There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. 0000005006 00000 n 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). Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS So you might write that observation down: Marks beginning of the gospel story does not start at the very beginning., Youll also notice that Mark desires to tell you some good news, and this news is about Jesus. How does the truth of this passage apply to my life? This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! 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+). 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. Ecclesiastes Lesson 6: Principles of Biblical Interpretation | Bible.org The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? 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. Use this guide to help you lead your small group to encounter Jesus through the three main parts of an inductive Bible study: Observation, Interpretation, Application. And what thou teachest well, thou canst not too well live. His Word from day to day, The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! And what thou understandest well, thou canst not too well teach; It's better to live one verse of the Bible than to recite an entire chapter. 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. Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. What did that word mean to them, and what kinds of feelings and hopes did it invoke? Is Your Interpretation Supernaturalistic, Naturalistic, Existentialistic, Dogmatic? Sow a habit, reap a character. Job This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. It is unified in all its parts and will never contradict itself (Ps. Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. PDF 10 BIBLE STUDY OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION - Home Baptist Church Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? And what did those things mean? But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? After studying the importance of salt to first-century Judean people, you would have a clear picture of its significance to Jesus original audience. Song of Solomon (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. 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. 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! Learn about Cru's global leadership team. August 5, 2009. The first verse of Mark youve been studying does not have immediate actionable teachings, but you still need to be open to the Holy Spirit moving as you study. You want to be able to trace the authors argument all the way through. Youll also notice right out of the gate that Mark has introduced Jesus with two titles: Messiah and Son of God. Mark Inductive Bible Study. Rather, an inductive study . If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Psalms In the margin of many pages in D. L. Moody's Bible, he wrote the letters T and P, meaning "Tried and Proved." 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. But for transformation. Judges Verse by Verse Ministry Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word (cp Ep 5:26-note). Absolutely. 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. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. 6. Study the New Testament at your own pace in workable units of material that follow the inductive method of study. Now, think about what the passage tells us that is always true not just in its original setting, but in any time and place. Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. Observation Observation. 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. (The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Jesus explains that relationship (and importance) between knowing God's Word and doing God's Word, declaringIf (If = 3rd class condition = possibility / probability but not a certainty! 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. Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. An Example of Interpretation Revelation 13:1-10. And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; The first step in studying a passage is to observe what it actually says. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee! Well, it is a very fine promise, but if it is read to me thus: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, what a transformed and glorified promise it then becomes! Refrain I have known some rejoice greatly in the doctrine of election who never were elected, and some who were very pleased with the doctrine of justification by faith, but who had no faith by which to be justified. Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts. Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. For the first question, you might think through your initial reading of Mark. As youre reading along, you can check the commentary to gain insight into cultural, linguistic and interpretive considerations. These are the ideas that were true for the original audience and are equally true for you. acquire the Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology join that we . 0 :L How? Avoid basing important doctrines on obscure passages. For example, notice that some form of the word suffering is used three . 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. Yogi Berra's advice is appropriate at this juncture -- When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it. 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? Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. In view of this truth, what specific changes should I make in my life? (1Ti 4:8+, 1Ti 4:9, 10+). Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. 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. in my teaching, visiting or mission work? The inductive method is an investigative way of studying Scripture that can be used by both new and seasoned students alike. These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. It went in empty every time and came out full (A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes [Chicago: Moody, 1962], p. 1 Timothy which then results in being and doing. 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. The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul and a laver to wash them away. He would take notes and later study them with great care. It's an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder inspired here by the absolute authority of the Words of God compared to all words of men. Lamentations Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. Start with the obvious. It might be tempting to stop at the interpretation phase, but youll be selling yourself and Scripture short if you do. He now teaches two courses: "Bible Study" and "Advanced Bible Study." "All of my courses are built on the basic pattern of observation, interpretation, application and correlation (or . What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. Not just for information Connect: What is God saying (that is always true or that is true to all readers in all settings)? Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring. Which road will you travel? We must align ourselves with the Bible, never the Bible with ourselves. Do not read the Bible as a book for other people. This typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. Every promise must be grasped and realized as true : every precept must be registered in the heart, and acted out in the life, in the strength of God. This is a dishonest way to interpret the text. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. Sow a character, reap a destiny! 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. Inaccurate Interpretation, Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza. Identify chapter themes 5 Basic Bible Study Techniques You Should Never Ignore, How to Study a Psalm: Essential Steps for Starting Right, How to Identify a Passages Repeated Words in Seconds, 10 Tips for Getting Started with Inductive Bible Study, Inductive Bible Study Is Not Just for Adults, The Laymans Bible Study Notebook: An Inductive Bible Study, Inductive Bible Study: A Comprehensive Guide to the Practices of Hermeneutics, Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology, The Definitive Guide to Bible Commentaries: Types, Perspectives, and Use. For instance, as you explore the terms Messiah and Son of God, you might be moved to respond in prayer and worship. What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage? (Jas 4:17+, cp Lk 12:47, 48+, Jn 9:41). If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. 1. He had put into practice (applied) passages from God's Word, proving that they work which of course they always do! While there is only one valid interpretation of a passage, there can be many applications. When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. 0000002043 00000 n %PDF-1.4 % Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. Do not be afraid to ask hard or silly questions. startxref Malachi Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, Scripture reading and Bible study always represents (so to speak) a "God sighting" ("God speaking") and as such always applies to us as His creatures.
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