A Primer on the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation 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. It went in empty every time and came out full (A. Naismith, 1200 Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes [Chicago: Moody, 1962], p. Thus, we are called and encouraged to new labour in prayer, whilst we have a new example in Him Who prayed, and wept, and bled. Nevertheless our duty is clear. When the attitude of our heart reflects a readiness to hear and respond, the text of the Bible comes alive. We need to be honest with ourselves at this point. 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, HLTkXw: Inductive Bible study is The more time and intentionality you put into understanding Gods Word, the more treasures you discover. You have remained in right site to start getting this info. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, 63 0 obj <> endobj James emphasizes the importance of follow through in inductive study exhorting us to "prove (ourselves) doers of the word, and not merely hearers (the Greek word was used of one who audited a class rather than taking it for credit -- are you just auditing the Bible or are you fully enrolled?) The Power of Accurate Observation In Bible Study By Anna Wishart 07/31/2017 Details Bring Meaning God's Word has a lot to communicate. And what thou readest, thou canst not read too well; The Gospel opens by saying: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. John Calvin commenting on proper application wrote thatWe must observe that the knowledge of God which we are invited to cultivate is not that which, resting satisfied with empty speculation, only flutters in the brain; but a knowledge which will prove substantial and fruitful whenever it is duly perceived and rooted in the heart.. 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. Refrain 0 Someone has rightly observed that it is possible to be full of Scripture and full of carnality. Practically speaking, when we study "the word of God" we sense ourselves pierced. Inductive Bible Study method is one of the most effective bible study methods for personal bible study, quiet time or small group bible studies. 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. For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Theres an inherent danger in inductive Bible study -- it can degenerate into a process thats intellectually fascinating but spiritually frustrating. in my dealings with the world ? He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away. 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." Identify chapter themes But as helpful as these tools are, theyre not always ideal for personal study. /+X$!acR\Y[/EC%D @2ADk0uHha3j^ 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. Were so used to being exposed to chapters and verses that we lose sight of an authors intention for the whole book. Dr. Howard Hendricks remarks that Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. And what thou teachest well, thou canst not too well live. It is not enough just to study the Bible. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. It is packed with revelation, lessons, instruction, and theology. OIA Method of Bible Study - Iamnorthside 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. 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. This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Jonah If we fail to apply the Scriptures, we cut short the entire process and have not finished what God wants us to do. David Shepherd rightly exhorts us to leave out not "step" in study of God's Word but to be diligent to Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit. Inductive Bible study is one reliable way. What is the clearest meaning of this text? There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus. (Col 1:28, 29-See notes Col 1:28; 1:29), The basis for application is 2 Timothy 3:16. As someone has blunted phrased it "Interpretation without application is abortion.". The botanist would lean over a certain flower and he would look for a long time and then he would write notes in his notebook. Daniel The godly preacher F. B. Meyer wrote that Devout meditation on the Word is more important to soul-health even than prayer. Thats the kind of serious-minded response to truth application calls for. never loses his sense of direction. A Is there an Attitude to change or guard against or an Action I need to take? And that has made all the difference. Too often, people jump into the Bible and start connecting before theyve done the challenging work of examining all there is to see. 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. It will walk you through each step of inductive bible studies in details. Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. 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. 2 Corinthians As youre reading along, you can check the commentary to gain insight into cultural, linguistic and interpretive considerations. 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. Thus, interpretation flows out of observation. 2 Kings Greater knowledge should always bring about greater obedience, enabled by grace not law, empowered by the indwelling Spirit as we learn to discard self effort and depend on the Spirit. 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). Once you have explored the passage, its time to make some connections. 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! 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. (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." These subheadings can be useful for understanding the different parts of a biblical book, but they can also force you to read a passage in a particular light. 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. Learn about Cru's global leadership team. Part of this work is active: Youre wrestling with the text and learning to understand it. The truth of God's Word is always relevant to our life. Take care, nonetheless, to seek for the application of precepts. He knoweth what we have need of before we ask, but He expects us to ask all the same. Job Showing God in action in and through His people. Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. Learning to read andstudy Scriptureis an important part of the Christian life. He is a prayer-hearing God, but will He hear our prayers? Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others. So when Mark tells you hes starting at the beginning, its safe to say hes talking about the beginning of Christs ministry. 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 ). How about Son of God"? Gather them. We must meditate upon it. Thresh them by meditation. Learn the basics of what Christians believe. If you choose to consult a commentary during your study, try to do it toward the end. 2 Timothy You might make a circle around those terms as a reminder to focus on those later. Try (Ed: in the sense of to test or examine) what you hear; try what you profess; try what you read. 0000004118 00000 n You can help us reach children and their families to know Jesus. If you are made to tremble under Gods Word, you may never be made to tremble under Gods hand. Where does your passage show how human beings or their world are broken? Ruth Refrain, But we never can prove the delights of His love To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Titus What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage? The more work you do during this part of your study, the better you will do in the rest. There are a lot of excellent study Bibles available. Step 3: ApplicationWhat will I do about what the passage says and means? Yes, the Scripture (through your Teacher the Spirit) will bestow spiritual blessings, not by knowing but by doing! 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. What does this passage teach that is still as true today as it was when it was written? If there is a warning to be followed, we heed it. Application begins with belief They had mastered the Old Testament, but they were never mastered by the truth itself. While there are several great methods of studying the Bible, heres a simple method one can follow: Observation, Interpretation, Transformation and Application. The ideal combination is to read the word and then heed it expeditiously and implicitly. What did that word mean to them, and what kinds of feelings and hopes did it invoke? 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. Ask the Lord to show you your interest, in every truth, and; do not be satisfied until you have an assured personal interest therein. It is unified in all its parts and will never contradict itself (Ps. Such a person is like the church who had a new pastor who preached the same sermon every Sunday. Ephesians Used by cults. But to make us more like our Savior. Ask yourself all of the important questions above, and answer them as honestly as you are able. Commentaries are fantastic tools. Joshua Let it not only inform you but inflame you. (Mark 1:1, NIV), The purpose of this book is to tell the story of Jesus; its a historical narrative. For Inductive Bible study, we don't begin with a topic and then try to find specific verses that make a teaching point. Now that youve come up with questions, its time to do research. One who uses the Bible as his guide (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word), Andrew Murray writing about the discrepancy between knowing and doing, remarked. Practice it to be holy. We must mix faith with what we read and hear. 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! Bible reading fits into the devotional category. Skip Heitzig writes that "The great evangelist Dwight L. Moody made a habit of carrying a notebook to record what he learned as he read the Bible or listened to a sermon. Don't be deceived thinking that going to Precept inductive Bible study will make you more spiritual. So before moving on to the crucial step of application, pause for a time of reflection. The goal is to familiarize yourself with the work as a whole. In fact, it has become the benchmark of Bible study for many people. 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. Ezra For more on studying the Bible on your own or with others check out our Bible Studies resources. 1 John 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. 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.") Joel Kay Arthur on Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation & Application,Christy Tennant - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. In a very real sense we are giving our brain a bath; we are washing it in the purifying solution of Gods Word. Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application ", 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. Until all on the altar we lay; Below I have written a simplified step-by-step guide . Lamentations Their righteousness was external, based on facts and devoid of personal response. 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. 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? Its good to set aside time for both devotional reading and studying. HWM5q0^5 !EJ8`vC ! Not to make us smarter sinners in my business life ? Lifting verses out of their immediate context is a sure way to find yourself in heresy land. Truth revealed brings responsibility to respond. Observation We may hear words like "hermeneutics" (the science of interpretation) or "exegesis" (critical explanation or interpretation of a text) and think interpretation is something best left to experts. Never fear, only trust and obey. Both reflect what is really there. 1 Thessalonians But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? Christian author Jerry Bridges reminds us that. Memorization is the first step to meditation. Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God. Keeping some form of journal will allow you to go back and review what God has been teaching you. (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.) 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). Study the Bible to be wise. We must align ourselves with the Bible, never the Bible with ourselves. He had the "truth" but never acted upon it. A Silly yet Serious is the result of Even those who have invested a lifetime into studying it will tell you their commitment has continued to pay off with new insights, understanding and spiritual growth. (Ps139:23, 24+; cf. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, Each book is usually read 4 - 5 times, and with each step you are given a new tool for uncovering revelation within the pages. 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. Absolutely. When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen. Another addition to a lot of Bibles is a subheading before many passages or chapters. Apply: How do I respond to what God is saying? And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. August 5, 2009. (Read the entire sermon - How to Read the Bible), "Our Masters field is full and rich. ", Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. Details of the OIA Method - Knowable Word He had put into practice (applied) passages from God's Word, proving that they work which of course they always do! This fundamental step must be taken if one desires to accurately interpret and properly apply God's Word. Instead, we need to be Bible "bees", using inductive study to go deep into the Scriptures obtaining its divine nectar and then allowing God's "nectar" to change us. (Ed: And I would add that the Word of Truth ALWAYS has something to say to our heart!

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