Studying the Bible

1. Welcome & Framing (10 min)

Set the tone: This is about growth, not expertise. Emphasize discussion over lecture. Suggested verse: 2 Timothy 3:16–17

2 Timothy 3:16–17 CSB

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2. Icebreaker (10 min)

Discuss: - What comes to mind when you think about studying the Bible? - What has been your biggest challenge?

Table group discussion

What has been your biggest challenge in studying the Bible?( find your tables top 3)

1.

2.

3.

When have you felt most connected to scripture?

1.

2.

Ways to read the bible

Devotional book

Pros: Instant application/Quick and easy

Cons: Little contextual understanding

Little personal engagement with the text.

Seeing the text through the eyes of someone else.

2. Reading Plans

Pro(s): Great general contextualization

Con(s): Leaves little time for further exploration. always moving forward to the next passage.

3: Shotgun approach( what should I read today?)

Pros: Even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut.

Cons: Misapplication of the text is almost always guaranteed

Scripture is potentially used like a magic Eightball to give one an answer to a hard situation.

4. Exploration(inductive study method)

Let me ask you a question. If I told you that I had found the greatest adventure novel ever and here is how it ends. They discover the lost city of Atlantis in downtown Chicago and then i proceed to summarize all the important details for you. Are you going to read the book?

Why because I told you what you needed to know without taking through the adventure of discovery and revelation.

This is what we have done in the church today. We present the bible as if the adventure of discovery has already been finished. There are no more open questions to answer, no more debate to be had. We in the 21st century as baptist have finally cracked the code and there is nothing new left to learn.

Do you see why with this mindset might produce in you a lack of desire in studying it for yourself?

We want to take you on a journey of discovery that might challenge your current beliefs.

Let me give you an example of where this adventure has challenged some of my beliefs.

I grew up believing in a pre-trib rapture. That the book of revelation was almost useless to todays Christians because I'm getting out of here before any of this stuff begins.

Personal study challenged me and changed my mind.

How about this idea that eternal life is a spiritual reality instead of a new perfect physical creation that we enjoy with God forever.

Much like a child that approaches his fathers instructions with the attitude, Ive already figured this out will miss out on actually learning. So will we if we continue to trust what we have been told about the bible instead of personally engaging with it.

So my desire is to teach you how to explore the bible. To look at the bible with an adventurous spirit. I want you to want to come back to the word again and again.

Round 1: Personal Experience (5-7mins)

Discuss: - How do you currently study the Bible? - What helps you stay consistent?

Teaching: Inductive Method

1. Prayer

2. Observation (initial reading)

This is the part that most people want to skip but its a critical step in order make sense of the text.

External Context:

a. The date it was written?

b. Who is the author?

Internal context: Read the book through in one sitting.

A. Look for repeated words/phrases

B. Look up the meaning of key words and words you do not know.

C. Why did the author write it?

D. Who was it written to ? (believers/unbelievers, Jews/gentiles/mixed)

E. What did the author hope to accomplish in writing?

F. What was the author going through at the time of the writing.

3. Interpretation -How observation (context) shapes interpretation:

Illustration: The word "fire". There's a fire! 3,2,1,.....fire! Our hearts were set on fire! Your fired!

After doing the leg work, you can begin the process of interpretation.

You do this by taking the information you gained from your initial reading making note of the items in the observation step.

Common mistakes during the interpretation phase:

1. Asking "What does this mean to me?" (rushing the process).

2. Reading verse-by-verse instead of paragraph-by-paragraph or thought-by-thought.

3. Allowing my personal beliefs(cultural, denominational, or feelings) to interpret scripture(eisegesis) instead of scripture defining my beliefs

Example # 1 Deuteronomy 22:5 (CSBBible)   “A woman is not to wear male clothing, and a man is not to put on a woman’s garment, for everyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord your God." I grew up around some people that thought it was wrong for women to wear pants. They took this verse above and added their own meaning into the text. The logic went something like this... Men and women should dress distinctively different(good so far.) Since men primarily wear pants all of the time then women should not wear them. So now they have taken a cultural norm and presupposed it into the text.

Now instead of making the text about distinction(not cross dressing) they have now relegated it to particular items of clothing. The problem with this is, in middle eastern culture at this time, pants were never a cultural norm. Robes were the order of the day. In which both men and women wore them. So then if its not about individual style what is it about?

It is about distinction. One idea can only be applied to cultures where pants are worn and the other can be universally applied to every culture everywhere. Men and Women should not try to achieve the appearance of the opposite sex. * This is why we cannot interpret scripture in light of our current cultural context. If you do you will actually be limiting its meaning. This will especially becomes a problem when a pastor begins to form dogma off of a wrong idea...this then becomes legalism.

1. Asking "What does this mean to me?" . Why shouldn't we ask this question? By asking this question we force our own meaning into the text instead of asking what does the text actually mean? We are looking for meaning not application. The main goal of this step in the process is to draw our the meaning from the text as it would have been understood by it's original audience. 2. Reading verse-by-verse(incorrect) instead of paragraph-by-paragraph or thought-by-thought (correct)

1.What is the purpose of this paragraph?

2. What does it mean? (Theme) How do these ideas connect to the broader theme of the book?

3. (Flow) How does this paragraph fit into the ideas expressed previously(if applicable) and immediately following?

4.Timing

Why did the author choose to say this now? Look for connecting words  and phrases (therefore, so then, now,) Why did he choose these particular words? Are there other passages of scripture that deal with the same ideas that could help me better understand this one?

4. Application

5 Basic things to look for when applying scripture.

I. Direct commands - A direct call to action to do something or to abstain from it.

II. General truths - universal truths that can be applied to many different situations and scenarios.

Example: Eph. 4:32  - Be kind. In my current situation what does it mean to be kind?

Ephesians 4:32 CSB

32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

III. Direct Analogy - Looking at passages in the bible that would provide clarity for how I am to act and think about a situation that are not directly mentioned in the Bible.

"Those actions of persons and groups are to be judged morally wrong which are similar to actions that are judged to be wrong or against God's will under similar circumstances in Scripture, or are discordant with actions judged to be right or in accord with God's will in Scripture." - James Gustafson

Example: Does the Bible directly condemn recreational use of Marijuana?

So what examples in scripture can give us clarity on this issue?

Prov. 20:1 , Ephes 5:18 , Gal. 5:21  -  These verses deal with the use of alcohol to the point of drunkeness. The issue then is sobriety. Does using marijuana compromise the command of being sober? A: yes

IV. Indirect Analogy - When a passage of scripture teaches us by example instead of by a stated rule (Think manly the O.T. narratives.)

( children's Sunday school lessons) example: Jacob and Esau

Jacob deceived Esau. Because of Jacob's deception he lost his family and had to flee. Immediate application is to tell the truth in everything. Deceptive living will cause trouble.

Temptation: missing the picture of God's redemptive plan unfolding and not connecting the O.T. narratives to the Gospel.

V. Indirect Extension - The parts of scripture that are composed of neither direct commands nor generally applicable truths. These are big picture truths. instead of looking through a microscope your looking at the narrative of scripture from panoramic view.

This gives you a sense that you are a part of a large story. The Story of God's redemptive plan for mankind.

Suggested verse: Psalm 119:105

5. Round 2: Practice (20 min)

Read a passage (e.g., Luke 10:25–37, James 1:22–25, Philippians 4:6–7) Discuss: - What stands out? - What does this teach? - How can we apply it?

6. Share-Out (10–15 min)

Each group shares 1 insight and 1 takeaway.

7. Personal Plan (10–15 min)

Discuss: - When will you study? - What method will you use? - What obstacles might you face?

8. Wrap-Up (5–10 min)

Commit to one step this week. Suggested verse: Joshua 1:8

Engagement Tips

Mix groups, use visuals, k