distractions and responsibilities vying for their attention, so it helps if you have a set time when you will read your Bible. Otherwise, its easy to become dependent on them. If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. 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. (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. 1. To an active mind knowledge gives pleasure. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. There are many ways we can study the Bible, but one of the most influential and simple approaches to reading and understanding God's Word involves three simple steps: Step 1: ObservationWhat does the passage say? Local: 704-401-2432 Here, you want to go back over the passage and your observations and ask as many questions as you can. and Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. The Apostle Paul's great passion was transformed, Christ like lives as he explained to the saints at Colossae writing we proclaim Him (Christ in believers the hope of glory), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. 12-26). It is still as true today as when Martin Luther first said it that The world does not need a definition of religion as much as it needs a demonstration.. So how do we apply any of it, let alone enjoy it. To pick up the thread of Pauls argument, you need to go back and catch up. The Bible is Gods way of making Himself known to us. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. endstream endobj 68 0 obj <> endobj 69 0 obj <> endobj 70 0 obj <>stream Samuel addressing King Saul after his serious "miscalculation" (sin) said "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? You want to focus on things like: Practice observation on the first verse of the Gospel of Mark. 6. To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! Used by cults. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. James Sometimes its beneficial to ignore them and consider other ways you might divide the text. For one thing people mistake the pleasure they have in hearing the Word of God for Christianity and worship. What guidance does it offer me in my social intercourse? 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, Thats the kind of serious-minded response to truth application calls for. Were so used to being exposed to chapters and verses that we lose sight of an authors intention for the whole book. Practice it to be holy, Or as Skip Heitzig advises "A good perspective to adopt when reading the Bible is that of an obedient servant waiting for instruction from the master. How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. Hosea To be sure our first goal should be to get into the Bible and then to allow the Bible to get into us. 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. of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." It might be tempting to stop at the interpretation phase, but youll be selling yourself and Scripture short if you do. 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. For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. Awe is a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. As part of this step, take some time to identify where the beauty of the gospel comes into the passage. meditate and meditate and meditate, Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. John Calvin commenting on proper application wrote thatWe must observe that the knowledge of God which we are invited to cultivate is not that which, resting satisfied with empty speculation, only flutters in the brain; but a knowledge which will prove substantial and fruitful whenever it is duly perceived and rooted in the heart.. We must align ourselves with the Bible, never the Bible with ourselves. 0000000925 00000 n Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. God make us holy; sanctify us, spirit, soul, and body, and then we shall be made finely serviceable both to the Church and to the world. For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents. Isaiah If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. Gather them. The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? 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. No, even though the town of Bethlehem was only only five miles down the road from Jerusalem. + Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. Ephesians r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ Through the inductive method you follow a process of studying the Bible one book at a time. The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. Thirdly, we seek to link the spirit of the passage with our own personal experience of things human and Divine. The older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin. It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. By using the tools included inInductive Bible Study, youll approach Bible study with more depth and understanding. Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is additionally useful. About Gods redemptive plan? One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. They are to leave behind their assumptions and make a ruling based on the facts alone. Cults use the Bible to try to prove views they already have. Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. Every promise must be grasped and realized as true : every precept must be registered in the heart, and acted out in the life, in the strength of God. Home What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? By There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. 3. There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. How about Son of God"? This is where secondary resources become really helpful. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study Which road will you travel? This volume incorporates insights from contemporary evangelical hermeneutics into an. As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. Woe! Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. Not only do the books come from unfamiliar cultures, but theyre also thousands of years old. Its about observing exactly what the text is saying. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. How much influence is the Bible supposed to have on society? Are we spiritual or are we natural? Often, the headings in modern Bible translations identify pericopes. 1. It is more focused on the immediate application of the passage to your life. If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Speak of bringing the Bible down into the vernacular! The word of God reveals to us our true selves. Jude 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. We ought to obey God rather than men, and to make sure of God's favour, though we throw ourselves under the frowns of all the world, Lk 12:4, 5. Refrain, Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. Although the Bible tells one cohesive story, it does so through the work of many authors who wrote during times hundreds of years apart. Inductive Bible Study. 2 Chronicles But one who looks intently (a picture of the man who meditates -- puritan Richard Baxter said "There must be inward practice by meditation and outward practice in true obedience.") Hebrews We must never forget that the ultimate goal of Bible study, whether inductive or otherwise, is to know God and His Son so that we might have life in Him. Try challenging yourself to come up with 10 observations about a passage, and once youve hit that number, push yourself to come up with five more. (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. 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. 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 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+). They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. You should desire to know Gods Word better so it can change you. How? 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. But we are never just the same. (Mark 1:1, NIV), The purpose of this book is to tell the story of Jesus; its a historical narrative. Too often, people jump into the Bible and start connecting before theyve done the challenging work of examining all there is to see. You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. It is one thing to know these truths, and even to fight for them with the zeal and bitterness of a controversialist, but it is quite another thing to enjoy them as our own heritage and our portion for ever. Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. )R z9=_)\_`w0s3^xT{bhi ?%\hMKINZ>0!L ik0%kjDb V >{f NGaE"VU{Z}M-9Eik$oflK pA!~~?\sDNSUke Saturate the study of Scripture with prayer. Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Jonah If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. (Skip Heitzig How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It), Puritan Thomas Manton adds that "What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer.". But meditation is a matter of habit, and we can all be trained into it. Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. William MacDonald explains meditation as follows Christians should meditate on the Word of God (chew the cud) and have a separated walk (the cloven hoof). -- F. B. Meyer, Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. These are the ideas that were true for the original audience and are equally true for you. In truth thou canst not read the Scriptures too much; Avoid basing important doctrines on obscure passages. It is not enough just to study the Bible. (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. In view of this truth, what specific changes should I make in my life? The intercession of Abraham for Sodom, the prayer of Abraham's servant, the wrestling of Jacob, the pleadings of Moses, the strong crying of David, the spiritual conflicts of Elijah, Jonah and Jeremiah, the public and formal prayers of Solomon and Ezra, and the secret confessions of Danielall are the outpourings of hearts like our own. 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. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Let me ask you a serious question -- How often do you study the Word with no intention whatsoever of obeying it? Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word (cp Ep 5:26-note). When Dr. Houghton became pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, a man in that city hired a private detective to follow Dr. Houghton and report on his conduct. The inductive Bible study method is a time-tested way for the layperson to approach studying Scripture. He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. What I mean is just this. 3:7f+, He 4:2+), (3) Response of obedience: Genuine faith will obey. But for your study time, its helpful to use them as secondary sources after youve done some preliminary work. For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! Don't deceive yourself! Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. Inductive Bible Study - Observation Inductive Bible Study - Interpretation Inductive Bible Study - Application Simple Study on the Power of God's Word Authority of God's Word - study on 2Timothy 3:16-17 Ezra 7:10 - Exposition of the "Ezra 7:10 Principle" Job's "Secret" of perseverance? 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. P Is there a Prayer to pray or a Priority to change? THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD Inductive Bible study students should strive to be men and women like Ezra whose pattern was to teach the truth that he had put into practice. Like Ezra we should make every effort to handle it accurately and live it out assiduously (with perseverance and care)! The OIA Bible study method consists of three parts. First, I saw a butterfly. (Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148 - see A Primer On Biblical Meditation). We tone down unconsciously the vigor of St. Paul's remonstrances, the force of his figures, such as ' Death to sin,' the strictness of the law of retribution, and of judgment according to works ; the demand of absolute self-sacrifice, and of truth at any cost ; the need of meekness, forbearance, self-restraint and sympathy. As someone has blunted phrased it "Interpretation without application is abortion.". 0000060059 00000 n In Gods mind, knowledge without obedience is sin. which then results in being and doing. While we do His good will, He abides with us still, We need to be specific here.

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