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. The purpose of exploring and connecting is to apply what the Bible teaches to your life. Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? Many times a Bible passage is read only with eyes but not with the mind engaged. 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. 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. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. +t8HL~Y,/0B_<7)K]JOSTx*=JOlgTx*=kp]un?VHk?Z,u-tglS 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+). David Shepherd rightly exhorts us to leave out not "step" in study of God's Word but to be diligent to Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). ::c\}oa\l#N/4!tGj;Mu}8Mmm3M^x_M=>l~m8n6vTk7.9Rm+s7mm1>7%cS,"W`!K[43!qCn66JVo[K^nE^ + The Inductive Method of Bible Study: Know The Basics Micah Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application It went in empty every time and came out full (A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes [Chicago: Moody, 1962], p. Zephaniah Explore answers to life's biggest questions. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. ", As William Temple said "Every revelation of God is a demand and the way to knowledge of God is by obedience. In truth thou canst not read the Scriptures too much; Commentaries are fantastic tools. And how prevalent the sight of multitudes of Christians listening to the Word of God most regularly and earnestly, and yet not doing it! 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+!). That's a frightening statement! Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. 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. The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! Home Inductive Bible Study: A Step-by-Step Guide - Bible Study Tips Will Graham Devotion: Paralyzed by Uncertainty? R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP The Bible is a unique collection of sixty-six books written by men under the direction and influence of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Learn more 2. Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. We are inclined to qualify and modify the precepts of Christ and His claim on the Christian disciple. Make them your own. In fact, it has become the benchmark of Bible study for many people. Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. For instance, the New International Version a popular modern translation of the Bible breaks sections in Philippians 1 down like this: Pauls Chains Advance the Gospel (vv. 10 Questions the Internet Is Asking about the KJV. Samuel addressing King Saul after his serious "miscalculation" (sin) said "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? 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! (Persevere!). And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). 0000000536 00000 n Do not read the Bible as a book for other people. EP !HOz No, even though the town of Bethlehem was only only five miles down the road from Jerusalem. and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.". We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". 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. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. The older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin. Thirdly, we seek to link the spirit of the passage with our own personal experience of things human and Divine. They do not seem very ancient. 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? at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? 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! As questions arise, they give you direction for further reading and study as you seek to answer those questions. Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. The goal is to familiarize yourself with the work as a whole. When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. 0000000925 00000 n It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. Its easy to become reliant upon commentary to explain the text to you, and this circumvents many of the benefits of study. In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. He would take notes and later study them with great care. Of the three steps of Bible studyobservation, interpretation, and applicationthe middle one is often the most daunting. Bible studies include workbooks that help connect you to the ideas of Bible texts. Strip the passage of all the jewels you can find on your own, and then come back through with a commentary. 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. May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". Let me ask you a serious question -- How often do you study the Word with no intention whatsoever of obeying it? Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. You should desire to know Gods Word better so it can change you. Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. 0000005006 00000 n The reader through OBSERVATION discovers what a passage says which enables the reader to make an accurate INTERPRETATION, the discovery of what a passage means. In the third chapter, Matthew tells us about Jesus baptism by John. Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? 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. This might make you wonder whether this is good news for Mark or if Mark thinks this good news applies to everyone. Go back to your questions from the beginning and ask them again in light of what youve learned, and apply it to our context today. OIA Method of Bible Study - Iamnorthside 12-26). 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. 0 It can provide you with answers you werent able to come up with on your own, and maybe give you some clues on interpretive techniques and tools in the future. Do not be afraid to ask hard or silly questions. Stout old Martin Luther used to say, All vital religion is in the personal and possessive pronouns. Is it not so? In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. Privacy When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, Read the Bible as a man reads his relations will, to find what legacy there is in it for himself. You have remained in right site to start getting this info. How do we apply what we just learned to everyday life? What Do We Lose When We Forget the Importance of Prayer? 0000002043 00000 n 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. While there is only one valid interpretation of a passage, there can be many applications. Then you could go back and look at how the other Gospels start: Matthew begins by giving us Jesus genealogy and then gives us a little glimpse into His birth. and then Anyone can use the inductive Bible study method by following three simple steps: This phase isnt about interpretation. We must adjust ourselves to the Bible While we do His good will, He abides with us still, The whole Bible tells the story of how God, in his grace and mercy, comes to the rescue of rebellious people living in a broken world. Never fear, only trust and obey. Overview of Inductive Study with Observation Worksheet and example of how to mark a page, Click for Introduction to Inductive Bible Study using PowerPoint (2002), The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word, How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30, Skip Heitzig How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It, Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics, Chicago Statement on Biblical Application. J A Bengel wisely admonished "Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself.". Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. We need to be specific here. Here are a few questions to facilitate application of the truth you have observed How does this truth apply to my life in four spheres in my(a) personal life (b) my family (c) work (d) church (e) neighborhood? We must mix faith with what we read and hear. Its what everything else is built upon. Your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, can give you insights at any point in your study, so that you need to be sensitive to His leading. in my dealings with the world ? In many ways, observation is the base of the Bible study pyramid. Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. 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). Eventually, if not immediately, these practices will reveal the meaning of the text (interpretation) and how to apply it (life application). Saturate the study of Scripture with prayer. What is awe? Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. But for your study time, its helpful to use them as secondary sources after youve done some preliminary work. (Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148 - see A Primer On Biblical Meditation). Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. Lesson 12: Observation | Bible.org 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?) The young prophet Samuel's response to God is a good example. These divisions are tools that help us read Scripture; theyre not an actual part of it. Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is additionally useful. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos). 1ICR, -- David Shepherd, Be alert for the following deceptive dangers regarding application. Haggai (Mt 7:13, 14+). Song of Solomon This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. (Josh 1:8-note). Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. Amos Jeremiah (Skip Heitzig How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It), Puritan Thomas Manton adds that "What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer.". Avoid basing important doctrines on obscure passages. So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. Ezekiel Psalms Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). To which he responded "Yes, she translated the Bible into her life, and was the most powerful translation I've ever seen!" Christian author Jerry Bridges reminds us that. Memorization is the first step to meditation.
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