example of bible study: observation, interpretation application

Let me ask you a serious question -- How often do you study the Word with no intention whatsoever of obeying it? These might include Bible dictionaries, atlases, concordances and handbooks. Try challenging yourself to come up with 10 observations about a passage, and once youve hit that number, push yourself to come up with five more. Here are 14 important reasons to read it. If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? is the result of The third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. The records of human need and Divine generosity are not far-fetched ; they answer to our own case. 6. 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. In the third chapter, Matthew tells us about Jesus baptism by John. Application begins with belief Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. When people started complaining, he told the congregation, "I'll preach a new sermon when you act on this one. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. Thirdly, we seek to link the spirit of the passage with our own personal experience of things human and Divine. In Gods mind, knowledge without obedience is sin. The real question is do I always want to hear God's voice? You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. 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. Judges (Ezra 7:9, 10) (Click to read an in depth unpacking of this practical powerful principle - the "Ezra 7:10 Principle"). 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. Both reflect what is really there. Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. Like Ezra we should make every effort to handle it accurately and live it out assiduously (with perseverance and care)! There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. The growing numbers of sermon-sippers and seminar-sitters who flit from one doctrinal dessert to another like so many busy, buzzing hummingbirds are most assuredly deceiving themselves unless they are also choosing to assimilate (heed) the truth ("honey" Ps 119:103-note) which they have tasted (cp Jas 1:22, 23, 24+, Jas 1:25+). These are the ideas that were true for the original audience and are equally true for 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! We build up a reservoir of responses so that whenever the truth gets too convicting, weve got a multiplicity of reasons why it applies to everyone else but us! This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. Study the Bible to be wise. Based on what youve learned, what does this passage mean for you? Philemon Both of these; One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. 0000005006 00000 n ), In Bible study, application is putting truth you've discovered (through observation and interpretation) to use in your life with the ultimate goal of transformation or life change. How about Son of God"? Learn the basics of what Christians believe. The goal is that we live holy, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action and that in so doing we are made adequate and equipped for every good ("God") work, which represents only those works He initiates and empowers. It might be tempting to stop at the interpretation phase, but youll be selling yourself and Scripture short if you do. Home 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. But is blessed if we trust and obey. If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. ", D. L. Moody - "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.". Its apowerful toolfor those who want to learn how to study Scripture well. Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology by Richard Alan Fuhr This book walks through each of the three steps of the inductive method paying particular attention to historical, literary, and theological elements that come into play at each stage. Ezra T Is there a Truth to memorize and meditate upon (Click here)? Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. Not to make us smarter sinners Connect: What is God saying (that is always true or that is true to all readers in all settings)? About people or human nature? Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! The precious promises lie in front of you. 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). As part of this step, take some time to identify where the beauty of the gospel comes into the passage. When Gods Word points out something in us that needs correction, we need to respond. 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). If not why not? King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . Learn about Cru's global leadership team. While there are several great methods of studying the Bible, heres a simple method one can follow: Observation, Interpretation, Transformation and Application. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. That's a frightening statement! Well, this is it. ", The goal of Inductive Bible study is 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. This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. ", As William Temple said "Every revelation of God is a demand and the way to knowledge of God is by obedience. Learn how you can know God personally. 2 Timothy As we search the Scriptures, we must allow them to search us, to sit in judgement upon our character and conduct. 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. There are a lot of excellent study Bibles available. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. It's an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder inspired here by the absolute authority of the Words of God compared to all words of men. For example, Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8: "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion." Note expressions of time The relationship of events in time often sheds light on the true meaning of the text. Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. Heb. Believe it to be safe This is always a powerful application of Scripture. You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. In Observation and Interpretation we study God's Word, but in Application, God's Word "studies" us! xref When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. S Is there Something to thank or praise God for? Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is universally compatible following any devices to read. Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. The truth of God's Word is always relevant to our life. Allow the Bible to help you understand other passages of the Bible. 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. 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." Leave not off reading the Bible till you find your hearts warmed. One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". God's promises are not a substitute for prayer, but a stimulus to it. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. The Bible is Gods way of making Himself known to us. 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. If we fail to apply the Scriptures, we cut short the entire process and have not finished what God wants us to do. Sometimes there will be figurative language and confusing imagery, but dont start by looking for hidden meaning. %PDF-1.4 % Take care, nonetheless, to seek for the application of precepts. Deuteronomy When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, A Is there an Attitude to change or guard against or an Action I need to take? Your job at this stage is to discover what the author is trying to communicate. Observation. Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact. (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. Honest application of the text requires these kinds of questions and the wrestling of ideas when truth causes conflict. Just make sure it's the one based on careful observation and accurate interpretation! Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. Will Graham Devotion: Paralyzed by Uncertainty? 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 . This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. In many ways, observation is the base of the Bible study pyramid. This becomes extremely important when youre studying a book with a single prolonged argument, like the Book of Romans. P Is there a Promise to believe or condition to meet in order to partake of the promise? He now teaches two courses: "Bible Study" and "Advanced Bible Study." "All of my courses are built on the basic pattern of observation, interpretation, application and correlation (or . If you are a leader (and most of us are leaders in some sphere of influence) remember that a good leader is one who Knows the way, Be sure to visit the Precept Ministries International Web site to go deeper into inductive Bible study. 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. Application brings us into this sphere of abundant life in the Spirit. This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Keeping some form of journal will allow you to go back and review what God has been teaching you. who delude themselves. It comes from knowing more about the Bible and applying it to our spiritual needs. Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. Many of them include commentary at the bottom of the page or in the margins. A (supernaturally charged and) changed life is the clearest testimony of genuine understanding of the Bible. For some of you there is very little in the Word of God except threatening. How do we apply what we just learned to everyday life? Jeremiah Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. Pray God to help you to feel the solemnity even of the threatening, for if you feel deeply the threatening now, you may be delivered from the tragic fulfilment of it by-and-by. How is our desire for, time with, and practice of God's living Word growing? This is not the fruit of slavish fear, but of holy love; it is not afraid of the Word, but delighting in it, as it discovers the mind of God to us; as in the next verse it is written, "I rejoice at Thy word." Head knowledge without heart change is not enough and in some ways is even worse than no knowledge. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. His Word from day to day, And yet, so complete is the delusion, that Christians never realize they are not living good Christian lives. As for the doctrines, recollect that a doctrine killeth except as it is personally grasped and as you feel your interest in it. These divisions are incredibly convenient. There are great apps out there, like YouVersion, that allow you to set reminders for yourself to get into Gods Word. Isaiah You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. But we are never just the same. So when Mark tells you hes starting at the beginning, its safe to say hes talking about the beginning of Christs ministry. Practice it to be holy. How do you do that? Sow an action, reap a habit. (1Ti 4:8+, 1Ti 4:9, 10+). 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. Somewhere ages and ages hence: One of the best ways to study the Bible is through "inductive" study. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. Nahum What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. Yes, the Scripture (through your Teacher the Spirit) will bestow spiritual blessings, not by knowing but by doing! Sometimes the application will simply be deeper faith and firmer belief. For the first question, you might think through your initial reading of Mark. These divisions are tools that help us read Scripture; theyre not an actual part of it. Every time we encounter spiritual truth, we need to seek to apply that truth to our lives. August 5, 2009. Apply yourself to the Scriptures ", James warned that "to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage? Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. 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. 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. Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? 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. and The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. For more on studying the Bible on your own or with others check out our Bible Studies resources. We must adjust ourselves to the Bible The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word, MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth by Spurgeon. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. The only Bible the world reads is the one bound in shoe leather: you and me! There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". Resource links How to Perform A Greek Word Study on the Web, Multiple resources on Biblical Interpretation (Hermeneutics). Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. This video series demonstrates how to perform inductive Bible study using the Logos Bible app thats free for web, mobile, or desktop. 0 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. Dr. Howard Hendricks remarks that Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. 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. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. The student has sought God's blessing on the Word, and has endeavored to find out its meaning and teaching; and it remains for him to ask, How does this passage apply to me? In other words, am I applying this truth? The proper spirit for profitable Bible study is a tender, teachable heart willing to obey the truth and the fruit of this humble approach is an eternally changed life lived to glory of God. As someone has blunted phrased it "Interpretation without application is abortion.". To love Him and obey. In view of this truth, what specific changes should I make in my life? What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? Observe whats there, and document it. After a few weeks, the detective was able to report to the man that Dr. Houghtons life matched his preaching. Until all on the altar we lay; We must get into the Word of God for ourselves. Matthew I shall be telling this with a sigh 0000004523 00000 n But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. 8. Jude Philippians We may find something in every passage which comes before us both to pray over and to thank God over. A pericope is a section of the text that forms a complete thought. Note that the question is not"Is this truth relevant to my life?" Some passages will not have a clear application. It can provide details and facts that you do not yet have the capacity or training to pick up on your own. Sow a character, reap a destiny! Part of this work is supernatural: As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit reveals truth from the text that applies to your life. Just like Matthew, Luke gets to the baptism in the third chapter. The older we are, the more experienced we become at rationalizing sin. A sorry, sorry heart is that which so uses Gods Word as to make it an aggravation of its sin. If you read, He that believeth on him is not condemned, if you believe not then you are condemned already, because you have not believed in the Son of God. A lot of people have all sorts of news. When you take a book like Romans one piece at a time, you can miss the forest for the trees. For example, Philippians 4:13, in context, isn't about being the greatest and most famous basketball player, but about being content and having joy in any and every circumstance ( Phil 4:10-13 ). It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. Theres an inherent danger in inductive Bible study -- it can degenerate into a process thats intellectually fascinating but spiritually frustrating. and the Scriptures to yourself. 0000000016 00000 n The observation phase was all about observing what the text says, but the interpretation phase is the next step. You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. You want to be able to trace the authors argument all the way through. 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. Whenever (every time) we read the Scriptures, the question we should always honestly seek to ask is How does the meaning of this text apply to me? First, I saw a butterfly. If we continually learn what we ought to do, but do not do it, we become frustrated and callous. What is awe? Although the Bible tells one cohesive story, it does so through the work of many authors who wrote during times hundreds of years apart. 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. A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation Together, these observations help you think about the biblical authors purpose and what they are trying to communicate. In the margin of many pages in D. L. Moody's Bible, he wrote the letters T and P, meaning "Tried and Proved." Once you think youve done all you can here, its time to move on to the final phase: application. It is packed with revelation, lessons, instruction, and theology. What Is Application? ", Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote that "It is a good thing to be a student of the Word, but only in order to be a practiser and experiencer of the Word.". in my teaching, visiting or mission work? As you work through these steps regularly, you will get better at them and you will be transformed. Not just for knowledge, but much more-- 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. Sow a thought, reap an action. Remember that the more time spent in observation, the less time you will spend in interpretation, the more accurate the interpretation and the more appropriate the application. The world will learn better, and will more likely be brought to know Christ when the lives of Christians are better, and when the Bible of the Christian Life shall be more in, accordance with the Bible of Christian doctrine. 1 Jn 1:7, 8, 9; Pr 28:13), (2) Response of faith: One of our reasons for meditating on the Word is to develop and build our faith. And what thou readest well, thou canst not too well understand; Believe that the text means what it says. 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. 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. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Many of us struggle to wade through the dense lists of commands, genealogies and prophecies in the Old Testament. 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. Will Graham Devotion: How Do You Know Whats True? This seems to be the process called inwardly digesting God's truth. There is something incredibly rewarding about mining those nuggets of truth for yourself. They were the local authorities. 119:160). This is the ultimate step: we submit to Scripture and let it transform our lives. Is your heart conditioned to listen and obey? The Word is both a glass to show us the spots of our soul and a laver to wash them away. 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. 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. When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible.

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