Effective Bible Study - Application

Introduction

So what, when you think about the phrase, “so what” what do you think?

Life is full of so what or so that’s so it makes perfect sense that the B.I.B.L.E. would be full of them too about 262 times in one form or another in the scripture. So it must be important.

We started this section of our series “interpretation” with

Observation

What does that mean?

Then two weeks on Interpretation

Can you think about what we looked at, discussed? Do you have any notes you took?

There are many translations but only one interpretation. God’s with many, or various, applications.

Another term maybe you are familiar with is “scope” what is the scope of something. What does that mean?

When it comes to the bible it is looking at the passage and see if there is any application for today.

Tonight on Application

Next week we will conclude the series with “correlation”

Maybe tonight we start with some things that are universal that do not change at all. The attributes of God, so grab your bible’s and let’s look at a partial list.

God is creative

Gen1:1 “1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

God is instructive

Deu11:18-21 “18 “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 “You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20 “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.”

God is promising and a promise keeper

Eze37:27 “27 “My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

God is just

Rom1:18 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

God is the justifier

Rom3:26 “26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Can you think of other attributes of God, for they do not change, His character, His nature are from everlasting to everlasting?

When looking for application there is some scope and limitations to get proper application.

To understand and apply the “so that” we have to understand the scope.

Not everything in the past is applicable today, can you think of anything in that category?

Proper application, consider these

O.T. God’s presence was in the temple (a place); in the N.T. God’s presence is in the temple (people)

O.T. under the law (works); in the N.T. we are under the law (grace by faith)

O.T. Mystery (concealed); N.T. mystery revealed (Jesus Christ and the Church)

Now I mentioned scope and limitations, so let me lay out some limitations to consider

O.T. Sacrifices daily; N.T. One sacrifice

O.T. lambs, goats; N.T. The Lamb

O.T. Cleansing, purified by water; N.T. cleansed by the Living Water

O.T. limited to works; N.T. limited to grace not works

Can you think of any other limitations?

To get a good understanding of the scope and the limitations it is good to ask good questions. What kind of questions should we be asking?

Can you think of other tools that maybe helpful to getting to know, understand the scope and limitations of a passage?

There is a necessity of application for scripture is given for that.

Lets look at: 2tim3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

A study is not just about information, it is about transformation!

The bible should encourage you, inspire you, convict you, convert you, and mature you to be more like Christ.

Some application principles to consider; Let’s look at some passages and see what applicable principles we can glean.

2Tim2:15 “15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” - study to show thyself approved

Php4:9 “9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” - what you ave seen , put into practice

ps119:11 “11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” - Put God’s word in so not to sin!

Deu11:18-21 “18 “You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 19 “You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20 “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.”

How about others, can you think of biblical principles that can be grasped and applied?

Look at the time, if we have time let’s put everything we have learned thus far into use. turn to 1Jn1.

Observations

Who, what, where, why how

Any words that should be defined?

Are there cross-references that we should look at to gain better understanding for interpretation?

Is there application for the people then? How about for today, is there application for today?

What is the so that for today? What are you walking away with?

(Prayer)