BIBLE STUDY BASICS

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You need a Bible, writing utensil, and something to write on.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Acts 17:11 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.

3 Simple Steps
Context

Questions Ask & Answer Apply The intended application Make it personal

Lets again look at the importance of asking questions.

10 Commandments
Ask what does this teach about God?

Do Not Covet Do Not Murder

3 Simple Steps
Context

Questions Ask & Answer Apply The intended application Make it personal

2 TIMOTHY 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

APPLICATION
1. Intended Application
(Interpret First )

2. Personal Application
(Apply Second)

A POEM
Like Puff the Magic Dragon little kids interpret it one way; those that went through the 60s and 70s interpret it another way.

A POEM can have many interpretations and everyone is right (in their own mind). The Bible is NOT the same way. This is where cults come from.

The Bible can be used for many things.

History Poetry Spelling Bee Kindling Learning to Read Paper Weight Instruction

AUTHORITY The Bible is Gods Word. No matter what we think or want, when we disagree with Scripture, we are wrong. Like Gravity We can think its not there, deny its existence, and argue over whether it has authority over us or not, but in the end, gravity always wins. When we decide what the Bible means to us, rather than what God intended, we become the authority, rather than God, and the Bibles own authority is thrown out. This will not change our lives.

Throughout history, and especially today, people have (mis)used the Bible to justify many sins. How can we avoid this?
We need to have boundaries (rules) on how to use the Bible (we call that HERMENEUTICS). What are we trying to figure out when we study the Bible? what is the most basic rule? How can we make sure our application is authoritative (from God and not from us)?

What did the author intend? What did the author intend for his audience to understand? What did God intend, though the author, for the audience to understand?

NOT
What does it mean to me?

3 Simple Steps
Context Questions Ask & Answer Apply The intended application Make it personal

AUTHORITY
Think of our Government. God is like the Judge. The Bible is like the law.
When we interpret the law our own way (What does it mean to me?), it may feel good, but we are wrong. Even if what we say is true. We read the law Do not speed.

We interpret Dont do drugs.

Its true. But it has nothing to do with the original law. We might interpret it to mean Dont go more than 20 miles over the limit. We can interpret this way but well end up paying a hefty fine.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

What is the INTENDED Application?

Whoever is spelled whoever
2+2=4

We should Love God with all our heart

There is only one way to heaven Love is the greatest power

Believing in Jesus will give you eternal life.

What are the dangers of saying that John 3:16 teaches that we should love God with all our heart?
How do we stop someone else from saying that a verse means anything they want it to mean?
We miss what God is actually saying.

Ultimately, we are misusing and cheapening Gods Word (we are using our authority, not Gods)
Whenever we teach, we are teaching how to learn. And if we are wrongly using Gods Word then people that learn from us will wrongly use it.

What did God intend, through the author, for the audience to understand?

The Word of God is not a rubber nose that you can twist to suit your face. (Earl Radmacher)

Always go with the simple, straight-forward, ordinary, obvious, plain, direct, normal, natural meaning unless there is a very good reason not to do so.

Many Christians are like old photos overexposed and under developed

How many weapons were in that picture?

What did the street sign say?

Who is drinking a beer? What are the letters on top of the street sign?

Who is wearing a striped shirt?

Whos head is second lowest? Who has their mouth closed?

OBSERVATION
For simplicity, I typically teach that observation is just part of asking questions
Learning to Read Learn to Read Better & Faster There is a direct correlation between your ability in reading and your ability in studying the Bible. (How To Read by Mortimer J. Adler) Learn to read as for the First time Mindset; familiarity breeds ignorance so use different versions Learn to read it as a love letter Dear Tim Why just dear why not dearest? Was she shy? Would she write that to anyone? ?? We need to come to the Word of God in love with the person who wrote it

Learning What To Look For

Like a doctor who knows what to look for in a patient, consider six things to look for.

Look for Things that are Emphasized Amount of space used The stated purpose (John 20:30) The order of material (Luke 3-4) The movement from the lesser to the greater (2 Samuel 11-12 pivot of the book) (Acts 2) Look for Things that are Repeated These may be terms, phrases, or clauses Psalm 136; Hebrews 11 Look for things that are Related The Biblical authors may show relationships in a number of ways Move from the general to the specific (Mat 6:1- three illustrations of the principle are given) Using questions and answers (Romans all of it; Chapter 6) Cause & Effect (Acts 8:1,4)

Learning What To Look For

Look for things that are Alike Expressions to look for: As, like shows comparison (Ps 42 As the deer) Look for things that are Unlike Key Word: But shows contrast Matthew 5 (you have heard it said, BUT I tell you) Look for things that are true to life (principles) What were their ambitions, goals, problems? things we relate to

The more time you spend in observation, the less time you will spend in interpretation, and the more accurate will be your results.

The more substantial the foundation, the more substantial the superstructure it all starts with observation. The quality of the observation determines the quality of the interpretation

A FEW GENERAL PRINCIPLES

There are many more check them out for yourselves I steal many from Howard Hendricks (and his are also borrowed)

Determine the teaching intention of the author John 10:28 no one can snatch them out of my hand. Some say we can jump out (lose our salvation) BUT clearly, in the context, John did not intend that at all This point really is the starting place for all the other points Remember the Basic Unit of Scripture: Book When you study, study in books Note the structure of the book (outline) Understand the (thought) Outline Many outlines are poor. Outlines should not just tell you what is in that section, but should relate to the sections around Occasion of the Book Argument of the Book Purpose of the Book

Use Many Translations NIV & NAS are most common and best overall KJV hmmm Modern Translations Paraphrase vs. Translation

Assume the Clarity of Scripture Always go with the simple, straight-forward, ordinary, obvious, plain, direct, normal, natural meaning unless there is a very good reason not to do so. When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, use no other sense or you will have nonsense. Dr. Dave Reid

Pray John 1:15

9 Questions for Application

Be very careful here. First, find out what the authors intent is. Let that drive your application. But, as you are waiting on God to speak to you, think about the following. Is there a __________________________ to _____________________________ Example Follow Sin Avoid Promise Claim Prayer Repeat (learn from) Command Obey Condition Meet Verse Memorize Error Mark Challenge Face

Be careful about spiritualization David & Goliath (5 Rocks = 5 key things to hold onto to slay the giants in your life) Acknowledge that the finite cannot completely fathom the infinite Like trying to totally grasp the Trinity; Be in Awe!

There are so many more!!!

As a carpenter friend of mine said, The more tools an individual has, usually the better a carpenter he is. This is also true of Bible study. The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it; and so they see only the dead letter. (Phillips Brooks) The Bible is not Gods Word because it works; rather it works because it is Gods Word!!! Be careful about believing what your favorite author or speaker (pastor) says

Resources for Bible Study

In the late 12th Century Peter of Bloy wrote However dogs may bark at me and pigs grunt, I shall always imitate the writings of the ancients. These shall be my study. We are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants by whose grace we see farther than they.
DONT USE NOTES/COMMENTARIES UNTIL YOUVE STUDIED WELL

Many Translations of the Bible New International Version & New American Standard are probably the two best Use all sorts of translations and paraphrases Get a Bible good for Study (not a study Bible) One without notes; with wide margins; with cross-references Mark it up!!! Books on Bible Study Living By The Book (Howard Hendricks) Very good; Full of examples The Joy of Discovery (Kay Arthur) Short but good

Exhaustive Concordance (#1 resource) Strongs (The classic but KJV) Get the NIV or NAS one Bible Dictionary Allows you to understand more about each word (explains the Greek and Hebrew) Ungers (classic) Vines (classic)

Bible Handbook Usually goes through the Bible book by book (gives basic info) Moody Atlas of the Bible THE IVP Bible Background Commentary (have a volume on New and Old Testament) - doesnt explain the passage, but rather goes through each book and gives cultural and historical info on anything that might help you understand the passage (good, but not cheap)

Atlas Maps, chart, etc Commentary (One or two volume) NEVER USE A COMMENTARY UNTIL YOUVE ALREADY STUDIED AND PRAYED The Bible Knowledge Commentary (two volumes; very good) The John MacArthur study Bible has such good notes that I would almost call it a commentary Theology Book (not typically thought of as a Bible help, but can be very helpful) Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology Erickson

Use the internet to find good prices bookstores are way expensive. CBD usually does well (christianbook.com)

Billy Graham
Hes not a great speaker. Hes not that smart; Hes not funny; Why is he so effective?

I felt as though I had a sword in my hand and, through the power of the Bible, was slashing deeply into mens consciences, leading them to surrender to God. Does not the Bible say of itself, For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)?

I found that the Bible became a flame in my hands. That flame melted away unbelief in the hearts of the people and moved them to decide for Christ. The Word became a hammer breaking up stony hearts and shaping them into the likeness of God. I found that I could take a simple outline and put a number of pertinent Scripture quotations under each point, and God would use this mightily to cause men to make full commitment to Christ. I found that I did not have to rely upon cleverness, oratory, psychological manipulation of crowds, or apt illustrations or striking quotations form famous men. I began to rely more and more up on Scripture itself and God blessed.

Either the Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

I hope these slides help you in some way (feel free to delete this slide).
Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I did not include. There are also a few notes at the bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should have. If you have some great ideas or help or criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot me an email.

youthpastortimo@hotmail.com (515) 448-5414