example of bible study: observation, interpretation application
Be sure to visit the Precept Ministries International Web site to go deeper into inductive Bible study. The more honest question is"Am I ready and willing believe this truth and to apply it in my life? This can train you to be more of an explorer in the future. Connect: What is God saying (that is always true or that is true to all readers in all settings)? The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul and a laver to wash them away. We must align ourselves with the Bible, never the Bible with ourselves. By Of the three steps of Bible studyobservation, interpretation, and applicationthe middle one is often the most daunting. You haven't completed your Bible study until you've allowed the Bible to "study' you and you respond accordingly to it's teaching (which tells us what is true and right and so structures our thinking), reproof ( tells us when we are out of bounds), correction (reveals sin and provides the dynamic whereby you can conform to Gods will) and training in righteous living (Gods means of showing you how to live), all in order that we as men and women of God might be complete or whole and what we were created to be so that we might be thoroughly equipped for good work (2Ti 3:16, 17-note). 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. Youll also notice right out of the gate that Mark has introduced Jesus with two titles: Messiah and Son of God. in my business life ? It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." Micah Its helpful to take a funnel approach to the book youre reading. A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation He would take notes and later study them with great care. 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. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. tie. 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. 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." In the 13th century, Stephen Langton added chapters to Scripture, and in the late 16th century, Robert Stephanus added verses. This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. Application begins with belief Are we truly born of God and spiritually alive or are we deceiving ourselves and spiritually dead, no matter how orthodox our profession of faith might appear? Look for the plainest interpretation first. Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. Be careful not to simply amass the kind of knowledge that puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? 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. Mark it down -- You can measure the eternal effectiveness of your inductive Bible study by the temporal effect it has on your behavior and attitudes. John 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.". Will Graham Devotion: A Sacrifice That Costs Nothing Is Worth Nothing. 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. Grasp these sweet promises. The Power of Accurate Observation In Bible Study By Anna Wishart 07/31/2017 Details Bring Meaning God's Word has a lot to communicate. in my teaching, visiting or mission work? Once you have explored the passage, its time to make some connections. of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. For example, notice that some form of the word suffering is used three . Job There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. Create an account or log in to get started. Instead of studying by chapter, its smart to look at pericopes. 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 . And what did those things mean? Precept Ministries International was founded by internationally-known Bible teacher Kay Arthur, along with her husband, Jack, with the vision to establish people in Gods Word. ), 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. Habakkuk (Mt 7:13, 14+). We must meditate upon it. Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. In fact, it has become the benchmark of Bible study for many people. The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. How do you do that? 10 Questions the Internet Is Asking about the KJV. But when the report came of His birth, did they go to check it out? Its apowerful toolfor those who want to learn how to study Scripture well. meditate and meditate and meditate, Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. In His Words: What Billy Graham Once Said About Eternity. Head knowledge without heart change is not enough and in some ways is even worse than no knowledge. Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. 2 Timothy 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. Acts Practice it to be holy, Or as Skip Heitzig advises "A good perspective to adopt when reading the Bible is that of an obedient servant waiting for instruction from the master. 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. Never fear, only trust and obey. However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. This is a dishonest way to interpret the text. Inductive study should cause us to be mentally excited by the truth, yet we may still fail to be morally changed by it and when that happens, you know there is something wrong with your study of the Bible. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos). And its in this phase we start to look at what the text means. Details of the OIA Method - Knowable Word Youve observed the details in the text and drawn interpretive conclusions about what the author was saying to his original readers. 6. Luke This method makes observations on a passage of Scripture and then draws conclusions based on those observations. The goal is to familiarize yourself with the work as a whole. What a glory He sheds on our way! Just like Matthew, Luke gets to the baptism in the third chapter. YWAM Bible Schools: A Guide to Inductive Bible Study 2023 No, even though the town of Bethlehem was only only five miles down the road from Jerusalem. 8. It is not enough just to study the Bible. What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage? Feed on them with joy" When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. Psalms Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. He never reads the book, but he reads the disciple of Christ, and he judges the Christian religion, by the lives of its professors. Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. When Gods Word points out something in us that needs correction, we need to respond. Identify chapter themes 0 What does the term Messiah mean? Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Keeping some form of journal will allow you to go back and review what God has been teaching you. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study 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. In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. 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). See related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience, As Vance Havner wisely said "It is not the Word hidden in the head but in the heart that keeps us from sin. To pick up the thread of Pauls argument, you need to go back and catch up. For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, August 5, 2009. 2 Kings Refrain. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Next, youll want to figure out what youre going to study. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Study the Bible to be wise 3. It involves three steps: observation of the text, interpretation of the text, and application of the text. Nevertheless our duty is clear. Too often we come to Gods Word to study it, to teach it, etcto do everything in the world with it except be changed by it! For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Coleridge once said that, if we wish to make old truths fresh, we must turn them into action. 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. 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?" (Keying into the term good news early will help you understand Marks Gospel, as its a critical term that he uses repeatedly.). In the third chapter, Matthew tells us about Jesus baptism by John. Haggai Heb. Have I overlooked anything or made any assumptions? Where similar words are used, explore the context of each of those instances. When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . 0000000925 00000 n 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. 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). He had put into practice (applied) passages from God's Word, proving that they work which of course they always do! To an active mind knowledge gives pleasure. 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. 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). 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! Sow a thought, reap an 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. 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. 12-26). 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? But we are never just the same. This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. 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. Application of God's Word will not always be "pain free", but it will always be profitable. <<6970513041DCB34C825DECB3781DD654>]/Prev 490707>> If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. Galatians Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation How much influence is the Bible supposed to have on society? You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. The Power of Accurate Observation In Bible Study Nahum What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Careless Observation In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. Esther 0000004523 00000 n Comment: Don't be like the butterfly flitting from one Bible study [preacher, devotional, commentary, etc] to another, but failing to personally apply what you learn. The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. We dont study the Bible just to gain knowledge. Bible study consists of Observation, Interpretation and Application. 1 You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. We may hear words like "hermeneutics" (the science of interpretation) or "exegesis" (critical explanation or interpretation of a text) and think interpretation is something best left to experts. THE THREE COMPONENTS Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. The following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application. Scripture interprets Scripture. What was the result in his life and by way of application what will be the result in our life if we emulate his example? For the first question, you might think through your initial reading of Mark. For instance, as you explore the terms Messiah and Son of God, you might be moved to respond in prayer and worship. Words repeated multiple times in a passage, Words that indicate a change in topic or time, Words that contrast one thing against another. (Josh 1:8-note). 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. Here are 14 important reasons to read it. Let it not only inform you but inflame you. Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. (Persevere!). The Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. 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. is the result of Only in this way can believers grow spiritually. 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 ). 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? The growing numbers of sermon-sippers and seminar-sitters who flit from one doctrinal dessert to another like so many busy, buzzing hummingbirds are most assuredly deceiving themselves unless they are also choosing to assimilate (heed) the truth ("honey" Ps 119:103-note) which they have tasted (cp Jas 1:22, 23, 24+, Jas 1:25+). And how prevalent the sight of multitudes of Christians listening to the Word of God most regularly and earnestly, and yet not doing it! Bible study is about digging into the text and pulling out insights. %%EOF Goes the way, Bible study - Assignment - Bible Study observation, interpretation When you take a book like Romans one piece at a time, you can miss the forest for the trees. Interpretation should build on observation and then lead into interpretation. But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal study. It is still as true today as when Martin Luther first said it that The world does not need a definition of religion as much as it needs a demonstration.. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. 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. Until all on the altar we lay; Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. Joshua (He 4:12, 13-see notes He 4:12; 13). Sow a character, reap a destiny! 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 (!). Local: 704-401-2432 Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application After studying the importance of salt to first-century Judean people, you would have a clear picture of its significance to Jesus original audience. Sow an action, reap a habit. To know and not to do is not to know at all. The worldlings Bible is the Christian. 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. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Inductive Bible Study. Sometimes there will be figurative language and confusing imagery, but dont start by looking for hidden meaning. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Now that weve observed and interpreted what the passage has to say, its time to talk about what it means for us. 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, +t8HL~Y,/0B_<7)K]JOSTx*=JOlgTx*=kp]un?VHk?Z,u-tglS Shows the way. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? As for the doctrines, recollect that a doctrine killeth except as it is personally grasped and as you feel your interest in it. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. 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.
