If a Christian is careless in Bible reading, he will care less about Christian living. He had put into practice (applied) passages from God's Word, proving that they work which of course they always do! Nehemiah Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. All action presupposes prayer, and all prayer ought to lead on to action. So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In the margin of many pages in D. L. Moody's Bible, he wrote the letters T and P, meaning "Tried and Proved." Romans God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. Like Ezra we should make every effort to handle it accurately and live it out assiduously (with perseverance and care)! Leviticus 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. But we are never just the same. Again, we feel God's promises to be too high for us, we know He is perfect, and we are vile. Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. Lamentations Permissions 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 first verse of Mark youve been studying does not have immediate actionable teachings, but you still need to be open to the Holy Spirit moving as you study. Not just for information Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? Do not read the Bible as a book for other people. If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. 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.".
Verse by Verse Ministry Skip Heitzig writes that "The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody made a habit of carrying a notebook to record what he learned as he read the Bible or listened to a sermon. When it comes to reading the Bible, these boundaries can hinder your ability to observe what biblical authors are saying. 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. and Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. Sometimes its beneficial to ignore them and consider other ways you might divide the text. 0000005006 00000 n
/+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ All four of the Gospels begin differently, but they all come together at the baptism. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. (Ps139:23, 24+; cf. The Bible is a unique collection of sixty-six books written by men under the direction and influence of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. Now that weve observed and interpreted what the passage has to say, its time to talk about what it means for us. We must meditate upon it. 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. Refrain, Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. Start with the obvious. Resources Bible Study Inductive Bible Study. Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. There is always something new to uncover in the Bible. If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. Woe! Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is universally compatible following any devices to read. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! Nahum Once you decide how much time you want to commit to studying, put it on your calendar. The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. meditate and meditate and meditate, Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. 2. For example, Philippians 4:13, in context, isn't about being the greatest and most famous basketball player, but about being content and having joy in any and every circumstance ( Phil 4:10-13 ). We don't really know the Bible unless we obey the Bible, God had a scathing rebuke for His people Israel through His prophet Ezekiel "They (the people of Israel) come to you (the prophet Ezekiel) as people come and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth and their heart goes after their gain." Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. 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. When youre studying a book, youre going to end up reading it multiple times. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. The Bible is divine in origin. Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. 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. Owen wrote that To seek after mere notions of Truth, without an endeavor after an experience of its power in our hearts, is not the way to increase our understanding in spiritual things. He never reads the book, but he reads the disciple of Christ, and he judges the Christian religion, by the lives of its professors. It is unified in all its parts and will never contradict itself (Ps. 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. (How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30). 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?" Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components.
OIA Method of Bible Study - Iamnorthside To love Him and obey. ), 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. Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (NIV). HLTkXw: 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. Some passages will not have a clear application. HhT=k&^-l
(6WBbN~WPe4`!Mr`+^p!MO,LP/_n]aFBcp) We must meditate upon it. Matthew Henry adds: Every gracious soul stands in awe of the word of God, of the authority of its precepts and the terror of its threatenings; and to those that do so nothing appears, in the power and wrath of man, at all formidable. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. ", 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.". It would touch as many lovely blossoms as it could, but derived absolutely no benefit from it. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. 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? %%EOF
Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. 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. 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. Amos Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 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."