How can we cross the river? Intuitive or “feels-right” approach

How can we cross the river? Spiritualizing approach

How can we cross the river? Get discouraged and give up

How can we cross the river? Grasping God’s Word—an accurate, consistent approach

Serious or careful reading (love letters) Serious reading means looking at the big picture and looking at the details. At first, refrain from interpretation or application. Start with observation and try to see as much as possible. Look carefully at the details of the text.

Things to look for in sentences: Repeating words and phrases (“world”) Contrasts (“gentle answer” vs. “harsh word”) Comparisons (“soar on wings like eagles”) Lists (fruit of Spirit) Causes and effects (“wages of sin is death”) Figures of speech (“The Lord is my rock”) Conjunctions (“therefore” in Romans 12:1) Verbs (where the action is) Pronouns (“our Father in heaven”)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8 NASV

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. I John 1:5-10 NIV

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. I John 1:5-10 NASV

Conclusion Observe first, apply later. Write down your observations. “A pen is a mental crowbar.” - Howard Hendricks The Bible is God’s love letter to you. Read it carefully!

Review Interpreting and applying the Bible is like a journey. A river of differences separates us from the biblical audience—culture, language, time, situation, and covenant. We begin to build a bridge across the river by discovering what the text meant to the biblical audience. This calls for careful reading and observation of sentences (Chapter 2), paragraphs (Chapter 3), and discourses (Chapter 4).

What if we bypass observation and move straight to application? To hear from God in clear and exciting ways, we must look carefully at what God communicated and not put words in his mouth.