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Study the Bible Using the Inductive Bible StudyMethod
 A review of three simple steps you can do to study the Bible better ( by Pastor Andy Deane ).
Here are the three simple steps to an inductive Bible study:
•
Observation —“See it” (
What does the text say 
?)
•
Interpretation —“Know It” (
What does the text mean
?)
•
Application —“Do It” (
What will the text cause me to do
?)
STEP #1 OBSERVATION: “SEE IT” – Open Your Eyes to What the Text is Actually Saying
 To observe the passage means to take notice of it by fixing your mind upon the Scripture. Inother words, don’t just read it; carefully examine what it is saying. Observation demands time,concentration, and discipline. It cannot be hurried. The purpose of observation is to help you tosee the context of the passage and absorb all of its meaning. The best way to do this is to simplyread the passage a number of times, in a few different ways. For instance, first read it slowly andprayerfully, then once again aloud, and finally read it through, pausing at the end of each verse,and reflecting upon what it is saying. Each time you read the text be sure to write downeverything you notice about the passage, even those things that seem obvious. To practically help you observe better simple remember the five W’s: who, what, when, where,and why. Answering these questions from the text will help you see the bigger picture. Forinstance:
1.
Who
: Who are the people in the story? Who is writing? Who is being written to?
2.
What
: What is being communicated? What is happening? What caused it to happen?
3.
When
: When did it happen? When will it happen? When did they find out?
4.
Where
: Where are they going? Where did it happen? Where did they come from?
5.
Why
: Why did he say that? Why did he do that? Why did he go there?
STEP #2 INTERPRETATION: “KNOW IT” - Interpretation Will Help us Discover What theText Means
A correct interpretation of Scripture will never be discerned strictly by human logic. We cannotsimply apply our intellect to the text; we must be willing to allow the revealed wisdom of God tospeak to us through the pages of Scripture. Many Christians miss the truth of God’s Wordbecause they are trying to mold its precepts to fit their own personal ideologies. They readmeaning into the text rather than drawing understanding from it. However, when we come to theBible prepared to have our thoughts and ideas conformed to its authority (rather than the otherway around) then whether we are seasoned biblical scholars or the youngest Sunday schoolstudents we will be able to come away with a correct understanding. The best assurance wehave of arriving at the right interpretation of any biblical passage always begins with laying asideour own preconceived thoughts and ideas, popular opinions, gut feelings, long-held beliefs, andpersuasive arguments, and allowing the Word of God and the Spirit of God to impartunderstanding to us. To practically help you discover the correct interpretation there are five questions that can beasked to help you find the writer’s original intent. For instance:1.Why did the writer say this?
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tsupasat

I love it! Thanks for the simple write-up.

reply06 / 16 / 2009
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