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. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; If not why not? 0 :L What Do We Lose When We Forget the Importance of Prayer? Resources Bible Study Inductive Bible Study. 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. The more work you do during this part of your study, the better you will do in the rest. The danger of Observation and Interpretation without application is that we become hypocrites like the Pharisees, filled to the brim with intellectual knowledge, but failing miserably to allow the truth to transform our hearts! S Is there a Sin to avoid, forsake or confess? Learn how you can know God personally. O/uE 4l"iI.l#e \c@pZFi7lq?3@hv?7 Il` Micah 0e]y]ZU~P/^a53if5}Jk9$9t]ccc}.kw9H6`T5jN`=94jk:U>}a:P5p/]luu D_Ek!*Vwii][S9}mB=J\ueJJkf3mm8]g#pbmw6[PP? Home Instead of studying by chapter, its smart to look at pericopes. 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). Verse by Verse Ministry Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. this Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology can be taken as competently as picked to act. A Silly yet Serious 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. Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself. 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 . 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. Never fear, only trust and obey. Righteousness in simple terms is whatever God says is right on any subject. The OIA Bible study method consists of three parts. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Could that be a clue about his intended audience? Refrain. 1 Samuel Privacy 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? HLTkXw: 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. Armed with that knowledge, youre ready to start thinking about how to apply what youve read. %%EOF Commentaries are fantastic tools. Are we spiritual or are we natural? Philippians Owen wrote that To seek after mere notions of Truth, without an endeavor after an experience of its power in our hearts, is not the way to increase our understanding in spiritual things. Now, think about what the passage tells us that is always true not just in its original setting, but in any time and place. I shall be telling this with a sigh Be sure to visit the Precept Ministries International Web site to go deeper into inductive Bible study. There are great apps out there, like YouVersion, that allow you to set reminders for yourself to get into Gods Word. We need to be specific here. Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. First, I saw a butterfly. never loses his sense of direction. James emphasizes the importance of follow through in inductive study exhorting us to "prove (ourselves) doers of the word, and not merely hearers (the Greek word was used of one who audited a class rather than taking it for credit -- are you just auditing the Bible or are you fully enrolled?) Did they know where the Messiah was to be born? (Ro 10:17+). And how prevalent the sight of multitudes of Christians listening to the Word of God most regularly and earnestly, and yet not doing it! Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Chapters, verses and subheadings are all very convenient and helpful, but when it comes time for genuine study, its appropriate to remember theyre not inspired elements of Scripture. Although the Bible tells one cohesive story, it does so through the work of many authors who wrote during times hundreds of years apart. Isaiah <<6970513041DCB34C825DECB3781DD654>]/Prev 490707>> He would take notes and later study them with great care. Scripture reading and Bible study always represents (so to speak) a "God sighting" ("God speaking") and as such always applies to us as His creatures. Not only do the books come from unfamiliar cultures, but theyre also thousands of years old. About Gods redemptive plan? The following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. But if this conforming of their own souls unto the power of the Word be not fixed in the first place in their minds they do not strive lawfully, nor will they be crowned (!). Your grandmother translated the Bible?" 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. Then when you read descriptions of the human heart, and the fall, the corruption, and the depravity of our nature, look, and see yourselves as in a looking glass, and say of each man as you hear of his sin, I am such a man as this was, and if I do not fall into precisely the same sin, yet the possibility and peril of it is in my heart, and I should do so, but for Gods restraining grace. Take the very histories home to your heart, and find a point in them, either of encouragement or of warning for yourselves. 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. The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? : an American History (Eric Foner) Civilization and its Discontents (Sigmund Freud) The Methodology of the Social Sciences (Max Weber) Interpersonal Communication (Kory Floyd) Chemistry: The Central Science (Theodore E. Brown; H. Eugene H LeMay; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine Murphy; Patrick Woodward) Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Now that weve observed and interpreted what the passage has to say, its time to talk about what it means for us. Acts PDF Precept Bible Study Method 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)." There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. Well, this is it. Obadiah If youre not careful, theyll do all the work of observation and interpretation for you. You might see the word Messiah and think, I know what that means. But that can undermine your ability to discover new things. 8. Interpretation, Illumination and Application | Bible.org (Jas 4:17+, cp Lk 12:47, 48+, Jn 9:41). But for transformation. For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, 0000005006 00000 n )R z9=_)\_`w0s3^xT{bhi ?%\hMKINZ>0!L ik0%kjDb V >{f NGaE"VU{Z}M-9Eik$oflK pA!~~?\sDNSUke Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. Until all on the altar we lay; Woe! 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~ The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul and a laver to wash them away. In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. Sow a habit, reap a character. While there are several great methods of studying the Bible, heres a simple method one can follow: Observation, Interpretation, Transformation and Application. Solicitation Disclosure Statement When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. truly, such a, promise is as a cluster of Eshcol, but it is in Eshcols valley and I cannot reach it there; but the promise applied is the cluster brought to me just where I am, and I can receive it, and delight myself in its luscious sweetness. Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. Galatians This might make you wonder whether this is good news for Mark or if Mark thinks this good news applies to everyone. Joel Shows the way. If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. 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. In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . It is packed with revelation, lessons, instruction, and theology. in my dealings with the world ? 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. There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. Our life ought to be and if Gods grace be much in it, it will be a new translation of the Bible. What did that word mean to them, and what kinds of feelings and hopes did it invoke? If a Christian is careless in Bible reading, he will care less about Christian living. If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. Its the shortest of the Gospels, and you might have noticed that Mark seems focused on the action and hitting all the significant points. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application S Is there Something to thank or praise God for? The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. 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. 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. ", Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote that "It is a good thing to be a student of the Word, but only in order to be a practiser and experiencer of the Word.". Sow a thought, reap an action. 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. 2 Corinthians Many of us struggle to wade through the dense lists of commands, genealogies and prophecies in the Old Testament. my heart stands in awe of Thy words. We must get into the Word of God for ourselves. The effect of this piercing is to reveal whether there is spirit or not. 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. 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. (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. 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. 0000001930 00000 n How do I propose to carry out these changes? Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. 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. Thresh them by meditation. It is thework of applying something (I like that -- it make take a little "holy sweat" to apply what we have learned, but it is worth the effort exerted! You haven't really learned the Word until you live the Word. While there is only one valid interpretation of a passage, there can be many applications. Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, 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). This fundamental step must be taken if one desires to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word. Inductive Bible Study Method: How to Guide Will Graham Devotion: How Do You Know Whats True? Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. 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 % Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. 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. The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Often, the headings in modern Bible translations identify pericopes. Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". 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). We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (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." All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable (useful, advantageous, helpful,) for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (see notes 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Which road will you travel? A key discipline for good study is not to be too quick to fall back on what you think you know. Application is where the proverbial "rubber meets the road", where our walk either does or does not back up our talk and where head knowledge becomes heart knowledge. The well known Puritan writer John Owen had some pithy comments on the need to study the Scriptures with the ultimate intent to apply them to one's life. If we fail to apply the Scriptures, we cut short the entire process and have not finished what God wants us to do. -EO{0iB d("o? Used by cults. Good Bible study does not happen by accident. 15.). We are inclined to qualify and modify the precepts of Christ and His claim on the Christian disciple. Observation Inductive Bible Study | Bible Study Resources | The - The Navigators As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. Too often, people jump into the Bible and start connecting before theyve done the challenging work of examining all there is to see. Will Graham Devotion: Paralyzed by Uncertainty? (Col 1:28, 29-See notes Col 1:28; 1:29), The basis for application is 2 Timothy 3:16. What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. 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. The truth of God's Word is always relevant to our life. Permissions How much influence is the Bible supposed to have on society? Reading and studying the Bible are two different practices. While we do His good will, He abides with us still, (Ro 12:2-note). Youll also notice right out of the gate that Mark has introduced Jesus with two titles: Messiah and Son of God. In His Words: What Billy Graham Once Said About Eternity. What I mean is just this.