How to do an Inductive Bible Study

How to do an Inductive Bible Study

Thank you for taking the time to do something that is so important… learning how to correctly read and apply the Bible. Why use an Inductive method? Because deductive reasoning is like a bad medical doctor who gives you an application without finding the cause of the issue. Inductive reasoning is like a good doctor who diagnosis the issue in order to find the correct application. When you are done with learning this Bible study method, you will read the Word and be amazed by its contents. The Bible will come alive for you and you will experience a never ending supply of encouragement and a better understanding of the Scriptures.

     The
     O      Observation             Search the Scriptures, they testify of Jesus - John 5:39
     I        Interpretation           Everything written in the Bible is all about Jesus - John 5:46
     C      Correlation               Expounded all the Scriptures, they are about Jesus - Luke 24:27
     A      Application              All things in the Bible were written about Jesus - Luke 24:44
     Method to Study the Bible

Observation - What is being said?

Read the scripture being studied several times carefully, and each time reread looking for something specific. (This may be where you spend most of your time preparing for a Bible study but you will gain a deeper understanding of the Word)

1 - Who is involved?

2 - What are they doing?

3 - Where are they? Where are they going? (Take a look at a historical map for help)

4 - When did this happen, what happened before this, what will happen after this?

5 - Why is this happening, what happened to lead up to this event?

6 - Had this been foretold?

Interpretation - What is being meant?

Let the Bible be Interpreted by the Bible. Carefully consider the context of the verses, paragraph, chapter and book.
(Just like good vision is 20/20, we can discover the actual meaning of the scripture by reading 20 verses prior and after)

1 - What was the author trying to say to his original readers, and how would they have understood this section?

2 - What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? Both Physical and Spiritual.

3 - Why is this here, what is the doctrine or theological significance of the text? Contrast the Gospel and Religion.

4 - Why were the words put together as they have been? Is there a pattern or relationship in the use of grammar?

5 - Explore the meaning of the words because they change over time. What does the Hebrew or Greek words mean?  

Correlation - Where else is it being said and / or explained? (Does a correlating passage give us an Illustration?)

Allow the Bible interpret every part of the Bible. (Refer to parallel Bible Scriptures that come to memory, use a Concordance, or the cross-reference system in your Bible.  You don’t need to develop the correlation but use it as an example or illustration.)

1 - What are some other Scriptures that are within the same topic of the major theme or point of this scripture?

2 - Is there anything that references the cross of Jesus, or that points us to Jesus as a cross reference?

3 - If this had been foretold, are there any other Scriptures that also point to this same event?

4 - If this scripture is in the Old Testament are there any New Testament Scriptures that correct my understanding?

5 - If there is another mention of a main word in this scripture, what does the first mention of the word deal with?

Application - What will I do about what is being said? How can I apply this to my life?

Make the scripture very personal and see how what you have learned in the above steps can apply to your life. (Keep in mind that God’s Word is alive and active, it exposes our innermost thoughts and desires, so you can apply it to your life)

1 - What does this scripture say about Jesus?
2 - What does this passage say about Gods love?

3 - Is there a sin here for me to avoid?

4 - Is there a failure from which I can learn?

5 - Is there a command for me to obey?

6 - Is there a good example for me to follow?

7 - Is there a promise I can call my own (Does God promise with ‘I will’ or ‘I shall’?)

8 - Is there a blessing I can enjoy?

9 - Is there something here I want to thank God for?

10 - Is there a truth in this scripture that has greatly affected me?

Remember to soak your time in prayer as you spend time in God’s Word. Also opening and closing in prayer is an excellent way to start and end a Bible Study. May the Author of the Bible, take you on a guided tour of His Word as you study the Bible, and may Jesus our Lord and Savior help you understand and apply these truths as you draw closer to Him.

2Believe Ministries - 2Believe.net

Why should we read the Bible?

www.GotQuestions.org

Question: "Why should we read the Bible / study the Bible?"

Answer: We should read and study the Bible because it is God's Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it is God's very words to us. There are so many questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture. What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I struggle to do good? In addition to these "big" questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a good parent? What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret? How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?

We should read and study the Bible because it is totally reliable and without error. The Bible is unique among so-called "holy" books in that it does not merely give moral teaching and say, "Trust me." Rather, we have the ability to test it by checking the hundreds of detailed prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical accounts it records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates. Those who say the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth. Jesus once asked which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or "Rise, take up your bed and walk." Then He proved He had the ability to forgive sins (something we cannot see with our eyes) by healing the paralytic (something those around Him could test with their eyes). Similarly, we are given assurance that God's Word is true when it discusses spiritual areas that we cannot test with our senses by showing itself true in those areas that we can test, such as historical accuracy, scientific accuracy, and prophetic accuracy.

We should read and study the Bible because God does not change and because mankind's nature does not change; it is as relevant for us as it was when it was written. While technology changes, mankind's nature and desires do not change. We find, as we read the pages of biblical history, that whether we are talking about one-on-one relationships or societies, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). And while mankind as a whole continues to seek love and satisfaction in all of the wrong places, God—our good and gracious Creator—tells us what will bring us lasting joy. His revealed Word, the Bible, is so important that Jesus said of it, "Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In other words, if we want to live life to the fullest, as God intended, we must listen to and heed God's written Word.

We should read and study the Bible because there is so much false teaching. The Bible gives us the measuring stick by which we can distinguish truth from error. It tells us what God is like. To have a wrong impression of God is to worship an idol or false god. We are worshiping something that He is not. The Bible tells us how one truly gets to heaven, and it is not by being good or by being baptized or by anything else we do (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:1-10; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-18, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-13). Along this line, God's Word shows us just how much God loves us (Romans 5:6-8; John 3:16). And it is in learning this that we are drawn to love Him in return (1 John 4:19).

The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). It helps us know how to be saved from our sin and its ultimate consequence (2 Timothy 3:15). Meditating on God’s Word and obeying its teachings will bring success in life (Joshua 1:8; James 1:25). God’s Word helps us see sin in our lives and helps us get rid of it (Psalm 119:9, 11). It gives us guidance in life, making us wiser than our teachers (Psalm 32:8, 119:99; Proverbs 1:6). The Bible keeps us from wasting years of our lives on that which does not matter and will not last (Matthew 7:24-27).

Reading and studying the Bible helps us see beyond the attractive "bait" to the painful "hook" in sinful temptations, so that we can learn from others' mistakes rather than making them ourselves. Experience is a great teacher, but when it comes to learning from sin, it is a terribly hard teacher. It is so much better to learn from others' mistakes. There are so many Bible characters to learn from, some of whom can serve as both positive and negative role models at different times in their lives. For example, David, in his defeat of Goliath, teaches us that God is greater than anything He asks us to face (1 Samuel 17), while his giving in to the temptation to commit adultery with Bathsheba reveals just how long-lasting and terrible the consequences of a moment's sinful pleasure can be (2 Samuel 11).

The Bible is a book that is not merely for reading. It is a book for studying so that it can be applied. Otherwise, it is like swallowing food without chewing and then spitting it back out again—no nutritional value is gained by it. The Bible is God's Word. As such, it is as binding as the laws of nature. We can ignore it, but we do so to our own detriment, just as we would if we ignored the law of gravity. It cannot be emphasized strongly enough just how important the Bible is to our lives. Studying the Bible can be compared to mining for gold. If we make little effort and merely "sift through the pebbles in a stream," we will only find a little gold dust. But the more we make an effort to really dig into it, the more reward we will gain for our effort.

Do you have more questions about the Bible? Visit Got Questions Ministry

Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/why-read-Bible.html

© Copyright 2002-2012 Got Questions Ministries.

Follow us on Twitter  

Subscribe to us on YouTube

Follow us on Vimeo

Subscribe to us on Blogger or Signup to Follow by Email

Help us Amplify the Gospel through Radio

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

A GFA radio broadcast reaching the mountains of Nepal.

We could see the Great Commission completed in our lifetime! There are still language groups that need to hear the Gospel in their mother tongue. There are people who wait to hear God's Word because they cannot read it.

Many places in South Asia are difficult for Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries to reach—sometimes they are restricted all together. However, with the use of radio broadcasts, millions of people from the mountains, jungles and even remote villages can hear the Good News of Christ.


We can have a huge impact, with lasting fruit, on the field by bringing the Gospel to people in their own language. Our goal is to raise: $45. Would you please prayerfully consider helping? To Help Please Visit: https://www.mygfa.org/2believeministries/

Over 250 Million?

Did you know that over 250 million women in Asia are illiterate? How will they stand firm in their faith if they can't read the Bible?




More than one in three women in Asia are illiterate—and the statistic holds true for women in Gospel for Asia-supported churches. Their inability to read leaves them vulnerable to those wanting to take advantage of their ignorance, and without reading the Bible, it's a challenge to deepen their knowledge of their Savior.

You can help empower them to care for their families, avoid bad contracts that cause debt, and overcome abusive employers who take advantage of their ignorance through breaking the chains of illiteracy. They’ll also get better prices at the marketplace--just because they can do math. Finally, churches will be strengthened as women are able to read the Bible for the first time.

Please visit: http://www.gfa.org/womens-ministry/womens-literacy-program/

 

One hundred percent of your donation will go to provide for women's literacy in Asia. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses.

Thanks Moms (and Dads)! Talk by Mark Cahill

This is a talk that Evangelist Mark Cahill gave at a church on Mother’s Day (May 13, 2012). According to the mothers and fathers who came up to him afterward, they felt it was both a good dose of encouragement and a real challenge. Lots of Scriptures and stories to encourage both moms and dads to be great Biblical parents!

Get out your Bible and get ready! Click Here to Listen Now
 

Source: http://www.markcahill.org/listen4.html

Five Unbiblical Things Talk by Mark Cahill

If you were listening to Evangelist Mark Cahill speak, and he told you upfront that he was going to make five unbiblical statements during the message, could you spot them? Well, here is your chance! Take a listen and see if you can catch the errors. Oh, and by the way, just to keep you on your toes, there just might be six unbiblical statements in the message!

Get out your Bible and get ready! Click Here to Listen Now

Source: http://www.markcahill.org/listen4.html