Sow an action, reap a habit. By using the tools included inInductive Bible Study, youll approach Bible study with more depth and understanding. Here are a few questions to facilitate application of the truth you have observed How does this truth apply to my life in four spheres in my(a) personal life (b) my family (c) work (d) church (e) neighborhood? God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. You haven't really learned the Word until you live the Word. Verse by Verse Ministry Zechariah In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. Its what everything else is built upon. (Persevere!). This is where secondary resources become really helpful. A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation S Is there Something to thank or praise God for? But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? While we do His good will, He abides with us still, 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. So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ Showing God in action in and through His people. Janet Chismar Reportedly, Crowfoot put the pass in a leather pouch and wore it around his neck for the rest of his lifebut he never once availed himself of the rights and privileges it spelled out. 0000060059 00000 n When Gods Word points out something in us that needs correction, we need to respond. We must adjust ourselves to the Bible Not just for knowledge, but much more-- It would touch as many lovely blossoms as it could, but derived absolutely no benefit from it. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. yUew.7.J~rr9xn-j3Pv_Kp>.ow?oo^>]xgOqI| JSM.OQF=r%0'c[',(d2`\gNHbqsO&&#v>b[Wg7xr|*M R (Mt 7:13, 14+). Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. Sow a thought, reap an action. The Bible is divine in origin. 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." Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! The religionists of Jesus' day had all of the data. 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. Is Your Interpretation Supernaturalistic, Naturalistic, Existentialistic, Dogmatic? What is the cultural and/or historical context of this passage? They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. When God got his attention, Samuel responded appropriately: "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Sa 3:10). 3. 1. Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. S Is there a Sin to avoid, forsake or confess? After a few weeks, the detective was able to report to the man that Dr. Houghtons life matched his preaching. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Eventually, if not immediately, these practices will reveal the meaning of the text (interpretation) and how to apply it (life application). 63 12 Once we know what a passage means we are responsible to live it out. Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. 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. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. Application is where the proverbial "rubber meets the road", where our walk either does or does not back up our talk and where head knowledge becomes heart knowledge. The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? Both of these; Once you know what the passage means (interpretation), you are responsible to put it into practice in your own life. Your grandmother translated the Bible?" Then I watched a little longer out my window and there came a botanist. Inductive Bible Study is an ideal textbook for courses in biblical interpretation, and for anyone who desires to better understand and teach Scripture. (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS How does the truth of this passage apply to my life? <<6970513041DCB34C825DECB3781DD654>]/Prev 490707>> %%EOF Apply yourself to the Scriptures Observe whats there, and document it. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. It also becomes a source of support for you during difficult times. Skip Heitzig writes that "The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody made a habit of carrying a notebook to record what he learned as he read the Bible or listened to a sermon. Hosea P Is there a Prayer to pray or a Priority to change? Once you do that, you can start shining a light on smaller sections of Scripture. Obadiah 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?) Its worth it. O/uE 4l"iI.l#e \c@pZFi7lq?3@hv?7 Il` Jonah If you do not this, you are reading to your own condemnation. (John 7:17). HWM5q0^5 !EJ8`vC ! Men may have in their study of the Scriptures other ends also, as the profit and edification of others. A key discipline for good study is not to be too quick to fall back on what you think you know. Our first duty is to meditate. Otherwise, its easy to become dependent on them. Bible Study: Traditional Method (Observation, Interpretation We study to gain knowledge so we know how to live our lives in light of what weve learned. (Skip Heitzig How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It), Puritan Thomas Manton adds that "What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer.". 1 Kings Resource links How to Perform A Greek Word Study on the Web, Multiple resources on Biblical Interpretation (Hermeneutics). To be sure our first goal should be to get into the Bible and then to allow the Bible to get into us. in my teaching, visiting or mission work? What Is Application? Again, we feel God's promises to be too high for us, we know He is perfect, and we are vile. 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). How about Son of God"? If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? 8. Also we become more responsible to God. The Power of Accurate Observation In Bible Study 0 Logos is the largest developer of tools that empower Christians to go deeper in the Bible. Ask God that his threats may drive you out of your sins, and drive you to seek pardon in Christ. 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? In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . 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. 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. The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. 1 Timothy Ask God not to let thy Bible be another mans Bible, but thine own Bible, Gods own mouth speaking to thy soul of the things which make for thy peace. 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. We must meditate upon it. 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? (1Ti 4:8+, 1Ti 4:9, 10+). 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! When you take a book like Romans one piece at a time, you can miss the forest for the trees. What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? But then we must allow that Word to get into us, to make a permanent difference in our character and conduct. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." Why OIA (Observation, Interpretation, Application) is the Best Bible Habakkuk If not why not? Just like Matthew, Luke gets to the baptism in the third chapter. 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 . Yogi Berra's advice is appropriate at this juncture -- When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it. Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. (1) Substituting interpretation for application as did the Pharisees; (2) substituting superficial obedience for substantial life-change and. Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. +t8HL~Y,/0B_<7)K]JOSTx*=JOlgTx*=kp]un?VHk?Z,u-tglS All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable (useful, advantageous, helpful,) for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (see notes 2 Timothy 3:16-17). 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.". Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. 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. Read and practice; but we shall only be able to do this, as God the Holy Spirit shall help us. never loses his sense of direction. Philemon It is one thing to know these truths, and even to fight for them with the zeal and bitterness of a controversialist, but it is quite another thing to enjoy them as our own heritage and our portion for ever. Colossians 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. YWAM Bible Schools: A Guide to Inductive Bible Study 2023 2. 2 Timothy And what thou understandest well, thou canst not too well teach; Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. H\j0z Who art thou that judgest another man? To his own master he stands or falls. May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. The Bible is a unique collection of sixty-six books written by men under the direction and influence of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. Girdlestone in his 1887 classic "How to Study the English Bible" has a chapter on application that speaks to "THE PRACTICAL AND DEVOTIONAL USE OF THE BIBLE" - We have now come to the last and most important stage of our subject. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. Note that the question is not"Is this truth relevant to my life?" Read Online Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. The mind delights in having the truth presented clearly; the imagination is gratified by its illustration; the feelings are stirred by its application. Learn more 2. We dont study the Bible just to gain knowledge. Connect each passage back to the gospel and the broader message of the Bible. As youre reading along, you can check the commentary to gain insight into cultural, linguistic and interpretive considerations. 74 0 obj <>stream Its easy to become reliant upon commentary to explain the text to you, and this circumvents many of the benefits of study. Mark it down -- You can measure the eternal effectiveness of your inductive Bible study by the temporal effect it has on your behavior and attitudes. We may hear words like "hermeneutics" (the science of interpretation) or "exegesis" (critical explanation or interpretation of a text) and think interpretation is something best left to experts. A Silly yet Serious Erroneous interpretation can lead to aberrant application. Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. This seems to be the kickoff point of Jesus ministry. This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. EP !HOz And yet, so complete is the delusion, that Christians never realize they are not living good Christian lives. To profess great love for Gods word or even to pose as a Bible student is a form of self-deception unless our increasing knowledge of the word is producing increasing likeness to the Lord Jesus. 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. This guide provokes you to read the Bible honestlyto let it surprise, challenge, and correct you as you apply the many steps of interpretation. Inductive Bible Study: Application | Precept Austin This might make you wonder whether this is good news for Mark or if Mark thinks this good news applies to everyone. King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? You might see the word Messiah and think, I know what that means. But that can undermine your ability to discover new things. 0000004118 00000 n Cults use the Bible to try to prove views they already have. THE THREE COMPONENTS Nehemiah : 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) trailer Amos Inductive Bible Study: A Step-by-Step Guide - Bible Study Tips Bible study is meant not merely to inform but to transform and renew our mind. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. What is the clearest meaning of this text? 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. Local: 704-401-2432 Observation. It involves three steps: observation of the text, interpretation of the text, and application of the text. Lesson 6: Principles of Biblical Interpretation | Bible.org Theres an inherent danger in inductive Bible study -- it can degenerate into a process thats intellectually fascinating but spiritually frustrating. Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. 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. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. 8. Interpretation, Illumination and Application | Bible.org It consists primarily in picturing up the actual state of things brought before us in our reading, whether it be an incident, a prayer, an exhortation, a proverb, a prophecy. Zephaniah During the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. We all need to ask ourselves are we studying the Word that we might be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees? 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). What was the result in his life and by way of application what will be the result in our life if we emulate his example? 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. They are to leave behind their assumptions and make a ruling based on the facts alone. 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. HLTkXw: 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. If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. 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. THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. In other words, every time you observe and interpret but fail to apply, you perform an abortion on the Scriptures in terms of their purpose. We must align ourselves with the Bible, never the Bible with ourselves. Your goal in observing is to identify what the author was trying to communicate to his readers. Explore answers to life's biggest questions. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ", 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. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. 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. 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. Comment: Sins of omission (failing to do what God wants us to do) are sins just as surely as sins of commission (doing what God has told us not to do). Heb. 0000001930 00000 n To which his colleagues exclaimed "What! If youre not careful, theyll do all the work of observation and interpretation for you. 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. 1 Chronicles Refrain. 0000008074 00000 n So even though you might be familiar with the word Messiah, you might want to focus on Mark and his original audience. In the margin of many pages in D. L. Moody's Bible, he wrote the letters T and P, meaning "Tried and Proved." For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. There really arent any wrong questions, and sometimes what seems like a silly question can reveal critical insights. Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. and the Scriptures to yourself. How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? Haggai 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. Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. And that has made all the difference. Don't be like Crowfoot, the chief of the Blackfoot nation in southern Alberta, who gave the Canadian Pacific Railway permission to lay track from Medicine Hat to Calgary, and in exchange received a lifetime railroad pass. Careless Observation The better you know the Bibles teachings, the more grounded your faith becomes. All four of the Gospels begin differently, but they all come together at the baptism. There are several reasons for this . And while pastors and teachers are wonderful, individual Christians should also be able to pick up any passage and read it with basic understanding and application. Believe it to be safe 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? Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. Fourthly and this is very hard work Read And Practise. In other words, we must act by faith in what God has shown us from His Word or our hearts can become hardened (cf. Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?" ( Ps 24:1-3 ). And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Accurate interpretation and correct application rest on the accuracy of your observations. To love Him and obey. How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus. Connect: What is God saying (that is always true or that is true to all readers in all settings)? Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. The observation phase was all about observing what the text says, but the interpretation phase is the next step. 1 Thessalonians 0000000016 00000 n View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Bible study is intentionally digging into a passage of Scripture and using various interpretive techniques to understand what the author is saying. For instance, if you pick up the Book of Galatians at the beginning of chapter 4, youll find yourself in the middle of Pauls argument: What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 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). Interpretation is not necessarily a separate step from observation, for often, as you carefully observe the text, you begin to see what it means at that very moment. B. The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." Application begins with belief It might be tempting to stop at the interpretation phase, but youll be selling yourself and Scripture short if you do. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. 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. Pastor Houghton assiduously applied what he preached. These subheadings can be useful for understanding the different parts of a biblical book, but they can also force you to read a passage in a particular light. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It is God's will that we should read Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? The tireless runner is a picture of what Application should look like in each of our livessobrethren, beloved of God, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world for so great a salvation, filled with His Spirit and controlled by the love of Christ "let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith" (He 12:1-note, He 12:2-note) pressing "on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Php 3:14-note) disciplining ourselves "for the purpose of godliness for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." To pick up the thread of Pauls argument, you need to go back and catch up. These three parts are observation, interpretation, and application. Some are always looking out for other peoples duty, and are great judges and critics for what others ought to do. We all have a story. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application The good hand of the LORD will be upon us even as it was upon Ezra the scribe! Goldsmiths keep bottles of acid by which they test everything that is offered them for sale, whether it is gold or merely tinsel, and the Christian should keep Gods word near at hand and treasured in the soul, to test thereby all that he hears. Deuteronomy Details of the OIA Method - Knowable Word We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". To an active mind knowledge gives pleasure. It will make "all the difference" in this life and the next for as Paul wrote godliness (eusebeia) (produced by discipline and diligent application of God's Word) is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
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