High-Impact Bible Study How to Gain Deeper Insight in Shorter Time for Greater Influence

Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3–5, NAS)

Application When you feel guilty about doing something wrong, reject the gratification of wrongdoing... and then hang yourself.

Contemporary AudienceAncient Audience Time-Bound Audience What is the timeless truth? How do we obey today?What did it mean then? Message of Scripture Contextualization of Principles Derivation of Principles Eternity

What is the timeless truth? How do we obey today?What did it mean then? Exegetical StatementHomiletical Statement Theological Statement Message of Scripture Contextualization of Principles Derivation of Principles Time-Bound Audience Eternity

Four-Step Bible Study Method Observation: What does it say?Interpretation: What does it mean?Correlation: How does it compare?Application: How does it function?

Observation Primary Question: What does the text say?

What does it say? What does it mean? vs.

What to Observe Who is involved? Who is involved? Where are they? Where are they? When does this occur? When does this occur? (Within the literature and in the Bible) What is the issue at hand? What is the issue at hand? What is the genre? What is the genre?

Details to Observe Main Verbs (tense, voice, mood, number) Main Verbs (tense, voice, mood, number) Contrasting Conjunctions Contrasting Conjunctions Repeated Words Repeated Words Unusual Words Unusual Words Cause-Effect Relationships Cause-Effect Relationships Unusual Prepositions Unusual Prepositions

Structure Word Sentence Paragraph Segment Section

Structure

Inclusio PassageDescription Mark 11:12–14Jesus curses the non-fruit- bearing fig tree. Mark 11:15–19Jesus cleanses the temple. Mark 11:20–25Return to the withered fig tree and Jesus’ discourse on faith.

NASBNIVNKJVThe Message And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Compare Versions

NASBNIVNKJVThe Message Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.

Interpretation Primary Question: What does the text mean?

Barriers to Interpretation Language

Huh?

Barriers to Interpretation Language Culture Geography Time

Helps for Interpretation Lexicons Encyclopedias Atlases Histories

Strong’s Concordance English Term NASB Locations Strong’s Numbers

Vine’s Expository Dictionary Strong’s Number

Bible References D. R. W. Wood and I. Howard Marshall, New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed., (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 407.

Correlation Primary Question: How does the text compare to other passages of Scripture?

Investigate: Parallel passages, especially in the Gospels Parallel passages, especially in the Gospels Quotations or allusions to other Scripture Quotations or allusions to other Scripture Passages related to the same topic Passages related to the same topic Cross references suggested in study Bibles Cross references suggested in study Bibles

Verse Number Term Cross References

37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:37–42 (NAS)

Application Primary Question: How does the text affect life?

What is the timeless truth? How do we obey today?What did it mean then? Exegetical StatementHomiletical Statement Theological Statement Message of Scripture Contextualization of Principles Derivation of Principles Time-Bound Audience Eternity

Three Statements Exegetical Statement: A summary statement that condenses the passage of Scripture to one compound sentence.

Three Statements Theological Statement: A statement of a timeless truth taught by the passage, which applies to all people, in all cultures, throughout all time.

Three Statements Homiletical Statement: A suggested means of obeying the timeless truth taught in Scripture that is contextualized to fit the time, culture, and circumstances of the audience.

Nine Questions to Ask Is there an example to follow? Is there a sin to avoid? Is there a promise to claim? Is there a prayer to repeat? Is there a command to obey? Is there a condition to meet? Is there a verse to memorize? Is there an error to mark? Is there a challenge to face?

Now, get specific. Specific Situations Specific Responses

What is the timeless truth? How do we obey today?What did it mean then? Message of Scripture Contextualization of Principles Derivation of Principles Time-Bound Audience Eternity