Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Inductive Bible Study method is one of the most effective bible study methods for personal bible study, quiet time or small group bible studies. We need to be specific here. Lamentations (Lk 11:28+, cp Jn 13:17), D. L. Moody quipped that "Our great problem is the problem of trafficking in unlived truth. Which road will you travel? When it comes to reading the Bible, these boundaries can hinder your ability to observe what biblical authors are saying. Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' Are we truly born of God and spiritually alive or are we deceiving ourselves and spiritually dead, no matter how orthodox our profession of faith might appear? Or well walk by His side in the way. Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. The butterfly was beautiful, and it would alight on a flower and then it would flutter to another flower and then to another, and only for a second or two it would sit and it would move on. Privacy Study the Bible to be wise. What Is Application? You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. and And that has made all the difference. Below I have written a simplified step-by-step guide . As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. 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. 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. God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. And its in this phase we start to look at what the text means. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). The older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin. 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. (Basic Bible Interpretation). But His smile quickly drives it away; Each book is usually read 4 - 5 times, and with each step you are given a new tool for uncovering revelation within the pages. In fact, Logos even has an Inductive Bible Study Workflow built right in to guide you through these steps. Bible study is about digging into the text and pulling out insights. 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. But our toil He doth richly repay; 2 Corinthians For more on studying the Bible on your own or with others check out our Bible Studies resources. ", 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.". 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! 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. r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ 2. 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~ Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, -- F. B. Meyer, Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. truly, such a, promise is as a cluster of Eshcol, but it is in Eshcols valley and I cannot reach it there; but the promise applied is the cluster brought to me just where I am, and I can receive it, and delight myself in its luscious sweetness. Avoid basing important doctrines on obscure passages. Woe! This video series demonstrates how to perform inductive Bible study using the Logos Bible app thats free for web, mobile, or desktop. 1ICR, 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. 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). Yes, the Scripture (through your Teacher the Spirit) will bestow spiritual blessings, not by knowing but by doing! The questions you raise in the interpretation phase might even push you back into the observation phase. Zephaniah These divisions are tools that help us read Scripture; theyre not an actual part of it. 0000008074 00000 n If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. Solicitation Disclosure Statement 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. Otherwise, its easy to become dependent on them. But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is universally compatible following any devices to read. (He 4:12, 13-see notes He 4:12; 13). Find resources for personal or group Bible study. This seems to be the kickoff point of Jesus ministry. For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. Once you decide how much time you want to commit to studying, put it on your calendar. Don't be deceived -- Every time we hear the Word of God, we are either a little closer to heaven or a little further away. This is always a powerful application of Scripture. There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. Luke gives us the most information about Jesus birth and even provides us with a glimpse of Jesus as a child (Luke 2:4150). The observation phase was all about observing what the text says, but the interpretation phase is the next step. Obadiah Apply yourself to the Scriptures When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? The story is told of several pastors who were arguing over which Bible translation was the best. Hosea Sometimes its beneficial to ignore them and consider other ways you might divide the text. Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. Comment: Don't be like the butterfly flitting from one Bible study [preacher, devotional, commentary, etc] to another, but failing to personally apply what you learn. 2 Peter Joel Start with the obvious. What does the term Messiah mean? This might make you wonder whether this is good news for Mark or if Mark thinks this good news applies to everyone. 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. 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+). As part of this step, take some time to identify where the beauty of the gospel comes into the passage. The precious promises lie in front of you. Our first duty is to meditate. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; in my dealings with the world ? Janet Chismar Based on what youve learned, what does this passage mean for you? This guide provokes you to read the Bible honestlyto let it surprise, challenge, and correct you as you apply the many steps of interpretation. What guidance does it offer me in my social intercourse? Is Your Interpretation Supernaturalistic, Naturalistic, Existentialistic, Dogmatic? For example, notice that some form of the word suffering is used three . Words repeated multiple times in a passage, Words that indicate a change in topic or time, Words that contrast one thing against another. Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. Believe it to be safe The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Theres an inherent danger in inductive Bible study -- it can degenerate into a process thats intellectually fascinating but spiritually frustrating. The Bible is Gods way of making Himself known to us. Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. 0000000016 00000 n Don't be like the man who boasted "I go through the entire Bible once every year".Application instead confronts us face to face with the question "How many times has the Bible gone through you?" These are the ideas that were true for the original audience and are equally true for you. All action presupposes prayer, and all prayer ought to lead on to action. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. 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. Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). As you make it your practice to study God's Word, you will experience the joy of having Him directly unveil His truth and reveal His purpose in your life. 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. Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. and then If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. (Self deception is the worst form of deception and occurs when we come to believe there is virtue in hearing the truth of God but failing to apply it.) 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." (John Calvin), Gods Word can only produce growth in soil "fertilized" by obedience. You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. Here are 14 important reasons to read it. Goldsmiths keep bottles of acid by which they test everything that is offered them for sale, whether it is gold or merely tinsel, and the Christian should keep Gods word near at hand and treasured in the soul, to test thereby all that he hears.
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