So even though you might be familiar with the word Messiah, you might want to focus on Mark and his original audience. Job Take the time to dive into the application step. Our life ought to be and if Gods grace be much in it, it will be a new translation of the Bible. To go on gaining an intellectual knowledge of the Bible without obeying it can be a trap instead of a blessing. Anyone can use the inductive Bible study method by following three simple steps: This phase isnt about interpretation. Let me ask you a serious question -- How often do you study the Word with no intention whatsoever of obeying it? The more honest question is"Am I ready and willing believe this truth and to apply it in my life? Details of the OIA Method - Knowable Word 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. They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. Verse by Verse Ministry If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. By Why did Mark feel this title was necessary on top of calling Jesus the Messiah? However, interpretation can also involve separate actions or steps beyond merely observing the immediate text. It is still as true today as when Martin Luther first said it that The world does not need a definition of religion as much as it needs a demonstration.. Do not read the Bible as a book for other people. Practice it to be holy. 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). Refrain, But we never can prove the delights of His love King Edward VI of England would stand while the Word of God was read in worship service. Writing it down helps to remind you of God's consistent revelation and reinforces the truth He conveys to your heart. What does the term Messiah mean? 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. This seems to be the process called inwardly digesting God's truth. Unlike other forms of study, the ultimate goal of Bible study is not information its transformation. 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. 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. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology is universally compatible following any devices to read. 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? He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. How does the truth of this passage apply to my life? 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. 2. Let it not only inform you but inflame you. Leviticus ::c\}oa\l#N/4!tGj;Mu}8Mmm3M^x_M=>l~m8n6vTk7.9Rm+s7mm1>7%cS,"W`!K[43!qCn66JVo[K^nE^ + When you become a Christian, you enter into an exciting, lifelong relationship with the Bible. + The first verse of Mark youve been studying does not have immediate actionable teachings, but you still need to be open to the Holy Spirit moving as you study. Many of us struggle to wade through the dense lists of commands, genealogies and prophecies in the Old Testament. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. As you carry out your inductive Bible study you will find that observation, interpretation, and application often occur simultaneously. Are for them who will trust and obey. This guide is written for people of all levels who are looking for a deeper and richer study of Scripture. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. Next, youll want to figure out what youre going to study. When Gods Word points out something in us that needs correction, we need to respond. 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. The third rule for our guide should be Read And Apply. Have I overlooked anything or made any assumptions? Interpretation should build on observation and then lead into interpretation. Youve observed the details in the text and drawn interpretive conclusions about what the author was saying to his original readers. Observation Tips What are some tips to help with observation? So people go to church, and enjoy the preaching, and yet do not do what God asks. Saturate the study of Scripture with prayer. The adventure of following God's will takes on a whole new complexion when we stop to listen and then act upon what we hear. 1 Peter Thresh them by meditation. If youre new to studying, why not start with the Gospel of Mark? He would take notes and later study them with great care. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! Apply: How do I respond to what God is saying? Of the three steps of Bible studyobservation, interpretation, and applicationthe middle one is often the most daunting. Yes, the Scripture (through your Teacher the Spirit) will bestow spiritual blessings, not by knowing but by doing! 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. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. (Josh 1:8-note). John kicks off with some critical theological points and then immediately launches into the baptism too. Sources like these can give you vital information to help answer your questions. The worldlings Bible is the Christian. 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. Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? Believe it to be safe Will Graham Devotion: A Sacrifice That Costs Nothing Is Worth Nothing. Mark says hes starting at the beginning. James Of course, there are a few steps involved during each of these components. (How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It - see page 30). In this spirit of readiness we seek to turn God's truth into action. When God got his attention, Samuel responded appropriately: "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Sa 3:10). Obadiah Why are we deluded in this way? As someone has blunted phrased it "Interpretation without application is abortion.". This method makes observations on a passage of Scripture and then draws conclusions based on those observations. How to Study the Bible | Cru - Cru.org Memorizing God's Word - Why? You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. Are you ready and willing for Gods Word to cut deeply into your own life (reproof), to lay bare the hidden places of your heart, and to do its work of convicting, convincing, and converting your mind in any and every area? These divisions are incredibly convenient. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. Inductive Bible Study. He never reads the book, but he reads the disciple of Christ, and he judges the Christian religion, by the lives of its professors. Study the Bible to be wise. Is your heart conditioned to listen and obey? 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? This video series demonstrates how to perform inductive Bible study using the Logos Bible app thats free for web, mobile, or desktop. Mark If our interpretation is accurate, we at least have the potential to apply the truth appropriately. They do not seem very ancient. 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. 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. Study the Bible to be wise God make us holy; sanctify us, spirit, soul, and body, and then we shall be made finely serviceable both to the Church and to the world. 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. 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). It is unified in all its parts and will never contradict itself (Ps. 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. If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. HhT=k&^-l (6WBbN~WPe4`!Mr`+^p!MO,LP/_n]aFBcp) Refrain Shows the way. This can train you to be more of an explorer in the future. Too much Bible study begins and ends in the wrong placewith interpretation. One practical approach to Bible study is a four-part process of observation, interpretation, connection, and application. Allow the Bible to help you understand other passages of the Bible. Why Are There Lament Psalms at the End of the Psalter? In the third chapter, Matthew tells us about Jesus baptism by John. In Psalm 119:18, David said, "Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your . And to do this, you need to look at the context (Logos Bible Software can be a great help with this). Mark key words and phrases (see figure on page five) A key word is one that is essential to the text. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. Joel Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. It isthe act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose. 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. So how do we apply any of it, let alone enjoy it. View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. You may start with reading a specific book of the Bible for five to 10 minutes every day and setting aside one day a week for a more intentional time of studying Scripture. Click To Tweet Inductive Bible Study Bible Study Principles Again, our METHOD of reading, searching, and study must involve very precise OBSERVATION, which is absolutely necessary to accurate INTERPRETATION! The Bible is the best prayer-book in the world, as it has been called the best story-book in the world. Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like eating without chewing. (Basic Bible Interpretation). 2 Kings -EO{0iB d("o? The story is told of several pastors who were arguing over which Bible translation was the best. 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. You haven't completed your Bible study until you've allowed the Bible to "study' you and you respond accordingly to it's teaching (which tells us what is true and right and so structures our thinking), reproof ( tells us when we are out of bounds), correction (reveals sin and provides the dynamic whereby you can conform to Gods will) and training in righteous living (Gods means of showing you how to live), all in order that we as men and women of God might be complete or whole and what we were created to be so that we might be thoroughly equipped for good work (2Ti 3:16, 17-note). The bottom-line question to ask is, How do the divine truths and principles contained in any passage apply to me in terms of my attitude and actions? Jesus made this promise to those who would carry their personal Bible study through to this point: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:17, cp Jn 15:14, 14:15, Lk 11:28, Jas 1:22+, Jas 1:25+, Rev 1:3+) Bible study is not complete until we ask ourselves, What does this mean for my life and how can I practically apply it? We must take the knowledge we have gained from our reading and interpretation and draw out the practical principles that apply to our personal lives. It is God's will that we should read Philemon Bible study consists of Observation, Interpretation and Application. 1 When it comes to reading the Bible, these boundaries can hinder your ability to observe what biblical authors are saying. For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. O/uE 4l"iI.l#e \c@pZFi7lq?3@hv?7 Il` There are several reasons for this . The better you know the Bibles teachings, the more grounded your faith becomes. 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)." The Bible is Gods way of making Himself known to us. Maybe youre reading Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. Ezra So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. Often, its helpful to put chapter and verse breakdowns out of your mind as you dive into Scripture. The writer of Psalm 119+ (virtually every verse of which deals with some aspect of God's holy Word) speaks to the importance of one's attitude that should undergird and stimulate right and ready application of truth gleaned Princes persecute me without cause, but (what's being contrasted?) Haggai Get the answers to frequently asked questions on Christian beliefs and practices. Ecclesiastes Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, acquire the Inductive Bible Study Observation Interpretation And Application Through The Lenses Of History Literature And Theology join that we . Joshua ", The goal of Inductive Bible study is Ezekiel Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. Our favorite strategy is to rationalize sin instead of repent. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. 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. HWM5q0^5 !EJ8`vC ! The good hand of the LORD will be upon us even as it was upon Ezra the scribe! Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." A (supernaturally charged and) changed life is the clearest testimony of genuine understanding of the Bible. Stout old Martin Luther used to say, All vital religion is in the personal and possessive pronouns. Is it not so? What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage? We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. Too often, people jump into the Bible and start connecting before theyve done the challenging work of examining all there is to see. 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). Learn more 2. Janet Chismar 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~ Somewhere ages and ages hence: As part of this step, take some time to identify where the beauty of the gospel comes into the passage. And its in this phase we start to look at what the text means. Galatians But His smile quickly drives it away; Inductive Bible study is a practical, relevant, and time-tested approach to interpreting Scripture. How about Son of God"? When youre first getting started with studying the Bible, its important to set some realistic goals for yourself. 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. We dont study the Bible just to gain knowledge. For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents. This is where secondary resources become really helpful. 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. Some of them can only be answered by examining the text again or even by looking at other parts of the Bible. Also we become more responsible to God. We try to communicate what weve never experienced in our own lives.". xref It is not enough just to study the Bible. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word (cp Ep 5:26-note). 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. 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? Local: 704-401-2432 2 Peter So you might write that observation down: Marks beginning of the gospel story does not start at the very beginning., Youll also notice that Mark desires to tell you some good news, and this news is about Jesus. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? Ephesians In sum, acting on what God has said assumes that you understand what He has said as illustrated below. The world desperately needs to see the Word's miracle-working power at work in our own lives as living proof! Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. R4`:|ut\#jDAh]Y1]|{ >^*8"I+ +N-rjiSS-Q*c9eF,xyV]%^p]=dG- J&naSP PDF Precept Bible Study Method John Showing God in action in and through His people. Contact Us. The inductive study process involves three steps: observation, interpretation and application. ", D. L. Moody - "I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.". Sow an action, reap a habit. So if youre studying Mark, start by reading the entire book. The goal is to familiarize yourself with the work as a whole. 1 Kings Numbers Look for the plainest interpretation first. If this were the only passage of the Bible you had access to, what would you learn from it about Gods character and actions? (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. He will be inquired of by us. Below I have written a simplified step-by-step guide . May we all seek to so diligently apply what we observe and interpret that we see "the world turned upside down.". The more time and intentionality you put into understanding Gods Word, the more treasures you discover. Spiritual maturity, in which we become more like Christ, comes not just from knowing more about the Bible. in my teaching, visiting or mission work? Reading and studying the Bible are two different practices. The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. Inductive Bible study draws its conclusions from the text, not our assumptions. 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. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application Puritan Thomas Manton comments thatThere is an awe of the Word, not that makes us shy of it, but tender of violating it, or doing anything contrary to it.