The Bible isn’t a textbook so much as it is our food, our guide, our protector, and comfort and our spiritual weapon. It’s FULL of SPIRITUAL POWER and LIFE!
“If we’re unsatisfied after we’ve read/studied the Bible, it depends on whether we first of all have the Spirit of GOD dwelling in us (are we really born again?) and second, do we come to the Bible expecting life-giving, nourishing spiritual food or not?
Check out the Fundamentals of the Faith, click on this link for those totally important doctrines of the Bible we must believe as Christians!
For more in-depth study (hey, buckle up, this is a LONG RIDE!):
DISCIPLESHIP 101- Sessions 1-4
So, there are Three Basic Steps to Bible study:
Note: ALWAYS pray to GOD for understanding before reading the Scriptures – It’s the ONLY book in the world where you have the Author at your shoulder ready, willing, and able to teach you! Jesus is your personal Teacher (See EPH 4:21)! AND so is the Holy Spirit (see JOHN 14:26)!! Can you say, “WOW!”??
STEP 1) Observation (what’s the Scripture actually say – not what I think it says).
STEP 2) Interpretation (what’s the Scripture really mean – not what I believe it means).
STEP 3) Application (how can I apply this to my life – AND how I apply will depend on how good my observations and interpretations are!).
STEP 1) Observation: Read carefully and examine the words and verses. Underline/highlight words that stand out to you. Consider each verse in context (about three to eight verses before and after the verse you’re examining). Look up cross references, then repeat this process for the next verse. Write down any observations you find in your notes.
STEP 2) Interpretation: Based on what you’ve observed and the facts that you have learned, consider their meaning.
And here are some facts you can observe: bread is food. We need food to live. If we get hungry that means we need to eat. Jesus claims He is “the bread of life”. He promises if we come to Him, we shall never hunger. And we will never die but live forever (JOHN 6:50-51)!
What can we interpret from this?
(1) That coming to Jesus is the answer to satisfy my spiritual hunger; (2) that once we come to Jesus, we won’t ever need or hunger for anything else. We won’t die like others who don’t have Jesus. We will live forever as He promised! Can you think of anything else?
STEP 3) Application: Now you have to figure out the answer to the “So what?” question. “How is this important to me? Where can I fit this into my life: in the way I think, the way I behave, the things I say, the actions I take?”
Going back to JOHN 6:35 what are conclusions I can make to apply to my life?
In seeking nourishment for spiritual needs, I can ignore everything else that claims to satisfy my spiritual hunger. Jesus alone, and His Word provides all I need or will ever need for everything in life: every trial, hardship or experience I will encounter. I need to come to Jesus daily in the Word and in prayer, just as I need daily bread (food).
Remember, the Bible is not so much a text book to gain information from, but a love letter written to you personally! This love letter explains all that GOD did to prove His love for you, most especially in sending Jesus to Earth to reveal GOD’s nature and His plan to us, to die for our sins on the cross, and rise again from the dead, defeating sin, death and Satan.
The Bible is our food, our drink, our inspiration, our shield and fortress, our compass, our light, our anchor, our foundation, our focus and so much more besides. The Bible is THE Book all about Jesus Christ (PSALM 40:7; JOHN 5:39).
For a ton of “mini Bible Lessons” and lots more, take a look here!
For a video on how to study the Bible (in case you missed it last time) check this out!
If you’re interested in an in-depth class on how to study the BIBLE you have two options: The book by Josh McDowell: Guide To Understanding Your Bible OR The TTUF Discipleship 102 course (much of it based on Josh’s book; scroll passed Discipleship 101).
Got questions? Email me! KNYHTF1RE@gmail.com
Put in the subject box: “Questions about TTUF”.
Note: ALWAYS pray to GOD for understanding before reading the Scriptures – It’s the ONLY book in the world where you have the Author at your shoulder ready, willing, and able to teach you! Jesus is your personal Teacher (See EPH 4:21)! AND so is the Holy Spirit (see JOHN 14:26)!! Can you say, “WOW!”??
STEP 1) Observation (what’s the Scripture actually say – not what I think it says).
STEP 2) Interpretation (what’s the Scripture really mean – not what I believe it means).
STEP 3) Application (how can I apply this to my life – AND how I apply will depend on how good my observations and interpretations are!).
STEP 1) Observation: Read carefully and examine the words and verses. Underline/highlight words that stand out to you. Consider each verse in context (about three to eight verses before and after the verse you’re examining). Look up cross references, then repeat this process for the next verse. Write down any observations you find in your notes.
STEP 2) Interpretation: Based on what you’ve observed and the facts that you have learned, consider their meaning.
Here’s an example: You observe a pot of boiling water and gather several facts: (1) someone turned the stove on, (2) someone filled the pot with water (3) the water is hot, you see steam (4) whoever it is, they left the stove unattended, etc. Can you think of other facts?Jesus said in JOHN 6:35, “I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger”
What are some things you can interpret from this?
(1) Someone is cooking something or about to. (2) That someone is careless to leave the boiling water unattended. (3) They will probably be back soon. (4) They or someone else is going to eat what they cooked.
And here are some facts you can observe: bread is food. We need food to live. If we get hungry that means we need to eat. Jesus claims He is “the bread of life”. He promises if we come to Him, we shall never hunger. And we will never die but live forever (JOHN 6:50-51)!
What can we interpret from this?
(1) That coming to Jesus is the answer to satisfy my spiritual hunger; (2) that once we come to Jesus, we won’t ever need or hunger for anything else. We won’t die like others who don’t have Jesus. We will live forever as He promised! Can you think of anything else?
STEP 3) Application: Now you have to figure out the answer to the “So what?” question. “How is this important to me? Where can I fit this into my life: in the way I think, the way I behave, the things I say, the actions I take?”
Going back to JOHN 6:35 what are conclusions I can make to apply to my life?
In seeking nourishment for spiritual needs, I can ignore everything else that claims to satisfy my spiritual hunger. Jesus alone, and His Word provides all I need or will ever need for everything in life: every trial, hardship or experience I will encounter. I need to come to Jesus daily in the Word and in prayer, just as I need daily bread (food).
Remember, the Bible is not so much a text book to gain information from, but a love letter written to you personally! This love letter explains all that GOD did to prove His love for you, most especially in sending Jesus to Earth to reveal GOD’s nature and His plan to us, to die for our sins on the cross, and rise again from the dead, defeating sin, death and Satan.
The Bible is our food, our drink, our inspiration, our shield and fortress, our compass, our light, our anchor, our foundation, our focus and so much more besides. The Bible is THE Book all about Jesus Christ (PSALM 40:7; JOHN 5:39).
For a ton of “mini Bible Lessons” and lots more, take a look here!
For a video on how to study the Bible (in case you missed it last time) check this out!
If you’re interested in an in-depth class on how to study the BIBLE you have two options: The book by Josh McDowell: Guide To Understanding Your Bible OR The TTUF Discipleship 102 course (much of it based on Josh’s book; scroll passed Discipleship 101).
Got questions? Email me! KNYHTF1RE@gmail.com
Put in the subject box: “Questions about TTUF”.
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