It is full of instances of prayer; it supplies us with those thoughts about God which stimulate our faith to approach Him expectantly, earnestly, confidently. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Do not be afraid to ask hard or silly questions. 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. Goes the way, It is one thing to know these truths, and even to fight for them with the zeal and bitterness of a controversialist, but it is quite another thing to enjoy them as our own heritage and our portion for ever. 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'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. 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+). Careless Observation Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! (1Ti 4:8+, 1Ti 4:9, 10+). Is Your Interpretation Supernaturalistic, Naturalistic, Existentialistic, Dogmatic? 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. Woe! J@GD0Q0rqD@!QTTXF1ID>IgIyy;GABp_8;.7_0?\h*4z/Bzc`S!zJP2[VgVM52,6.*0.199QP1T`}G/I(tSE)BQF*jE()*RMq>&}P* Privacy Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. 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. One who uses the Bible as his guide 2 Peter 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! Until all on the altar we lay; Practice it to be holy. Lamentations Could that be a clue about his intended audience? If youre not careful, theyll do all the work of observation and interpretation for you. PDF 10 BIBLE STUDY OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION - Home Baptist Church The third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. 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. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Logos can be an incredible resource as you seek to make this a part of your daily routine. We must mix faith with what we read and hear. Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. But one who looks intently (a picture of the man who meditates -- puritan Richard Baxter said "There must be inward practice by meditation and outward practice in true obedience.") Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. When the attitude of our heart reflects a readiness to hear and respond, the text of the Bible comes alive. The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. Lesson 6: Principles of Biblical Interpretation | Bible.org For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. Read Online Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Reading and studying the Bible are two different practices. In most respects they might have been written in our own life-time. And with all who will trust and obey. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components. 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. xref Isaiah In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. For more on studying the Bible on your own or with others check out our Bible Studies resources. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. (John 7:17). It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. Were so used to being exposed to chapters and verses that we lose sight of an authors intention for the whole book. A (supernaturally charged and) changed life is the clearest testimony of genuine understanding of the Bible. 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.". 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. Ephesians 0000001930 00000 n 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. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". Girdlestone in his 1887 classic "How to Study the English Bible" has a chapter on application that speaks to "THE PRACTICAL AND DEVOTIONAL USE OF THE BIBLE" - We have now come to the last and most important stage of our subject. Some use the term to describe a discussion group, which may discuss the Bible or some other uplifting book. 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)? 0000005006 00000 n Anyone can use the inductive Bible study method by following three simple steps: This phase isnt about interpretation. Although the Bible tells one cohesive story, it does so through the work of many authors who wrote during times hundreds of years apart. In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. Study the Bible to be wise 3:7f+, He 4:2+), (3) Response of obedience: Genuine faith will obey. Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? 1 Samuel 1 Kings What a glory He sheds on our way! Men may have in their study of the Scriptures other ends also, as the profit and edification of others. We all need to ask ourselves are we studying the Word that we might be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees? 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). Jeremiah Acronym to Aid Application. The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul and a laver to wash them away. How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? Even those who have invested a lifetime into studying it will tell you their commitment has continued to pay off with new insights, understanding and spiritual growth. The main tool for each step is the Bible itself, meaning that when there is a question in my mind as to a passage's meaning, I first look to other scripture to provide the answer. Sources like these can give you vital information to help answer your questions. After studying the importance of salt to first-century Judean people, you would have a clear picture of its significance to Jesus original audience. which then results in being and doing. (Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148 - see A Primer On Biblical Meditation). But meditation is a matter of habit, and we can all be trained into it. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? 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 bottom-line question to ask is, How do the divine truths and principles contained in any passage apply to me in terms of my attitude and actions? Jesus made this promise to those who would carry their personal Bible study through to this point: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:17, cp Jn 15:14, 14:15, Lk 11:28, Jas 1:22+, Jas 1:25+, Rev 1:3+) Bible study is not complete until we ask ourselves, What does this mean for my life and how can I practically apply it? We must take the knowledge we have gained from our reading and interpretation and draw out the practical principles that apply to our personal lives. Observe whats there, and document it. 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. There are great apps out there, like YouVersion, that allow you to set reminders for yourself to get into Gods Word. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. 8. How much influence is the Bible supposed to have on society? The observation phase was all about observing what the text says, but the interpretation phase is the next step. (1 Sa 15:22, 23) Related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience. After a few weeks, the detective was able to report to the man that Dr. Houghtons life matched his preaching. 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. Zechariah Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application The intercession of Abraham for Sodom, the prayer of Abraham's servant, the wrestling of Jacob, the pleadings of Moses, the strong crying of David, the spiritual conflicts of Elijah, Jonah and Jeremiah, the public and formal prayers of Solomon and Ezra, and the secret confessions of Danielall are the outpourings of hearts like our own. Connect: What is God saying (that is always true or that is true to all readers in all settings)? Theres an inherent danger in inductive Bible study -- it can degenerate into a process thats intellectually fascinating but spiritually frustrating. The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. And what thou understandest well, thou canst not too well teach; This becomes extremely important when youre studying a book with a single prolonged argument, like the Book of Romans. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (NIV). If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Here are 14 important reasons to read it. You should desire to know Gods Word better so it can change you. 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."