example of bible study: observation, interpretation application

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). He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. (Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148 - see A Primer On Biblical Meditation). God make us holy; sanctify us, spirit, soul, and body, and then we shall be made finely serviceable both to the Church and to the world. 0000000536 00000 n Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. To go on gaining an intellectual knowledge of the Bible without obeying it can be a trap instead of a blessing. The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! Here, you want to go back over the passage and your observations and ask as many questions as you can. 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. 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? /+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ never loses his sense of direction. 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? The botanist would lean over a certain flower and he would look for a long time and then he would write notes in his notebook. Part of this work is active: Youre wrestling with the text and learning to understand it. There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. Philippians Sources like these can give you vital information to help answer your questions. The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution (A good application). Solicitation Disclosure Statement Resources Bible Study Inductive Bible Study. May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. Both of these; What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." 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. First, I saw a butterfly. 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! (Ro 12:2-note). Apply yourself to the Scriptures hb```vV^af`B@#g|3h 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. Were so used to being exposed to chapters and verses that we lose sight of an authors intention for the whole book. 1 Jn 1:7, 8, 9; Pr 28:13), (2) Response of faith: One of our reasons for meditating on the Word is to develop and build our faith. 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?) For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Not to make us smarter sinners (Jas 4:17+, cp Lk 12:47, 48+, Jn 9:41). Gather them. He never reads the book, but he reads the disciple of Christ, and he judges the Christian religion, by the lives of its professors. 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. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. 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." Each book is usually read 4 - 5 times, and with each step you are given a new tool for uncovering revelation within the pages. For one thing people mistake the pleasure they have in hearing the Word of God for Christianity and worship. This step is asking these questions: What are the biggest ideas and the important details? Learn more 2. (Keying into the term good news early will help you understand Marks Gospel, as its a critical term that he uses repeatedly.). and then He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong place: It begins with interpretation, and it also ends thereObservation plus interpretation without application equals abortion. 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? Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. What is the clearest meaning of this text? The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). Habakkuk One of the pastors startled the group with the declaration that "My grandmother's translation is the best I've ever read." S Is there a Sin to avoid, forsake or confess? For more on studying the Bible on your own or with others check out our Bible Studies resources. startxref BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 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. The main tool for each step is the Bible itself, meaning that when there is a question in my mind as to a passage's meaning, I first look to other scripture to provide the answer. Avoid basing important doctrines on obscure passages. This speak of a personal choice that must be made) any man is willing (thelo = desires, wishes, delights [cp Ps 1:2-note], takes pleasure, is inclined to; the present tense - speaks of one's general direction of their life) to do (present tense - again speaks of one's general habit of practice = toward obedience not toward disobedience) His will, he shall know (ginosko = speaks not just of "head" knowing but of an experiential knowledge, a more intimate knowledge) of the teaching (didache - word study), whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. 1. Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? Revelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion, Authority of God's Word - study on 2Timothy 3:16-17, Ezra 7:10 - Exposition of the "Ezra 7:10 Principle", A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation. 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. One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. When people started complaining, he told the congregation, "I'll preach a new sermon when you act on this one. 2 Chronicles Create an account or log in to get started. A Silly yet Serious R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP Everyone has distractions and responsibilities vying for their attention, so it helps if you have a set time when you will read your Bible. Words repeated multiple times in a passage, Words that indicate a change in topic or time, Words that contrast one thing against another. Also we become more responsible to God. Of the three steps of Bible studyobservation, interpretation, and applicationthe middle one is often the most daunting. <<6970513041DCB34C825DECB3781DD654>]/Prev 490707>> What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. Ask yourself the five Ws and H: Its critical at this stage not to add anything to the text or take anything away. Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. Some people say they cannot meditate; they do not know what it means, or they have no time, or they go to sleep when they begin. Don't be deceived thinking that going to Precept inductive Bible study will make you more spiritual. It is full of instances of prayer; it supplies us with those thoughts about God which stimulate our faith to approach Him expectantly, earnestly, confidently. A single revealed fact cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth than a head filled with lofty ideas about God. He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. Once you do that, you can start shining a light on smaller sections of Scripture. Erroneous interpretation can lead to aberrant application. A pericope is a section of the text that forms a complete thought. 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. But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. Ezra Its apowerful toolfor those who want to learn how to study Scripture well. The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? Once you have explored the passage, its time to make some connections. Our first duty is to meditate. Read and practice; but we shall only be able to do this, as God the Holy Spirit shall help us. He alone is in a posture to learn from God, who sincerely gives up (surrenders, yields) his mind, conscience, and affections to the power and rule of what is revealed unto him. It is unified in all its parts and will never contradict itself (Ps. 12-26). For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. The only Bible the world reads is the one bound in shoe leather: you and me! ), 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. Study the Bible to be wise This video series demonstrates how to perform inductive Bible study using the Logos Bible app thats free for web, mobile, or desktop. We may find something in every passage which comes before us both to pray over and to thank God over. 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! When you take a book like Romans one piece at a time, you can miss the forest for the trees. To know and not to do is not to know at all. P Is there a Promise to believe or condition to meet in order to partake of the promise? Nahum (The blessing of God is integrally related to your response to the revelation of God. Don't deceive yourself! 0000003614 00000 n ), A T Pierson said that "While other books inform, and some few reform, this one book transforms. This method makes observations on a passage of Scripture and then draws conclusions based on those observations. There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. During the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? 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. Think of it as an appointment that you do not want to miss. Now you know the three simple steps to running your own inductive Bible study. Will Graham Devotion: Paralyzed by Uncertainty? What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Luke Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. I took the one less traveled by, of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. 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. Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. Trust and obey, for theres no other way Study the Bible to be wise. 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, SMbN|U#t?%ux[w]z!\8U=Cdl1fNX`)5|@c!"&|q0|1"W Sfi%DaW1VC>Z(#qoR L%#GS`Kj)|%2laZxe"$[1Gf9pnY$,sfP.( +EelPEC_JjN bbBwa7$}%I$UO8 % But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. When youre studying a book, youre going to end up reading it multiple times. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. We are either a little more sweetened or a little more hardened. We must meditate upon it. God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? He had the "truth" but never acted upon it. Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. The older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. 2 Kings Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Apply yourself to the whole text, and apply the whole text to yourself. 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. The goal is that we live holy, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action and that in so doing we are made adequate and equipped for every good ("God") work, which represents only those works He initiates and empowers. Galatians The purpose of exploring and connecting is to apply what the Bible teaches to your life. 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, Are we spiritual or are we natural? Eventually, if not immediately, these practices will reveal the meaning of the text (interpretation) and how to apply it (life application). Once you know what the passage means (interpretation), you are responsible to put it into practice in your own life. ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, To which he responded "Yes, she translated the Bible into her life, and was the most powerful translation I've ever seen!" xref Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. T Is there a Truth to memorize and meditate upon (Click here)? After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. trailer Do not be afraid to ask hard or silly questions. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. 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. When it comes to reading the Bible, these boundaries can hinder your ability to observe what biblical authors are saying. And its in this phase we start to look at what the text means. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. Are for them who will trust and obey. never the Bible to ourselves. 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). Observation involves reading the text to make simple statements that are true . For instance, as you explore the terms Messiah and Son of God, you might be moved to respond in prayer and worship. 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. Speak of bringing the Bible down into the vernacular! If youre not careful, theyll do all the work of observation and interpretation for you. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. +t8HL~Y,/0B_<7)K]JOSTx*=JOlgTx*=kp]un?VHk?Z,u-tglS We need you. 3. (1 Sa 15:22) (cf Ps 51:16,17, Spurgeon note v16, note v 17), We learn Gods Word not to know but to grow by doing for "Obedience is the mother of true knowledge of God." In Gods mind, knowledge without obedience is sin. J@GD0Q0rqD@!QTTXF1ID>IgIyy;GABp_8;.7_0?\h*4z/Bzc`S!zJP2[VgVM52,6.*0.199QP1T`}G/I(tSE)BQF*jE()*RMq>&}P* 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. Observe whats there, and document it. Strip the passage of all the jewels you can find on your own, and then come back through with a commentary. ((this mirror = Gods Word = unique for it shows our inner nature as a regular mirror shows our exterior. When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. (John 7:17). Until all on the altar we lay; (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. By 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. We must meditate upon it. and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.". Christian author Jerry Bridges reminds us that. Memorization is the first step to meditation. What guidance does it offer me in my social intercourse? 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. Mark Learn how you can know God personally. 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. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Not just for knowledge, but much more-- Identify chapter themes Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. What does the term Messiah mean? To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! this Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology can be taken as competently as picked to act. These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. Daniel the good hand of his God was upon him (which should prompt a "Why?" 2 Corinthians Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Someone has rightly observed that it is possible to be full of Scripture and full of carnality. 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? Fourthly and this is very hard work Read And Practise. Accurate interpretation and correct application rest on the accuracy of your observations. We must adjust ourselves to the Bible Micah It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. You might discover that salt was not only used to flavor food, but it helped keep it from spoiling. When we obey the Word we are demonstrating the reality of our love for the Lord (our obedience is motivated by love not legalism!)

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