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? What Do We Lose When We Forget the Importance of Prayer? 1 Thessalonians 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. (John 7:17). The tireless runner is a picture of what Application should look like in each of our livessobrethren, beloved of God, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world for so great a salvation, filled with His Spirit and controlled by the love of Christ "let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith" (He 12:1-note, He 12:2-note) pressing "on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Php 3:14-note) disciplining ourselves "for the purpose of godliness for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (The blessing of God is integrally related to your response to the revelation of God. 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! How does he save or provide a way when people are unable? Application begins with belief Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. (Ps139:23, 24+; cf. 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. Can abide while we trust and obey. Privacy And the botanist had a big notebook under his arm and a great big magnifying glass. 2023 BGEA When youre studying a book, youre going to end up reading it multiple times. These divisions are tools that help us read Scripture; theyre not an actual part of it. God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. For instance, if you pick up the Book of Galatians at the beginning of chapter 4, youll find yourself in the middle of Pauls argument: What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. A person may study some branch of sciencesay electricityfor the enjoyment the knowledge gives him, without the least intention of applying it practically. 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. Will Graham Devotion: A Sacrifice That Costs Nothing Is Worth Nothing. 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. Ezra If you want to study Scripture, youll need to carve out intentional time for it. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. To profess great love for Gods word or even to pose as a Bible student is a form of self-deception unless our increasing knowledge of the word is producing increasing likeness to the Lord Jesus. There are a lot of excellent study Bibles available. Sometimes its beneficial to ignore them and consider other ways you might divide the text. In many ways, observation is the base of the Bible study pyramid. 74 0 obj <>stream Apply: How do I respond to what God is saying? A Is there an Attitude to change or guard against or an Action I need to take? Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Create an account or log in to get started. 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 habit, reap a character. 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. The following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application. 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. John This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP Philippians Speak of bringing the Bible down into the vernacular! The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. Your grandmother translated the Bible?" It consists primarily in picturing up the actual state of things brought before us in our reading, whether it be an incident, a prayer, an exhortation, a proverb, a prophecy. 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. The word of God reveals to us our true selves. 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. Apply yourself to the Scriptures Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself. In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. 1 Timothy We must get into the Word of God for ourselves. This video series demonstrates how to perform inductive Bible study using the Logos Bible app thats free for web, mobile, or desktop. We all need to ask ourselves are we studying the Word that we might be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees? Some sections make much more sense if you read them within the context of the surrounding chapters, like Matthew 23-25 or 1 Corinthians 12-14. EP !HOz at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." 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. Its the shortest of the Gospels, and you might have noticed that Mark seems focused on the action and hitting all the significant points. ", 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. You have remained in right site to start getting this info. eg'1{(yzJ*| Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' Awe is a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. 15.). It will walk you through each step of inductive bible studies in details. 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. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? The Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. Ezekiel Just like Matthew, Luke gets to the baptism in the third chapter. Bible reading fits into the devotional category. Again, we feel God's promises to be too high for us, we know He is perfect, and we are vile. 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 Then we have mentally to adjust the picture thus formed with the pictures already in our mindto hang it, so to speak, in its right place, so that it may blend with the convictions of truth already attained. 0000003614 00000 n 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. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. 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. One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. Showing God in action in and through His people. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. As someone has blunted phrased it "Interpretation without application is abortion.". Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. P Is there a Promise to believe or condition to meet in order to partake of the promise? 0 Accurate interpretation and correct application rest on the accuracy of your observations. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study A key discipline for good study is not to be too quick to fall back on what you think you know. Allow the Bible to help you understand other passages of the Bible. 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. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. 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 I watched a little longer out my window and there came a botanist. When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . When Gods Word points out something in us that needs correction, we need to respond. never the Bible to ourselves. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. Think of it as an appointment that you do not want to miss. 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. endstream endobj 68 0 obj <> endobj 69 0 obj <> endobj 70 0 obj <>stream The worldlings Bible is the Christian. /+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ Isaiah 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. Chapters, verses and subheadings are all very convenient and helpful, but when it comes time for genuine study, its appropriate to remember theyre not inspired elements of Scripture. Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. There are great apps out there, like YouVersion, that allow you to set reminders for yourself to get into Gods Word. (1 Sa 15:22, 23) Related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience. How? Youve observed the details in the text and drawn interpretive conclusions about what the author was saying to his original readers. Learn how you can know God personally. -EO{0iB d("o? 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." 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). (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos). and how much we really believe what we have observed. ), 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. 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? If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." 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. But we are never just the same. It might be tempting to stop at the interpretation phase, but youll be selling yourself and Scripture short if you do. (Ro 12:2-note). Is your heart conditioned to listen and obey? Philemon One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". Are for them who will trust and obey. Inductive Bible study is Righteousness in simple terms is whatever God says is right on any subject. (Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148 - see A Primer On Biblical Meditation). That seems important to delve into deeper. 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! Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. What I mean is just this. The records of human need and Divine generosity are not far-fetched ; they answer to our own case. ((this mirror = Gods Word = unique for it shows our inner nature as a regular mirror shows our exterior. Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. Read the Bible as a man reads his relations will, to find what legacy there is in it for himself. Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. A Silly yet Serious Reading and studying the Bible are two different practices. 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. 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. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger Follow it by personally doing what it bids thee. 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 can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. So how do we apply any of it, let alone enjoy it. Proverbs Careless Observation There is always something new to uncover in the Bible. ", D. L. Moody - "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.". Permissions (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! Believe that the text means what it says. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night (this is the parallel of observation and interpretation), so that you may be careful to do (the application) according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have success (the blessing of proper application). Now you know the three simple steps to running your own inductive Bible study. To pick up the thread of Pauls argument, you need to go back and catch up. Were so used to being exposed to chapters and verses that we lose sight of an authors intention for the whole book. 0000001930 00000 n But for transformation. ), 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. startxref Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts.

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