The goal of Bible study is not simply to determine what it says and what it means, but in the final analysis to apply it to one's life. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. When you break the discipline of Bible study down to its simplest forms, its just a few steps: Explore: What did God say (to the original readers)? (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). Inductive Bible Study: Application | Precept Austin View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. %PDF-1.4 % Romans Refrain, But we never can prove the delights of His love Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. and Fourthly, we seek to stir up our soul to notes of praise and thanksgiving, delighting ourselves in God's Word, rejoicing in the prospect it presents, yielding ourselves in joyful submission to its precepts, and at the same time searching ourselves in the light of its cautions, humbling ourselves over our past coldness or doubtsfor most of our failures come from doubting God. 1 John Theres an inherent danger in inductive Bible study -- it can degenerate into a process thats intellectually fascinating but spiritually frustrating. In view of this truth, what specific changes should I make in my life? If there is a command to be obeyed, we obey it. Do you need to devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? How much influence is the Bible supposed to have on society? Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. How to Do an Inductive Bible Study - Logos Bible Software 0000001930 00000 n 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). 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. The butterfly was beautiful, and it would alight on a flower and then it would flutter to another flower and then to another, and only for a second or two it would sit and it would move on. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). When we obey the Word we are demonstrating the reality of our love for the Lord (our obedience is motivated by love not legalism!) And if at any time, when we study the Word, we have not this design expressly in our minds, yet if upon the discovery of any truth we endeavor not to have the likeness of it in our own hearts, we lose our principal advantage by it (John Owen). (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. 1 Chronicles (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." Turn Scripture into Prayer. When in a spirit of quiet thought we have thus resolved and revolved God's Word, we are prepared to pray over it. 3:7f+, He 4:2+), (3) Response of obedience: Genuine faith will obey. R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP Details of the OIA Method - Knowable Word Sow a habit, reap a character. Of the three steps of Bible studyobservation, interpretation, and applicationthe middle one is often the most daunting. The effect of this piercing is to reveal whether there is spirit or not. Follow it by personally doing what it bids thee. 0 :L About people or human nature? Sometimes its beneficial to ignore them and consider other ways you might divide the text. Psalms When you begin to study a passage, your first step will be observing the text. Are we spiritual or are we natural? This awe is called by a proper name, reverence, or godly fear; when we consider Whose Word it is, namely, the Word of the Lord, Who is our God, and has a right to command what He pleases; to Whose will and word we have already yielded obedience, and devoted ourselves to walk worthy of Him in all well pleasing (Col 1:10-note, Ep 4:1-note, Php 3:17,18-note, 1Th 2:12-note); who can find us out in all our failings, as knowing our very thoughts afar of (Psalms 139:2), and having all our ways before Him, and being one of Whom we read, -- "He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins" (Joshua 24:19), that is to say, if we impenitently continue in them. And so we should react with overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect, or dread, this latter emotion relevant especially to those who read but fail to heed God's Word (application). One of the best ways to study the Bible is through "inductive" study. We are either a little more sweetened or a little more hardened. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. Bible study consists of Observation, Interpretation and Application. 1 Scripture interprets Scripture. As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgement upon our character and conduct. Observation 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. Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. Learn more 2. One who uses the Bible as his guide The purpose of exploring and connecting is to apply what the Bible teaches to your life. tie. Although the Bible tells one cohesive story, it does so through the work of many authors who wrote during times hundreds of years apart. To know and not to do is not to know at all. But our toil He doth richly repay; We must mix faith with what we read and hear. ::c\}oa\l#N/4!tGj;Mu}8Mmm3M^x_M=>l~m8n6vTk7.9Rm+s7mm1>7%cS,"W`!K[43!qCn66JVo[K^nE^ + But is blessed if we trust and obey. We must never forget that the ultimate goal of Bible study, whether inductive or otherwise, is to know God and His Son so that we might have life in Him. Now, think about what the passage tells us that is always true not just in its original setting, but in any time and place. We all have a story. 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." 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. That seems important to delve into deeper. Thresh them by meditation. The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. The more honest question is"Am I ready and willing believe this truth and to apply it in my life? Your grandmother translated the Bible?" 0000004523 00000 n Owen wrote that To seek after mere notions of Truth, without an endeavor after an experience of its power in our hearts, is not the way to increase our understanding in spiritual things. (How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30). Part of this work is active: Youre wrestling with the text and learning to understand it. 0e]y]ZU~P/^a53if5}Jk9$9t]ccc}.kw9H6`T5jN`=94jk:U>}a:P5p/]luu D_Ek!*Vwii][S9}mB=J\ueJJkf3mm8]g#pbmw6[PP? Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Showing God in action in and through His people. Hebrews (Ro 12:2-note). So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. Deuteronomy It went in empty every time and came out full (A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes [Chicago: Moody, 1962], p. Not just for knowledge, but much more-- Its an exciting, action-packed book, but its short enough to read front to back in about an hour. to which the context answers) for (every time you see a "for" at the beginning of a sentence pause and ponder why it's there and remember you can usually substitute the word "because" in place of "for" to help understand the meaning) Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. Let me ask you a serious question -- How often do you study the Word with no intention whatsoever of obeying it? John MacArthur argues thatStudying Scripture without allowing it to penetrate to the depths of your soul would be like preparing a banquet without eating it. Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. Sow an action, reap a habit. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. Every precept in Scripture may be turned into prayer, and every promise into praise. Zechariah Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. Again, we feel God's promises to be too high for us, we know He is perfect, and we are vile. Then I watched a little longer out my window and there came a botanist. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. 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. (Ro 10:17+). Philemon He had put into practice (applied) passages from God's Word, proving that they work which of course they always do! These divisions are incredibly convenient. But meditation is a matter of habit, and we can all be trained into it. John Calvin commenting on proper application wrote thatWe must observe that the knowledge of God which we are invited to cultivate is not that which, resting satisfied with empty speculation, only flutters in the brain; but a knowledge which will prove substantial and fruitful whenever it is duly perceived and rooted in the heart.. In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . 8. Interpretation, Illumination and Application | Bible.org 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. Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, ", As William Temple said "Every revelation of God is a demand and the way to knowledge of God is by obedience. 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. Both of these; 6. It is impossible to study the Scriptures diligently without running head-on into the need for application, "for the word of God is living and active (energetic, effective) and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge (sifting and analyzing) the thoughts and intentions of the heart and there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open (the bending back of the neck thoroughly exposing it to the eye of the skillful surgeon or the criminal on trial with a sharp dagger bound to his neck with the point just below the chin, so that he could not bow his head but had to face the court) and laid bare to the eyes of Him with Whom we must give account." Inductive Bible study draws its conclusions from the text, not our assumptions. 0000001036 00000 n John So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. The inductive study process involves three steps: observation, interpretation and application. 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. Dr. Howard Hendricks remarks that Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Hosea Righteousness in simple terms is whatever God says is right on any subject. Commentaries are fantastic tools. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. xref Isaiah mo!zZJ:%3EAOnaY`z)p%Vv"-H=m>!MX|ov:Hh7vNmm%pZCY&,Z&!#+SzdOP ]LQ)A3_V@UU@Gz @mC-+BvH4sbC}&3A{ BV_$hyr0>Kiw>B/'/,fWGv>o|%vEQ mU0b-rxOw2)5t^_^~~p- J@GD0Q0rqD@!QTTXF1ID>IgIyy;GABp_8;.7_0?\h*4z/Bzc`S!zJP2[VgVM52,6.*0.199QP1T`}G/I(tSE)BQF*jE()*RMq>&}P* Galatians 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? 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. 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. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. EP !HOz 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 . If you want to discover what these authors have to tell you, youll have to do some work. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". Our life ought to be and if Gods grace be much in it, it will be a new translation of the Bible. Colossians 1 Peter 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. The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? Job This method makes observations on a passage of Scripture and then draws conclusions based on those observations. ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." 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. In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. Titus With Logos Fundamentals, youll find the truth for yourselfno matter what questions arise as you study the Word. These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. OIA Method of Bible Study - Iamnorthside Greater knowledge should always bring about greater obedience, enabled by grace not law, empowered by the indwelling Spirit as we learn to discard self effort and depend on the Spirit. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. Could that be a clue about his intended audience? How does the truth of this passage apply to my life? 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 % 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. 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). Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! A pericope is a section of the text that forms a complete thought. If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. Application begins with belief THE THREE COMPONENTS Permissions Bible study - Assignment - Bible Study observation, interpretation A Silly yet Serious Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text.

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