How to Study the Bible

Our aim for this class- Sharpen our Bible reading skill Increase our ability to understand and apply Scripture to life Add to our effectiveness and enjoyment of personal Bible study Grow in Bible knowledge and in our relationship with God, the Author.

“The good hand of his God Our model and pattern: Ezra 7:9-10 “The good hand of his God was upon him” For 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. (NASB)

Our ultimate goal: transformation! “God did not give us the Bible to inform us but to transform us!” D. L. Moody

Personal Bible study is: Independent: Inductive: Methodical: Transformational:

Opposite of deductive Study Inductive Bible Study Discovery Facts – meaning Objective Practical Opposite of deductive Study

Bible Study is Methodical The path = certain steps in a certain order to a certain result The product = first-hand exposure The process =

Three essential steps- 1. Observation

Three essential steps- 2. Interpretation Observation

Three essential steps- 3. Application Interpretation Observation

Bible Life Interpretation Observation Application Then- biblical-world-contemporary -Now

Transformational Study Enables us to- Experience the joy of personal discovery! Grow in our love for God, the Author!

Transformational Study Requires- 1. A seeing eye Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. Psalm 119:18

Transformational Study Requires- 2. Understanding mind Thus says the LORD, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches; but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24

Transformational Study Requires- 3. An obedient heart But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 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. James 1:22-24

How do we improve our observation & reading skill? Read prayerfully! The LORD came and stood and called as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV)

Read carefully, attentively! “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God,…” 1 Corinthians 2:12 (ESV)

Read thoughtfully, inquisitively! “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (ESV) Acts 17:11

Read meditatively! This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

Write down 5 to 10 things you observe (see) when you read this verse but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 Write down 5 to 10 things you observe (see) when you read this verse

Romans 5:6-7   6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die

Observations on Romans 5:8 “but,” indicates a contrast with the preceding. God is the initiator of the action. What God demonstrates (shows) is love. “Shows” is in the present tense, it is ongoing. “His,” love is an inherent attribute of God. God showed His love as we were, “sinners.” Christ’s death is a demonstration/act of love. “Toward us,” we are the objects of God’s love. “Were,” past tense- sinners is what we were. “For,” Christ’s death was substitutionary.

The foundation of Bible study Next week: The foundation of Bible study

How to Study the Bible