example of bible study: observation, interpretation application example of bible study: observation, interpretation application

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)? As part of this step, take some time to identify where the beauty of the gospel comes into the passage. Memorizing God's Word - Why? Follow it by personally doing what it bids thee. Yes, the Scripture (through your Teacher the Spirit) will bestow spiritual blessings, not by knowing but by doing! Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Thresh them by meditation. In His Words: What Billy Graham Once Said About Eternity. Only in this way can believers grow spiritually. It also becomes a source of support for you during difficult times. 1 Kings Right here, we have countless book Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology and collections to . Good Bible study does not happen by accident. You want to be able to trace the authors argument all the way through. What is the clearest meaning of this text? When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. Create an account or log in to get started. Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. What I mean is just this. 2 Chronicles But when the report came of His birth, did they go to check it out? who delude themselves. You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away. Application takes place as you are confronted with the truth and you respond to that truth in obedience (in faith). Sometimes there will be figurative language and confusing imagery, but dont start by looking for hidden meaning. And yet, so complete is the delusion, that Christians never realize they are not living good Christian lives. 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. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. tie. And while pastors and teachers are wonderful, individual Christians should also be able to pick up any passage and read it with basic understanding and application. Some use the term to describe a discussion group, which may discuss the Bible or some other uplifting book. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. and Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. Search the Scriptures Chapter Analysis FormatBible study consists of Observation, Interpretation and Application.1.Observation is discovering what the author is saying looking specifically at Who, What, When, Where, Cause & Effect. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. Next, youll want to figure out what youre going to study. ", The goal of Inductive Bible study is This fundamental step must be taken if one desires to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word. The purpose of exploring and connecting is to apply what the Bible teaches to your life. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? Once you think youve done all you can here, its time to move on to the final phase: application. If we continually learn what we ought to do, but do not do it, we become frustrated and callous. Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. It would touch as many lovely blossoms as it could, but derived absolutely no benefit from it. A Is there an Attitude to change or guard against or an Action I need to take? They are to leave behind their assumptions and make a ruling based on the facts alone. Application is where the proverbial "rubber meets the road", where our walk either does or does not back up our talk and where head knowledge becomes heart knowledge. In the margin of many pages in D. L. Moody's Bible, he wrote the letters T and P, meaning "Tried and Proved." Now, think about what the passage tells us that is always true not just in its original setting, but in any time and place. You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. 0000000016 00000 n How do I propose to carry out these changes? God make us holy; sanctify us, spirit, soul, and body, and then we shall be made finely serviceable both to the Church and to the world. Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? Practice it to be holy. B. (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. Based on what youve learned, what does this passage mean for you? With Logos Fundamentals, youll find the truth for yourselfno matter what questions arise as you study the Word. The third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. I have known of some, too, who gloried in final perseverance, but who, if they had finally persevered would certainly have been in hell, for they were on the road there. 0000000536 00000 n One of the pastors startled the group with the declaration that "My grandmother's translation is the best I've ever read." If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. What guidance does it offer me in my social intercourse? Spiritual maturity, in which we become more like Christ, comes not just from knowing more about the Bible. Malachi What does this passage teach that is still as true today as it was when it was written? This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. Also we become more responsible to God. We must mix faith with what we read and hear. If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. You should desire to know Gods Word better so it can change you. Once you have explored the passage, its time to make some connections. Before the Word of God can bring change to our world, it must first change our life. 9. It is God's will that we should read ", D. L. Moody - "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.". What did that word mean to them, and what kinds of feelings and hopes did it invoke? Who art thou that judgest another man? To his own master he stands or falls. The difference between studying and applying the Scriptures is somewhat like the difference between drifting in a boat and rowing toward a destination. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger 0000008074 00000 n Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Otherwise, its easy to become dependent on them. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, (Keying into the term good news early will help you understand Marks Gospel, as its a critical term that he uses repeatedly.). If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. Nehemiah The only Bible the world reads is the one bound in shoe leather: you and me! Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; 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? Jonah (Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148 - see A Primer On Biblical Meditation). 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. Write it all down (you can take notes directly in Logos), and once you feel like you have a good idea of whats happening in the text, its time to move on to the next step: interpretation. 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? Leviticus Now that weve observed and interpreted what the passage has to say, its time to talk about what it means for us. For more on studying the Bible on your own or with others check out our Bible Studies resources. Do not read it merely to say, Yes, it is true; very true; I believe its doctrines to be the revelation of the infallible mind of God himself. But endeavour also in reading a page of the Scriptures, always to see how much it belongs to you. Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. (How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30). Will Graham Devotion: A Sacrifice That Costs Nothing Is Worth Nothing. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. meditate and meditate and meditate, Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Take care, nonetheless, to seek for the application of precepts. Local: 704-401-2432 The inductive study process involves three steps: observation, interpretation and application. ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." Observation answers the question: What do I see? 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. But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). A (supernaturally charged and) changed life is the clearest testimony of genuine understanding of the Bible. Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. Trust and obey, for theres no other way So how do we apply any of it, let alone enjoy it. 63 0 obj <> endobj Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. Heb. Pretend youre an investigator and youre just gathering the facts. One of the best things about studying Gods Word is that you can come back to a book youve already studied in the past and discover all-new insights. Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? Judges The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; We must adjust ourselves to the Bible 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+). John If we fail to apply the Scriptures, we cut short the entire process and have not finished what God wants us to do. So before we can apply the truth as God intended, we need to be certain that our interpretation is accurate, which in turn hinges on careful observation. The danger of Observation and Interpretation without application is that we become hypocrites like the Pharisees, filled to the brim with intellectual knowledge, but failing miserably to allow the truth to transform our hearts! These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. 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?" A person may study some branch of sciencesay electricityfor the enjoyment the knowledge gives him, without the least intention of applying it practically. The worldlings Bible is the Christian. 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 . (3) substituting rationalization for repentance. So when Mark tells you hes starting at the beginning, its safe to say hes talking about the beginning of Christs ministry. (Josh 1:8-note). If not why not? -EO{0iB d("o? But His smile quickly drives it away; Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?" ( Ps 24:1-3 ). Using a trusted commentary can help in a few ways: It can help show you the details you missed in the observation phase. A sorry, sorry heart is that which so uses Gods Word as to make it an aggravation of its sin. 0 :L 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. For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Showing God in action in and through His people. Commentaries are fantastic tools. Keeping some form of journal will allow you to go back and review what God has been teaching you. Your grandmother translated the Bible?" 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? What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? You have remained in right site to start getting this info. Inductive Bible Study. Ecclesiastes As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. 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." In short, as John MacArthur says "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. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. Again, we feel God's promises to be too high for us, we know He is perfect, and we are vile. There are several reasons for this . God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. 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). He would take notes and later study them with great care. And so we should react with overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread, this latter emotion relevant especially to those who read but fail to heed God's Word (application). What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? Refrain, Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? 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. 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. It might be tempting to stop at the interpretation phase, but youll be selling yourself and Scripture short if you do. P Is there a Promise to believe or condition to meet in order to partake of the promise? The good hand of the LORD will be upon us even as it was upon Ezra the scribe! 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. To love Him and obey. This becomes extremely important when youre studying a book with a single prolonged argument, like the Book of Romans. trailer Will Graham Devotion: Paralyzed by Uncertainty? When youre studying a book, youre going to end up reading it multiple times. The Bible is an inexhaustible mine of precious gems. See what precepts are binding upon thyself, and then, as a child of God, be thy feet swift to run in the way of his commandments. If you want to discover what these authors have to tell you, youll have to do some work. Observation. It will make "all the difference" in this life and the next for as Paul wrote godliness (eusebeia) (produced by discipline and diligent application of God's Word) is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Reading and studying the Bible are two different practices. 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. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. 119:160). Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. Our first duty is to meditate. Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. 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. We need to be specific here. 1 Chronicles 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. Nevertheless our duty is clear. endstream endobj 68 0 obj <> endobj 69 0 obj <> endobj 70 0 obj <>stream Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! You might discover that salt was not only used to flavor food, but it helped keep it from spoiling. Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Sow a character, reap a destiny! If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. I took the one less traveled by, Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. In truth thou canst not read the Scriptures too much; Thus, we are called and encouraged to new labour in prayer, whilst we have a new example in Him Who prayed, and wept, and bled. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." Lamentations After studying the importance of salt to first-century Judean people, you would have a clear picture of its significance to Jesus original audience. 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. When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! Once you do that, you can start shining a light on smaller sections of Scripture. He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? (Ed: And I would add that the Word of Truth ALWAYS has something to say to our heart! The adventure of following God's will takes on a whole new complexion when we stop to listen and then act upon what we hear. It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. This step is asking these questions: What are the biggest ideas and the important details? Isaiah If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. But for your study time, its helpful to use them as secondary sources after youve done some preliminary work. These subheadings can be useful for understanding the different parts of a biblical book, but they can also force you to read a passage in a particular light. When we obey the Word we are demonstrating the reality of our love for the Lord (our obedience is motivated by love not legalism!) Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. 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. 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! 2 Thessalonians But to make us more like our Savior. It involves three steps: observation of the text, interpretation of the text, and application of the text. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 (Ps 119:161). Its what everything else is built upon. He had put into practice (applied) passages from God's Word, proving that they work which of course they always do! xref Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. Men may have in their study of the Scriptures other ends also, as the profit and edification of others. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. 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. and then Words repeated multiple times in a passage, Words that indicate a change in topic or time, Words that contrast one thing against another. 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. 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.