Lesson 17 - HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
2Tim 2:15 1. Why study it? It is God's reveation of Himself and His will to man. It is the instruction book for human life. It is the only manual in existence written by the manufacturer of human life. It must be important. 2. Read it It would be good for all of us just to read through the Bible- over and over. Follow yearly reading guides. Start at the beginning and read through. Don't just open and read from anywhere. Be systematic. Read until you get something. 3. Study Get serious- find out what's in there. Look deeper. Study Methods: subjects- seek all passages dealing with a certain subject or verses using a certain word. persons- study a Biblical person's life (Moses, David.) places- significant locations i.e. history of Jerusalem & things that happened there; mountains; seas; etc. events- Elijah on Mt. Carmel, Jesus' Crucifixion books- study a whole book Inductive study - approach it with an open mind and see what it says and means. A) Read the book straight through quickly- Get the general idea. Use the W-key: Who wrote it? Find out something about the author. When written? 66 books written over 1600 years, by 40 different authors. Know something of the historical background. Where spoken or delivered? Where was the author when he wrote it? Where was it read to people? Why was it written? What necessitated this message? (i.e. Jeremiah wrote to a rebellious nation warning of judgement. It helps to know Paul told women at Corinth to be silent in church, not because he didn't like women, but because the church was in turmoil and the women were disturbing the services. To Whom written? Know some of the audience. B) Start again reading short sections. (determine where divisions are) C) Read a section over and over until you determine the main idea. D) Read closely and determine what is being said about the subject. E) Read the surrounding context- Consider the point in the context of the book. F) Look up words you don't clearly understand. G) Consider any cultural implications (check the context and attitude of the book; use a Bible Encyclopedia) H) What does it mean for us today? I) Consider other scriptures- get the balance of scripture on the subject. Let the Bible interpret itself. (Concordance, Topical Bible, Ref. Bible, ie Thompson) J) Interpret only what is there. Be careful of reading into it, or applying your own meaning. Don't squeeze out some meaning that is not there. (No scripture is of private interpretation.) K) Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind and apply the scripture to your life. Specifics: Old Testament: read it straight through- story by story, section by section. Perhaps chronologically. Ask God to show you how it applies to you. Gospels: read each incident or discourse on its own merit. Consider the context (what has just happened or is about to happen or is happening at the time.) Epistles: consider each section in context of the whole message of the book. Prophetic(Rev.): go for spiritual principle- not dogma. *A good commentary is very helpful but remember it is not the Bible itself. Remember, look for the spiritual principle- the true meaning. It's not just important what the Bible says- its important what it means by what it says. More harm has been done by misquoted, out of context scripture than has been done by the enemies of the faith. Reference List: Strong's Concordance Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words Naves Topical Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Matthew Henry's Commentary Erdman's Handbook to the Bible Modern Version Self-study guide- various How To Mark Your Loved Ones For God excerpted from Dwight Thompson Step One - Know where your children are. - not just physically, but in their hearts, their minds and their spirits. Satan has launched an all-out attack on the family - especially the Christian family. He sell lies to our children. You’d better know where they are at. Spend enough time with them to know. Satan will try to keep you busy with work, hobbies, TV, distractions. Become a good example that reflects Jesus.
Step Two - Openly declare, "Devil, you can’t have my children." Stand on Acts 16:31 and Acts 2:29 Ac 16:31 … Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Ac 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. There is one thing teenagers understand - love. Keep the door open, keep the light on; let them know you are there for them, no matter what. Let them know they can always come home.
Step Three - Stand in the gap. Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Stay on your knees praying for them. Never let up. Prayer works.
Step Four - Make a decision and a declaration - "My family will be saved!" Take an aggressive stand against the devil. Stand in faith. By faith, start seeing your children born into the Kingdom of God. By faith, see them as disciples, growing in the Lord.
Study Guide For "What The Bible Is All About"
by Henrietta Mears
Chapter 17 - Understanding Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon
1. We find in Proverbs that godliness is _____________. 2. Proverbs is a book for _________________________. 3. Men are divided into two classes - _______________ & ___________________. 4. Proverbs is divided into three sections: Counsel for ____________, for ___________. & for _________________. 5. Proverbs presents a system for ____________ and _________. 6. The book provides rules for the ________________________. 7. The wisdom of Proverbs is _____________________________. 8. The first duty of man is _______________________. 9. Plain _____________________ is needed in life. 10. _____________ is the first step to wisdom. 11. The fear of the Lord is the fear of ___________________________. 12. In the tongue is the power of ____________ & ________________. 13. A man deep in wickedness will invent _______________________. 14. No sin is denounced more severely in scripture than ____________. 15. Choose ______________________ rather than riches. 16. Ecclesiastes is the book of ____________________. 17. Ecclesiastes is God’s record of ____________________. (Some have called it "the inspired record of an uninspired man.) 18. The message of Ecclesiastes is that ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 19. We must begin young to know God if we are to find _____________. 20. Fear God, and keep His commandments - this it _________________. 21. ____________________ apart from Christ is impossible. 22. The key text of Song of Solomon is verse ____________. Read it. 23. ________________________ is the greatest need of the church today.