How to Study The Bible: The Inductive Method

1. How to Study The Bible:The Inductive Method “Foundations of Knowing Him” Crossroads Bible Church Spring 2004

2. I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day long than I would, as it were, rinse my hands in several chapters.  Oh, to bathe in a text of Scripture and to let it be sucked up into your very soul til it saturates your heart.  The man who has read many books it not always a learned man, but he is a strong man who has read three or four books over and over til he has mastered them.  Set your heart upon God's Word!  It is the only way to know it thoroughly; let your whole nature be plunged into it as cloth into a dye. - Charles Spurgeon

3. Look Learn Love Observation Interpretation Application What do I see? What does it mean? How does it work? What is the Inductive Method? The Inductive Method is a systematic process of observing, interpreting, and applying Scripture.

4. Why use the Inductive Method? 1. Its aim is transformation, not information “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5) 2. It gets you re-reading and musing over the text, which helps memorization 3. It’s applicable to every encounter with God’s word (hearing sermons, meditation, etc.) 4. It structures your study and organizes your thoughts 5. It deepens our love for God and dependence on God’s Spirit to teach us His Word

5. Observation: Overview

6. Identification: Overview

7. Investigation: Overview

8. Practice Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Matthew 14:13-21 What do you see?

9. Matthew 14: 13-21 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. [14] When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. [15] Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." [16] But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." [17] They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." [18] And he said, "Bring them here to me." [19] Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [20] And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. [21] And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

10. Observation Pointers • Record your observations. “Think with a pen” (Jonathan Edwards). • Don’t skip observation because you’ll risk interpreting poorly and applying dangerously. • Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know how to answer your observation questions. Your first task is just to answer, “what do I see?” • The better your observation, the better your interpretation, and the better your application.

11. How to Study The Bible:The Inductive MethodStep 2: Interpretation “Foundations of Knowing Him” Crossroads Bible Church Spring 2004

12. It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. - Mark Twain

13. Definition Game! exegesis hermeneutics exposition dynamic equivalence canon Tanakh Koine formal equivalence

14. Translations Which do I use?

15. Evaluating Translations Overall goal: Transparency to the original text a. Faithful to the original languages (does not change what it says) b. Presents itself in modern language with literary beauty

16. Translation Spectrum Dynamic Formal word for word ESV NASB thought for thought NLT NIV

17. Interpretation: Overview Learn Interpretation What does it mean? Content Context Comparison Culture Consultation Looking Learning

18. The Holy Spirit and the Word 1. The apostles delivered the NT not from their interpretation, but directly from revelation by God. (1 Cor. 13:132 Pt. 1:20) 2. We also can (and need to) rely on God’s Spirit to illumine our minds and hearts to fully grasp Scripture. (Psa. 119:33 2 Tim. 2:7)

19. Key One: Content

20. Practice Content Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Matthew 14:13-21 What does it mean?

21. Key Two: Context

22. Practice Context Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Matthew 14:13-21 What does it mean?

23. Key Three: Comparison

24. Practice Comparison Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Matthew 14:13-21 What does it mean?

25. Key Four: Culture

26. Key Five: Consultation

27. Practice Culture and Consultation Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Matthew 14:13-21 What does it mean?

28. Matthew 14: 13-21 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. [14] When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. [15] Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." [16] But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." [17] They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." [18] And he said, "Bring them here to me." [19] Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [20] And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. [21] And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

29. Interpretation Pointers • Ask, “what barriers are blocking my understanding of this passage?” Be aware of fear of change or of conviction (like we saw in Mark Twain’s quote). • Check out online resources (links will be posted online) • Ask your spouse to hold you accountable to growing in inductive Bible Study • Don’t skip observation and go right to commentaries; they have great value but not before observation.

30. How to Study The Bible:The Inductive MethodStep 3: Application “Foundations of Knowing Him” Crossroads Bible Church Spring 2004

31. "Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years." - Charles Spurgeon

32. God’s Interest Why is God utterly concerned with your application?

33. Christ and Our Obedience • 1. Nothing tells more about our relationship with Christ than application • “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” • 2. Application is the channel for us to experience Christ more • “And he who loves me will be loved by my Father. And I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

34. Typical, Bad Substitutions • Interpretation for application (doctrine for doing) • Superficial obedience to substantive life-change • Rationalization for repentance • Emotional experience for volitional decision • Conviction for change • Talk for walk • Busyness for obedience

35. Application Questions • Is there an example for me to follow? • Is there a sin to avoid? • Is there a promise to claim? • Is there a prayer to repeat? • Is there a command to obey? • Is there a condition to meet? • Is there a verse to memorize? • Is there an error to mark? • Is there a challenge to face?

36. Application Areas • People • Work • ministry • coworkers • Neighbors • Family • Other acquaintances • Enemies • People who annoy/aggravate you • Church • Community • Those in need World • World • Nation • outside U.S. • unreached people groups • politics • government • missionaries Friends • Me • thoughts (belief system) • attitudes • actions • emotions Me God

37. More Info “Living by the Book” By Howard Hendricks and William Hendricks