example of bible study: observation, interpretation application example of bible study: observation, interpretation application

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. Follow it by personally doing what it bids thee. Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. 0000008074 00000 n (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). Refrain Obadiah ", D. L. Moody - "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.". What is the key to applying the Bible to my life? 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 Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. 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). God's Word is the flawless discerner, perfectly analyzing our every motive, intention, and belief. Its apowerful toolfor those who want to learn how to study Scripture well. Fourthly and this is very hard work Read And Practise. If youre new to studying, why not start with the Gospel of Mark? Mark key words and phrases (see figure on page five) A key word is one that is essential to the text. 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. Don't be deceived -- Every time we hear the Word of God, we are either a little closer to heaven or a little further away. 0000000536 00000 n All action presupposes prayer, and all prayer ought to lead on to action. Here are 14 important reasons to read it. If you want to discover what these authors have to tell you, youll have to do some work. --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." What other Scripture passages might help me better interpret this one? (Self deception is the worst form of deception and occurs when we come to believe there is virtue in hearing the truth of God but failing to apply it.) The real authority of their view is always some single leader who has his or her ideas in writing. You can find the Inductive Bible Study Workflow (with five other Workflows and many other Bible Study tools) inLogos Starter. This method makes observations on a passage of Scripture and then draws conclusions based on those observations. Edward Louie (2011) The phrase "Bible study" can mean different things to different people. What did that word mean to them, and what kinds of feelings and hopes did it invoke? A key discipline for good study is not to be too quick to fall back on what you think you know. Could that be a clue about his intended audience? There are many ways we can study the Bible, but one of the most influential and simple approaches to reading and understanding God's Word involves three simple steps: Step 1: ObservationWhat does the passage say? Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. 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. Each book is usually read 4 - 5 times, and with each step you are given a new tool for uncovering revelation within the pages. Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, in my teaching, visiting or mission work? Contact Us. (Ro 12:2-note). Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. and then Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. Ezekiel J@GD0Q0rqD@!QTTXF1ID>IgIyy;GABp_8;.7_0?\h*4z/Bzc`S!zJP2[VgVM52,6.*0.199QP1T`}G/I(tSE)BQF*jE()*RMq>&}P* Some passages will not have a clear application. 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. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. It is more focused on the immediate application of the passage to your life. The religionists of Jesus' day had all of the data. 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. These divisions are tools that help us read Scripture; theyre not an actual part of it. 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. Key words and phrases are repeated in order to convey the author's point or purpose for writing. Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. Mark Joel and Then when you read descriptions of the human heart, and the fall, the corruption, and the depravity of our nature, look, and see yourselves as in a looking glass, and say of each man as you hear of his sin, I am such a man as this was, and if I do not fall into precisely the same sin, yet the possibility and peril of it is in my heart, and I should do so, but for Gods restraining grace. Take the very histories home to your heart, and find a point in them, either of encouragement or of warning for yourselves. Careless Observation 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. However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. But is blessed if we trust and obey. 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. We must mix faith with what we read and hear. You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. Based on what youve learned, what does this passage mean for you? Is it because of ignorance, rebellion or indifference? Take the time to dive into the application step. As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgement upon our character and conduct. 2 Samuel Then I watched a little longer out my window and there came a botanist. Practice it to be holy. You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. 2 Kings 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. Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. 9. The questions you raise in the interpretation phase might even push you back into the observation phase. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos). Judges If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. THE ERROR IN THE "FORK" IN THE ROAD What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? These three parts are observation, interpretation, and application. 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. Too often, people jump into the Bible and start connecting before theyve done the challenging work of examining all there is to see. Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. 0000004523 00000 n Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is universally compatible following any devices to read. Here, you want to go back over the passage and your observations and ask as many questions as you can. And how prevalent the sight of multitudes of Christians listening to the Word of God most regularly and earnestly, and yet not doing it! See what precepts are binding upon thyself, and then, as a child of God, be thy feet swift to run in the way of his commandments. Hosea 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 % 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. We may find something in every passage which comes before us both to pray over and to thank God over. This becomes extremely important when youre studying a book with a single prolonged argument, like the Book of Romans. Permissions John kicks off with some critical theological points and then immediately launches into the baptism too. If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. The word of God reveals to us our true selves. ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." 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). So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. (Lk 11:28+, cp Jn 13:17), D. L. Moody quipped that "Our great problem is the problem of trafficking in unlived truth. of precise observation, which is essential for accurate interpretation. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, Your grandmother translated the Bible?" Youve observed the details in the text and drawn interpretive conclusions about what the author was saying to his original readers. He will be inquired of by us. This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. Your goal in observation is to notice as much as possible. OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. Song of Solomon HhT=k&^-l (6WBbN~WPe4`!Mr`+^p!MO,LP/_n]aFBcp) As you make it your practice to study God's Word, you will experience the joy of having Him directly unveil His truth and reveal His purpose in your life. For example, in a court of law, jurors are asked to reach a verdict based on the evidence presented to them. This might make you wonder whether this is good news for Mark or if Mark thinks this good news applies to everyone. Once you think youve done all you can here, its time to move on to the final phase: application. Before the Word of God can bring change to our world, it must first change our life. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP Armed with that knowledge, youre ready to start thinking about how to apply what youve read. For example, Psalm 24 says, "The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. But for transformation. 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. The precious promises lie in front of you. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 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? (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.". This typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. Study the Bible to be wise (How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30). Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! Exodus Spiritual maturity, in which we become more like Christ, comes not just from knowing more about the Bible. So when Mark tells you hes starting at the beginning, its safe to say hes talking about the beginning of Christs ministry. When we have read the Bible, many passages may become "overfamiliar." We think that we know what they say and cease . Trust and obey, for theres no other way 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. Zephaniah and how much we really believe what we have observed. 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. Speak of bringing the Bible down into the vernacular! Identify chapter themes Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. With Logos Fundamentals, youll find the truth for yourselfno matter what questions arise as you study the Word. 74 0 obj <>stream Is there any significance to the fact that Mark does not need to explain what that title means? When Gods Word points out something in us that needs correction, we need to respond. 63 0 obj <> endobj It involves three steps: observation of the text, interpretation of the text, and application of the text. 6. In Observation and Interpretation we study God's Word, but in Application, God's Word "studies" us! Find resources for personal or group Bible study. This volume incorporates insights from contemporary evangelical hermeneutics into an. And the botanist had a big notebook under his arm and a great big magnifying glass. It isn't enough just to be a Christian, if you aren't an obedient one. And yet, so complete is the delusion, that Christians never realize they are not living good Christian lives. 1 Corinthians 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. 1:20-21). So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. There is always something new to uncover in the Bible. Not to make us smarter sinners (John 17:3), Heart appropriation, not merely head apprehension, is the true goal of Bible study. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". 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." Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. m>YQ;^6dA`H^JETi.i I* >B 9KHc,:h0{c-I#d8#<9@F RJa2A*K-8PDSDdM@ $%Cc3s0L %!'VKKB$iUrmg:SP1~)7v`^P%V E406 H8 S4Ti0elV'jxu~ In the third chapter, Matthew tells us about Jesus baptism by John. While there are several great methods of studying the Bible, heres a simple method one can follow: Observation, Interpretation, Transformation and Application. Reading the entire book in one or two sittings is part of the observation process. 15.). 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. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Used by cults. After studying the importance of salt to first-century Judean people, you would have a clear picture of its significance to Jesus original audience. But His smile quickly drives it away; Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. What a terrible delusion to be content with, to delight in hearing the word, and yet not do it. If there is a promise to be embraced, we claim it. HLTkXw: The records of human need and Divine generosity are not far-fetched ; they answer to our own case. The observation phase was all about observing what the text says, but the interpretation phase is the next step. Saturate the study of Scripture with prayer. God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide. Our Lord taught that those who are, blessed (makarios [word study]) are those who hear the word of God and observe (phulasso [word study]) it. Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts. These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. How about Son of God"? 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. The Bible is an inexhaustible mine of precious gems. As mentioned earlier, its easy to become dependent on them. Then you might turn your attention to verses 18 in the first chapter. never loses his sense of direction. The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. For one thing people mistake the pleasure they have in hearing the Word of God for Christianity and worship. Refrain, Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But one who looks intently (a picture of the man who meditates -- puritan Richard Baxter said "There must be inward practice by meditation and outward practice in true obedience.")