But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. A key discipline for good study is not to be too quick to fall back on what you think you know. Apply yourself to the Scriptures Our Goal in Interpreting . But we are never just the same. 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. 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. When people started complaining, he told the congregation, "I'll preach a new sermon when you act on this one. 0000005006 00000 n As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. 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. To be sure our first goal should be to get into the Bible and then to allow the Bible to get into us. So you might write that observation down: Marks beginning of the gospel story does not start at the very beginning., Youll also notice that Mark desires to tell you some good news, and this news is about Jesus. Now that weve observed and interpreted what the passage has to say, its time to talk about what it means for us. One of the pastors startled the group with the declaration that "My grandmother's translation is the best I've ever read." For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, 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. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. If you want to discover what these authors have to tell you, youll have to do some work. Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. Below I have written a simplified step-by-step guide . Our life ought to be and if Gods grace be much in it, it will be a new translation of the Bible. If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. The third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. Saturate the study of Scripture with prayer. (John Calvin), Gods Word can only produce growth in soil "fertilized" by obedience. What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage? (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." In truth thou canst not read the Scriptures too much; A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation 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. Woe! Here are a few questions you can ask: There are a few essential rules to remember when attempting to interpret a passage: Make sure you spend a good chunk of time with this phase. To which he responded "Yes, she translated the Bible into her life, and was the most powerful translation I've ever seen!" 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. Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. What does the term Messiah mean? What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? Permissions The Bible is an inexhaustible mine of precious gems. 0000004523 00000 n Well, this is it. (Mark 1:1, NIV), The purpose of this book is to tell the story of Jesus; its a historical narrative. A pericope is a section of the text that forms a complete thought. ::c\}oa\l#N/4!tGj;Mu}8Mmm3M^x_M=>l~m8n6vTk7.9Rm+s7mm1>7%cS,"W`!K[43!qCn66JVo[K^nE^ + The goal of Bible study is not simply to determine what it says and what it means, but in the final analysis to apply it to one's life. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Three vital responses in application are (1) Response of confession: The Word of God is like a sword (it penetrates), like a mirror (it reveals), and like a critic of the heart (it judges and reproves or exposes our attitudes and actions). Not just for information Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. Like Ezra we should make every effort to handle it accurately and live it out assiduously (with perseverance and care)! 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. Feed on them with joy" Scripture interprets Scripture. Lamentations This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. 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." r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ 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. Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. 2 John As youre reading along, you can check the commentary to gain insight into cultural, linguistic and interpretive considerations. 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! Used by cults. Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. Its helpful to take a funnel approach to the book youre reading. For example, notice that some form of the word suffering is used three . Observation 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. Romans The following books are a great place to learn more about this simple methodology: Kay Arthurs inductive method has helped millions of people learn how to study the Bible for themselves. But our toil He doth richly repay; It is more focused on the immediate application of the passage to your life. We all have a story. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. 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. The adventure of following God's will takes on a whole new complexion when we stop to listen and then act upon what we hear. This video series demonstrates how to perform inductive Bible study using the Logos Bible app thats free for web, mobile, or desktop. And what thou teachest well, thou canst not too well live. Thirdly, we seek to link the spirit of the passage with our own personal experience of things human and Divine. You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. (Col 1:28, 29-See notes Col 1:28; 1:29), The basis for application is 2 Timothy 3:16. He now teaches two courses: "Bible Study" and "Advanced Bible Study." "All of my courses are built on the basic pattern of observation, interpretation, application and correlation (or . If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. Ask the Lord to show you your interest, in every truth, and; do not be satisfied until you have an assured personal interest therein. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". 6. 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, 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. Genesis Ecclesiastes That's a frightening statement! (Self deception is the worst form of deception and occurs when we come to believe there is virtue in hearing the truth of God but failing to apply it.) This is a dishonest way to interpret the text. Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. Erroneous interpretation can lead to aberrant application. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. THE THREE COMPONENTS HLTkXw: Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. Which road will you travel? (Basic Bible Interpretation). 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. And what thou readest, thou canst not read too well; It's better to live one verse of the Bible than to recite an entire chapter. Be sure to visit the Precept Ministries International Web site to go deeper into inductive Bible study. John As you make it your practice to study God's Word, you will experience the joy of having Him directly unveil His truth and reveal His purpose in your life. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. 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. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Have I overlooked anything or made any assumptions? You might discover that salt was not only used to flavor food, but it helped keep it from spoiling. Ezekiel But when the report came of His birth, did they go to check it out? This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. Its the shortest of the Gospels, and you might have noticed that Mark seems focused on the action and hitting all the significant points. 5 Basic Bible Study Techniques You Should Never Ignore, How to Study a Psalm: Essential Steps for Starting Right, How to Identify a Passages Repeated Words in Seconds, 10 Tips for Getting Started with Inductive Bible Study, Inductive Bible Study Is Not Just for Adults, The Laymans Bible Study Notebook: An Inductive Bible Study, Inductive Bible Study: A Comprehensive Guide to the Practices of Hermeneutics, Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology, The Definitive Guide to Bible Commentaries: Types, Perspectives, and Use.