Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Philippians Read and practice; but we shall only be able to do this, as God the Holy Spirit shall help us. If you want to discover what these authors have to tell you, youll have to do some work. In Gods mind, knowledge without obedience is sin. The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. 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. never loses his sense of direction. Observation. Refrain HLTkXw: But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. Proverbs PDF 10 BIBLE STUDY OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION - Home Baptist Church THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD You have remained in right site to start getting this info. In Observation and Interpretation we study God's Word, but in Application, God's Word "studies" us! (Ep 1:3-note). You may start with reading a specific book of the Bible for five to 10 minutes every day and setting aside one day a week for a more intentional time of studying Scripture. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. William MacDonald explains meditation as follows Christians should meditate on the Word of God (chew the cud) and have a separated walk (the cloven hoof). Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. Bible Study: Traditional Method (Observation, Interpretation 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. Your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, can give you insights at any point in your study, so that you need to be sensitive to His leading. Daniel The more time and intentionality you put into understanding Gods Word, the more treasures you discover. For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. Leviticus Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. Through the inductive method you follow a process of studying the Bible one book at a time. Many of us struggle to wade through the dense lists of commands, genealogies and prophecies in the Old Testament. Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. After personal application, the best way to make the truth your own, is to teach it and even if you are not gifted to be a formal Bible teacher, there is always someone in your sphere of influence whom you are teaching by your life and your lips. Keeping some form of journal will allow you to go back and review what God has been teaching you. Joshua Lesson 12: Observation | Bible.org Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. P Is there a Prayer to pray or a Priority to change? Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. 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." Colossians Woe! PDF Precept Bible Study Method 2 Corinthians Look at Matthew 21:42-44 as an example. 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.". Did they know where the Messiah was to be born? 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. With Logos Fundamentals, youll find the truth for yourselfno matter what questions arise as you study the Word. Numbers Zechariah Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. 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. Privacy Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. 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, Pray God to help you to feel the solemnity even of the threatening, for if you feel deeply the threatening now, you may be delivered from the tragic fulfilment of it by-and-by. Strip the passage of all the jewels you can find on your own, and then come back through with a commentary. In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. Hebrews One who uses the Bible as his guide Do not read the Bible as a book for other people. Take care, nonetheless, to seek for the application of precepts. 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. For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. As someone has blunted phrased it "Interpretation without application is abortion.". And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; About Gods redemptive plan? 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?) When God got his attention, Samuel responded appropriately: "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Sa 3:10). 1ICR, 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, Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology (9781433684142) by Richard Alan Fuhr Jr., Andreas J. Kostenberger 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! This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. and the Scriptures to yourself. Application begins with belief In observation, you were asking the question, What did I see? In interpretation, you ask, What does it mean? If you have not done a thorough job in the exploration phase, the interpretation phase can be difficult. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. Our first duty is to meditate. Haggai Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! Identify chapter themes Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. 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. The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. Spiritual maturity, in which we become more like Christ, comes not just from knowing more about the Bible. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. 2. 1 Samuel Many times a Bible passage is read only with eyes but not with the mind engaged. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. (Galatians 4:1, New International Version). Believe that the text means what it says. The Inductive Method of Bible Study: Know The Basics Matthew Henry adds: Every gracious soul stands in awe of the word of God, of the authority of its precepts and the terror of its threatenings; and to those that do so nothing appears, in the power and wrath of man, at all formidable. 6. 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. Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. 2. Mark This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. eg'1{(yzJ*| Find resources for personal or group Bible study. (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS Like Ezra we should make every effort to handle it accurately and live it out assiduously (with perseverance and care)! /+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ Could that be a clue about his intended audience? 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. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. 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 . Do with the Bible as the sick man does with the doctors prescription. But we are never just the same. There is always something new to uncover in the Bible. Sow a thought, reap an action. 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? Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. Why did Mark feel this title was necessary on top of calling Jesus the Messiah? 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. In the third chapter, Matthew tells us about Jesus baptism by John. It is a trustworthy (pistos = faithful; cp Paul's 4 "faithful sayings" - 1Ti 1:15, 4:9, 2Ti 2:11+, Titus 3:8+) statement deserving full acceptanceit is for this (godliness) we labor (kopiao = to the point of exhaustion; present tense = continually) and strive (agonizomai = as when striving in an athletic contest emphasizing concentration, discipline, conviction, effort; present tense = continually)." The effect of this piercing is to reveal whether there is spirit or not. (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Believe it to be safe It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. 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. Janet Chismar In other words, am I applying this truth? If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. It is God's will that we should read We must align ourselves with the Bible, never the Bible with ourselves. We dont study the Bible just to gain knowledge. 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. He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away. 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 a means to an end, not an end in itself. Refrain. These divisions are incredibly convenient. Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. Micah Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. Just like Matthew, Luke gets to the baptism in the third chapter. The story is told of several pastors who were arguing over which Bible translation was the best. You should desire to know Gods Word better so it can change you. Study the Bible to be wise. Read Online Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Ephesians The good hand of the LORD will be upon us even as it was upon Ezra the scribe! As you carry out your inductive Bible study you will find that observation, interpretation, and application often occur simultaneously. 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. Sometimes there will be figurative language and confusing imagery, but dont start by looking for hidden meaning. 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." 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).