example of bible study: observation, interpretation application

Esther : 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) in my business life ? Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. Some use the term to describe a discussion group, which may discuss the Bible or some other uplifting book. Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? The truth of God's Word is always relevant to our life. Then you might turn your attention to verses 18 in the first chapter. 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 (!). Can abide while we trust and obey. 2 Timothy 2023 BGEA But is blessed if we trust and obey. If we continually learn what we ought to do, but do not do it, we become frustrated and callous. If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. (Persevere!). View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Contact Us. Sow an action, reap a habit. But for transformation. Imagine trying to find a specific place in Scripture during a sermon without them. And what thou understandest well, thou canst not too well teach; Is it because of ignorance, rebellion or indifference? 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. The inductive Bible study method is a time-tested way for the layperson to approach studying Scripture. We ought to obey God rather than men, and to make sure of God's favour, though we throw ourselves under the frowns of all the world, Lk 12:4, 5. Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! This means youre going to start by reading the whole thing hopefully in one sitting before you begin to deal with smaller portions of it in greater depth. %%EOF But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. 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 following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application. You should desire to know Gods Word better so it can change you. 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 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)? The worldlings Bible is the Christian. 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. (Ed: And I would add that the Word of Truth ALWAYS has something to say to our heart! Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts. But for your study time, its helpful to use them as secondary sources after youve done some preliminary work. (John Calvin), Gods Word can only produce growth in soil "fertilized" by obedience. If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? Explore answers to life's biggest questions. 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. 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. In His Words: What Billy Graham Once Said About Eternity. He had the "truth" but never acted upon it. 2 Thessalonians And when we do, like the bee, we will find that we never go away from God's Word empty. This seems to be the kickoff point of Jesus ministry. When youre studying a book, youre going to end up reading it multiple times. And what thou readest, thou canst not read too well; When you take a book like Romans one piece at a time, you can miss the forest for the trees. Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." 2 Samuel Daniel You cannot expect to approach the Bible with the same level of investment that youd give your favorite novel. 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. Sources like these can give you vital information to help answer your questions. When people started complaining, he told the congregation, "I'll preach a new sermon when you act on this one. (Ro 12:2-note). Read the Bible as a man reads his relations will, to find what legacy there is in it for himself. 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? We dont study the Bible just to gain knowledge. Youve observed the details in the text and drawn interpretive conclusions about what the author was saying to his original readers. Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. 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. Here, you want to go back over the passage and your observations and ask as many questions as you can. Both reflect what is really there. (Mt 7:13, 14+). And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Home What does this passage teach that is still as true today as it was when it was written? 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. 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). 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. I have known some rejoice greatly in the doctrine of election who never were elected, and some who were very pleased with the doctrine of justification by faith, but who had no faith by which to be justified. By using the tools included inInductive Bible Study, youll approach Bible study with more depth and understanding. 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. Resource links How to Perform A Greek Word Study on the Web, Multiple resources on Biblical Interpretation (Hermeneutics). EP !HOz Saturate the study of Scripture with prayer. The Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. Application begins with belief Its what everything else is built upon. In most respects they might have been written in our own life-time. Exodus Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal study. Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. Titus of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. We must meditate upon it. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. Interpretation should build on observation and then lead into interpretation. THE THREE COMPONENTS 0000001036 00000 n Do not read the Bible as a book for other people. Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. It involves three steps: observation of the text, interpretation of the text, and application of the text. Refrain, But we never can prove the delights of His love Inductive Bible Study is an ideal textbook for courses in biblical interpretation, and for anyone who desires to better understand and teach Scripture. Commentaries are fantastic tools. These three parts are observation, interpretation, and application. Stout old Martin Luther used to say, All vital religion is in the personal and possessive pronouns. Is it not so? To not respond to supernatural illumination would be like saying the Biblical teaching on idolatry is great but it doesn't apply to me and then going off to spend the rest of the day seeking anxiously to accumulate wealth in this present but passing (away) world (cp the words of Jesus Mt 6:24+and Paul Col 3:5+). Observation 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. Inductive Bible study is Instead, we need to be Bible "bees", using inductive study to go deep into the Scriptures obtaining its divine nectar and then allowing God's "nectar" to change us. Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. Identify chapter themes Lifting verses out of their immediate context is a sure way to find yourself in heresy land. Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself. It is God's will that we should read What kind of flavor and preserving qualities do I bring to my circle of influence? Maybe this question will lead you to pray for God to show you ways to help others and make some resolutions about things that youd like to change. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 in my dealings with the world ? As questions arise, they give you direction for further reading and study as you seek to answer those questions. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. In other words, every time you observe and interpret but fail to apply, you perform an abortion on the Scriptures in terms of their purpose. In the third chapter, Matthew tells us about Jesus baptism by John. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Erroneous interpretation can lead to aberrant application. For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Our Goal in Interpreting . After a few weeks, the detective was able to report to the man that Dr. Houghtons life matched his preaching. In Bible study, application is putting truth you've discovered (through observation and interpretation) to use in your life with the ultimate goal of transformation or life change. 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! 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). Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. Righteousness in simple terms is whatever God says is right on any subject. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. As a result, that man became a Christian. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. How do I propose to carry out these changes? They were the local authorities. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. Will Graham Devotion: A Sacrifice That Costs Nothing Is Worth Nothing. 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? All four of the Gospels begin differently, but they all come together at the baptism. (He 4:12, 13-see notes He 4:12; 13). Your goal in observation is to notice as much as possible. Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. Mark Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Nehemiah Start with the obvious. Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. Let it not only inform you but inflame you. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. 0000000925 00000 n Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. The tireless runner is a picture of what Application should look like in each of our livessobrethren, beloved of God, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world for so great a salvation, filled with His Spirit and controlled by the love of Christ "let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith" (He 12:1-note, He 12:2-note) pressing "on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Php 3:14-note) disciplining ourselves "for the purpose of godliness for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." Heb. Rather, an inductive study . What is the cultural and/or historical context of this passage? The more work you do during this part of your study, the better you will do in the rest. 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 % If youve uncovered truth youve not known or understood before, what does it mean for your life, priorities, and decisions now that you do understand it? And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). ), A T Pierson said that "While other books inform, and some few reform, this one book transforms. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. All action presupposes prayer, and all prayer ought to lead on to action. Then we have mentally to adjust the picture thus formed with the pictures already in our mindto hang it, so to speak, in its right place, so that it may blend with the convictions of truth already attained. Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? About Gods redemptive plan? While we do His good will, He abides with us still, Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. 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. I have known of some, too, who gloried in final perseverance, but who, if they had finally persevered would certainly have been in hell, for they were on the road there. Colossians Many times a Bible passage is read only with eyes but not with the mind engaged. If you want to study Scripture, youll need to carve out intentional time for it. The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution (A good application). Lamentations What a terrible delusion to be content with, to delight in hearing the word, and yet not do it. Sometimes the application will simply be deeper faith and firmer belief. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. What is awe? A sorry, sorry heart is that which so uses Gods Word as to make it an aggravation of its sin. Song of Solomon 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. It is not enough just to study the Bible. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. ), In Bible study, application is putting truth you've discovered (through observation and interpretation) to use in your life with the ultimate goal of transformation or life change. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? 0 :L THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD 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~ 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? 1 John King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. The New Testament gives us further teaching about the way of approach, and makes new demands on our spiritual life, whilst offering us a new standard to live up to. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. The OIA Bible study method consists of three parts. Thats the kind of serious-minded response to truth application calls for. A (supernaturally charged and) changed life is the clearest testimony of genuine understanding of the Bible. Isaiah We must never forget that the ultimate goal of Bible study, whether inductive or otherwise, is to know God and His Son so that we might have life in Him. Privacy When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Do with the Bible as the sick man does with the doctors prescription. This typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. The young prophet Samuel's response to God is a good example. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Ask God that his threats may drive you out of your sins, and drive you to seek pardon in Christ. 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. Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components. Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. (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! HLTkXw: If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Refrain, Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. 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. Revelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion, Authority of God's Word - study on 2Timothy 3:16-17, Ezra 7:10 - Exposition of the "Ezra 7:10 Principle", A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation. (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. Philippians Jesus warned that Bible study as the end in itself, can be deceptively dangerous declaring to the Jewish leaders You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. And what did those things mean? Only in this way can believers grow spiritually. OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos). Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. The Bible is divine in origin. Apply yourself to the Scriptures If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. ", D. L. Moody - "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.". We need you. It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. 0 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. Give Me Liberty! For instance, if you pick up the Book of Galatians at the beginning of chapter 4, youll find yourself in the middle of Pauls argument: What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. Galatians (Jas 4:17+, cp Lk 12:47, 48+, Jn 9:41). In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. 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. It isn't enough just to be a Christian, if you aren't an obedient one. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. The best way to define application is to first determine what it is not. 1 Peter 2 John (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). There are a lot of excellent study Bibles available. 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. (Basic Bible Interpretation). Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. The good hand of the LORD will be upon us even as it was upon Ezra the scribe! Observation involves reading the text to make simple statements that are true . Mark says hes starting at the beginning. hb```vV^af`B@#g|3h ", 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.". Then I watched a little longer out my window and there came a botanist. We all have a story. 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). Hosea We are inclined to qualify and modify the precepts of Christ and His claim on the Christian disciple. In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. 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. Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. Deuteronomy Inductive Bible Study. It is not enough just to study the Bible. 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 . There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". These divisions are tools that help us read Scripture; theyre not an actual part of it. 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. eg'1{(yzJ*| The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. Using a trusted commentary can help in a few ways: It can help show you the details you missed in the observation phase. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. 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. Amos As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever!

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