example of bible study: observation, interpretation application
Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! First, I saw a butterfly. Your next question should be, Hows my saltiness? Sometimes the application will simply be deeper faith and firmer belief. 0000060059 00000 n B. Inductive Bible Study | Bible Study Resources | The - The Navigators ", Oswald Chambers in his typical "no nonsense" style reminds us that"One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it", We have to be careful not to deceive ourselves. He would take notes and later study them with great care. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). (John Calvin), Gods Word can only produce growth in soil "fertilized" by obedience. Application begins with belief If you feel the wrath to come now, you may never have to feel it in the next world. <<6970513041DCB34C825DECB3781DD654>]/Prev 490707>> Let it not only inform you but inflame you. 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. Youll also notice right out of the gate that Mark has introduced Jesus with two titles: Messiah and Son of God. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. Think of it as an appointment that you do not want to miss. And with all who will trust and obey. You should desire to know Gods Word better so it can change you. and the Scriptures to yourself. Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. Proverbs --C H Spurgeon, Choose Book of Bible to Study 2. Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Judges Absolutely. The good hand of the LORD will be upon us even as it was upon Ezra the scribe! 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. Have I overlooked anything or made any assumptions? In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP 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. We must align ourselves with the Bible, never the Bible with ourselves. Give Me Liberty! Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. Lesson 12: Observation | Bible.org We are inclined to qualify and modify the precepts of Christ and His claim on the Christian disciple. Here, you want to go back over the passage and your observations and ask as many questions as you can. 2 Corinthians 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? Trust and obey, for theres no other way Sow a character, reap a destiny! By Write it all down (you can take notes directly in Logos), and once you feel like you have a good idea of whats happening in the text, its time to move on to the next step: interpretation. 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- Is your heart conditioned to listen and obey? 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. 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. in my business life ? 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. Nahum Details of the OIA Method - Knowable Word 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. Neither are you to be "Bible botanists" (even good inductive students), who laboriously observe the Biblical text and derive accurate interpretation but fail to apply these truths. Its helpful to take a funnel approach to the book youre reading. S Is there a Sin to avoid, forsake or confess? Sometimes there will be figurative language and confusing imagery, but dont start by looking for hidden meaning. 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. As you carry out your inductive Bible study you will find that observation, interpretation, and application often occur simultaneously. The reader through OBSERVATION discovers what a passage says which enables the reader to make an accurate INTERPRETATION, the discovery of what a passage means. Woe! Numbers About Gods redemptive plan? 2 John And what thou understandest well, thou canst not too well teach; 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. O/uE 4l"iI.l#e \c@pZFi7lq?3@hv?7 Il` One of the pastors startled the group with the declaration that "My grandmother's translation is the best I've ever read." To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Amos We ought to obey God rather than men, and to make sure of God's favour, though we throw ourselves under the frowns of all the world, Lk 12:4, 5. Careless Observation Used by cults. 0000003614 00000 n It went in empty every time and came out full (A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes [Chicago: Moody, 1962], p. Could that be a clue about his intended audience? Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! ::c\}oa\l#N/4!tGj;Mu}8Mmm3M^x_M=>l~m8n6vTk7.9Rm+s7mm1>7%cS,"W`!K[43!qCn66JVo[K^nE^ + 15.). 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." They were the local authorities. They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. Micah Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? Chapters, verses and subheadings are all very convenient and helpful, but when it comes time for genuine study, its appropriate to remember theyre not inspired elements of Scripture. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. 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). If we study to know but never do, we like Chief Crowfoot will never fully tap into the blessing of, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (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! If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. Are you ready and willing for Gods Word to cut deeply into your own life (reproof), to lay bare the hidden places of your heart, and to do its work of convicting, convincing, and converting your mind in any and every area? God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. What kind of flavor and preserving qualities do I bring to my circle of influence? Maybe this question will lead you to pray for God to show you ways to help others and make some resolutions about things that youd like to change. : an American History (Eric Foner) Civilization and its Discontents (Sigmund Freud) The Methodology of the Social Sciences (Max Weber) Interpersonal Communication (Kory Floyd) Chemistry: The Central Science (Theodore E. Brown; H. Eugene H LeMay; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine Murphy; Patrick Woodward) Inductive Bible Study - Observation Inductive Bible Study - Interpretation Inductive Bible Study - Application Simple Study on the Power of God's Word Authority of God's Word - study on 2Timothy 3:16-17 Ezra 7:10 - Exposition of the "Ezra 7:10 Principle" Job's "Secret" of perseverance? If not why not? 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. The real authority of their view is always some single leader who has his or her ideas in writing. Go back to your questions from the beginning and ask them again in light of what youve learned, and apply it to our context today. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). What guidance does it offer me in my social intercourse? Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! It can provide you with answers you werent able to come up with on your own, and maybe give you some clues on interpretive techniques and tools in the future. (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS (Lk 11:28+, cp Jn 13:17), D. L. Moody quipped that "Our great problem is the problem of trafficking in unlived truth. The purpose of exploring and connecting is to apply what the Bible teaches to your life. The following steps follow the inductive method's process of observation, interpretation, and application. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. No, even though the town of Bethlehem was only only five miles down the road from Jerusalem. But is blessed if we trust and obey. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. Our first duty is to meditate. The questions that might come out of your observations about Mark might include: Why does Mark not include the Christmas story in the beginning? Inductive Bible study draws its conclusions from the text, not our assumptions. This is a dishonest way to interpret the text. 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. Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?" ( Ps 24:1-3 ). Will Graham Devotion: Paralyzed by Uncertainty? John kicks off with some critical theological points and then immediately launches into the baptism too. James Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. The inductive study process involves three steps: observation, interpretation and application. For one thing people mistake the pleasure they have in hearing the Word of God for Christianity and worship. As mentioned earlier, its easy to become dependent on them. 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. For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. Learn how you can know God personally. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. His Word from day to day, A pericope is a section of the text that forms a complete thought. Bible studies include workbooks that help connect you to the ideas of Bible texts. Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? Take care, nonetheless, to seek for the application of precepts. 0000000925 00000 n It isn't enough just to be a Christian, if you aren't an obedient one. Refrain. 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 third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. In fact, it has become the benchmark of Bible study for many people. In many ways, observation is the base of the Bible study pyramid. Observe whats there, and document it. Ask the Lord to show you your interest, in every truth, and; do not be satisfied until you have an assured personal interest therein. That's a frightening statement! Is there any significance to the fact that Mark does not need to explain what that title means? 1 Kings meditate and meditate and meditate, Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. It is more focused on the immediate application of the passage to your life. This volume incorporates insights from contemporary evangelical hermeneutics into an. If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. 74 0 obj <>stream If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. When Dr. Houghton became pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, a man in that city hired a private detective to follow Dr. Houghton and report on his conduct. Our Goal in Interpreting . 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. Are we spiritual or are we natural? And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; Step 2: InterpretationWhat does the passage mean? For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. PDF Precept Bible Study Method 0000000016 00000 n xref 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)." As the devotional writer Matthew Henry prayerfully put it"O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! And yet, so complete is the delusion, that Christians never realize they are not living good Christian lives. Daniel Jonah He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away. Also we become more responsible to God. About people or human nature? (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. Marking them will help you see the sequence of events and lead to accurate interpretation of Scripture. Its worth it. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? You want to be able to trace the authors argument all the way through. startxref PDF 10 BIBLE STUDY OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION - Home Baptist Church