The Sixth Step of Inductive
Bible Study is Asking the Big
Question,
“How is this Passage going to
fit into my life?”
Service is who we are in Christ,
and not so much what we do for
Christ!
“Now the Bereans were of more
noble character than the
Thessalonians, for they received
the message with great eagerness
and examined the Scriptures
every day to see if what Paul
said was true.” (Acts 17:11)
This is the step that helps us
“internalize” what we are
learning. This is the process of
further interpretation, which is
determining the meaning of the
text. Not just what it says, but
what we do with it: to determine
how it’s going to “affect” and
“effect” me to “fit into” our
life.
- “It is not enough to just know
it. It must be rooted in our
very hearts, minds and soul!”
- We must ask ourselves, “How
can the teaching about God’s
Word relate to my problems,
feelings, values, attitudes,
situations, ambitions, needs,
desires, and relationships.”
- Study with a not only a
personal application in mind but
also how can I be changed,
renewed and transformed.
- Don’t forget to write down
what you are going to do about
it (Rom. 12; James 1:22-25).
START LOOKING FOR THE ANSWERS: “Interpretation” is the process
of determining the meaning of
the text.
You can not make an application
until you are a “new life,” that
is we must be the people of God
to be able to do the work of
God!
- Ask the Question: “What is God
Telling Me?”
- Ask the Question: “How am I
Encouraged and Strengthened?”
- Ask the Question: “How can I
be changed, so I can learn and
grow?”
- Ask the Question: “What is in
the way of these precepts
affecting me? What is in the way
of my listening to God?”
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS:
Discover and understand what
the divine author means.
Example: When Jesus says He is
the bread of life, does this
mean He is the loaf of bread?
WHAT DOES SOMETHING MEAN AND WHY
IS IT THERE?
- Discover the historical and
cultural background.
- Be sure your information is
correct!
- Look up what you do not
understand! Make sure you use
good commentaries, Study Bibles,
and Bible Dictionaries.
Digging Personally:
- How are you encouraged and
strengthened?
- Where have you fallen short,
and how can you improve?
- What do you now intend to do
with the information given to
you by the Holy Spirit through
God’s Word?
Remember:
“All scripture is
inspired by God and profitable
for teaching…” We must never
substitute doctrine for personal
beliefs! (2 Timothy 3:16).
- Consider any barriers you may
have to knowing Christ
further—about Him, His story,
His character…?
- What about barriers from
growing in Christ, and not
taking time and effort in your
spiritual walk?
- What are the barriers from
following His will?
- What about barriers we place
in the way of worshiping Christ
in a deeper, more heartfelt way?
Consider what distracts you.
Remember, worship is not just a
service; it is a lifestyle!
- What holds you back in your
spiritual development and
deployment? Traditions?
Presumptions? Time? Commitment?
Be Aware of Context! You will
get into big trouble if you try
to read into the text what is
not there!
- THERE ARE NO SECRET MEANINGS!
(except some apoplectic
writings, but they are not a
“secret” just temporally hidden,
they will be plainly revealed in
time)!
- You are not to dig out what is
not there!
- Getting into God’s Word must
affect our every day life. How
we think, how we feel; this is
where our values come from.
- We are to be active in God’s
Word even when we are not
reading it.
- To our very “existential core”
that is the soul and being of
who we are to Christ!
- We must have the confidence
that the Bible is truth, and the
Truth is living within us.
Without such confidence, we can
no way be transformed ourselves,
let alone infect others with the
Gospel message! This is knowing
It!
- We must allow God’s Word to
bend and break our will and
desires over to His!
What did God say to you today?
What did God nourish you with
today? Are you appreciating it?
- Is there a sin in your life
that needs to be confessed and
repented?
- Are you not only receiving the
great benefits, but practicing
them to others around you?
- Are you a changed person as a
result of receiving the Word?
Here are some more personal,
inductive questions you can use
to challenge yourself. Take a
careful look at the passage you
are studying; as you realize
that it is indeed God’s most
precious Word, examine your life
and compare it to the passage.
Now ask yourself:
- How do I exhibit a life of
fruit, character, love, faith,
and maturity in my daily life
now?
- How can I develop the
willingness to be a more
disciplined, character, fruit
and faith driven person who will
realize I am called, empowered,
and filled by Christ?
- What blocks His work in me
from working and being exhibited
in me?
- How can I accept and commence
His work, and discipline myself
to carry it out?
- What can I do to make His work
in me function better, stronger,
and faster, even in times of
uncertainty and stress?
- So, what is our LORD telling
you?
Remember, service is who we are
in Christ, and not so much what
we do for Christ!
Condensed from the book, "Into
Thy Word"
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