H\j0z When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. (Josh 1:8-note). For one thing people mistake the pleasure they have in hearing the Word of God for Christianity and worship. HWM5q0^5 !EJ8`vC ! That's a frightening statement! Next, youll want to figure out what youre going to study. (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." 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. Stout old Martin Luther used to say, All vital religion is in the personal and possessive pronouns. Is it not so? 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. One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. )R z9=_)\_`w0s3^xT{bhi ?%\hMKINZ>0!L ik0%kjDb V >{f NGaE"VU{Z}M-9Eik$oflK pA!~~?\sDNSUke For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. Now you know the three simple steps to running your own inductive Bible study. Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? 1 Peter 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. Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. Instead of studying by chapter, its smart to look at pericopes. --C H Spurgeon, Choose Book of Bible to Study Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. never loses his sense of direction. And if at any time, when we study the Word, we have not this design expressly in our minds, yet if upon the discovery of any truth we endeavor not to have the likeness of it in our own hearts, we lose our principal advantage by it (John Owen). 1 Samuel To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! Only in this way can believers grow spiritually. This step is asking these questions: What are the biggest ideas and the important details? As for the doctrines, recollect that a doctrine killeth except as it is personally grasped and as you feel your interest in it. Amos Proverbs To be sure our first goal should be to get into the Bible and then to allow the Bible to get into us. Allow the Bible to help you understand other passages of the Bible. 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. And its in this phase we start to look at what the text means. However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. The inductive study process involves three steps: observation, interpretation and application. Be sure to visit the Precept Ministries International Web site to go deeper into inductive Bible study. Haggai That seems important to delve into deeper. We must adjust ourselves to the Bible Logos is the largest developer of tools that empower Christians to go deeper in the Bible. The following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! You may start with reading a specific book of the Bible for five to 10 minutes every day and setting aside one day a week for a more intentional time of studying Scripture. and how much we really believe what we have observed. It involves three steps: observation of the text, interpretation of the text, and application of the text. (Basic Bible Interpretation). And what thou teachest well, thou canst not too well live. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, Not just for knowledge, but much more-- Bible studies include workbooks that help connect you to the ideas of Bible texts. Bibles today divide up the individual books within them with chapters and verses, but Bibles havent always done this. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study This guide provokes you to read the Bible honestlyto let it surprise, challenge, and correct you as you apply the many steps of interpretation. Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! Study the Bible to be wise Every promise must be grasped and realized as true : every precept must be registered in the heart, and acted out in the life, in the strength of God. Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. Ezra 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 . The botanist would lean over a certain flower and he would look for a long time and then he would write notes in his notebook. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. The religionists of Jesus' day had all of the data. %PDF-1.4 % Joshua -EO{0iB d("o? 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? It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. 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. But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. 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. 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. Nehemiah THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD We study to gain knowledge so we know how to live our lives in light of what weve learned. Ask the Lord to show you your interest, in every truth, and; do not be satisfied until you have an assured personal interest therein. 0000000536 00000 n The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. (Lk 11:28+, cp Jn 13:17), D. L. Moody quipped that "Our great problem is the problem of trafficking in unlived truth. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. 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? 2 Timothy ", 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. Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. John Blanchard underscores the crucial discipline of applying God's Word sounding the caution that "There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus.". 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. 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 might see the word Messiah and think, I know what that means. But that can undermine your ability to discover new things. Right here, we have countless book Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology and collections to . This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. 1. ), Christian author Jerry Bridges writes that "As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgment upon our character and conduct. If the Bible seems dry and unexciting, check your attitude (Ed: Also do some personal inventory with 1 Pe 2:1+and then you'll be able to move on to 1 Pe 2:2+!). Hosea ", D. L. Moody - "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.". Then you might turn your attention to verses 18 in the first chapter. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". 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). There are a lot of excellent study Bibles available. Micah But when the report came of His birth, did they go to check it out? Each book is usually read 4 - 5 times, and with each step you are given a new tool for uncovering revelation within the pages. We dont study the Bible just to gain knowledge. The gospel is a very solemn thing to every man, because if it be not a savour of life unto life, since it must always be a savour of some sort, it therefore becomes a savour of death unto death. Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. 2. If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. (Ep 1:3-note). Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. Hebrews 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. Many of us struggle to wade through the dense lists of commands, genealogies and prophecies in the Old Testament. is the result of Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. About Gods redemptive plan? Pretend youre an investigator and youre just gathering the facts. So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. 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. 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. Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. When Dr. Houghton became pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, a man in that city hired a private detective to follow Dr. Houghton and report on his conduct. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. Make them your own. This seems to be the process called inwardly digesting God's truth. (1Ti 4:7, 8-notes), The dictionary defines application as the act of putting to use or putting into operation especially for some practical purpose. Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. What is the clearest meaning of this text? This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. You haven't completed your Bible study until you've allowed the Bible to "study' you and you respond accordingly to it's teaching (which tells us what is true and right and so structures our thinking), reproof ( tells us when we are out of bounds), correction (reveals sin and provides the dynamic whereby you can conform to Gods will) and training in righteous living (Gods means of showing you how to live), all in order that we as men and women of God might be complete or whole and what we were created to be so that we might be thoroughly equipped for good work (2Ti 3:16, 17-note). These divisions are incredibly convenient. Leviticus Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is additionally useful. So how do we apply any of it, let alone enjoy it. 0000004523 00000 n (Col 1:28, 29-See notes Col 1:28; 1:29), The basis for application is 2 Timothy 3:16. While there are several great methods of studying the Bible, heres a simple method one can follow: Observation, Interpretation, Transformation and Application. 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! Judges Mark key words and phrases (see figure on page five) A key word is one that is essential to the text. 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. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. Youll also notice right out of the gate that Mark has introduced Jesus with two titles: Messiah and Son of God. One of the pastors startled the group with the declaration that "My grandmother's translation is the best I've ever read." in my business life ? Not to make us smarter sinners Will Graham Devotion: How Do You Know Whats True? Heb. Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. There are several reasons for this . This is not the fruit of slavish fear, but of holy love; it is not afraid of the Word, but delighting in it, as it discovers the mind of God to us; as in the next verse it is written, "I rejoice at Thy word." When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . Now, think about what the passage tells us that is always true not just in its original setting, but in any time and place. God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. The precious promises lie in front of you. The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. 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? Its worth it. Every time we encounter spiritual truth, we need to seek to apply that truth to our lives. 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, The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. 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. It is not enough just to study the Bible. Inductive Bible Study. Are for them who will trust and obey. But is blessed if we trust and obey. Memorizing God's Word - Why? (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! It is still as true today as when Martin Luther first said it that The world does not need a definition of religion as much as it needs a demonstration.. In Gods mind, knowledge without obedience is sin. (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. Your job at this stage is to discover what the author is trying to communicate. After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? John kicks off with some critical theological points and then immediately launches into the baptism too. 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. 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." Though he draw them they will not come to him, and when he calls them they will give him no answer. We must meditate upon it. Contact Us. After personal application, the best way to make the truth your own, is to teach it and even if you are not gifted to be a formal Bible teacher, there is always someone in your sphere of influence whom you are teaching by your life and your lips. Good Bible study does not happen by accident. Or well walk by His side in the way. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. Refrain, But we never can prove the delights of His love The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul and a laver to wash them away. The world will learn better, and will more likely be brought to know Christ when the lives of Christians are better, and when the Bible of the Christian Life shall be more in, accordance with the Bible of Christian doctrine. Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. Its about observing exactly what the text is saying. Sometimes there will be figurative language and confusing imagery, but dont start by looking for hidden meaning. Could that be a clue about his intended audience? Just like Matthew, Luke gets to the baptism in the third chapter. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Luke 1 Chronicles And what thou understandest well, thou canst not too well teach; Genesis Start with the obvious. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.". The Bible is a unique collection of sixty-six books written by men under the direction and influence of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. Privacy You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (NIV). Believe that the text means what it says. 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. (Keying into the term good news early will help you understand Marks Gospel, as its a critical term that he uses repeatedly.). What other Scripture passages might help me better interpret this one? But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. 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. All action presupposes prayer, and all prayer ought to lead on to action. Its easy to become reliant upon commentary to explain the text to you, and this circumvents many of the benefits of study. 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)? And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). Pastor Houghton assiduously applied what he preached. Woe! The story is told of several pastors who were arguing over which Bible translation was the best. 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. OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. So even though you might be familiar with the word Messiah, you might want to focus on Mark and his original audience. 1 Kings my heart stands in awe of Thy words. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. Let it not only inform you but inflame you. If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. Do not be afraid to ask hard or silly questions. The Apostle Paul's great passion was transformed, Christ like lives as he explained to the saints at Colossae writing we proclaim Him (Christ in believers the hope of glory), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. Mark it down -- You can measure the eternal effectiveness of your inductive Bible study by the temporal effect it has on your behavior and attitudes. 2 Peter What Do We Lose When We Forget the Importance of Prayer? And that has made all the difference. There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. The effect of this piercing is to reveal whether there is spirit or not. For example, Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8: "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion." Note expressions of time The relationship of events in time often sheds light on the true meaning of the text. 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. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? This is likewise one of the factors by obtaining the soft documents of this Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History . Before the Word of God can bring change to our world, it must first change our life. Permissions To an active mind knowledge gives pleasure. To pick up the thread of Pauls argument, you need to go back and catch up. 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. When thou passest through the river I will be with thee, the floods shall not overflow thee! Oh! This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 3 John About people or human nature? (1 Sa 15:22, 23) Related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience. How does the truth of this passage apply to my life? If youre new to studying, why not start with the Gospel of Mark? This typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. See related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience, As Vance Havner wisely said "It is not the Word hidden in the head but in the heart that keeps us from sin. (Ro 12:2-note). Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). 2 Kings Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself. If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology by Richard Alan Fuhr 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. Gather them. We need to be honest with ourselves at this point. What a glory He sheds on our way! 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. Why are we deluded in this way? 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. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Christian author Jerry Bridges reminds us that. Memorization is the first step to meditation. Coleridge once said that, if we wish to make old truths fresh, we must turn them into action. P Is there a Prayer to pray or a Priority to change? While there is only one valid interpretation of a passage, there can be many applications. Many times a Bible passage is read only with eyes but not with the mind engaged. 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?) You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. Otherwise, its easy to become dependent on them.

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