J A Bengel wisely admonished "Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself.". Woe! 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- How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? These divisions are tools that help us read Scripture; theyre not an actual part of it. 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! 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." 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. ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. The Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. In truth thou canst not read the Scriptures too much; Galatians And that has made all the difference. 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 method makes observations on a passage of Scripture and then draws conclusions based on those observations. (Josh 1:8-note). Make them your own. But His smile quickly drives it away; Sow a thought, reap an action. 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. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. 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. 2 John Some use the term to describe a discussion group, which may discuss the Bible or some other uplifting book. Inductive Bible Study - Observation Inductive Bible Study - Interpretation Inductive Bible Study - Application Simple Study on the Power of God's Word Authority of God's Word - study on 2Timothy 3:16-17 Ezra 7:10 - Exposition of the "Ezra 7:10 Principle" Job's "Secret" of perseverance? Inductive Bible Study: Observation | Precept Austin 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. It is not enough just to study the Bible. Bible Study: Traditional Method (Observation, Interpretation Samuel addressing King Saul after his serious "miscalculation" (sin) said "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. We need to be specific here. Zephaniah All four of the Gospels begin differently, but they all come together at the baptism. 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. The third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. 0000000536 00000 n Cults use the Bible to try to prove views they already have. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Let's face it, most of us have a built-in "early-warning system" against spiritual change and the moment truth gets too close and too convicting, an alarm goes off and we begin to defend ourselves. endstream endobj 71 0 obj <>stream It would touch as many lovely blossoms as it could, but derived absolutely no benefit from it. 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? We must meditate upon it. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. in my teaching, visiting or mission work? In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. The Power of Accurate Observation In Bible Study 2 Corinthians OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. 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. For the first question, you might think through your initial reading of Mark. -EO{0iB d("o? You haven't really learned the Word until you live the Word. Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? These divisions are incredibly convenient. 0e]y]ZU~P/^a53if5}Jk9$9t]ccc}.kw9H6`T5jN`=94jk:U>}a:P5p/]luu D_Ek!*Vwii][S9}mB=J\ueJJkf3mm8]g#pbmw6[PP? Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. When God got his attention, Samuel responded appropriately: "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Sa 3:10). Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? Not only do the books come from unfamiliar cultures, but theyre also thousands of years old. 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. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. James emphasizes the importance of follow through in inductive study exhorting us to "prove (ourselves) doers of the word, and not merely hearers (the Greek word was used of one who audited a class rather than taking it for credit -- are you just auditing the Bible or are you fully enrolled?) A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation Now you know the three simple steps to running your own inductive Bible study. We are inclined to qualify and modify the precepts of Christ and His claim on the Christian disciple. 2 Thessalonians 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. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal study. So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. Thirdly, we seek to link the spirit of the passage with our own personal experience of things human and Divine. 1 Peter Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. and the Scriptures to yourself. 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). About Gods redemptive plan? When it comes to reading the Bible, these boundaries can hinder your ability to observe what biblical authors are saying. After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. 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 . 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. xref The student has sought God's blessing on the Word, and has endeavored to find out its meaning and teaching; and it remains for him to ask, How does this passage apply to me? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (NIV). Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. As youre reading along, you can check the commentary to gain insight into cultural, linguistic and interpretive considerations. 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. For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. If you want to study Scripture, youll need to carve out intentional time for it. They do not seem very ancient. 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. Heb. 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. This fundamental step must be taken if one desires to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word. The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. (Ro 12:2-note). Observation We must meditate upon it. 2 Kings Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. We study to gain knowledge so we know how to live our lives in light of what weve learned. 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. 1 Thessalonians But we are never just the same. Once you know what the passage means (interpretation), you are responsible to put it into practice in your own life. The Bible is Gods way of making Himself known to us. Neither are you to be "Bible botanists" (even good inductive students), who laboriously observe the Biblical text and derive accurate interpretation but fail to apply these truths. +t8HL~Y,/0B_<7)K]JOSTx*=JOlgTx*=kp]un?VHk?Z,u-tglS H. P. Barker has a graphic illustration emphasizing the importance of both knowing and doing the Bibles truths As I looked out into the garden one day, I saw three things.