Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." How? Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. which then results in being and doing. How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? Some passages will not have a clear application. It is not enough just to study the Bible. How does he save or provide a way when people are unable? The truth of God's Word is always relevant to our life. 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. Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like eating without chewing. Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. 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~ It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. (Mt 7:13, 14+). Esther But we are never just the same. 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). Everyone has distractions and responsibilities vying for their attention, so it helps if you have a set time when you will read your Bible. endstream
endobj
71 0 obj
<>stream
Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. 2. 2023 BGEA What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. to which the context answers) for (every time you see a "for" at the beginning of a sentence pause and ponder why it's there and remember you can usually substitute the word "because" in place of "for" to help understand the meaning) Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. Learn how you can know God personally. The goal is that we live holy, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action and that in so doing we are made adequate and equipped for every good ("God") work, which represents only those works He initiates and empowers. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). 1:20-21). When applied properly, the inductive method will provide a better overall understanding of a passagewhat it says, what it meant to its original audience, and what it means today. Sow a thought, reap an action. 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. You might see the word Messiah and think, I know what that means. But that can undermine your ability to discover new things. 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. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. A Silly yet Serious Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself. Study the Bible to be wise. You too can try and prove God's wonder-working precious and magnificent promises that provide everything needed for life and godliness -- but only if you seek to apply them to your life. who delude themselves. It is more needful for you to hear God's words than that God should hear yours, though the one will always lead to the other. The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. S Is there Something to thank or praise God for? Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. The young prophet Samuel's response to God is a good example. Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. 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). By Grasp these sweet promises. Pretend youre an investigator and youre just gathering the facts. 0000008074 00000 n
Refrain A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?" ( Ps 24:1-3 ). For example, Philippians 4:13, in context, isn't about being the greatest and most famous basketball player, but about being content and having joy in any and every circumstance ( Phil 4:10-13 ). Men may have in their study of the Scriptures other ends also, as the profit and edification of others. Observation Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. We don't really know the Bible unless we obey the Bible, God had a scathing rebuke for His people Israel through His prophet Ezekiel "They (the people of Israel) come to you (the prophet Ezekiel) as people come and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth and their heart goes after their gain." In other words, am I applying this truth? He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. It is unified in all its parts and will never contradict itself (Ps. By using the tools included inInductive Bible Study, youll approach Bible study with more depth and understanding. God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. trailer
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. For example, Psalm 24 says, "The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. And how prevalent the sight of multitudes of Christians listening to the Word of God most regularly and earnestly, and yet not doing it! This might make you wonder whether this is good news for Mark or if Mark thinks this good news applies to everyone. These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. J@GD0Q0rqD@!QTTXF1ID>IgIyy;GABp_8;.7_0?\h*4z/Bzc`S!zJP2[VgVM52,6.*0.199QP1T`}G/I(tSE)BQF*jE()*RMq>&}P* (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! Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. Its easy to become reliant upon commentary to explain the text to you, and this circumvents many of the benefits of study. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. hb```vV^af`B@#g|3h and then But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal 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). Privacy 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? Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? Do not read it merely to say, Yes, it is true; very true; I believe its doctrines to be the revelation of the infallible mind of God himself. But endeavour also in reading a page of the Scriptures, always to see how much it belongs to you. Its helpful to take a funnel approach to the book youre reading. May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! Could that be a clue about his intended audience? The better you know the Bibles teachings, the more grounded your faith becomes. The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. Observation Think of it as an appointment that you do not want to miss. He will be inquired of by us. 74 0 obj
<>stream
A Is there an Attitude to change or guard against or an Action I need to take? So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. So how do we apply any of it, let alone enjoy it. 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 third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. And its in this phase we start to look at what the text means. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Neither are you to be "Bible botanists" (even good inductive students), who laboriously observe the Biblical text and derive accurate interpretation but fail to apply these truths. Armed with that knowledge, youre ready to start thinking about how to apply what youve read. Some people say they cannot meditate; they do not know what it means, or they have no time, or they go to sleep when they begin. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. Permissions How can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." 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. never the Bible to ourselves. Its about observing exactly what the text is saying. 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). But to make us more like our Savior. I took the one less traveled by, The Bible is divine in origin. What Is Application? Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. The story is told of several pastors who were arguing over which Bible translation was the best. For example, notice that some form of the word suffering is used three . S Is there a Sin to avoid, forsake or confess? Logos is the largest developer of tools that empower Christians to go deeper in the Bible. Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. 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. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. And while pastors and teachers are wonderful, individual Christians should also be able to pick up any passage and read it with basic understanding and application. (Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148 - see A Primer On Biblical Meditation). And what thou readest, thou canst not read too well; Matthew Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. 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. How do I propose to carry out these changes? 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. 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. 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. Give Me Liberty! As questions arise, they give you direction for further reading and study as you seek to answer those questions. (Basic Bible Interpretation). 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 (!). Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. We must meditate upon it. Look for the plainest interpretation first. 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. As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. Zephaniah Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? Joshua Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. Mark says hes starting at the beginning. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. What I mean is just this. 63 0 obj
<>
endobj
Not only do the books come from unfamiliar cultures, but theyre also thousands of years old. /+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ Resources Bible Study Inductive Bible Study. When youre studying a book, youre going to end up reading it multiple times. (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!