It is the supernatural, progressive revelation of who God is and man's relationship to God. (1 Sa 15:22, 23) Related resource: Relationship of faith and obedience. 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. Righteousness in simple terms is whatever God says is right on any subject. 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. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Erroneous interpretation can lead to aberrant application. Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, If we fail to apply the Scriptures, we cut short the entire process and have not finished what God wants us to do. OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY. 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? There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. A Is there an Attitude to change or guard against or an Action I need to take? ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". (Ed: And I would add that the Word of Truth ALWAYS has something to say to our heart! Both of these; If you skip this step, you will never enjoy your Bible study and the Bible will never change your life. The more honest question is"Am I ready and willing believe this truth and to apply it in my life? He had the "truth" but never acted upon it. 2 Chronicles And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Do not read the Bible as a book for other people. Shows the way. Observation Awe is a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. Interpretation should build on observation and then lead into interpretation. Ask God that his threats may drive you out of your sins, and drive you to seek pardon in Christ. By 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. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study 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. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. %PDF-1.4 % 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. Our life ought to be and if Gods grace be much in it, it will be a new translation of the Bible. Life Application: What joy is experienced when deliberate Bible study moves from a 'have to' to a 'want to!' Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is additionally useful. 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. But is blessed if we trust and obey. After making these connections, you should be able to identify some of the big truths that the passage offers every reader throughout time. 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. 0000000016 00000 n Thats the kind of serious-minded response to truth application calls for. 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. Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. Jesus emphasized this important truth again in John 17 declaring. But our toil He doth richly repay; We are inclined to qualify and modify the precepts of Christ and His claim on the Christian disciple. 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? Believe it to be safe Do not be afraid to ask hard or silly questions. Otherwise, its easy to become dependent on them. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. 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). There are several reasons for this . Mark key words and phrases (see figure on page five) A key word is one that is essential to the text. +t8HL~Y,/0B_<7)K]JOSTx*=JOlgTx*=kp]un?VHk?Z,u-tglS Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? We all have a story. 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. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. 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~ The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. Some are always looking out for other peoples duty, and are great judges and critics for what others ought to do. Apply yourself to the Scriptures (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). (Basic Bible Interpretation). Dont twist Scripturemeaning, dont manipulate the text to get it to say something youd like for it to say. We are either a little more sweetened or a little more hardened. Hosea May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". This can train you to be more of an explorer in the future. 1ICR, 1 Thessalonians Take the time to dive into the application step. 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. How? Sources like these can give you vital information to help answer your questions. Did they know where the Messiah was to be born? When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. Will Graham Devotion: How Do You Know Whats True? The questions you raise in the interpretation phase might even push you back into the observation phase. 2. In fact, it has become the benchmark of Bible study for many people. 2 Samuel There are great apps out there, like YouVersion, that allow you to set reminders for yourself to get into Gods Word. Ecclesiastes Grasp these sweet promises. 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. H. P. Barker has a graphic illustration emphasizing the importance of both knowing and doing the Bibles truths As I looked out into the garden one day, I saw three things. Before the Word of God can bring change to our world, it must first change our life. 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- But for transformation. Okay, so what is inductive Bible study, exactly? Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? It's better to live one verse of the Bible than to recite an entire chapter. Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? Study the Bible to be wise. Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. (Jas 4:17+, cp Lk 12:47, 48+, Jn 9:41). While there are several great methods of studying the Bible, heres a simple method one can follow: Observation, Interpretation, Transformation and Application. The Pharisees set the standard for this superficial, hypocritical, self deluding approach. Its helpful to take a funnel approach to the book youre reading. Luke gives us the most information about Jesus birth and even provides us with a glimpse of Jesus as a child (Luke 2:4150). Your grandmother translated the Bible?" We tone down unconsciously the vigor of St. Paul's remonstrances, the force of his figures, such as ' Death to sin,' the strictness of the law of retribution, and of judgment according to works ; the demand of absolute self-sacrifice, and of truth at any cost ; the need of meekness, forbearance, self-restraint and sympathy. So when Mark tells you hes starting at the beginning, its safe to say hes talking about the beginning of Christs ministry. Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. Using a trusted commentary can help in a few ways: It can help show you the details you missed in the observation phase. r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U 0aq^rD[ZZZFTRq:(3k @ 2c> )KI1.Ff~2cxq;c 0c`x@ ]^ 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 . Commentaries are fantastic tools. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. (Ep 1:3-note). 0000003614 00000 n Youre attempting to get a sense of the whole before you begin to break down the parts. For example, Psalm 24 says, "The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. Do not read it merely to say, Yes, it is true; very true; I believe its doctrines to be the revelation of the infallible mind of God himself. But endeavour also in reading a page of the Scriptures, always to see how much it belongs to you. Contact Us. Rather, an inductive study . This video series demonstrates how to perform inductive Bible study using the Logos Bible app thats free for web, mobile, or desktop. Titus Now that you have your list of observations, you can wrestle with the questions that arise from them and the things that youve seen. And when we do, like the bee, we will find that we never go away from God's Word empty. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. He will be inquired of by us. (Persevere!). John kicks off with some critical theological points and then immediately launches into the baptism too. With Logos Fundamentals, youll find the truth for yourselfno matter what questions arise as you study the Word. and the Scriptures to yourself. But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. 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. Job You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. What Do We Lose When We Forget the Importance of Prayer? Believe that the text means what it says. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. 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? Gather them. Trust and obey, for theres no other way And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson). I have known of some, too, who gloried in final perseverance, but who, if they had finally persevered would certainly have been in hell, for they were on the road there. --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." 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! The records of human need and Divine generosity are not far-fetched ; they answer to our own case. 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. transmission line construction companies, northwell employee health services phone number,