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", 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.". How much influence is the Bible supposed to have on society? Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study 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." The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' 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 . Jude But is blessed if we trust and obey. I have known some rejoice greatly in the doctrine of election who never were elected, and some who were very pleased with the doctrine of justification by faith, but who had no faith by which to be justified. When words or passages make an impression on you, stop and meditate on what God has shown you or as the great preacher C H Spurgeon advised Read the Bible carefully, 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. Sow an action, reap a habit. They were the local authorities. There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. Its about observing exactly what the text is saying. Try challenging yourself to come up with 10 observations about a passage, and once youve hit that number, push yourself to come up with five more. Isaiah 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. 1:20-21). To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Instead of studying by chapter, its smart to look at pericopes. trailer What is awe? Joshua You cannot expect to approach the Bible with the same level of investment that youd give your favorite novel. He never reads the book, but he reads the disciple of Christ, and he judges the Christian religion, by the lives of its professors. Mark key words and phrases (see figure on page five) A key word is one that is essential to the text. If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is additionally useful. He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. Some passages will not have a clear application. They do not seem very ancient. 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?) Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. And so prayer is not a substitute for action, but the deliberate contact of the soul with God, whence we draw an enabling force whereby we go forth conquering and to conquer. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. 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. What other Scripture passages might help me better interpret this one? Observation This seems to be the process called inwardly digesting God's truth. Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. If you want to discover what these authors have to tell you, youll have to do some work. Why did Mark feel this title was necessary on top of calling Jesus the Messiah? Are for them who will trust and obey. Romans Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. 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. They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. He now teaches two courses: "Bible Study" and "Advanced Bible Study." "All of my courses are built on the basic pattern of observation, interpretation, application and correlation (or . Proverbs It is packed with revelation, lessons, instruction, and theology. 3:7f+, He 4:2+), (3) Response of obedience: Genuine faith will obey. 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. 0000000536 00000 n Like Ezra we should make every effort to handle it accurately and live it out assiduously (with perseverance and care)! 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. my heart stands in awe of Thy words. Take care, nonetheless, to seek for the application of precepts. 0000005006 00000 n When applied properly, the inductive method will provide a better overall understanding of a passagewhat it says, what it meant to its original audience, and what it means today. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? 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). In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. If not why not? The following books are a great place to learn more about this simple methodology: Kay Arthurs inductive method has helped millions of people learn how to study the Bible for themselves. (Keying into the term good news early will help you understand Marks Gospel, as its a critical term that he uses repeatedly.). Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. And how prevalent the sight of multitudes of Christians listening to the Word of God most regularly and earnestly, and yet not doing it! 0000003614 00000 n Based on what youve learned, what does this passage mean for you? (Basic Bible Interpretation). 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? As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". startxref (Col 1:28, 29-See notes Col 1:28; 1:29), The basis for application is 2 Timothy 3:16. 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. But for transformation. Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. The Bible is an inexhaustible mine of precious gems. 6. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. 0000000016 00000 n -EO{0iB d("o? The well known Puritan writer John Owen had some pithy comments on the need to study the Scriptures with the ultimate intent to apply them to one's life. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. The observation phase was all about observing what the text says, but the interpretation phase is the next step. And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. 63 12 in my teaching, visiting or mission work? A Silly yet Serious We must get into the Word of God for ourselves. Good Bible study does not happen by accident. 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. 0000002043 00000 n It would touch as many lovely blossoms as it could, but derived absolutely no benefit from it. Colossians Once you have explored the passage, its time to make some connections. We all need to ask ourselves are we studying the Word that we might be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees? Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? 0000000925 00000 n Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts. 0000004118 00000 n (1Ti 4:7, 8-notes), The dictionary defines application as the act of putting to use or putting into operation especially for some practical purpose. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, The third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. The better you know the Bibles teachings, the more grounded your faith becomes. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. 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? These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. We need to be honest with ourselves at this point. Start with the obvious. Jonah (Ep 1:3-note). And the botanist had a big notebook under his arm and a great big magnifying glass. 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. You might see the word Messiah and think, I know what that means. But that can undermine your ability to discover new things. How does he save or provide a way when people are unable? And what thou readest, thou canst not read too well; 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. If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Ephesians 9. Words repeated multiple times in a passage, Words that indicate a change in topic or time, Words that contrast one thing against another. 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. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution (A good application). Ecclesiastes And when we do, like the bee, we will find that we never go away from God's Word empty. In fact, it has become the benchmark of Bible study for many people. HLTkXw: Here are 14 important reasons to read it. 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. What Do We Lose When We Forget the Importance of Prayer? This typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. 74 0 obj <>stream Absolutely. Right here, we have countless book Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology and collections to . (Ezekiel 33:31), Hearing and not heeding the word is as foolish as cooking an expensive filet mignon and then not sitting down to eat it! Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.". ((this mirror = Gods Word = unique for it shows our inner nature as a regular mirror shows our exterior. Only in this way can believers grow spiritually. Obadiah For example, Psalm 24 says, "The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. How do we apply what we just learned to everyday life? Jeremiah Sow a habit, reap a character. This is a dishonest way to interpret the text. This is where secondary resources become really helpful. Don't deceive yourself! Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. Exodus That seems important to delve into deeper. Both of these; And what thou teachest well, thou canst not too well live. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." What guidance does it offer me in my social intercourse? The worldlings Bible is the Christian. r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ Comment: Sins of omission (failing to do what God wants us to do) are sins just as surely as sins of commission (doing what God has told us not to do). 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. Keeping some form of journal will allow you to go back and review what God has been teaching you. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! Is your heart conditioned to listen and obey? The world will learn better, and will more likely be brought to know Christ when the lives of Christians are better, and when the Bible of the Christian Life shall be more in, accordance with the Bible of Christian doctrine. Who art thou that judgest another man? To his own master he stands or falls. Leviticus who delude themselves. (Josh 1:8-note). Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. The proper spirit for profitable Bible study is a tender, teachable heart willing to obey the truth and the fruit of this humble approach is an eternally changed life lived to glory of God. It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. This is always a powerful application of Scripture. John MacArthur argues thatStudying Scripture without allowing it to penetrate to the depths of your soul would be like preparing a banquet without eating it. 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. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger Grasp these sweet promises. 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. For instance, as you explore the terms Messiah and Son of God, you might be moved to respond in prayer and worship. No, even though the town of Bethlehem was only only five miles down the road from Jerusalem. These four steps help you to orient yourself to a passage, wrestle with what it's trying to communicate and examine your life in light of God's Word. If you want to study Scripture, youll need to carve out intentional time for it. Then you could go back and look at how the other Gospels start: Matthew begins by giving us Jesus genealogy and then gives us a little glimpse into His birth. Is there any significance to the fact that Mark does not need to explain what that title means? + Our life ought to be and if Gods grace be much in it, it will be a new translation of the Bible. 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.") 5 Basic Bible Study Techniques You Should Never Ignore, How to Study a Psalm: Essential Steps for Starting Right, How to Identify a Passages Repeated Words in Seconds, 10 Tips for Getting Started with Inductive Bible Study, Inductive Bible Study Is Not Just for Adults, The Laymans Bible Study Notebook: An Inductive Bible Study, Inductive Bible Study: A Comprehensive Guide to the Practices of Hermeneutics, Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology, The Definitive Guide to Bible Commentaries: Types, Perspectives, and Use. You want to focus on things like: Practice observation on the first verse of the Gospel of Mark. In observation, you were asking the question, What did I see? In interpretation, you ask, What does it mean? If you have not done a thorough job in the exploration phase, the interpretation phase can be difficult. Feed on them with joy" It went in empty every time and came out full (A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes [Chicago: Moody, 1962], p. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (NIV). For one thing people mistake the pleasure they have in hearing the Word of God for Christianity and worship. For example, notice that some form of the word suffering is used three . In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. In other words, every time you observe and interpret but fail to apply, you perform an abortion on the Scriptures in terms of their purpose. If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? Especially let this be so with the promises. Heb. A sorry, sorry heart is that which so uses Gods Word as to make it an aggravation of its sin. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. To which he responded "Yes, she translated the Bible into her life, and was the most powerful translation I've ever seen!" The following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application. Refrain (Jas 4:17+, cp Lk 12:47, 48+, Jn 9:41). The road prepared and paved by careful observation, proper interpretation and diligent application of the Scripture or the one wrought by a superficial, inaccurate, irreverent approach? Nahum About people or human nature? We must meditate upon it. 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. And with all who will trust and obey. It is not enough just to study the Bible. These are the ideas that were true for the original audience and are equally true for you. J A Bengel wisely admonished "Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself.". 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. So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. When you begin to study a passage, your first step will be observing the text. Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, EP !HOz Identify chapter themes Now that weve observed and interpreted what the passage has to say, its time to talk about what it means for us. 0 ::c\}oa\l#N/4!tGj;Mu}8Mmm3M^x_M=>l~m8n6vTk7.9Rm+s7mm1>7%cS,"W`!K[43!qCn66JVo[K^nE^ + Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Men may have in their study of the Scriptures other ends also, as the profit and edification of others. It is more focused on the immediate application of the passage to your life. When Gods Word points out something in us that needs correction, we need to respond. Coleridge once said that, if we wish to make old truths fresh, we must turn them into action. Inductive Bible study is Sow a thought, reap an action. Logos is the largest developer of tools that empower Christians to go deeper in the Bible. 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! 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. We will not fully comprehend the extent of the "return on our investment" until we enter Paradise and stand before our Lord at His bema (judgment) seat. If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. He will be inquired of by us. The more work you do during this part of your study, the better you will do in the rest. Then you might turn your attention to verses 18 in the first chapter. And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). S Is there Something to thank or praise God for? (Ed: And I would add that the Word of Truth ALWAYS has something to say to our heart! Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. 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). Judges never loses his sense of direction. When Dr. Houghton became pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, a man in that city hired a private detective to follow Dr. Houghton and report on his conduct. 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! /+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. (Mt 7:13, 14+). If you read, He that believeth on him is not condemned, if you believe not then you are condemned already, because you have not believed in the Son of God. HhT=k&^-l (6WBbN~WPe4`!Mr`+^p!MO,LP/_n]aFBcp) How do I propose to carry out these changes? 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. Use this guide to help you lead your small group to encounter Jesus through the three main parts of an inductive Bible study: Observation, Interpretation, Application. O/uE 4l"iI.l#e \c@pZFi7lq?3@hv?7 Il` It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. 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. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Though he draw them they will not come to him, and when he calls them they will give him no answer. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. The word of God reveals to us our true selves. Observation. --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." endstream endobj 64 0 obj <>>> endobj 65 0 obj >/PageWidthList<0 612.0>>>>>>/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/Properties<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 66 0 obj <> endobj 67 0 obj <>stream Not only do the books come from unfamiliar cultures, but theyre also thousands of years old. The purpose of exploring and connecting is to apply what the Bible teaches to your life. Your grandmother translated the Bible?" After a few weeks, the detective was able to report to the man that Dr. Houghtons life matched his preaching. To love Him and obey. The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. Pray God to help you to feel the solemnity even of the threatening, for if you feel deeply the threatening now, you may be delivered from the tragic fulfilment of it by-and-by. Its worth it. to my own life and destiny and relation to God? 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. Song of Solomon --C H Spurgeon, Choose Book of Bible to Study In other words, am I applying this truth? If the Bible seems dry and unexciting, check your attitude (Ed: Also do some personal inventory with 1 Pe 2:1+and then you'll be able to move on to 1 Pe 2:2+!). Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. Observe whats there, and document it. King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service.