endstream endobj 71 0 obj <>stream Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. We may hear words like "hermeneutics" (the science of interpretation) or "exegesis" (critical explanation or interpretation of a text) and think interpretation is something best left to experts. Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. Everyone has distractions and responsibilities vying for their attention, so it helps if you have a set time when you will read your Bible. Joel The Bible is an inexhaustible mine of precious gems. In His Words: What Billy Graham Once Said About Eternity. What does the term Messiah mean? Rather, an inductive study . Until all on the altar we lay; The Bible is divine in origin. 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." SMbN|U#t?%ux[w]z!\8U=Cdl1fNX`)5|@c!"&|q0|1"W Sfi%DaW1VC>Z(#qoR L%#GS`Kj)|%2laZxe"$[1Gf9pnY$,sfP.( +EelPEC_JjN bbBwa7$}%I$UO8 % Jeremiah 2 Thessalonians I shall be telling this with a sigh Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS 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). What are its elements ? The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution (A good application). If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. But for transformation. Ecclesiastes How? Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. ), 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. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. -- F. B. Meyer, Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. Don't be like Crowfoot, the chief of the Blackfoot nation in southern Alberta, who gave the Canadian Pacific Railway permission to lay track from Medicine Hat to Calgary, and in exchange received a lifetime railroad pass. The better you know the Bibles teachings, the more grounded your faith becomes. 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. This typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. Accurate interpretation and correct application rest on the accuracy of your observations. An Example of Interpretation Revelation 13:1-10. 1 Samuel Habakkuk For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. He had the "truth" but never acted upon it. And the botanist had a big notebook under his arm and a great big magnifying glass. Apply yourself to the Scriptures What Is Application? Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? Whenever (every time) we read the Scriptures, the question we should always honestly seek to ask is How does the meaning of this text apply to me? Yes, the Scripture (through your Teacher the Spirit) will bestow spiritual blessings, not by knowing but by doing! Acts Its helpful to take a funnel approach to the book youre reading. The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. The Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. Its worth it. If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. Go back to your questions from the beginning and ask them again in light of what youve learned, and apply it to our context today. 6. Colossians For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. Its what everything else is built upon. We may find something in every passage which comes before us both to pray over and to thank God over. Don't be like the man who boasted "I go through the entire Bible once every year".Application instead confronts us face to face with the question "How many times has the Bible gone through you?" Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. Otherwise, its easy to become dependent on them. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? (1Ti 4:7, 8-notes), The dictionary defines application as the act of putting to use or putting into operation especially for some practical purpose. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. When the attitude of our heart reflects a readiness to hear and respond, the text of the Bible comes alive. 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. The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! (Ed: And I would add that the Word of Truth ALWAYS has something to say to our heart! (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. 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. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. They do not seem very ancient. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. What is awe? and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.". The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. 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." Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. 74 0 obj <>stream Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Imagine trying to find a specific place in Scripture during a sermon without them. Once you do that, you can start shining a light on smaller sections of Scripture. Genesis Feed on them with joy" 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? Instead of studying by chapter, its smart to look at pericopes. (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. 1 Peter B. Its easy to become reliant upon commentary to explain the text to you, and this circumvents many of the benefits of study. Luke gives us the most information about Jesus birth and even provides us with a glimpse of Jesus as a child (Luke 2:4150). During the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. Eventually, if not immediately, these practices will reveal the meaning of the text (interpretation) and how to apply it (life application). Esther If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. The real authority of their view is always some single leader who has his or her ideas in writing. That's a frightening statement! 9. First, I saw a butterfly. 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.. And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." The writer of Psalm 119+ (virtually every verse of which deals with some aspect of God's holy Word) speaks to the importance of one's attitude that should undergird and stimulate right and ready application of truth gleaned Princes persecute me without cause, but (what's being contrasted?) ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. 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. If we fail to apply the Scriptures, we cut short the entire process and have not finished what God wants us to do. The truth of God's Word is always relevant to our life. It can provide you with answers you werent able to come up with on your own, and maybe give you some clues on interpretive techniques and tools in the future. There is always something new to uncover in the Bible. You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. This is where secondary resources become really helpful. He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? To which he responded "Yes, she translated the Bible into her life, and was the most powerful translation I've ever seen!" Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components. Youll also notice right out of the gate that Mark has introduced Jesus with two titles: Messiah and Son of God. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. Take care, nonetheless, to seek for the application of precepts. 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. You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. There are a lot of excellent study Bibles available. 0000008074 00000 n Is it because of ignorance, rebellion or indifference? Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. 3. Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. By using the tools included inInductive Bible Study, youll approach Bible study with more depth and understanding. (The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Jesus explains that relationship (and importance) between knowing God's Word and doing God's Word, declaringIf (If = 3rd class condition = possibility / probability but not a certainty! God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. What I mean is just this. When God got his attention, Samuel responded appropriately: "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Sa 3:10). The observation phase was all about observing what the text says, but the interpretation phase is the next step. The Power of Accurate Observation In Bible Study By Anna Wishart 07/31/2017 Details Bring Meaning God's Word has a lot to communicate. What is the clearest meaning of this text? Good Bible study does not happen by accident. endstream endobj 68 0 obj <> endobj 69 0 obj <> endobj 70 0 obj <>stream 2 Timothy But to make us more like our Savior. We study to gain knowledge so we know how to live our lives in light of what weve learned. ), A T Pierson said that "While other books inform, and some few reform, this one book transforms. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Somewhere ages and ages hence: the good hand of his God was upon him (which should prompt a "Why?" One who uses the Bible as his guide never loses his sense of direction. Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. Too often we come to Gods Word to study it, to teach it, etcto do everything in the world with it except be changed by it! (Persevere!). 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. But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos). 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. The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. Dr. Howard Hendricks remarks that Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. Many times a Bible passage is read only with eyes but not with the mind engaged. They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. (He 4:12, 13-see notes He 4:12; 13). If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. The Bible is Gods way of making Himself known to us. Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. Woe! So even though you might be familiar with the word Messiah, you might want to focus on Mark and his original audience. Did they know where the Messiah was to be born? (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. Application of God's Word will not always be "pain free", but it will always be profitable. Men may have in their study of the Scriptures other ends also, as the profit and edification of others. Resource links How to Perform A Greek Word Study on the Web, Multiple resources on Biblical Interpretation (Hermeneutics). Some use the term to describe a discussion group, which may discuss the Bible or some other uplifting book. (1 Sa 15:22, 23) Related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience. Inductive Bible Study is an ideal textbook for courses in biblical interpretation, and for anyone who desires to better understand and teach Scripture. Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. 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? Some are always looking out for other peoples duty, and are great judges and critics for what others ought to do. Resources Bible Study Inductive Bible Study. This is always the most challengingportion of Bible study, which most people give only cursory attention to (unfortunately).The key to doing Bible study is . So before we can apply the truth as God intended, we need to be certain that our interpretation is accurate, which in turn hinges on careful observation. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? And what did those things mean? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 But when the report came of His birth, did they go to check it out? How can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? There are great apps out there, like YouVersion, that allow you to set reminders for yourself to get into Gods Word. Often, the headings in modern Bible translations identify pericopes. To be sure our first goal should be to get into the Bible and then to allow the Bible to get into us. Song of Solomon You want to be able to trace the authors argument all the way through. Application begins with belief When you take a book like Romans one piece at a time, you can miss the forest for the trees. Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. /+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ Jude 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. Interpretation is not necessarily a separate step from observation, for often, as you carefully observe the text, you begin to see what it means at that very moment. It also becomes a source of support for you during difficult times. It is full of instances of prayer; it supplies us with those thoughts about God which stimulate our faith to approach Him expectantly, earnestly, confidently. But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. It's better to live one verse of the Bible than to recite an entire chapter. 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. In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. %PDF-1.4 % Identify chapter themes So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? Thus, we are called and encouraged to new labour in prayer, whilst we have a new example in Him Who prayed, and wept, and bled. Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself. In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. Believe it to be safe It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. startxref Together, these observations help you think about the biblical authors purpose and what they are trying to communicate. John Janet Chismar 2023 BGEA August 5, 2009. Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD Nevertheless our duty is clear. There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. 0000001930 00000 n The person who knows the truth but doesn't act on it is not simply making a mistake or showing poor judgment but he is in sin. acquire the Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology join that we . Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. To love Him and obey. Only in this way can believers grow spiritually. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." Anyone can use the inductive Bible study method by following three simple steps: This phase isnt about interpretation. The proper spirit for profitable Bible study is a tender, teachable heart willing to obey the truth and the fruit of this humble approach is an eternally changed life lived to glory of God. 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. How about Son of God"? In Gods mind, knowledge without obedience is sin. You cannot expect to approach the Bible with the same level of investment that youd give your favorite novel. In view of this truth, what specific changes should I make in my life? Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. kite runner quotes with page numbers and explanations, is alexandra churchill related to winston churchill, anastasia karanikolaou parents,