(Josh 1:8-note). If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. HLTkXw: 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. If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Privacy When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. Start with the obvious. HWM5q0^5 !EJ8`vC ! What Is Application? While there is only one valid interpretation of a passage, there can be many applications. Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. What is the cultural and/or historical context of this passage? In other words, am I applying this truth? If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. 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. You want to focus on things like: Practice observation on the first verse of the Gospel of Mark. Rather, an inductive study . Jonah Sow a habit, reap a character. 8. Interpretation, Illumination and Application | Bible.org To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! Someone has rightly observed that it is possible to be full of Scripture and full of carnality. What a terrible delusion to be content with, to delight in hearing the word, and yet not do it. (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. 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~ In fact, Logos even has an Inductive Bible Study Workflow built right in to guide you through these steps. 2 Thessalonians If you are a leader (and most of us are leaders in some sphere of influence) remember that a good leader is one who Knows the way, (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS Thats the kind of serious-minded response to truth application calls for. the good hand of his God was upon him (which should prompt a "Why?" Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation 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. Are we spiritual or are we natural? Good Bible study does not happen by accident. Can abide while we trust and obey. 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. The Inductive Method of Bible Study: Know The Basics (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). The effect of this piercing is to reveal whether there is spirit or not. 10 Questions the Internet Is Asking about the KJV. How can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? Read and practice; but we shall only be able to do this, as God the Holy Spirit shall help us. Read the Bible as a man reads his relations will, to find what legacy there is in it for himself. You too can try and prove God's wonder-working precious and magnificent promises that provide everything needed for life and godliness -- but only if you seek to apply them to your life. 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. To which he responded "Yes, she translated the Bible into her life, and was the most powerful translation I've ever seen!" Take the time to dive into the application step. Mark says hes starting at the beginning. Create an account or log in to get started. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. in my dealings with the world ? Is Your Interpretation Supernaturalistic, Naturalistic, Existentialistic, Dogmatic? Hebrews Ruth 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. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. We need to be honest with ourselves at this point. The goal of Bible study is not simply to determine what it says and what it means, but in the final analysis to apply it to one's life. One of the best ways to study the Bible is through "inductive" study. Haggai P Is there a Promise to believe or condition to meet in order to partake of the promise? How do I propose to carry out these changes? Galatians Job Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?" ( Ps 24:1-3 ). who delude themselves. Habakkuk The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. Refrain Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ The better you know the Bibles teachings, the more grounded your faith becomes. This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. Be sure to visit the Precept Ministries International Web site to go deeper into inductive Bible study. The writer of Psalm 119+ (virtually every verse of which deals with some aspect of God's holy Word) speaks to the importance of one's attitude that should undergird and stimulate right and ready application of truth gleaned Princes persecute me without cause, but (what's being contrasted?) 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. ), Christian author Jerry Bridges writes that "As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgment upon our character and conduct. Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. Bible study consists of Observation, Interpretation and Application. 1 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. And what did those things mean? trailer The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. 1ICR, For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Never fear, only trust and obey. You might discover that salt was not only used to flavor food, but it helped keep it from spoiling. He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? The gospel is a very solemn thing to every man, because if it be not a savour of life unto life, since it must always be a savour of some sort, it therefore becomes a savour of death unto death. Inductive Bible Study Method: How to Guide The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? Gather them. Of the three steps of Bible studyobservation, interpretation, and applicationthe middle one is often the most daunting. The New Testament gives us further teaching about the way of approach, and makes new demands on our spiritual life, whilst offering us a new standard to live up to. Amos He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. Notice how Jesus observes the Old Testament text in verse 42, interprets it in verse 44, and applies it in verse 43 (implying that his listeners should believe the truth and make some changes in their lives). But is blessed if we trust and obey. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Let it not only inform you but inflame you. In Gods mind, knowledge without obedience is sin. 2023 BGEA Jeremiah Inductive Bible study students should strive to be men and women like Ezra whose pattern was to teach the truth that he had put into practice. In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. Exodus If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. There are three basic approaches to Bible interpretation: A. 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. Reportedly, Crowfoot put the pass in a leather pouch and wore it around his neck for the rest of his lifebut he never once availed himself of the rights and privileges it spelled out. The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? The story is told of several pastors who were arguing over which Bible translation was the best. Remember that the more time spent in observation, the less time you will spend in interpretation, the more accurate the interpretation and the more appropriate the application. If we continually learn what we ought to do, but do not do it, we become frustrated and callous. 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). You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. 119:160). Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. After studying the importance of salt to first-century Judean people, you would have a clear picture of its significance to Jesus original audience. Believe it to be safe I took the one less traveled by, This might make you wonder whether this is good news for Mark or if Mark thinks this good news applies to everyone. (John 7:17). ), A T Pierson said that "While other books inform, and some few reform, this one book transforms. Together, these observations help you think about the biblical authors purpose and what they are trying to communicate. Once you know what the passage means (interpretation), you are responsible to put it into practice in your own life. The worldlings Bible is the Christian. The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution (A good application). But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. Some passages will not have a clear application. But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal study. mo!zZJ:%3EAOnaY`z)p%Vv"-H=m>!MX|ov:Hh7vNmm%pZCY&,Z&!#+SzdOP ]LQ)A3_V@UU@Gz @mC-+BvH4sbC}&3A{ BV_$hyr0>Kiw>B/'/,fWGv>o|%vEQ mU0b-rxOw2)5t^_^~~p- But our toil He doth richly repay; 0000008074 00000 n 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. Imagine trying to find a specific place in Scripture during a sermon without them. Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components. Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, (Ps139:23, 24+; cf. hb```vV^af`B@#g|3h Again, we feel God's promises to be too high for us, we know He is perfect, and we are vile. Inductive Bible Study: A Step-by-Step Guide - Bible Study Tips All action presupposes prayer, and all prayer ought to lead on to action. Don't be like Crowfoot, the chief of the Blackfoot nation in southern Alberta, who gave the Canadian Pacific Railway permission to lay track from Medicine Hat to Calgary, and in exchange received a lifetime railroad pass. A key discipline for good study is not to be too quick to fall back on what you think you know. 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. ", Oswald Chambers in his typical "no nonsense" style reminds us that"One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it", We have to be careful not to deceive ourselves. Bible studies include workbooks that help connect you to the ideas of Bible texts. All four of the Gospels begin differently, but they all come together at the baptism. How to Study the Bible (part 2): Interpretation and Application What does the term Messiah mean? Your job at this stage is to discover what the author is trying to communicate. Turn Scripture into Prayer. When in a spirit of quiet thought we have thus resolved and revolved God's Word, we are prepared to pray over it. Jesus warned that Bible study as the end in itself, can be deceptively dangerous declaring to the Jewish leaders You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The inductive Bible study method is a time-tested way for the layperson to approach studying Scripture. It is unified in all its parts and will never contradict itself (Ps. And when we do, like the bee, we will find that we never go away from God's Word empty. But if this conforming of their own souls unto the power of the Word be not fixed in the first place in their minds they do not strive lawfully, nor will they be crowned (!). 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. Bible study - Assignment - Bible Study observation, interpretation 1:20-21). Thresh them by meditation. 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. One who uses the Bible as his guide 0 For instance, as you explore the terms Messiah and Son of God, you might be moved to respond in prayer and worship. The questions you raise in the interpretation phase might even push you back into the observation phase. Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. It is a trustworthy (pistos = faithful; cp Paul's 4 "faithful sayings" - 1Ti 1:15, 4:9, 2Ti 2:11+, Titus 3:8+) statement deserving full acceptanceit is for this (godliness) we labor (kopiao = to the point of exhaustion; present tense = continually) and strive (agonizomai = as when striving in an athletic contest emphasizing concentration, discipline, conviction, effort; present tense = continually)." James Its helpful to take a funnel approach to the book youre reading. How about Son of God"? After personal application, the best way to make the truth your own, is to teach it and even if you are not gifted to be a formal Bible teacher, there is always someone in your sphere of influence whom you are teaching by your life and your lips. Reading and studying the Bible are two different practices. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. 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. We are inclined to qualify and modify the precepts of Christ and His claim on the Christian disciple. 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? 0000003614 00000 n Learn about Cru's global leadership team. 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. Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. Where similar words are used, explore the context of each of those instances. startxref You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. If we study to know but never do, we like Chief Crowfoot will never fully tap into the blessing of, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. my heart stands in awe of Thy words. Apply yourself to the Scriptures 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. These are the ideas that were true for the original audience and are equally true for you. Mark key words and phrases (see figure on page five) A key word is one that is essential to the text. Theres an inherent danger in inductive Bible study -- it can degenerate into a process thats intellectually fascinating but spiritually frustrating. How to Study the Bible - 3 Simple Steps - Bible Study Tools Learn how you can know God personally. 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.
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