How to Study God’s Word

Objectives

  1. Regularly practice the three step Bible Study Method of Observation, Interpretation, and Application in your study of God’s word
  2. Be encouraged to set a regular time of Bible Study each day

Issue to Consider

Why is studying the Bible carefully important? What might happen if you do not correctly interpret God’s Word?

How to do it: Choose a passage or verse

Verse(s): (write it out and if you are really going for it, memorize it!)

  1. Observation- What do I see? What is in and around the passage?

1. What is the context? Who, what, when, where, why? Context determines meaning.

2. Identify parts of the sentence (subj, verb, preps, adj, adv, etc). Grammar conveys meaning.

  1. Interpretation- What does it mean?

1. Define key words

2. Cross Reference at least one other passage. What additional insights do you gain from the cross reference?

3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words;

  1. Application- How do I apply it? How does God want to change me? (SPECK)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness…2Tim3:16

1. Sin to avoid

2. Promise from God

3. Example to follow

4. Command to obey

5. Knowledge about God/How does it pt to Christ______

Main Issue: (write what issue this passage addresses in the form of a question)

Central Truth: (main idea author is trying to communicate)

Action this week: (what will you do this week in response to this passage?)

Ideas for Studying God’s Word

  1. Book study- Phil, Gal, 1 or 2 Tm- take a verse, a prargraph, or a chapter and go through the book.
  2. Topic study- money, anger, identity in Christ, relationships, God’s promises etc
  3. Inductive Bible work book- Cru.Comm, Intervarsity study, Navs study, Macarthur study, Life Application Study
  4. Book with study guide that really gets you into the Bible
  5. An issue you are facing as you witness to others- study the scriptures to see what they teach!
  6. Bring in worship music and prayer. Sing and pray back to God what you are learning and ask Him to make these truths real

Tools for studying God’s Word

  1. Concordance- catalogs every word in the Bible to help you find a particular verse based on one word
  2. Vines Dictionary- easy to use Greek dictionary based in the English word out of KJV
  3. Bible Dictionary- Who were the Amorites? This will tell you the who, what, and where of the historical context.
  4. Commentary- Stuck on a passage? Still don’t know what it means? This resources will help tons! Wycliffe, NIV Bible Commentary, Bible Knowledge Commentary, Macarthur Commentaries
  5. Atlas- Where did Jesus travel? Where is Corinth? This will show you chronologically the places in scripture.

Action Points

  1. Pick something to study and start using this 3-step method in a journal.
  2. Pick a set time and location to meet with God each day. Develop this godly habit now to make it something you do for a lifetime!

Bible Verse Study Sheet

Verse(s): (write out)

  1. Observation- What do I see?

1. What is the context? Who, what, when, where, why? Context determines meaning.

______

2. Identify parts of the sentence (subj, verb, predicate, adj, adv, prep etc). Grammar conveys meaning.

______

  1. Interpretation- What does it mean?

1. Define key words

______

2. Cross Reference at least one other passage. What additional insights do you gain from the cross reference.(see the margin in your Bible)

____

______

______

______

3. Paraphrase the verse(s) in your own words;

______

  1. Application- How do I apply it? How does God want to change me? (SPECK)

1. Sin to avoid

2. Promise from God

3. Example to follow

4. Command to obey

5. Knowledge about God______

Main Issue:

Central Truth:

Action this week: