Last week, we discussed one simple way to get started reading the Bible (SOAP). This week, I’d like to discuss my favorite method of studying the Scriptures–the inductive Bible study method. Inductive Bible study is the process of looking into passages of the Bible and finding what the passage means from the evidence in the passage. Although authors may vary the process some, the basic method usually involved four steps.
The Inductive Method
- Observation: What do I see?
- Interpretation: What does it mean?
- Application: How should we respond?
- Personalization: How will I respond?
We’ll begin this week with observation (step 1). As we do, let’s learn to read and study the Bible. Here are a few tips for studying:
Studying the Bible
- Read–many people are never transformed by the Bible, because they never read the Bible with an open heart and mind
- Slowly–we often rush through reading, but the process of reading is more important than getting done
- Patiently–some passages might not be understood immediately, we need to take time with them
- Thoroughly–often we miss significant things because we gloss over the details
- Reflect–take time to think & pray for insight
- Record–keeping a journal or record will help you process passage
- Repeat–sometimes the depth of meaning in a passage is discovered only after spending significant time with a passage
To help you give this a try, let’s look at the passage we’ll be going over this week on Sunday. Comment below or contact me if you want to discuss your observations.
Exercise: Make observations in Luke 10:38-42, asking the following questions:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
How many observations can you make?