Tune in: Bible study process

2 Timothy 2:15

Intro: This morning we are going to look at the process of studying the Bible and why authorial intent is important. When I say authorial intent I mean what is the context of the passage and what does the author who wrote the passage is saying. Now have any of you gotten a text from someone you knew and had no idea what they were talking about. I know I have many times I have gotten random text from my parents either asking or talking about something and I have no idea what they are talking about. That is because I have no context or do not know what their intent of their text is.

When studying the Bible ignoring the authors intent while searching for personal meaning leads to error.

1. The focus of Bible study

A. Recognize authorial intent

When we write a text we do not write it with the intention that the one who is reading it can interpret it in any way they wish. Authors even Bible authors write with the assumption that the reader will determine and accept their intentions.

Lets consider Phil. 4:13 on surface level what does this verse teach to us? It teaches that God will help a person do the impossible.

People could and they have twist this verse to include scoring a goal in a game or passing a test without studying. But when that person doesn’t make the goal or fails that test they took their interpretation not the message would be to blame.

Some people are unaware of the process a pastor, author, or bible teacher follows to yield a correct Bible interpretation. People just sit there and accept what the preacher or teacher is saying is true and not looking up the truth on their own.

Read: Acts 17:10-11 Ask: Why might someone consider the Bereans’ searching of Scripture to be rude to Paul and Silas? it appeared they didn’t trust them.

Now Luke in this passage gave a description of the Bereans in verse 11. He calls them fair minded or noble for searching the Scriptures to make sure Paul and Silas were giving true interpretation.

Ask: What is the danger of accepting interpretations from people without giving thought or validity? They could accept bad interpretations.

How I mentioned earlier of how I have gotten text from my parents and do not understand them so I come up with my own interpretation. We must study and understand what the Bible is trying to say.

We have no right to add or adjust truth for our liking. This is true for those who teach the Word and those who read it.

2. The Process of Studying the Bible

There are three steps when it comes in the bible study process. We are going to briefly consider these steps. if we follow these steps they will help us understand the passages meaning and to equip us in our lives.

A. Observation

Observation means to examine a passage. We observe the words in the text and consider how they fit together to form a structure that communicates a message.

Most of the Bible study process takes place in the observation step. It requires time and thought. Rushing this step could result in a bad bible interpretation or application. We mentioned last week that we are to take time and meditate God’s Word. Meditation begins in this step and continues into the other two steps. Lets try this together

Read: Psalm 1 Ask: Last week we read verses 1-3 and now we added 4-6. Now lets observe here in verses 1-3 we see the man who follows God. In verses 4-6 what do we see?

B. Interpretation

Bible interpretation is like putting a puzzle together in that it brings together the observations in one cohesive message. To interpret is to explain the meaning of the text.

When it comes to interpretating the Bible it is not open to personal opinion. Or should Scripture be overlooked because something Scripture says offends us.

To accurately to interpret the Bible we need tools to help us. The Bible was written in two different languages we do not understand and the Bible was written to cultures we don’t understand either. Later in our study we will look at different study tools that will help us in our study of God’s Word.

C. Application

If we observe and interpret it should bring us to a point where we can be confident what the passage is saying. Now knowing what the Scripture says doesn’t draw us closer to Christ but applying the truth that we just read from that passage will. Application in studying God’s Word builds the bridge between knowing and doing God’s Word.

First, must assess whether a given passage is even meant to change our lives. For instance there are passages that are pointed towards pastors and there are passages pointed towards children. But all passages directly or indirectly tell us something about God.

Flip to Matthew chapter one. Glance at the first 17 verses. What do you see? It is just the genealogy of Christ. Now how can we find a truth in a passage like this. We can see through all of these of how God stayed faithful to His plan and How God worked in everyone of these people’s lives.

So after we have determined whether a passage should affect our walk with the Lord we must take steps to cause that to happen. God wrote the Bible so we can be equipped to show His light to others. Application involves asking ourselves what am I doing now in light of this truth. What steps do I need to take to live out this truth? Application requires faith as we live out God’s Word.

In Matthew 5 Christ taught the importance of both understanding and applying Scripture. Christ ended His lesson with a note that perfection is our destination as believers. We won’t be completely perfect until God glorifies us. Until then we ought to be using God’s Word to grow daily in Christlikeness.

Con: When we study the Bible we must know what the authors intent is. And if we follow these steps while we study the Bible we will understand God’s Word mor an more.