Editor's Note 1: Greetings and welcome to the fifth full year of BIBLE INSIGHT. Many of you have been consistent readers since we published our first issue on July 12, 1998. You are currently reading our 235th bulletin. It is possible that some you have missed some issues or would like additional copies of certain issues. Each bulletin can be found on the internet by visiting www.geocities.com/cdillinger.geo/ and clicking on "Bible" and looking for the bulletin links near the bottom of the page.
Editor's Note 2: We have just finished our first year of a three-year program of studying through the Bible. Our study of the Old Testament will conclude in June and we will immediately begin studying the New Testament the first Sunday night of July. Special thanks to all the brethren that have preached and will be preaching the corresponding lessons at the Sunday night services.
Since we are emphasizing Bible Study and many are resolved to improve their own personal study for the New Year the following article is presented for your consideration.
Inductive Bible Study By Warren E. Berkley (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4051/)
"These were more noble-minded that those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things
were so," Acts 17:11.
It is likely that your personal Bible reading and study could be identified as "inductive" though you may use the term. The word "inductive" has a mathematical, electrical, scientific, philosophical and legal usage. As applied to Bible reading and study it simply means - you engage yourself with the specific details of the text of Scripture. You do this yourself, and this is always your first step in reading and study. The opposite of this is, to blindly accept the deductions of men and impose those into the text of Scripture.
I use the word "inductive" to describe the approach I believe we ought to take when reading and studying the Bible. To me it simply means, you engage yourself personally with the text, careful to let the text determine what you believe, teach and practice.
Consider the opposite. If you simply submit to what others
tell you the Bible says, then read and study with those assumptions
- your approach is not inductive and indepeendent. If you decide
(out of tradition, family or peer influence) what you want to
believe, teach and practice first - and then read the Bible in
search of passages that sound like they confirm what you have
already decided, that is not inductive and not objective. If you
have been trained at the feet of sound Bible students, the non-inductive
approach may not yield a steady stream of error. But it isn't
the best approach for the best results in your personal faith
and practice.
1. Inductive Bible Study Begins With The Text. What the
Bible says is your starting place; your first step! Out of that
reading and study, your beliefs are formed and your behavior determined.
You observe for yourself what the text of Scripture says; you
read it in narrative order, watch for all contextual information,
compare related passages, and move from the specifics of the text
to sound conclusions. "So then faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God," (Rom. 10:17).
2. Inductive Bible Study Requires Mental Effort. It is
often noted, we live in the age of visual literacy. Television,
Drama and PowerPoint are preferred over individual reading and
study. Modern methods of communication often take their place
of prominence above the message. In some cases the audience knows
how it was said - but do not recall what was said. They saw the
graphics and gestures, but did not learn what the Bible says.
Personal inductive Bible study calls for individual involvement
with the text (Acts 17:11; Jas. 1:25). One-on-one --> You and
your Bible alone! You read it. Then read it again. As you do the
individual work, the promise is: "...when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ," (Eph.
3:4).
3. Inductive Bible Study Must Attend To Context. Context
is simply the total literary setting of a word or phrase. Context
takes into account: the time, the writer, the culture, the occasion,
the original recipients, the immediate theme and all other Biblical
information relevant to the matter at hand. When engaged in Inductive
Bible Study, you must not be content to let someone dictate what
the context is. You discover context yourself as you read the
verse within the paragraph, within the epistle or book you have
read - and all of this in the framework of your familiarity with
the entire Biblical setting.
4. Inductive Bible Study Finds Its Intended End in Godly Behavior.
The immediate purpose is to have a personal understanding of the
Scriptures as a product of your own work with the text. The practical
purpose is to know what you ought to believe, teach and practice.
As a result of Inductive Bible Study, you are able to say: "This
is what I believe; I've read it and studied it myself. This is
what I know God said, because I've read it myself." This
is different than saying, "This is what our church teaches,"
or "this is what my preacher says." Hopefully, your
local church teaches and practices the Scriptural pattern and
the preachers you hear propose nothing for your belief but the
Word of God. But your individual faith ought to be grounded in
your individual reading and study. So that your life is led from
day to day by your direct contact with the Word of God. Kay Arthur
writes, "Inductive Bible study draws you into personal interaction
with the Scripture and thus with the God of the Scriptures so
that your beliefs are based on a prayerful understanding and legitimate
interpretation of Scripture - truth that transforms you when you
live by it." Once meaning is discovered in the text, the
next step is self-inquiry: What does this mean to me today?
Warning: If you let someone teach you their detailed "Inductive
Bible Study Method," you may defeat the whole purpose. If
you lock yourself into the procedures and methods of someone else,
there is a loss of the genuine inductive approach. The purpose
is for you (the student) to read and study the text, leading to
your conclusions and ultimately your behavior before God.
For Further Research:
"Independent Bible Study" by Irving L. Jensen, Chicago:
Moody Press, 1963.
Inductive Preaching, by Ralph L. Lewis with Gregg Lewis, Westchester,
Ill: Crossway Books, 1983.
Bill Cook's Inductive Bible Study Page: http://www.geocities.com/HeartlandValley/6135/index.htm
The International Inductive Study Bible (New American Standard),
Eugene, Oregon: 1993.
Am I Ready? By W. Frank Walton (wfwalton@juno.com)
"You, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake
you like a thief; you are all sons of light and sons of day. We
are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as
others do, but let us be alert and sober….But since we are
of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of
faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God
has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 5:4-10).
Zachary Taylor was a commanding U.S. General and the 12th President
of the United States. As a soldier and general, he was known as
"Old Rough and Ready. History remembers him thus: "Taylor
had no formal education but plenty of frontier common sense…..`General
Taylor's battles were not distinguished for brilliant military
maneuvers, but in all he seems to have conquered by the exercise
of a sober and steady judgment' - Abraham Lincoln….His last
words were `I am prepared. I have endeavored to do my duty'"
(To the Best of My Ability, p. 96,94). This reflects the readiness
the Apostle Paul teaches for the Christian as a faithful soldier
of Christ.
Christians, in armor like a Roman legionnaire, are must be alert
soldiers at their post of duty. This world is not a playground
but a battleground for the souls of men. We are not to waste time
speculating when He will come, for this is not revealed. God has
hidden the time of His return so we will be in suspense and alert.
We must be focused on being ready for whenever He returns. Through
faith in Christ, we know how the war of the worlds will end. We
must gird ourselves with spiritual virtue and remain on active
duty to be on the winning side. Jesus will return suddenly, at
any moment, so we must be ready. Today may be our last. If not
careful, we can become lax, drift away from God, and lose our
salvation (Gal 5:4; Heb 2:1; Ja 5:19-20; Rev 2:4-5, 3:1-3).
What is life all about? It is about getting ready. The record
of our lives is written day by day, with thoughts we think and
the deeds we do. When we face the Lord at the end of the way,
what will our story say? This mortal life is to prepare us for
the next eternal one. At our funeral, what will be said? What
would we like to be said?
It is within our power today to record the virtues of faith, hope
and love in our lives. If I knew Christ would return within the
next 24 hours, how would I live? We would be incredibly focused
spiritually! With fervent faith in God, Christ-like love toward
others, and eager hope in the future home of heaven, our duty
is clear until Christ returns. He wants to fight the good fight
for Him, so we're fitted to live with Him in eternal fellowship.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/~cdillinger/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel and 1 Kings
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and
visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com