Believe it to be safe And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. <<6970513041DCB34C825DECB3781DD654>]/Prev 490707>>
Home For the first question, you might think through your initial reading of Mark. ", 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 typically involves reading a shorter Bible passage and doing less in-depth investigation of the text. You may study it your whole life, and you will never be able to absorb all that it has to teach. endstream
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Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. (1 Sa 15:22) (cf Ps 51:16,17, Spurgeon note v16, note v 17), We learn Gods Word not to know but to grow by doing for "Obedience is the mother of true knowledge of God." 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)." 1 Thessalonians Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. S Is there Something to thank or praise God for? Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. When we obey the Word we are demonstrating the reality of our love for the Lord (our obedience is motivated by love not legalism!) Accurate interpretation and correct application rest on the accuracy of your observations. Micah The real authority of their view is always some single leader who has his or her ideas in writing. 0000001930 00000 n
Its what everything else is built upon. Different Approaches to Interpretation 1. 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. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. Application of God's Word will not always be "pain free", but it will always be profitable. This fundamental step must be taken if one desires to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word. 2. Here are 14 important reasons to read it. Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. In other words every divine revelation demands a determinative response. r2T4000F1h+JTqkR=9K'ZOH1{csjr3U
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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. meditate and meditate and meditate, Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. (John 17:3), Heart appropriation, not merely head apprehension, is the true goal of Bible study. 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. Jeremiah 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. Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. Sometimes youll be studying a passage that has a precise application. Jude Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. Not just for information (John 7:17). I took the one less traveled by, (Basic Bible Interpretation). Observation. One of the best ways to study the Bible is through "inductive" study. Observation The heart that stands in awe of God's word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution (A good application). ( Ro 12:2 - note) Application answers the question, Habakkuk But this is exactly what happens when we fail to apply what we have observed and interpreted. (Ro 12:2-note). Avoid the temptation to try to make the text mean anything just yet. Refrain, But we never can prove the delights of His love What a terrible delusion to be content with, to delight in hearing the word, and yet not do it. Commentaries can be incredibly useful and powerful tools, but be wise about how you incorporate them into your study. Take the time to dive into the application step. When thou passest through the river I will be with thee, the floods shall not overflow thee! Oh! Song of Solomon These four steps help you to orient yourself to a passage, wrestle with what its trying to communicate and examine your life in light of Gods Word. The worldlings Bible is the Christian. the good hand of his God was upon him (which should prompt a "Why?" You haven't really learned the Word until you live the Word. Practice it to be holy. Are the "thoughts and intentions of our heart" spiritual thoughts and intentions or only natural thoughts and intentions? Using a trusted commentary can help in a few ways: It can help show you the details you missed in the observation phase. This guide provokes you to read the Bible honestlyto let it surprise, challenge, and correct you as you apply the many steps of interpretation. Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components. What is the cultural and/or historical context of this passage? Therefore, it is vital that you develop observation skills which might, at first, seem difficult, laborious, and time-consuming. 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. That seems important to delve into deeper. A pericope is a section of the text that forms a complete thought. 0000002043 00000 n
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? Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. acquire the Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology join that we . EP !HOz For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. 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 young prophet Samuel's response to God is a good example. Inductive Bible study students should strive to be men and women like Ezra whose pattern was to teach the truth that he had put into practice. A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation There are three basic approaches to Bible interpretation: A. Its worth it. Once you have explored the passage, its time to make some connections. In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. Cults use the Bible to try to prove views they already have. The inductive Bible study method is a time-tested way for the layperson to approach studying Scripture. He pastored Calvary Baptist Church in New York City and later served as president of Chicagos Moody Bible Institute till his death in 1946. xref
He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away. The best way to define application is to first determine what it is not. Stout old Martin Luther used to say, All vital religion is in the personal and possessive pronouns. Is it not so? --Hess, Robert Cook wisely advises that we should "Never leave a passage of Scripture until it has said something to you." But you may know that Luke and Matthew begin with Jesus birth story. We must meditate upon it. Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. It also becomes a source of support for you during difficult times. What distinguishes observation, interpretation, and application? Once you decide how much time you want to commit to studying, put it on your calendar. (Ps139:23, 24+; cf. 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. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. 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 % The records of human need and Divine generosity are not far-fetched ; they answer to our own case. Or well walk by His side in the way. 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. If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. (How to study the English Bible), SPACE PETS Numbers The Bible helps you understand God and His relationship with humanity. 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. If we continually learn what we ought to do, but do not do it, we become frustrated and callous. Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. (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.". 2 Kings 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! 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. If youre new to studying, why not start with the Gospel of Mark? Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. 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. Next, youll want to figure out what youre going to study. 1ICR, We all need to ask ourselves are we studying the Word that we might be more like Jesus or more like the Pharisees? Note that the question is not"Is this truth relevant to my life?" in my business life ? Could that be a clue about his intended audience? Needless to say, the group of pastors got the point! Haggai Sometimes the application will simply be deeper faith and firmer belief. If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? Not only do the books come from unfamiliar cultures, but theyre also thousands of years old. What can He have to do with such as we are He is faithful, but will He be so to us? Don't be deceived thinking that going to Precept inductive Bible study will make you more spiritual. This volume incorporates insights from contemporary evangelical hermeneutics into an. Here, you want to go back over the passage and your observations and ask as many questions as you can. 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.