How to Study the Bible

When I was in college, I learned to do one of the most helpful things I have ever learned: how to study the Bible inductively. This skill helped to establish me in the Word of God.

What is Inductive Bible Study?

Inductive Bible study is an approach to studying the Bible, using the Bible itself as the primary source about what the Bible teaches. You dig into the passage itself, using other passages from Scripture for further clarification. You investigate the Bible using observation, interpretation, and application skills. Get out a pen and paper for this new adventure into the study of God's Word!

Observation

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Start with a passage of Scripture like John 4 where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman. When you read the passage of Scripture, carefully observe the passage of Scripture. Ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Who is writing the book where this passage is found?
• Who is mentioned in this passage of Scripture?
• Who is speaking in the passage?
• What are people doing in the passage?
• What is being discussed in this passage?
• What is the setting (time and place)?
• Who is the original audience?

These are the basics of the passage. Once you have covered these basics, dig a little deeper. Look for....
CONTEXT How does this passage relate to the rest of the book?
REPETITION of WORDS (Joy is used repeatedly in the book of Philippians, Water & food are mentioned a lot in John 4)
COMPARISONS ("like....")
CONTRASTS ("But, ....")
CAUSE and EFFECT ("so that...." or "for....")
KEY NOUNS
KEY VERBS

Interpretation

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After you have carefully observed the paragraph, analyze your observations. Ask WHY? and HOW?.

• Why does the author use the words he does?
• How does one thing cause another?
• Why are things contrasted?
• What is emphasized?
• Why are certain words or phrases used repetitively?
• What seems to be the main point the author is making to his audience? 
• How is he making this main point?
• Why is he making this main point?
• What do you think the audience's (recipients of the letter/book of the Bible) response to this portion of Scripture was? Why?

You are interpreting the author's purpose and message. It is still is not personal, it is the general meaning that relates to all believers/readers of the Word of God. 

Application

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Now, it's time to get personal with God. At this point, you apply the passage to your own life.
What does this mean for me today?
What lessons can I learn?
What example can I follow or avoid?
What does God want to speak to me about?
What area in my life does this passage apply to?
What situation in my life does this passage give light and direction to?

Don't forget to write everything down and keep your notes! I love studying the Bible this way and I hope you will too. 

At Powerline Productions, we offer Bible studies for ladies, young women (God's Girls) and men of all ages (Real Men). You can look for Bible studies on Amazon with E-books on Currclick. 

For the Joy Set before Us!
Merey
(Meredith Ludwig Curtis)

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