How to Study the Bible for Christian Growth (2)

Inductive Bible Study

Read God’s Word.

Discover God’s Word.

Interpret God’s Word.

Apply God’s Word.

Deduction vs. Induction

Deduction - We have and ideal of the subject and we want to develop our understanding.

Induction - We have a subject and we learn from the facts found in the study.

Inductive Bible study is taking God’s Word and looking at the evidence before us and learn the scripture.

Three Foundational Understanding About Studying the Bible.

First - The Bible is a historical book.

Second - The Bible has many different literary genres.

History

Prophecy

Letters

Apocalyptic literature

Poetry

Third - The Bible is a Theological book.

God wrote and teaches about Himself.

How to do inductive Bible study?

Observation

Interpretation

Application

Observation: What the Bible says?

Observing and engaging with the scripture.

Five Steps to Observation

Compare translations

Ask Questions

Find key words

Observe literary features analyze the structure

Interpretation: What does the Bible mean?

We are investigating the text based on the questions we asked and what we uncovered.

Step 1: Consider the context.

History

Literature

Theology

Step 2: Compare Scripture with Scripture.

Step 3: Word Studies

Step 4: Topical Studies

Step 5: Consult other resources

Application: How does the Bible apply to my life today?

Step 1: Establish the relevance

What is the application for the original audience?

Is the text helping us know something or telling us to do something?

What is the underlying principle of the text?

Based on that principle, how does it relate to today?

How can I apply this text?

Step 2: Appropriate the Meaning

We must rely on the Holy Spirit to help guide us.