He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. 1. PDF Precept Bible Study Method 1 Peter If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. Bible study - Assignment - Bible Study observation, interpretation 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?) For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. 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. Comment: Sins of omission (failing to do what God wants us to do) are sins just as surely as sins of commission (doing what God has told us not to do). When God got his attention, Samuel responded appropriately: "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Sa 3:10). The OIA Bible study method consists of three parts. Through the inductive method you follow a process of studying the Bible one book at a time. OIA Method of Bible Study - Iamnorthside You want to focus on things like: Practice observation on the first verse of the Gospel of Mark. (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. Yogi Berra's advice is appropriate at this juncture -- When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it. This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 Pray God to help you to feel the solemnity even of the threatening, for if you feel deeply the threatening now, you may be delivered from the tragic fulfilment of it by-and-by. When youre studying a book, youre going to end up reading it multiple times. 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 questions you raise in the interpretation phase might even push you back into the observation phase. Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). A lot of people have all sorts of news. If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Reportedly, Crowfoot put the pass in a leather pouch and wore it around his neck for the rest of his lifebut he never once availed himself of the rights and privileges it spelled out. So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. 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. (1 Sa 15:22, 23) Related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience. of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. Skip Heitzig writes that "The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody made a habit of carrying a notebook to record what he learned as he read the Bible or listened to a sermon. Jude Some are always looking out for other peoples duty, and are great judges and critics for what others ought to do. Let it not only inform you but inflame you. P Is there a Promise to believe or condition to meet in order to partake of the promise? Think of it as an appointment that you do not want to miss. But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. 63 0 obj <> endobj eg'1{(yzJ*| Inductive Bible study draws its conclusions from the text, not our assumptions. Believe that the text means what it says. Logos can be an incredible resource as you seek to make this a part of your daily routine. 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. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. Awe is a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. How to Study the Bible Using Observation - Billy Graham Evangelistic Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. -EO{0iB d("o? The older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin. Remember that the more time spent in observation, the less time you will spend in interpretation, the more accurate the interpretation and the more appropriate the application. When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . HWM5q0^5 !EJ8`vC ! 0000000925 00000 n Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. The Bible is Gods way of making Himself known to us. It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. Zephaniah It's an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder inspired here by the absolute authority of the Words of God compared to all words of men. We need to be honest with ourselves at this point. Step 2: InterpretationWhat does the passage mean? Mark hb```vV^af`B@#g|3h Together, these observations help you think about the biblical authors purpose and what they are trying to communicate. Habakkuk Its worth it. THE THREE COMPONENTS Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts. When words or passages make an impression on you, stop and meditate on what God has shown you or as the great preacher C H Spurgeon advised Read the Bible carefully, Greater knowledge should always bring about greater obedience, enabled by grace not law, empowered by the indwelling Spirit as we learn to discard self effort and depend on the Spirit. Howard Hendricks' 4 Bible Study Steps - Bible Study - Crosswalk.com We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? And so we should react with overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread, this latter emotion relevant especially to those who read but fail to heed God's Word (application). We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. How to Study Your Bible, Part 2 | Articles | Revive Our Hearts 1. As questions arise, they give you direction for further reading and study as you seek to answer those questions. May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". It isn't enough just to be a Christian, if you aren't an obedient one. Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Ask God not to let thy Bible be another mans Bible, but thine own Bible, Gods own mouth speaking to thy soul of the things which make for thy peace. Each book is usually read 4 - 5 times, and with each step you are given a new tool for uncovering revelation within the pages. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. These four steps help you to orient yourself to a passage, wrestle with what it's trying to communicate and examine your life in light of God's Word. But to make us more like our Savior. Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! Christian author Jerry Bridges reminds us that. Memorization is the first step to meditation. Once you do that, you can start shining a light on smaller sections of Scripture. 74 0 obj <>stream It also becomes a source of support for you during difficult times. 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- (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). 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. And what thou readest, thou canst not read too well; 3. Mark says hes starting at the beginning. Matthew One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. (Ro 10:17+). When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. How to Study the Bible - 3 Simple Steps - Bible Study Tools 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. Ezra It will walk you through each step of inductive bible studies in details. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. Song of Solomon Some sections make much more sense if you read them within the context of the surrounding chapters, like Matthew 23-25 or 1 Corinthians 12-14. 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? How do I propose to carry out these changes? 10 Questions the Internet Is Asking about the KJV. Are for them who will trust and obey. Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. HLTkXw: (Basic Bible Interpretation). Have I overlooked anything or made any assumptions? Who art thou that judgest another man? To his own master he stands or falls. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. 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. To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?" ( Ps 24:1-3 ). --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! We must meditate upon it. During the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. J@GD0Q0rqD@!QTTXF1ID>IgIyy;GABp_8;.7_0?\h*4z/Bzc`S!zJP2[VgVM52,6.*0.199QP1T`}G/I(tSE)BQF*jE()*RMq>&}P* Bible study consists of Observation, Interpretation and Application. 1 )R z9=_)\_`w0s3^xT{bhi ?%\hMKINZ>0!L ik0%kjDb V >{f NGaE"VU{Z}M-9Eik$oflK pA!~~?\sDNSUke Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. Head knowledge without heart change is not enough and in some ways is even worse than no knowledge. 1 Kings Once you have explored the passage, its time to make some connections. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. ", Oswald Chambers in his typical "no nonsense" style reminds us that"One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it", We have to be careful not to deceive ourselves. Ruth It went in empty every time and came out full (A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes [Chicago: Moody, 1962], p. Your grandmother translated the Bible?" No, even though the town of Bethlehem was only only five miles down the road from Jerusalem. What a terrible delusion to be content with, to delight in hearing the word, and yet not do it. 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? The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. Start with the obvious. While there is only one valid interpretation of a passage, there can be many applications. Spiritual maturity, in which we become more like Christ, comes not just from knowing more about the Bible. There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. 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. (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! This typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. Job Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. Study the Bible to be wise If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? If youre new to studying, why not start with the Gospel of Mark? For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Commentaries are fantastic tools. Not just for knowledge, but much more-- Also we become more responsible to God. 63 12 We must mix faith with what we read and hear. The word of God reveals to us our true selves. (The blessing of God is integrally related to your response to the revelation of God. 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)? As mentioned earlier, its easy to become dependent on them. If you read, He that believeth on him is not condemned, if you believe not then you are condemned already, because you have not believed in the Son of God. 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. acquire the Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology join that we . Yes, the Scripture (through your Teacher the Spirit) will bestow spiritual blessings, not by knowing but by doing! R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. The more honest question is"Am I ready and willing believe this truth and to apply it in my life? But for your study time, its helpful to use them as secondary sources after youve done some preliminary work. 2 Chronicles Scripture interprets Scripture. Amos So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. Proverbs The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? 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. The main tool for each step is the Bible itself, meaning that when there is a question in my mind as to a passage's meaning, I first look to other scripture to provide the answer. Again, we feel God's promises to be too high for us, we know He is perfect, and we are vile. Will Graham Devotion: Paralyzed by Uncertainty? 0000004118 00000 n Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. 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 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. As a result, that man became a Christian. Permissions The reader through OBSERVATION discovers what a passage says which enables the reader to make an accurate INTERPRETATION, the discovery of what a passage means. Grasp these sweet promises. How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? 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. Speak of bringing the Bible down into the vernacular! Anyone can use the inductive Bible study method by following three simple steps: This phase isnt about interpretation. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. The following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application.
Franklin Township Garbage Pickup Schedule, Articles E