jhaynes@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu (05/17/91)
Here is something I have found helpful when studying and I thought I would pass
it on to the network.
THREE STEP BIBLE STUDY METHOD
1) Observe - What does it say?
A. Pray - ask the Lord to speak to you today.
B. Record your ideas in your notebook.
C. Read the text several times in context before beginning your
observations.
D. Ask these questions
1. Who? Who wrote it, said it, did it, saw it, was involved in it?
2. What? What happened, was talked about, didn't happen?
3. Where? Where did it happen, were they going, coming from?
4. When? When did it happen? How much time did it take? What
order?
5. Why? What explanations are given for things?
6. How? How did it happen? How could it happen?
E. Things to look for
1. Things alike - Ephesians 4:4,5
2. Things different - contrasts (however and but are signals of
contrast)
3. Things repeated - Hebrews 11
4. Cause and effect - Ephesians 4:29
5. Going from general to specific - Romans 3:9-20
6. Going from specific to general - Hebrews 10:1-18
7. Progression - Romans 1:18-32
8. Questions and answers - Romans 6
9. Little words that connect thoughts - but, if, since, therefore,
and, by, for, because.
F. Look for attitudes.
1. Good vs. bad attitudes
2. Attitudes toward God
3. Attitudes toward Christ
4. Attitudes toward the Holy Spirit
5. Attitudes toward others
6. Attitudes toward self
G. Check cross references.
2) Interpret - What does it mean?
There may be many possible interpretations of a passage, but our task
is to find out what the author had in mind when he wrote the passage. He
only had one thing in mind; the rest of the possible interpretations are
wrong!
A. What is the historical background of the passage?
B. What is the tone or mood of the passage - joyful, disciplinary,
mournful, factual...
C. If the meaning of a word is unclear, use a concordance to find other
places the same author used this word.
D. Does the author state his purpose for writing?
E. What do you know about the author himself? If not, can you figure
it out?
F. Write down, in your own words, what the main theme of the passage
is.
G. What is the form of the passage - biography, narrative, poetry,
letter, theology, history? If it is a letter, do you know who
received it? What do you know about him (them)?
H. List the major truths being discussed.
I. What is the key verse?
J. Write out a paraphrase of the passage in your own words.
3. Apply - What does it mean for me?
A. Pray, "Lord, how do the truths of this passage apply to me? How can
they become a reality in my life?" Proverbs 2:1-7
B. Ask these questions
1. Is there an example for me to follow?
2. Is there a command for me to obey?
3. Is there an error for me to avoid?
4. Is there a sin for me to forsake?
5. Is there a promise for me to claim?
6. Is there a new thought about God Himself?
C. Record your applications in a notebook.
D. Pray again, "Lord, what specific steps can I take to see these
changes take place in my life?"
E. Come up with an illustration that will help you remember what you
learned.
F. Move out in FAITH.
G. Write down the name of someone you want to share it with, and share
it with them soon.
Please feel free to copy this share it with others but most of all use it to
test what you read of my postings and all the others things you read here on
the network or hear on radio, T.V.
In His Hands,
Joel
Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
1 Thess 5:21 "Test everything and hold on to the good."