1. Discovering God’s Word Moving Toward Active Bible Study

2. Discussion Questions:  Why do we need to study the Bible?  Why is it that people do not study the Bible?

3. Discussion Question  Which of the reasons for not studying God’s Word most closely fits your experience? –I don’t put it on my priority list. –I don’t believe it is relevant for today. –I don’t know how to begin to study it. –I don’t think I can understand it on my own.

4. 3 Reasons for illiteracy in the spiritual realm:  Too much study is fragmentary –Not a look at the big picture  Too much reliance on Bible study aids  Too much Bible study has become an end and not a means

5. The Theme of the Bible

6. God bringing glory to Himself through the fall, redemption and final restoration

7. 3 Main Sections of the Bible  ________________________________

8. 3 Main Sections of the Bible  OT: Preparation for the Redeemer  Gospels: Appearance of the Redeemer  Acts-Revelation: Program of the Redeemer-Present & Future

9. BeginningsPatriarchs BondageWanderings ConquestJudges United Kingdom Divided Kingdom ExileReturn Silent

10. BeginningsPatriarchs BondageWanderings ConquestJudges United Kingdom Divided Kingdom ExileReturn Silent Jesus Christ

11. Six Movements of the Old Testament Story

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18. What is inductive Bible study? “interpreting scripture with no pre- judgment, by the text itself, through analyzing the evidence and drawing out of it logical conclusions.” “By the Spirit, through the Word, and using inductive reasoning, we can and should come to consistently defensible and trustworthy interpretations.”

19. Why study the Bible inductively?  To become receptive & reproductive –Be receptive before you are reproductive “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11  Enables you to think for yourself –Most people don’t think but just rearrange their prejudices.

20. Why study the Bible inductively?  Enables you to think for yourself –Most people don’t think but just rearrange their prejudices.

21. Why study the Bible inductively?  Enables you to discern truth from error “as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:16

22. Why study the Bible inductively?  Gives you the joy of personal discovery. “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

23. Why study the Bible inductively?  Enables you to fall in love with the author. “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

24. For your Bible reading to be more effective, every time come with:  Pencil or pen - Be prepared to write down what God teaches you.  Paper – Write down your thoughts & findings somewhere that provides you easy access and a continual reminder, such as a journal, a file folder, a notebook, or even the margin of your Bible.

25. Bible reading help continued:  Purpose – Always go to God’s Word expecting Him to teach you and to change your life. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16

26. Bible reading help continued:  Prayer – Never begin to study God’s Word without first talking to the Author, asking Him to open your heart and mind, and submitting yourself to Him as your great Teacher. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” Psalm 119:18

27. What books will help me in my study? Too often the first books we buy are commentaries- in which others tell us the results of their study- rather than tools that will help us dig deep on our own. Here are some suggestions: Bible Dictionary Study Bible Bible Background Resources – Information, history, culture, etc. Concordance – Strong’s or NIV. Help you find “tip of your tongue” verses, trace certain words, people, and places throughout your Bible. Commentary – Use after you studied the passage on your own using other tools first.

28. 3 steps to the process of personal Bible study  Observation – “what do I see?”  Interpretation – “what does it mean?”  Application – “how does it apply to me?”

29. Observation 1 st step in personal Bible study

30. From observation to application 1. What did it mean to the original audience? 2. What is the timeless truth? 3. What does it mean to us today?

31. Practice Exercise Review 2 Corinthians 6:14 and answer these 3 questions. 1. What did it mean to the original audience? 2. What is the timeless truth? 3. What does it mean to us today?

32. “The more time you spend in observation, the less time you will spend in interpretation, and the more accurate will be your results.”

33. Discussion Question What do you think would be the dangers of:  Interpretation without observation  Application without interpretation  Interpretation without application

34. The first steps in the process of Bible study methods are?  Background – “what am I reading?” –Author –Date –Audience –Read through the book  Observation – “what do I see?”

35. Discussion Question Using the comparison to reading a novel or a newspaper article, explain why it is important to read a biblical book from the beginning and to read it one sitting. What do you think are some dangers of isolating passages from their surrounding context?

36. The 6 questions that will help in Bible study:  Who  What  Where  When  Why  Wherefore “so what”

37. Six things to look for when studying the Bible  Things that are emphasized.  Things that are repeated.  Things that are related.  Things that are alike.  Things that are unlike, or in contrast.  Things that are true to life.

38. Practice Exercise  Using the six questions discussed in this lesson, briefly analyze Matthew 11:9-14. How many different answers can you find for each of the six questions?

39. Interpretation 2 nd step in personal Bible study

40. Interpretive Principle #1 Examine the context

41. Tools for examining the context  Study Bible  Commentary  Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

42. Practice Exercise Look at Matthew 18:20, what was the immediate context of this encounter? What is the context in terms of Christ’s life and ministry? What is the context in terms of the New Testament?

43. Interpretive Principle #2 Comparing Scripture

44. Tools for comparing scripture  Concordance  Study Bible  Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

45. Practice Exercise Read Matthew 13:19 Compare to Luke 8:12. What insight do you gain when comparing these verses with one another?

46. Interpretive Principle #3 Historical/cultural background

47. Tools for historical/cultural background understanding  Bible Atlas  Bible background resource  Commentary

48. Practice Exercise  Taking historical/cultural backgrounds into consideration, how will they effect your interpretation of John 18:2-3?

49. Interpretive Principle #4 Consider the genre

50. Types of Genre  Wisdom  Apocalyptic  Prophetic  Narrative  Epistles

51. Practice Exercise  Look at Proverbs 22:6 and discuss how an understanding of genre affects your interpretation of the verse.

52. Interpretive Principle #5 Word studies

53. Tools for word studies  Concordance  Vine’s Expository Dictionary

54. Practice Exercise  “I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder” 2 Peter 1:13 What do you learn as you do a word study of “reminder”?

55. Application 3rd step in personal Bible study

56. Application  How does this effect my beliefs and behavior?