How to Know and Understand the Bible: Lesson 3
Notes
Transcript
Main Verse for the lesson: 2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
The proper way to learn and apply Scripture to life is something every Christian should know.
In this lesson we will cover 5 methods of learning Scripture that will help make it easier to understand, and have deeper meaning, and allow for application to happen.
These 5 things are:
Hearing the Bible
Reading the Bible
Studying the Bible
Memorizing the Bible
Meditating on the Bible
1.) Why to Know the Bible
1.) Why to Know the Bible
Here are 5 reasons to know the Bible
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
We study Scripture because it is sufficient: 2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2.) How to know the Bible
2.) How to know the Bible
Hear it.
Hear it.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Whom did Jesus say would be blessed in this verse?
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
In proclaiming the Word, what should pastors and teachers do?
Hearing the Word preached is the first step.
Whether it be a sermon preached in a Sunday morning service, a radio sermon, or one on TV hearing the word is important. However make sure that the person that is preaching the sermon is preaching Biblical truth and not just their opinions as facts.
Read It.
Read It.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
What does this verse say in your own voice?
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
What did Paul ask Timothy to give his attention too?
If you not have a daily reading plan, start with the Gospel of Mark or John. At the rate of 2 chapters each day, you will complete the New Testament in 19 weeks.
Also pick a smaller book of the New Testament and read it every day for a month. Or if it is a bigger book then read ten chapters a day for a month. The reason for doing this is to learn the authors intent of the book and to help understand the writing style of the person who wrote the book.
Other ways of reading are subscription based books: Guidepost, Daily Bread.
Or using an app on your phone such as the Bible app.
Study It.
Study It.
11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
What two traits did the Bereans demonstrate as they received the Word of God?
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
How should we search for wisdom or understanding?
Bible study is more than just reading the Bible, it involves careful observation, interpretation, and application.
Reading gives you the overall picture, but study helps you to think, learn, and apply what you read to your life.
Memorize It.
Memorize It.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
How did God command Israel to remember His Word?
4 But he answered, “It is written,
“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“ ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’ ”
During the three confrontations with Satan, what did Jesus do to overcome His temptations?
How might we apply this example to your own life?
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
What does this verse say in your own words?
It is easier to memorize with a purpose. Understanding the meaning or application of the passage will make memorizing easier.
Meditate on It.
Meditate on It.
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Meditation is a prayerful reflection on Scripture with a view toward understanding and application. Give prayerful thought to God’s Word with the goal of conforming your life to His will.
Meditation on Scripture can be done as you:
Hear the Word preached
Read the Bible
Pray about what you are studying
Reflect on the verses you have memorized
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
How does meditation assist you?
45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Do you think God’s Word can affect your speech and actions? How?
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Besides being diligent in learning God’s Word, what else should we do in order to understand it?
3.) The Bible Study Process
3.) The Bible Study Process
Step One: Preparation
Step One: Preparation
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
What should we do before we approach the Scriptures?
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
What should be the content of our prayers as we prepare to study God’s Word?
Spend a short time in prayer before each study.
Confess any sin and ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes that you may behold wonderful things from His Law. Psalm 119:18
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
Step 2: Observation
Step 2: Observation
What is taking place in the passage? What do I see?
Ask questions as you read, and write them down. Who? What? When? Where?
As you observe the passage, look for:
Key words
Key subjects
Commands
Warnings
Repeated words or phrases
Comparisons (things that are similar; things that are different)
Questions, answers given
Anything unusual or unexpected
Take your time and don’t give up too soon!
Step 3: Interpretation
Step 3: Interpretation
What does it mean?
27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Scripture can be clear. Whom has God given to teach us?
Begin by asking interpretive questions.
What is the importance of:
A given word (especially verbs)?
A given phrase?
Names and titles?
Dates?
Others?
What is the meaning of a particular word?
Why did the writer say this?
What is the implication of this word, phrase, or name?
To find answers to your interpretive questions, use:
The context-the verses before and after the passage you are studying
Definitions of Words
Grammar and sentence structure
Other passages of Scripture
Bible study tools, such as:
Bible dictionaries
Concordances
Bible Handbooks
Bible encyclopedias
Bible commentaries
When interpreting, remember:
That all Scripture will agree. It will not contradict itself.
To let the passage speak for itself in its context. Be careful not to draw conclusions that the author did not intend.
There is only one correct interpretation of any particular passage of Scripture- The author’s originally intended meaning.
Step 4: Application
Step 4: Application
What effect will this have on my life?
This part of the Bible study process takes the truths that have been observed and seeks to incorporate them into everyday life and practice.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Once we have heard the Word of God what should our response be?
A simple tool to help you apply what you have learned is to “put on the SPECS”. Is there a:
Sin to forsake?
Promise to claim?
Example to follow?
Command to obey?
Stumbling block to avoid?
While there is only one correct interpretation of a given passage of Scripture, there are many applications.
Step 5: Repetition
Step 5: Repetition
Bible study is a repetitive process.
When studying a verse steps 2, 3, and 4 are used over and over. Observe, then interpret, then apply.
You may choose to do this for each word, phrase, or thought.
The more passes you make through the verse, the deeper its meaning is opened to you.