If we fail to apply the Scriptures, we cut short the entire process and have not finished what God wants us to do. 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. Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. -EO{0iB d("o? 1. Dr. Howard Hendricks remarks that Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. When thou passest through the river I will be with thee, the floods shall not overflow thee! Oh! One of the best things about studying Gods Word is that you can come back to a book youve already studied in the past and discover all-new insights. 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. Sometimes its beneficial to ignore them and consider other ways you might divide the text. Our Lord taught that those who are, blessed (makarios [word study]) are those who hear the word of God and observe (phulasso [word study]) it. If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. To know and not to do is not to know at all. Whenever (every time) we read the Scriptures, the question we should always honestly seek to ask is How does the meaning of this text apply to me? Haggai As part of this step, take some time to identify where the beauty of the gospel comes into the passage. John 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. The worldlings Bible is the Christian. Solicitation Disclosure Statement Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. Believe it to be safe What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Amos Both reflect what is really there. 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. 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. --C H Spurgeon, Choose Book of Bible to Study They do not seem very ancient. 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." Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? Anyone can use the inductive Bible study method by following three simple steps: This phase isnt about interpretation. Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. Refrain, Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. 15.). The Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. The truth of God's Word is always relevant to our life. Contact Us. And what did those things mean? Thresh them by meditation. Like Ezra we should make every effort to handle it accurately and live it out assiduously (with perseverance and care)! Coleridge once said that, if we wish to make old truths fresh, we must turn them into action. If youre not careful, theyll do all the work of observation and interpretation for you. Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! The effect of this piercing is to reveal whether there is spirit or not. They were the local authorities. When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . Proverbs Howard Hendricks' 4 Bible Study Steps - Bible Study - Crosswalk.com Not only do the books come from unfamiliar cultures, but theyre also thousands of years old. And while pastors and teachers are wonderful, individual Christians should also be able to pick up any passage and read it with basic understanding and application. Acts and of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. They are to leave behind their assumptions and make a ruling based on the facts alone. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. 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. Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. 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. Esther %%EOF What does this passage teach that is still as true today as it was when it was written? Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger 0000004523 00000 n A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. Do not be afraid to ask hard or silly questions. The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. H\j0z It is more needful for you to hear God's words than that God should hear yours, though the one will always lead to the other. Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? 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? 119:160). Puritan Thomas Manton comments thatThere is an awe of the Word, not that makes us shy of it, but tender of violating it, or doing anything contrary to it. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. Leading Inductive Bible Study | InterVarsity What other Scripture passages might help me better interpret this one? The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot (NIV). Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. 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? BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Sow an action, reap a habit. If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. How? 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. Step 2: InterpretationWhat does the passage mean? Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is additionally useful. Gather them. Janet Chismar Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. The person who knows the truth but doesn't act on it is not simply making a mistake or showing poor judgment but he is in sin. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. 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. 0000004118 00000 n Are we spiritual or are we natural? In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. Ruth Your job at this stage is to discover what the author is trying to communicate. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). Imagine trying to find a specific place in Scripture during a sermon without them. Must you become a better person so that God will accept you? What is the clearest meaning of this text? 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. Absolutely. I shall be telling this with a sigh and the Scriptures to yourself. Once you decide how much time you want to commit to studying, put it on your calendar. (3) substituting rationalization for repentance. And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit. and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.". Based on what youve learned, what does this passage mean for you? Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. But the bee would light on a flower and it would sink down deep into the flower and it would extract all the nectar and pollen that it could carry. The older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin. HLTkXw: His Word from day to day, What I mean is just this. And yet, so complete is the delusion, that Christians never realize they are not living good Christian lives. Trust and obey, for theres no other way In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. And that has made all the difference. PDF Precept Bible Study Method 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 (!). You might discover that salt was not only used to flavor food, but it helped keep it from spoiling. But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal study. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. (Mt 7:13, 14+). Sow a character, reap a destiny! And how does it show God redeeming that brokenness? <<6970513041DCB34C825DECB3781DD654>]/Prev 490707>> 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. Daniel Hughes Fairfield Ca Funeral, Articles E