Inductive Bible Study Method How do you study the Word of God?

I. When you study the Word of God you have to approach it using your five senses. - Sight (Eyes) - Hearing (Ears) - Touch - Taste - Smell

I. When you study the Word of God you have to approach it using your five senses.

I. When you study the Word of God you have to approach it using your five senses.

I. When you study the Word of God you have to approach it using your five senses.

I. When you study the Word of God you have to approach it using your five senses.

II. There are three primary ways you can study scripture. A. Observation B. Interpretation C. Application

A. The Observation Method - Who is the author of the passage? - Who is the author addressing? (God’s People, a specific church, Unbelievers) - What are the main verbs? What is the verb tense? - Are there terms you need to define so you can better understand the passage?

A. The Observation Method -What do you already know about the people and places mentioned? -Can you identify any cause/effect relationships in the author’s writing? - What things in this passage might you want to study in further detail? -In what ways does this passage apply to your personal life?

I. Grasping God’s Word A. Observation Method Continued Step One: Grasp the text in their town. What did the text mean to the original audience? Step Two: Measure the width of the river to cross. What are the differences between the biblical audience and us? Factors to consider: - Culture -Language -Time -Situation -Covenant

I. Grasping God’s Word A. Observation Method Continued Step Three: Cross the theological bridge. What is the theological principle in this text? Criteria for formulating theology principles within the text. 1. The principle should be reflected in the text. 2. The principle should be timeless and not tied to a specific situation.

I. Grasping God’s Word A. Observation Method Continued Criteria for formulating theology principles within the text. (continued) 3. The principle should not be culturally bound. 4. The teaching should correspond to the teaching of the rest of scripture. 5. The principle should be relevant to both the biblical and the contemporary audience.

I. Grasping God’s Word A. Observation Method Continued Step four: Grasp the text in our town. How should individual Christians today submit to the theological principles in their (our) lives?