Obeservation

Intro: Today we are going to dive into how to study the Holy Scriptures. You must understand that there is no easy route in studying. It's hard work. I generally spend 25hrs+ a week preparing for Sunday and Wednesdays messages. First we must understand a few prerequisites if we are going to have any hope of understanding the Bible. The first things we need to recognize is that the Bible is not like any other book. Therefore it cannot be read just like any other book.

Starting off on the right foot

Adopt the right attitudes

How much you value something will determine your persistence in gaining it.

Believe God can enable you to understand the Bible.

Proverbs 2:1–15 CSB

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; 3 furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity 8 so that he may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of his faithful followers. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight you. 11 Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you. 12 It will rescue you from the way of evil— from anyone who says perverse things, 13 from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness, 14 from those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversion, 15 whose paths are crooked, and whose ways are devious.

I. God's word is inspired

A. God-breathed

2 Timothy 3:16 CSB

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

B. No prophet spoke form his own understanding

2 Peter 1:20–21 CSB

20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

C. We cannot add our own meaning to scripture

Mark 7:13

So then what does this mean? It means that we are to regard the Bible as the very utterance of God. This should cause us to want to take the utmost care in our study and understanding of it. There should be a gravity and a seriousness in our approach to studying the word of God.

The next thing we must understand is that merely reading The Word is not the same as studying it. While there is nothing wrong with reading plans and devotional books. They can be a good tool. These are not the same as studying scripture. One pastor described it this way, "one is like using a rake, you may get what's on the surface, but the other is more like using a shovel. You can dig in and learn to understand more than just the milk of The Word.

II. Methods of Bible study

1. Systematic - What does the bible as a whole say about "enter subject matter"

2. General Word Study

3. Synthetic study - reading the book repeatedly looking for different items each time

4. Inductive -The inductive method is an investigative way of studying Scripture that can be used by both new and seasoned students alike. It’s a powerful tool for those who want to learn how to study Scripture well.

1. Observation

2. interpretation

3. application

Where to Begin?

II. Prayer

A. I Cor. 2:14-15, Matt. 11:25 - The scripture is a direct revelation from God and thus cannot be understood without the Holy Spirits guidance.

B. It must be approached through a spirit of submission and a willingness to obey 2 Timothy 3:16-17

1. Don't expect to God to reveal His Word if you know your unwilling to obey it.

2. The Bible is not a book of advice and suggestion, but of authority and command. It is not left to me as to whether its precepts are commandatory; they are; the Bible will be the criterion of judgment in the last day: "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48) William Evans, How I Study My Bible, (London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1934), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 10.

III. Tools to have handy

A. Bible dictionary

B. Concordance

C. Pencil and Paper. I would suggest that you use a fresh notebook for each book of the Bible you study.

IV. Observation - in this stage you are only making observations about the text and what is in the text

A. Read the book in its entirety, If you can in one sitting

1. Use the Bible dictionary to look up any words that you aren't completely sure of its meaning.

2. Make notes of lists, repeated key words and themes.

B. Understand the context

1. General context

a. Old Testament

Law

History

Poetry & Wisdom

Major Prophets

Minor Prophets

b.New Testament

The Gospels & Acts

The Epistles (letters)

Revelation (prophecy)

2. Specific context

a. Historical context

i. Date it was written?

ii. Geography - from where was it written and where was it going?

ii. Major historical events around the time of its writing?

b. Author

i. who wrote it ?

ii. How was the authors life impacted by his historical context?

c. Who were the recipients?

i. Jewish/gentile believers ?

ii. lost/saved ?

c. What was the primary occasion (what prompted the author to right?)

Instruction

correction

d. What was the purpose of the writing (what did the author hope to accomplish by writing?)