METHODS Bible Study Method

LETTING THE BIBLE TEACH US

LESSON


1
Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the inductive Bible study method and explain why it is
superior to other Bible study methods.
 Main points
 Deduction and induction flow in opposite logical directions.
 The inductive method is the best method to learn something new from the Word.
 The steps of the inductive method are: Observation, Interpretation and Application
 As long as the inductive method is not rushed, it provides a solid foundation for
understanding the Bible.
 Desired results
When the content of this lesson has been mastered, each participant must:
 Understand the difference between deduction and induction.
 Be convinced that the inductive method is better than the “common” approach to studying the
Word.
 Know the three stages of the inductive method.

INTRODUCTION

The Bible:
 It is the very word of the Almighty, the infinite God, given to reveal
Himself to finite man.
 It is the most important tool for the pastor or church planter.
 It can penetrate the hearts and souls of those who seek to win for the
Lord.
 Equips us for every good work
 It serves as a standard by which we can measure and evaluate every doctrine, practice, tradition,
and other book.

“Do your best to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, who
rightly handles the word of truth .” (2Tim 2:15)

How can we ensure that we correctly understand God's Word?

The inductive Bible study method is designed to help each believer better understand the teaching of
God's Word.

I. INDUCTIVE VS. DEDUCTIVE

Deduction and induction are two types of logic or reasoning. Both methodologies are used by
Christians to study the Bible, but we are usually not aware of how each method affects our study and
our conclusions.

A. The Deductive Approach

Deductive reasoning is an inferior method of studying the Bible.

1. Deductive Reasoning
In general, deductive reasoning begins with a known and accepted idea . This existing
understanding is then compared to a particular situation, and a conclusion is drawn.

1
 shape. The basis for this conclusion is the fact that the general idea is true, and that the specific
situation resembles that idea. It can be said that the general idea controls, or at least strongly
influences, the way we look at a particular situation.

Idea
Known
Particular
and Addresses . Conclusion
Accepted ..

For example , since snow-covered stairs are typically slippery, we approach them with caution—
even if we had never slipped on these particular stairs. Our general experience with snow-
covered stairs directs us to this logical and reasonable conclusion.
2. Deductive Bible Study

However, the deduction has major weaknesses. If our

understanding is wrong, so will our conclusion.

When we study the Bible, it is important to understand what God is saying, rather than
imposing our understanding on the text.

Sometimes when we cannot understand a difficult verse, our first step should be to pray, meditate
on the verse, and continually reread it to try to understand what it wants to tell us. If we quickly
give up and assume it is “exactly like other similar verses,” we can seriously distort God's Word.

For example , ten out of eleven times the New Testament uses the word “leaven” to refer to sin.
Therefore it would be logical to assume that the eleventh time (Matt 13:33) also refers to sin. This
would be a mistake. An analysis of the context shows that in this verse, it refers to the Kingdom of
God.

3. Deduction is the “most common” Method

As a result, few learn much from the Bible. Because they come to Scripture with a preconceived
understanding of what it means, they cannot notice and learn from the details of a particular text
or the ideas the Lord wanted to communicate.

B. The Inductive Approach

The inductive method is in many ways the opposite of the deductive method.
Examine the particulars of a situation, and then attempt to form a general
principle from them.

1. Inductive Reasoning
With inductive reasoning, we assume that we do not yet know the
answers, and we examine the specific details and facts carefully to try to understand what they
mean. Then, we form our conclusions.

2
 Particular Conclusions
Facts and
Details They direct to . .
General

2. Inductive Bible Study

When we use the inductive method to study the Bible, we acknowledge to God and ourselves that
we do not yet know all the answers. We come with a commitment to carefully examine the text
and allow the Lord to speak to us through it, not through someone else.

3. A Better Method
The inductive method is superior to the deductive method because it establishes the Scriptures
as the authority , rather than our understanding. It is also better because it combines the process
of understanding and applying biblical principles in our lives. The inductive method leads to
spiritual growth.

The process of the inductive Bible study method is:

1) Observation of the facts in the biblical context:

We see how God dealt with people in a particular situation, at a particular time, and in a
particular culture.

2) The Interpretation: Our task is to take this data and form from it a biblical principle that the
passage teaches.

3) The Application: We then translate this principle to our situation so that we can apply it to
our lives.

II. STEPS OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY

Each of the three steps of the inductive Bible study method is important. Basically, the three steps
ask three different questions about the text.

1) What does the text say? [The observation]

2) What does the text mean? [Interpretation]
3) What should I do? [The application]

Note the logical progression of the three steps, beginning with the biblical text and
ending with an application. If the steps are not completed in the proper order, the result
is defective.

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 1. 2. 3.
Observation Interpretation Application

Facts Principle Task

A. Observation- What does it say?

 First, we look at the text, seeing every detail we can find in it, and writing down
our observations.
 The key is to ask a series of questions such as “Who?, What?, Why?, Where?,
When?, Etc.” These questions help us focus on what the Bible says, rather than
just our ideas.
 We examine the context of the verse, paragraph, chapter and book to discover
and understand the situation in which it was written.

B. Interpretation- What does it mean?

The interpretation process has two parts.
1) Determine the intent the passage had for its original audience.

A. At this point, we need to compare our entire understanding of the original

situation (its historical, geographical , political, cultural, religious
background) with the facts we discovered in the observation stage.
B. Now is the time to compare this text with other similar passages to see if
they can help us understand it - taking care that these texts do not distort
the facts of the text we are studying.

2) Formulate the message of the passage as a biblical principle that can be applied to other
similar situations.

A. This is a difficult stage, requiring serious thought with prayer and the leading
of the Holy Spirit.
B. If the meaning of the passage is still unclear, it may be necessary to return to
the observation stage and continue digging for more information.

C. Application- What should I do?

The difficulty of this stage is determining what situation today is really on par with the original
situation. We can only say “thus says the Lord” if we can demonstrate that this similarity exists. If our
situation really is the same as the Bible passage, then we can assume that the Lord wants us to apply
the message to our lives. In that case, the important task is to specifically and clearly state what “we
must do.”

III. BUILDING A SOLID PYRAMID

It is important not to skip any of

these three steps, nor change the
order.

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A. Speeding up the Process
The most common mistake is spending too little time in the observation phase. The
person studying the Bible takes a quick look at the passage and assumes he knows
what it says. The result is an understanding of the passage that is exactly the same as
when you began the process. Scripture has not been able to speak to us or teach us. If
we approach God's Word in this way, our biblical understanding will stagnate. The Bible
is alive and active. We can never understand the depth of his teachings. There is always
more to a student of the Word than he can.
learn- if we take the time and put in the effort to understand it.

QVaC
Brie

Common Approach Correct Approach

The result of poor preparation is weak preaching, without the power of the Lord behind it. A
brief observation leads to a quick and questionable interpretation, or a previous interpretation is
“placed” in a text that may not support it. Finally, a sermon or message is built on this unstable
foundation.

B. A Solid Foundation
The pyramid on the right shows that observation occupies the largest section, followed by
interpretation and the smallest application. However, the application is sound and valid—being based
on a thorough study of the Word.
CONCLUSION
The inductive method of Bible study is a superior method for studying the Word. It leads to a more
accurate understanding of the Bible, and promotes true spiritual growth and learning. It is the best method
not only for pastors and preachers, but for every Christian. We should all be learning from the Scriptures.
Every church planter must not only master this method, but must also teach it to every believer under his
or her care.

The inductive method can be compared to mining for gold or jewelry. First, tons of rocks
are crushed into manageable pieces and washed (the observation). Then, the crushed
rock is sifted through to find the gold nuggets (the interpretation). Finally, the gold
nuggets are melted and formed into jewelry or other objects for the consumer (the
application). The process only produces a small amount of gold compared to the weight
of the original rock. However, the result is of great value.
ACTION PLAN
 The next time you study the Bible, note how much time you spend on observation, interpretation, and
application. Based on these times, evaluate whether you are using the inductive method, the
deductive method, or something in between.

 In preparation for the next lesson on observation, choose a short passage to study (no more than one
paragraph). Spend at least two hours prayerfully looking at the passage and asking God to open your
eyes to things you have not yet seen. Write down your observations. What did he learn?

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QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1) What is the basic difference between deduction and induction?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

2) Why is the inductive method of studying the Bible superior, compared to the deductive method?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

3) What are the dangers of the “mainstream” approach to Bible study and preaching?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

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 METHODS

How We Receive the Bible

1a
THE BIBLE IS RELIABLE
An understanding of the origin and transmission of the Bible God helps us appreciate this wonderful tool and
its importance to the success of our ministry.

The Bible (means “books” in Greek):

 Contains 66 books
 Written by 40 different authors
 Written in 3 languages (Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic)
 Written for more than 1500 years

However, its unity, consistency, and lack of contradiction prove that God Himself is the primary author ,
guiding each human author to ensure that the product is exactly what He planned. The Bible is a single
story of how God, in His love, made a way to restore man to fellowship with Himself, through His Son
Jesus Christ.

HOW WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE

The Lord has worked, and continues to work, to bring us a reliable Bible. There are several steps in this
process.

A. The inspiration
The term “inspiration” literally means God breathed it out, and affirms that the Bible is the product of the
living God. Inspiration refers not to the literary quality of what was written but to its divine origin and
character.

 “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2Tim 3:16)

 “the holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2Peter 1:20-21)
 The prophets and apostles claimed to speak and write the words of another: God Himself.
 Jesus said He only spoke the words given to Him by His Father.

B. Preservation
Considering the multitudes of copiers, the thousands of years of copying, the numerous languages in
which the Bible was copied, the large geographic area, and the various attempts to destroy the Bible,
it is amazing that we have such a reliable and accurate text. God has clearly worked to preserve it for
our use.

 Faithful men have always exercised great care in accurately copying the biblical text.
 The massive amount of manuscripts discovered have allowed us to find and fix errors.
C. The Canonization
The term “canon,” from Greek, means rule or norm. “Canon” has been used by Christians since the
fourth century to identify an authoritative list of books that belong to the Bible.

The formation of the Old and New Testaments:

 Many church leaders contributed to the task
 The books themselves testify of other books
 The author's credentials were important

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  The books were in agreement with other accepted books
 The acceptance of books by the church
 By the time of Jesus Christ, the Old Testament already consisted of all 39 books, with the
accepted canonical list dated 170 AD.
 The New Testament canon, with 27 books, was completed in the fourth century.

The Apocrypha books

 They are rejected by the Evangelical Church
 They do not claim to be The Scriptures
 They contain obvious errors
 They were denied canonical status by the Jewish community.
 They have a devotional style that is attractive to the liturgical worship of Orthodox and Catholics.
 They contain parts that the Roman Church found useful during the Protestant Reformation
 The Catholic Council of Trent included them in its Canon in 1548 AD.
D. The translation
God's desire is for each person to hear His Word in their own language. The task is great and it is not
yet finished. Translators have to choose the best words and phrases to maintain both the meaning of
the original language:

 Since modern languages and cultures vary and change

 So that people of any age or level of education can understand it
 Since no translation is perfect

E. The lighting
As the Christian reads, studies, prays and meditates on the Word, the Holy Spirit reveals its meaning.

 Man cannot learn without the Spirit (1Cor. 2:11-14, Ps 119:18)

 The Spirit does not teach without the effort of man (2Tim 2:15, Ps 119:97-99, Pr 2:1-5)
 Teaching the Word of God is a special honor (2Tim 4:17) but it is also a serious responsibility
(Jas 3:1).

We lack nothing more than our decision to

handle it correctly, and use it faithfully to
develop our own Christian life first and then
minister to others.

CONCLUSION

God has made every provision so that we have a reliable text in our language, and has allowed us to
understand it with the help of His Spirit. God has overseen the transmission of His Word from the time of
its initial writing until we open it to seek instruction for our lives. The copy we have in our hands is reliable
for personal growth and ministry. However, it is a living and spiritual book, and can only be understood as
we approach it in prayer and reverence, allowing the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the truths it contains.

Thank the Lord for this wonderful book to guide us. What a privilege to be a part of this process of
bringing the living Word of God to a world in need!

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 METHODS LESSON
Observing the Word of God
2 WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?

 Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to model for the church planter how to study the Bible through
the principle of “observation.”
 Main points
 A successful Bible study must be immersed in prayer.
 Context is extremely important.
 There are six key questions to ask about any passage.
 Desired results
When the content of this lesson has been mastered, each participant must:
 Know how to prepare observation questions in an inductive Bible study.
 Be committed to studying God's Word diligently.

INTRODUCTION
All Christians need to be able to study the Bible for their own spiritual growth
God expects us to
as well as the growth of those under their spiritual care. God has given the Holy
study His Word
Spirit to every believer to be our primary teacher. We must never forget the
diligently using all
importance of our dependence on the Spirit of God to teach us and empower us
the resources He
to obey what we learn. With God's help, it is possible for every believer to
has given us.
understand the Bible, even if the only book we have is the Bible. We must never
choose between studying diligently or depending on the Holy Spirit - both are
important.

How hard should we strive to understand the living, active Word of Almighty God? Doing a quick read of a
Bible passage and assuming we fully understand it is foolish. There is always something more we can
understand.

This lesson focuses on the first step of inductive Bible study --- observation.
If we do a thorough and careful job of observation, the resulting interpretation and application will be
much more reliable. Our goal should be to understand exactly what God wants us to know and do. That is
why observation is an essential step in the process.

Observation
1 What Does the Text
Say?
I. THE OBSERVATION - WHAT DOES THE TEXT
SAY? Answer the question “What does the text say?”
clearly shows:

. Facts Applicatio
n the people, places, events, circumstances, objects,
time, relationships, personal opinions, ideas, etc., that
were in the writer's mind and the context when the text
Interpretation was written .

A. Prepare for Observation

Since the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we cannot approach it as if it were
any other book. There are several factors that will affect whether we
understand it or not.

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 1. Faith
“But the natural man does not perceive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they must be spiritually
discerned.”
(1Cor 2:14)

This does not mean that only believers should engage in a Bible study. What it does imply is
that unsaved people are limited in what they can understand . The spirit
Santo desires to teach them the truths of sin, justice, and judgment from the Word in order to lead
them to salvation. Therefore, a Bible study for non-believers must focus on the basic truths of the
Gospel.

2. The sentence
 Before we begin, we must pray and confess any sin or other A proper Bible
obstacles that prevent us from learning the Word. study will always
 We must pray for understanding . (Ps 119:18; Eph 1:18) be surrounded by
 Must pray by clarity when we see something prayer.
that we don't understand.
 Finally, we should pray about how God wants us to apply what we have learned to our lives.

3. A Disposition to Obedience
“Do not be content with just hearing the word, for in this way you deceive yourselves. Put it into
practice. “He who hears the word but does not put it into practice is like someone who looks at his
face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, leaves and immediately forgets what he is like.”
(James 1:22-25)

Jesus also said that putting His words into practice was like building a house on a rock. Not
obeying was like building on sand (Matt 7:24,26). Jesus said that giving spiritual truth to those
unwilling to obey it is as ridiculous as giving pearls to swine (Matt 7:6).

4. A Self-assessment
It is true that a pastor or sower is responsible for teaching the Word to
others. We are called to “feed the sheep.” (John 21:17) But, we must always
seek an application for ourselves, even when the goal is to preach to others.

A teaching ministry will be deeper and more satisfying if the teacher is sharing from the
abundance of truth that he is learning from the Lord day by day.

5. A Willingness to Learn
Approach the Scriptures with an open mind. Be willing to let God teach you what His Word really
says. Always be willing to submit your personal belief to the light of God's Word. Don't be afraid to
change your perspective if God teaches you the truth regarding a matter.

B. Take Enough Time

If the process is rushed, the result will be a shallow understanding of the text. It is important to exercise
patience and determination to keep working until the text is understood.

The first step is to reread the text several times to get a general understanding of the passage.
There are many passages with which it is easy to get bogged down in the details unless you can
discern the general theme through several readings.

C. Look at the Context Understanding context

The term 'context' refers to the verses surrounding the passage being is one of the most
studied. Looking at the context means examining. valuable tools of Bible
study

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  What do the previous and following verses talk about?
 What is the topic of the paragraph?
 What is the theme of the chapter?
 What is the purpose or theme of the book?
 Is the passage in the Old or New Testament and what does this imply?

A good example of the importance of context is Phil 4:19, where Paul promises that “My God will
supply all your need.”

Many understand this as an unconditional promise to all, or that since Philippians was written to
believers, this promise is only for believers. However, a study of the context reveals that Philippians is
a “letter of thanks” to the church in Philippi for the gift they sent to Paul. Chapter 4 talks about this
generous gift that they had sent to Paul even though they were poor. Verse 18 shows that God is
grateful for this gift. Therefore, the context indicates that verse 19 is a promise to those who have
sacrificed themselves to provide financial support to a church-planting missionary (Paul) who was
preaching the Gospel to the lost (in Rome).

It is best not to use comments and other resources until the interpretation stage. There is no
substitute for reading the Scriptures for yourself and allowing them to speak to you under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit. Take the time to listen to God before looking at the comments of mere
men , even if they are good teachers or authors.

Looking at the context includes reading more than just the passage to study---it includes
the verses, chapters, or books that surround it. We take a step back to view the passage
from a distance before we get closer to take a closer look.

D. Examine the Structure

Having examined the passage from afar, it is now time to take a closer look. Read the
passage several times, looking for and noting any of the following details of
structure:

 Keywords- word or words that are repeated. Many times this indicates the
theme.
 Comparisons or Contrasts- Is something compared to something else? HE
do they contrast?
 The progression of an idea- Is one idea based on another? Are they linked to other ideas like a
chain?
 Verbs- Is there any type of action? Is there a command we must obey?
 Conjunctives- Is something equal to something else? Many times the conjunctive “but” or “more”
appears in contrasts, and the words “like” or “thus” can indicate a comparison.
 Illustrations- Visualize in your mind the thing or action being described.
 Type of literature - A passage can be history, prophecy, allegory, didactic truth, logic, parable, or
many other possibilities.

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E. Ask Questions: Who?, What?, Where?, When?, How? and because?

The best method of discovering the content and meaning of a passage of Scripture is to ask key
questions about it and record the answers. The following figure shows the six key questions to ask
and answer. There are, of course, other possible questions, but these are the most important ones.
Other questions tend to be variations of these six.

Who?
That?
Where?
When?
As?
Because ?
If possible, you should ask whatever combinations of these questions you can imagine (more is
better). Example variations of these questions are presented in the following section. As you ask
questions, carefully record the answers on a sheet of paper. You will need to refer to them at the
interpretation stage.
If you can't find
Don't dismiss these questions. They can be important. Pray about them, the answer to a
meditate on them, and ask God to teach you the answers. Be prepared to question, come
spend time on this effort, because it will be worth it when you come to a back to it later.
clearer understanding of the passage.

II. EXAMPLES OF OBSERVATIONS

Let's use the six questions to see what we can discover about God's truth in an Old Testament
passage that deals with a young man called to serve God.

Open your Bible to Jeremiah 1, pray for understanding, and then seek answers to the following
questions. Take special note of the types of questions being asked. In your own study later, you will
need to form similar questions about other passages as you study them. Write the answers next to
each question in your notebook.

A. Who? (people)
 To whom is this portion of Scripture attributed (v. 1)?
 Who are the people mentioned in this passage (vv. 1-2)?
 Who are the kings mentioned in verses 2-3?
 Who are the people God is calling to bring disaster to the earth (v15)?
 Verses 18-19 mention Jeremiah's main opposition. Who will these people be?
 (Other?)

B. That? or which? (the Facts and Events)

 What special event is mentioned at the beginning of verse 2?
 Is it possible to deduce what Jeremiah's role was from verse 2?
 If so, what was your role?
 According to verse 3, what event took place at the end of Zedekiah's reign?

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  What happened to Jeremiah in verse 4?
 What was the “word of the Lord” that came to him (verse 5)?
 What are the four specific actions that God attributes to Himself in verse 5?
 In verse 5, what was Jeremiah's role going to be?
 What was the scope of Jeremiah's role? Was it limited to the nation of Israel or was it broader?
 What was Jeremiah's response in verse 6?
 What was God's response to Jeremiah in verses 7-8?
 What are the two imperatives that God gives Jeremiah in verses 7-8?
 What option does Jeremiah have according to verse 7?
 What is Jeremiah's emotion that God addresses in the first part of verse 8?
 What two reasons are given to Jeremiah for not fearing (v 8)?
 What does God do to Jeremiah in verse 9?
 Verse 10 describes Jeremiah's task. What were the elements of that task?
 What is the progression mentioned in verse 10?
 What were 2 things that God taught Jeremiah in verses 11-16?
 What does verse 12 describe that God is doing?
 According to verses 14-16, what is about to happen to God's people?
 What are the specific reasons that God is bringing judgment on His people (v.16)?
 What are the instructions that God gives Jeremiah in verse 17?
 What commands have been repeated from previous verses?
 What is the new promise (v. 17)?
 What will the people of verse 18 do to Jeremiah (v. 19)?
 What is the promise that God gives Jeremiah for the battles ahead (v. 19)?
 (Other?)

C. Where? (the places)

 Where does it take place according to verse 1?
 Where is this place located?
 Where will the people described in verse 15 come from?
 (Other?)

D. When? (time)
 When is the time period described for the general content of this book?
 In verse 5, when did God know (choose) Jeremiah?
 In verse 5, when did God set Jeremiah apart for ministry?
 When did the action in verse 18 take place?
 (Other?)

E. Because? (the reason)

 Why is God “hurrying” in verse 12?
 Why is God judging His people? (v. 16)
 (Other?)

F. As? (A description)
 How is Jeremiah described in verse 1?
 How is your father Hilcías described?
 How does Jeremiah address God in verse 6?
 How does Jeremiah respond to the word of God in v 6?
 How does God describe Jeremiah in verse 18?
 (Other?)

Write down any other observations you made about Jeremiah in chapter one.

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QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1) What does “context” mean?

2) What are the six key questions for a passage?
3) When, during a Bible study, should we pray?
4) How can we teach the Bible to people who don't read?

ACTION PLAN
If you have not had time to complete the observation of Jeremiah 1, do so before the next lesson. Try
asking other appropriate questions from the same passage. Save these questions and answers for use in
lesson 4.

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 METHODS
The Language of the Bible
2a
When we study God's Word, we are searching for its original purpose and literal
meaning. We want to understand the message that the Lord wishes to communicate to
us through it. But it is important to recognize that, like any other popular literature, the
writers of the Bible often used figurative language to communicate the truth. They
used different types of literature in their writings. Studying the Bible correctly
requires that we recognize these differences and treat each passage according to the
type of language and literature that was used.

I. TYPES OF FIGURED LANGUAGE

A. Simile (comparison)
A simile compares two different things using words such as “as” or “but.” Psalm 1 compares the
upright man to a tree. “It will be like a tree planted by streams of water.” (V3) Both bear fruit and
prosper.
B. Parable
A parable is a simile in a longer form. Jesus helped his disciples understand His kingdom by telling
them a parable of workers who received equal pay, although some had worked harder than others.
He begins with the words, “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto man…” (Matt. 20:1)
C. Metaphor
A metaphor compares two different things without using obvious words like “like.”
When Jesus says to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “You brood of vipers!”, He is
using a metaphor to indicate His displeasure with their self-righteous attitude.
D. Allegory
A parable is an extended simile; An allegory is a long metaphor. In Judges 9:7-15
Jotham tells the story of a worthless bush being king over the other productive
trees to describe a corrupt political leader.
E. Hyperbole
A hyperbole expresses something in extreme terms to make something
noticeable. When Jesus says that a person who judges others has a beam in
his eye and doesn't know it, he is saying something that is physically
impossible. (Matt 7:3-5)

F. Sarcasm
Sarcasm criticizes when praising a person without them deserving it. Paul criticizes the pride of the
Corinthians by writing, “You are already satisfied, you are already rich, without us you reign.” (ICor.
4:8)

Deciding when writers were using figurative or literal language is an important job. It would be a serious
mistake to ignore a command from God by saying that it is figurative language. On the other hand, saying
that every verse in the Bible must be interpreted literally leads to some perplexing problems.

How can we tell the difference between literal and figurative language? You can ask some questions like
these:

 Does the passage become absurd if interpreted literally? (Es. 55:12)

 Does it describe God, who is a spirit, as having a physical body and other strictly human
qualities? (Es. 59:1)
 Does the passage state that it is figurative? (Mt. 21:33)
If none of these are true, then they can most likely be interpreted literally.

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II. TYPES OF LITERATURE IN THE BIBLE
When we read a particular part of Scripture, knowing the type of literature we read can help us
understand it better. Do you read the newspaper the same way you read a personal letter?
Do you interpret a legal contract the same way you read a poem? Of course not. These have different
purposes, languages and meanings. In the same way, we can understand different sections of the
Bible better when we know what type it is.

A. History
The Bible is full of historical events and biographies. For example, the book of Judges tells the history
of Israel between the time of Joshua and that of King Saul. The book of Nehemiah is his diary - his
personal story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The Gospels are biographies of Jesus and
his teachings. The book of Acts records the history of the early church.

The history of the Bible is full of good examples of what we should imitate and bad examples that we
should avoid. Samson is an example of a biblical character whose actions were not based on biblical
principles. Historical facts need to be evaluated in light of principles clearly taught in other sections.

B. Instruction
The Bible teaches guidelines, commands, principles, proverbs, doctrines, and other practical advice.
Leviticus contains detailed instructions for Israelite priests. Proverbs give advice about finances,
relationships and work. Paul's letters to specific churches are filled with doctrine and practical
guidelines.

C. Prophecy
Most prophetic literature is the written version of sermons originally preached to God's people. Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the longest prophetic books, are collections of sermons during the career of their
lives. These books are not designed to be read from start to finish as a single unit. The secret to
understanding these books is to find the beginning and end of individual sermons. Chapter divisions
and phrases like “Hear the Word of the Lord..” or “On this day..” or “The Word came to me…” are
good indications. Short books like Habakkuk, Amos, and Nahum may contain only one, or a few
sermons.

D. Poetry
In the poetic literature of the Bible, every human emotion is expressed. Many books contain poetry.
The Psalms and Songs are entirely poetry and in many of the prophetic books poetry predominates.

E. Apocalyptic
Some prophecy is written in a special literary style known as apocalyptic. The word means “to
discover” because it reveals events that will take place in the future. Some examples are found in
Daniel, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17 and 21, and the book of Revelation. The apocalyptic passages
are highly symbolic. It is necessary to understand the symbolism to interpret the message. The
apocalyptic passages predict the second coming of Christ and His victory over His enemy, Satan.

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 METHODS
Observation Workshop
3
 Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to give students an opportunity to practice forming and answering
observation questions.
 Main points
 There are always more good questions that can be asked.
 Desired results
When the content of this lesson has been mastered, each participant must:
 Be able to prepare observation questions for an inductive Bible study.
 Know the importance of studying a passage as a group.

WORKSHOP FORMAT

The passage we will use for our workshop is Acts 17:1-10a . The format for this workshop will be as follows:

 Divide into groups of 3 to 4 people.

 Take 35 minutes to read the passage, develop observation questions, and record responses.

We will use the last 15 minutes of the workshop to come back as a large group and compare the
questions and answers. We will make a master list of these questions and observations from each
group's lists. We will then choose the best question from each of the six sections. These are the questions
that are most helpful in guiding others through the study.

STEPS

Use the following steps that were provided in Lesson 2:

1) Pray for understanding
2) Read the passage several times
3) Examine the context and record your observations
4) Examine the structure and note what you see
5) Ask every variation of the six key questions you can think of, writing down the answers you find. Not
all questions will apply to this passage, but write down the questions that do apply.
6) Select the best question for each section to use in a teaching of this passage.

Use the following tables to begin recording your questions and answers. Use other sheets if necessary.

CONTEXT
The theme of verses-
 Previous the verses around the passage being studied.

 Next verses-

 Paragraph/section-

 Chapter (17)-

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 Book (Acts)-

 The new Testament-

STRUCTURE
The structure of the passage is related to grammar and type of language.
 Keywords-

 Comparisons or contrasts-

 Progression or flow of ideas-

 Verbs-

 Conjunctions-

 Illustrations-

 Types of literature-

KEY QUESTIONS- Ask and answer all possible questions of the six key questions.
Your questions: Your Responses:
Who?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

[circle the question you found most useful]

Your questions: Your Responses:
That?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

[circle the question you found most useful]

Where?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

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 [circle the question you found most useful]
Your questions: Your Responses:
When?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

[circle the question you found most useful]

As?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

[circle the question you found most useful]

Because?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

[circle the question you found most useful]

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 METHODS Interpreting the Word of God
4 WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

 Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to model for the church planter how to study the Bible through
the principle of “interpretation.”
 Main points
 The importance of careful interpretation.
 Common errors of interpretation.
 Desired results
When the content of this lesson has been mastered, each participant must:
 Know the basic principles for interpreting the Scriptures.
 Be committed to studying God's Word diligently.

INTRODUCTION
Aside from the Holy Spirit and prayer, the Bible is the most important resource we have as church
planters. The living and active Word of God can penetrate the hearts and souls of those we seek to win
for the Kingdom of God. It equips us for good work, which certainly describes our ministry of multiplying
churches throughout the earth. It serves as the only standard by which we can measure and evaluate
every doctrine, practice, or tradition of the Church. History, tradition, and human intellect can lead us
down wrong paths, but the Bible stands firm as God's truth.

Therefore, it is important for us to know how to “use the word of truth well.” Our enemy Satan has not
stopped in his efforts to undermine the Bible and its truth. Over the centuries, many different
controversies have been created by a false understanding of what the Bible says. You don't want to be
guilty of adding to or supporting some of these false understandings of God's Word,
TRUE?

I. INTERPRETATION- THE SECOND STAGE OF THE INDUCTIVE METHOD

Interpretation answers the question “What does the text mean?” This session presents some
guidelines for discerning what the Scriptures are really saying. The intention is not a complete
treatment of this topic, but only an introduction. We also want to take the same passage that we have
looked at in Jeremiah chapter 1 and apply these principles to gain a clearer understanding of the
passage.

Interpretation
2.
The interpretation stage follows the observation stage
What does it mean? in an inductive Bible study. This seems obvious, but
many times those who study the Bible rush to this
stage without doing a thorough job of observation. As
a result, their interpretation is often erroneous, as
they do not have enough data to accurately interpret
Beginning the passage.

The stages of observation, interpretation and

application can be compared to the process of
building a house. The observation would be the
collection
of the materials. Interpretation is the stage when the builder builds the house with the materials. The
application is the stage when the owner moves into the house to live in it. Each stage is of equal
importance, and all are interdependent. If materials are missing (observation), it will not be possible to
complete the house. If the house is not carefully built (interpretation), living in

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 she will be a danger. If no one lives in the house (application) then building it was a waste of time.

With this analogy in mind, it is clear that interpretation must be done carefully, thoughtfully, and
prayerfully . If at any point you find that you do not have enough data to decipher the meaning of the
passage, you should return to the observation stage and ask more questions. Actually, this is normal.
We rarely notice every important thing in the passage the first time, and we have to search again, as
does the builder who has to order more materials during construction.

II. THE PROCESS OF INTERPRETATION

When we interpret a passage of Scripture, we seek to clearly describe the original biblical situation,
and state the message that God communicated in that situation. We can then, carefully and
prayerfully, assume that God would speak in a similar way regarding a similar situation, resulting in a
general biblical principle.

God spoke
this message
biblical
Induction principle
t leads to
The for
o
Are formation today
of a
people
in this
situation
Therefore, the interpretation involves:
 Understand the original biblical situation and people
 Identify the message communicated to those people at that time
 Formulate a principle that summarizes these facts and that would apply to a similar situation
at any time---especially today.
The principle that results from the interpretation can be a warning, a promise, a challenge, etc. The
important thing is to understand the original situation clearly enough so that we can say “thus says the
Lord” with confidence when we apply it to our own lives and the lives of others.

A. Carefully Examine Observational Data to Find Key Data

Acting is more like an art than a science. In other words, it's more than just a matter of following
certain rules---although rules and guidelines do exist. Practice, prayer, and a sensitivity to the leading
of the Holy Spirit are necessary to develop the ability to carefully examine all the data from the
observation stage, identify the most important ones, and understand the main message of the
passage.

B. Determine the Author's Center Point

When we refer to the author of the passage, we have in mind the human writer and also God who
guided the writing. With the exception of some prophecies that the human writer did not understand,
the writer's point and God's point must be the same.

In some cases, the central point is clearly stated in the passage. However, it will usually be necessary
to look for clues and key observations. Context is usually the most important indicator

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 important of the topic or central point. Repeated words or phrases are also valuable clues. Each passage
will be different, but you will be looking for the following information:

 What topic is the author writing about?

 What are you saying about that topic?

The ideal situation is to be able to summarize these two things in one concise sentence . This
may take several attempts before you arrive at the most appropriate phrase. Continuing the analogy
of building a house, this is like laying the foundation properly. The broader description of the message
of the passage will be built on this phrase and also the application.

C. Determine the Flow of Thought in the Passage

Once the author's central point has been stated, the next step is to describe how he makes that point
in the passage. What style do you use? Because? What method or what logic? Why did you choose
to present it this way? It should be possible to notice the content of the passage and also the attitude
or emotion that is communicated. Texts can be encouraging, sarcastic, confronting, calming,
pleading, challenging, etc.

III. THE BASIC RULES OF INTERPRETATION

Although acting is essentially an art that is developed through practice, there are some basic rules
that must be followed. The rules described below assume that the Bible is the inspired Word of God
and that God wants us to read and understand it. Not everyone agrees with these principles and this
is the origin of many religious disagreements in the world, in addition to the origin of many sects.

A. General Principles of Biblical Interpretation

1. The Bible is the authoritative Word of God
2. The Bible itself is its best interpreter, because it reflects the character of God.
3. A saving faith and the Holy Spirit are necessary to understand the Scriptures.
4. You must interpret history, actions, attitudes, personal experience, etc. in light of the Scriptures
and not interpreting the Scriptures in light of these things.
5. The primary purpose of the Bible is not to increase our wisdom, but to change our lives.
6. Every Christian has the right, responsibility and privilege to investigate and interpret the Word of
God with the help of the Holy Spirit.

B. Grammatical, Historical and Theological Principles of Biblical Interpretation

1. You must interpret words in harmony with their meaning in the author's historical and cultural
context. Always think about how the original readers/listeners would have understood and
reacted to the message.
2. It is important to understand the grammar of a passage before trying to understand the
theological truth it teaches.
3. Figurative language usually has a point or meaning. Try not to take too much out of the passage.
(See appendix 2 “The Language of the Bible”)
4. You should not be clearer than the Scriptures on a topic. Don't add your own thoughts or church
tradition to what the Bible says, because you or others might begin to believe that those thoughts
are really from the Scriptures.

C. Avoiding Common Errors of Interpretation

Three common errors of interpretation occur due to failure to remember key attributes of Scripture.

1. The trampoline
This type of error gets its name from the trampoline that gymnasts use to help them jump higher.
The trampoline is not central to their performance---it just helps them get started. This error
occurs when an interpreter has already decided what he wants to say, and is not interested in
discovering the meaning of the text. He looks at the text briefly and “jumps” from there to some
other topic or teaching that he really wants to discuss. This insults the Lord, who wrote the Word
to communicate the truth to us.

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 2. The Allegory
This error is also very common, but it is not acceptable either. He engages in ignoring the plain
meaning of Scripture and trying to find some hidden message. By the way, there are some
passages that are difficult to understand. However, most of the passages make sense when we
look carefully at the words and grammar. We should never look for “hidden meanings” when
a meaning is clearly presented. Even in the case of a difficult passage, it is better to admit that
we do not understand it than to try to fabricate a meaning that is difficult to support.

3. Ignore Progressive Revelation

It is impossible to understand a passage if we forget the progressive nature of Scripture. God
sometimes changes the way He deals with man. For example, in the Old Testament, God
required a series of literal animal sacrifices. However, these sacrifices were only temporary.
When the perfect Lamb of God died on Calvary, He fulfilled all the requirements of the Old
Testament (Heb 9:12). No sacrifice is required in the New Testament. If someone were to
sacrifice a sheep for their sin today, it would be an insult to Christ. Therefore, interpretation
decisions must be made very carefully and with the entire teaching of the Word in mind.

D. Use the “Helps”, But Use Them Carefully

There are many tools that help us in the interpretation process. These include commentaries, Bible
guides, notes, dictionaries, maps and many other books. Although these can be excellent aids, they
should not replace personal effort to understand the passage. They are to help, not to do your job.
Use them as necessary to understand things that are not clear to you. Take special care with cross-
references. They often refer to another verse that has the same word or phrase. This verse may or
may not have anything to do with the theme of the passage.

IV. AN EXAMPLE OF INTERPRETATION

As you work through the interpretation process, consult your observation notes on Jeremiah 1.
Follow the following format:

A. Carefully Examine Observations to Find Key Data

As I look at the observations on Jeremiah 1, it seems to me that the most important observations are:

B. State the Central Point

The topic of the chapter is:

The thing that Jeremiah is saying about this topic is:

A concise statement of this central point, reflecting the two ideas above, is:

C. Describe the Flow of Thought

Jeremiah develops the main idea of the passage by:

D. Some “Meaning” Questions

As you work through the points above, it may be helpful to consider the following questions about the
meaning of the text. Maybe you will think of other good or better questions. These are offered to get
you started in the process.

Verse 5
 What does it mean that the Lord “knew” Jeremiah?
 What does it mean to be sanctified?
 What are some of the implications of the phrase “…before you were born I sanctified you”?

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Verse 6
 Why would Jeremiah be considered a “child”?
 Why do you think Jeremiah responded this way?
Verse 7
 How would you characterize a calling from God from what you see in this verse?
 What does your answer to the previous question show about God and His character?
Verse 8
 What do the Lord's words say about the people's response to Jeremiah's future ministry?
 What motivation is there in Jeremiah to face the opposition?
Verse 9
 How did the Lord “put” the words in Jeremiah?
Verse 10
 What do you think the phrases “to uproot and destroy, to ruin, to tear down, to build and plant”
mean?
 What can you assume about Jeremiah's character that would enable him to complete God's
plan?
Verse 12
 What principle do you find in this verse regarding God's commitment to the ministry of those He
has called?
Verse 16
 What does this verse show about God's character, even when he comes to judge His own
people?
 Was God justified in what He planned to do to people? Because?
Verse 17
 What might have been part of Jeremiah's preparation?
 Why do you think the Lord repeated what he had said before (v8)?
Verse 18
 What is the meaning of the phrases “fortified city, like a pillar of iron and a wall of bronze”?
 Why would the people in verse 18 oppose Jeremiah and his message?
 How does God strengthen and prepare His people to be strong for Him today?
Verse 19
 What does this verse show about God's character and His commitment to those He calls?

E. The Biblical Principle

The final step in the interpretation process is to try to state the meaning of the passage as a concise
biblical principle. This statement should be very similar to the “core point” in section IV. B up.
However, the central point of section IV. b. was related to the specific context of Jeremiah 1, more
than 2,500 years ago. The principle you want to formulate now must be valid at any time, especially
today.

The form of the beginning would be something like: “In this type of situation, we must…” or “When this
happens, God…” The exact words of the beginning for a particular passage will vary. Also, the
principle should be as specific as possible. This process is not easy, but it is important. And with the
help of God it is possible.

From my study of Jeremiah 1, I find the following biblical principle:

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1. What are three common mistakes in interpretation?
2. What question does interpretation answer?

ACTION PLAN
 Finish any questions in this lesson that you have not completed.
 Begin working on an interpretation of Acts 17:1-10a.

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 METHODS LESSON
Interpretation Workshop
5
 Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to give students an opportunity to practice the interpretation stage
of an inductive Bible study.
 Main points
 The goal of interpretation is to understand the author's intended meaning.
 Desired results
When the content of this lesson has been mastered, each participant must:
 Begin to apply the principles of interpretation.
 Better understand the meaning of Acts 17:1-10a.

WORKSHOP FORMAT
The passage we will use for our workshop is Acts 17:1-10a. The format for this workshop is as follows:

 We will divide into groups of three to four people.

 We will have 35 minutes to read the passage and work on the interpretation steps as presented in
lesson 4.
 The last fifteen minutes of the workshop will be to share our understanding of the passage with the
entire group and then choose key interpretation questions.

TEAM WORK
As a result of lesson 3, each student should be very familiar with Acts 17:1-10a. You will need to refer to
your observations in that lesson in order to complete this lesson. In fact, it may be necessary to make
additional observations of the passage if questions arise that you cannot answer.

Use the same process you used to interpret Jeremiah 1 in lesson 4.

A. Carefully Examine Observations to Find Key Data

As I look at my observations on Acts 17:1-10a, it seems to me that the most important observations are:

Context of the passage:

Original Hearing:

Original Situation:

Other Data and Observations:

B. State the Central Point

The theme of the passage is:

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 The thing Luke is saying about this topic is:

A concise statement of the central point, reflecting on the two ideas above, is:

C. Describe the Flow of Thought

Luke develops the main idea of the passage by:

D. “What does it mean” questions

As you work through this passage as a group, write down below the key questions you ask about the
meaning of the passage that helped you better understand what the verses mean .

[Circle the two most helpful questions you would use if you were leading a study on this passage.]

E. Declare Biblical Principle

The eternal principle of this passage is:

SUMMARY

Use the space below to take notes when the group meets to discuss their understanding of the passage.
Notice how other groups agree or differ with your understanding. Try to reach a consensus on the
meaning of the passage.

Choose the best two 'interpretation' questions for a group study from all the 'favourites' from all the
groups and write them down below.

1.

2.

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 Applying the Word of God
METHODS LESSON

6 WHAT SHOULD I DO?

INTRODUCTION

 Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to model to the church planter how to study the Bible through
the principle of 'application'.
 Main points
 We need to obey the biblical principles we learn, otherwise the exercise is useless.
 Our situation must be equivalent to the biblical context for the application to be valid.
 Desired results
When the content of this lesson has been mastered, each participant must:
 Know how to apply principles learned from the Scriptures.
 Know how to prepare application questions for an inductive Bible study.
 Begin applying the application principles presented in this lesson.

For some reason, the most difficult part of the Christian life is applying the truths of Scripture to everyday
life. We can gain much knowledge and our faith can grow as a result of our Bible study. However, unless
we understand how to put what we have learned into practice, study does not benefit us much. In the
previous lessons, we have collected all our materials (observation) and built them on a biblical principle
(interpretation). Now is the time to live in the truth (application). The app specifically asks the question
“what should I do?”

When we determine what we should do, we still need to obey what the Bible teaches. Jesus taught that
His disciples were to teach others “ …to observe all things that I have commanded you;” (Matt 28:20).
The Apostle Paul speaks of applying what has been learned in this way, “Be imitators of me, as I am of
Christ.” (1Cor 11:1). The Apostle John writes that “And by this we know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments.” (1Jn 2:3). Also, we need to look for practical ways to apply the truths we learn while
studying the Bible. The Apostle James writes, “…faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.” (James
2:17).

Application
3 What should I do?
I. APPLICATION- THE THIRD STAGE OF THE
INDUCTIVE METHOD
There are 2 very important issues that must be

. Task
addressed at the application stage.

1) The application should always be made to

oneself , rather than only to others. What we teach
others should always flow from what we have
already learned and applied in our own lives.

2) Make sure our context is the same as the original context . We cannot and should not apply a
message given to biblical characters to our lives, unless our situation is equivalent. So much of the
application stage involves asking, “What in my life is similar to the situation described in the
passage?”

105
 How do I
HE
apply this to
Is it
My life?
Alan?

With Context
Biblical Similar
Modern
text
Comparing Contexts

II. THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Correct application begins with a logical and orderly consideration of the basic areas of our life and
ministry that should be affected by the biblical principle we have discovered in the text. It is helpful to
consider each topic, and then ask ourselves penetrating questions about what we should do in
response to the message. As always, this process must be immersed in prayer and accompanied by a
willingness to learn and grow in the Lord.

A. Application Topics
The ultimate goal of the application is personal character development and greater effectiveness in
ministry. There are several topics or areas that we must consider when trying to apply the message of
a passage personally. These topics include our personal lives and ministry. Here are some examples:

Faith: What can I learn about personal faith?

The actitudes: What attitudes are good or bad? What are your results? How can I change
negative attitudes?
The actions: What should I start doing? What should I stop doing?
The sins: What sin(s) have been pointed out to me? How can I get things right with
God/others?
The challenges: What challenges are evident for my personal life? In my relationships with
others? In my ministry?
The promises: What promises can I appropriate for myself? Are there conditions? What are the
implications for my life and ministry?
The character: What are the qualities of godly character that I need to develop in my life and
ministry?

B. General inquiries
Some useful application questions that can be asked for any Bible passage. Are:
 Is there an example that should be followed?
 Is there a sin that should be avoided?
 Is there a promise that can be appropriated?
 Is there a sentence that can be repeated?
 Is there a command that must be obeyed?
 Is there a condition that must be achieved?
 Is there a verse that should be memorized?
 Is there an error that should be pointed out?
 Is there a challenge that must be faced?

C. Specific questions
Having asked the general application questions about Jeremiah chapter 1, it is also good to look at
each verse or section and ask more specific questions. Unlike the previous stages

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 These questions relate directly to what you should do as a result of the message. There are countless
specific questions, as they are different for each passage. You are only limited by your own creativity.
The important thing is to open your heart to the Lord and allow Him to show you what He wants to be
different in your life.

Some sample questions are noted below. Feel free to add to them as you work through the passage.

Verse 5
 What does the teaching of this verse tell you personally about your personal relationship with God
the Creator?
 What does it say to you personally about your call to ministry?
 If you don't have a clear sense of calling, what does this verse tell you?
 What does this verse tell you personally about God's will in your life?
 Do you know God's will in your life now?
 What impact does this verse have on your faith in God's sovereignty?
 Do you agree? Do you accept this concept without reservation?
Verse 6
 Do you identify with Jeremiah's hesitance to respond to the challenge God gave him?
 What have been your “excuses”?
 Are you still making excuses? What should you do with them?
Verse 7
 What do you personally think about God's response to Jeremiah?
 How do you personally feel about Jeremiah's apparent lack of “flexibility” in refusing God's call?
 There seems to be no room for Jeremiah to make his own decision. How do you feel about not
having a real alternative in the matter of a calling from God? Should you have an alternative?
 Does this verse create a problem for you regarding the free will of man and the sovereignty of
God?
 If this creates a problem, how will you respond?
Verse 8
 What does this verse mean to you personally?
 How will you apply this to your personal situation and your ministry?
Verse 9
 Can you describe a situation in which God has “touched” you personally?
Verse 10
 What does this verse tell you about God's ultimate goal in his ministry?
 Can you see a similarity between Jeremiah's task and yours as a church planter?
 There were obstacles that Jeremiah had to face and overcome in order to achieve the goal of
building and planting. What are some of the obstacles you face as you try to achieve the same
goal of building the kingdom of God by planting new churches?
 How do you feel about possibly being in the position where you may have to go against tradition
and leaders who may oppose your ideas regarding church planting?
 How would you deal with obstacles and those who may oppose you?
Verse 12
 How do you see the principle of this verse applying to you personally?
 What does this verse do for your confidence as a church planter?
Verse 16
 How do you deal with the issue of “strange gods” in your own life?
 What do you need to do to ensure that your loyalty is only to God and not to other “gods” (such as
materialism, nationalism, classism, etc.)?
Verse 17
 How do you rate your preparation at this time to be able to be loyal to God despite much
opposition?

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  What do you personally need to do to prepare for future ministry?
 What areas of your life need to be strengthened spiritually?
Verse 18
 God strengthened Jeremiah. How has God strengthened you to take a stand for Him?
 What has God given you that is with you in all circumstances?
 How does this make you feel about God and His provision for you and your ministry?

III. SUMMARY
The application that I see for myself in my life and ministry is:

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1. Do you agree that it is always necessary to apply the teaching to ourselves before anything else?
Why is it important to do it?
2. How does 'context' influence the application of a passage?

ACTION PLAN
 If you have not had the time to complete this lesson as a group, do it before the next session so you
are familiar with the principles.

Pastors Graduation

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 METHODS LESSON
Application Workshop
7
 Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is to give students an opportunity to practice the application stage in
an inductive Bible study.
 Main points
 We must apply the message of the passage to ourselves before anything else.
 Desired results
When the content of this lesson has been mastered, each participant must:
 Know how to apply the message of Acts 17:1-10a to your own life and ministry.
 Appendix
7th Ephesus—An Inductive Bible Study

WORKSHOP FORMAT
We will continue the study of Acts 17:1-10a. We will be using previous observations and interpretations.
This time, however, we will look for applications for our own life and ministry.

 We will divide into groups of three to four people.

 We will have 35 minutes to work through the application steps and decide the best way to apply the
passage to the life and ministry of each person in the group.
 The last fifteen minutes of the workshop will be spent sharing your applications with the whole group
and choosing appropriate 'application' questions to use when leading an inductive study on this
passage.

TEAM WORK

Use the following process to help you arrive at a valid and useful application in your own life.

A. Remember the Biblical Principle

Rewrite the Bible principle you discovered for Acts 17:1-10a in lesson 5:

B. Compare Contexts
For an application to be valid, its context must be equivalent to the original biblical context.

1. Briefly describe the original biblical context of Acts 17:1-10a:

2. Briefly describe your current context (who you are, what you are doing, etc.):

3. Write a brief statement of at least one way in which your context is similar to that of Acts 17
(Note: This will vary for each person in the group, but there will also be enough similarity that you
will be able to help each other).

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C. Reflect on Application Topics
Read the passage to see if any of the following topics seem appropriate for your situation. If this is the
case, note how it is related. Perhaps there is another more appropriate topic. If this is the case, write
it down below.

 Faith
 Attitude
 Action
 Sin(s)
 Challenge
 Promise
 Character
 (other)

D. General inquiries

Ask general application questions. Record your responses to whichever ones are appropriate.

 Is there an example that should be followed?

 Is there a sin that should be avoided?
 Is there a promise that can be appropriated?
 Is there a sentence that can be repeated?
 Is there a command that must be obeyed?
 Is there a condition that must be achieved?
 Is there a verse that should be memorized?
 Is there an error that should be pointed out?
 Is there a challenge that must be faced?

E. Ask Specific Questions

Now, as you work through the passage together, think of specific questions for each verse that focus
on “What should I do?” Write down those questions and the answers:

[Circle the two best questions you would use when leading a group study]

SUMMARY
As you meet as a large group, discuss and compare the applications you see in this passage. Finally,
compare the 'application' questions that each group has selected and select the two that would be most
useful if you were to conduct an inductive study of the passage. Write them down below:

1.

2.

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QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1. What is the most important thing you should do as a result of reading this passage?
2. What did you see as a result of this method that is new to you?

ACTION PLAN
 You have progressed through the stages of observation, interpretation, and application. Before the
next session, you will need to develop a brief inductive Bible study using the principles you have
learned. You will have twenty minutes to present this study during a workshop. The next module will
discuss the principles for conducting an inductive study.

 During this time, your assignment is to study a passage using the inductive method and prepare as
many observation, interpretation, and application questions as possible. You must determine the
meaning of the passage and the application during this time of preparation. Then, from all your
questions, choose a maximum of six observation questions, three interpretation questions, and two
application questions that would be most appropriate to guide other students in discovering and
applying the teaching of the passage.

 You may choose one of the passages listed below for your study. Please compare your selection with
those of other students so that everyone is not studying the same passage. Appendix 7a is an
example of an inductive Bible study on the founding of the church at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-10). Your
study should have a similar format, obviously with different questions, focus and application.

 Example passages: Acts

13:4-12 (Cyprus) Acts

13:13-52 (Antioch) Acts

14:1-7 (Iconium)

Acts 14:8-20 (Lystra and Derbe)

Acts 16:11-40 (Philippi)

Acts 17:10-15 (Berea)

Acts 17:16-34 (Athens)

Acts 18:1-17 (Corinth)

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METHODS Ephesus- An Inductive Bible Study

7a
HOW PAUL FOUNDED THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION
Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations. Can we really do this? How much can you
achieve? How many people could you win to Christ in two years? How much of a geographic area could
you saturate with the Gospel in that time frame? In Acts 19, the Apostle Paul was able to proclaim the
Gospel to everyone in a large area in a short time. If we want to be effective sowers, we need to study
how Paul did it and try to use the same methods he used.

I. PRAYER
Take a moment to pray for God to open your eyes and heart so you can learn how He wants to
speak to you through this passage.

II. READ ACTS 19:1-10

Read the passage carefully--- aloud or silently.

III. OBSERVATION
Examine the passage and answer the following questions:

From the context (Acts 18:18-28):

 When Paul arrived at Ephesus in Acts 19:1, he found some disciples. How do you think these
people became disciples?
 Who was involved in making these disciples, how ?

From the passage (Acts 19:1-10):

 What weaknesses did Paul discover in these disciples, and what did he do about them?
 Where did Paul begin his work in Ephesus?
 What change did Pablo make in his strategy and why ?
 What was the result of Paul's ministry in Ephesus?

IV. INTERPRETATION
Think about the message of these verses through the following questions:
 Why does Luke focus on Paul's response to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the first 8 verses of
this passage?
 In verse 8, Paul argued persuasively. But in verses 9 and 10, he chose to focus on the training of
the disciples. From the text, what was the result of both methods and which method do you think
the passage is trying to encourage?

Summarize the central point of these verses in one or two sentences. State it in terms of a biblical
principle if possible. The beginning of this passage is :

V. APPLICATION
Meditate on the following questions as you look at the text again:
 In order for me to minister as Paul ministered, the two most important activities I have to do are:
 Based on this passage, how should I be ministering to minimize persecution and maximize the
spread of the Gospel more effectively?

SUMMARY
Knowing the truth is not enough. We have to apply it. The final step is to obey. Take another moment to
pray for God's help in your obedient response to the things you have seen in this passage.

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