The Quiet Time Series

Part 6

The Bible And The Quiet Tim (B)

Well, its been a while since our last Post.    I hope you have enjoyed the Quiet Time Series and that you have found it helpful. The last time we talked about why the Bible is important to your QT and the attitude with which you should approach it.
 

In this Post I’d like to give you some very practical tools to use in your Quiet Time.    But first let me give a word of caution regarding a pitfall that we can all very easily fall into. In fact, I think it might be the single biggest mistake we make when we open our Bibles.

You see, the purpose of Bible Study is not to fill your head with more knowledge or facts. Now don’t get me wrong, you will gain Biblical knowledge in ways that you won’t with simply reading the Bible.　 However, knowledge is not the ultimate goal, life transformation is.

The Purpose of Bible Study Is Life Transformation

Our aim in Bible Study is to see Jesus, to get to know him and to allow Him to change our lives.    In Bible Study we should be seeking to hear the voice of God, to bow to His will and to enthrone Him in our hearts.    It is as we encounter God in the Scriptures that our lives are transformed after the image of Christ. 

Receive with meekness the implanted word,

which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

  

When we receive the Word it ought to lead to being transformed into His likeness.    Old habits begin to go, attitudes begin to change and our outlook on life is transformed as we become more like Him and He is enthroned in our hearts.

 

The Aim of Bible Study Is to See Jesus and

Allow His Word to Transform Your Life.

  

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Obviously we’re not able to cover everything about Bible Study here.     In fact you can take a whole course on Methods of Bible Study at College and I’m even working on writing a course on "How The Study The Bible For Yourself."     However, here are some basic tools that will really help you get the most out of your Bible Study during your QT.      So, grab yourself a pen/pencil and a notebook and lets get started.

There are three parts to Bible Study

Observe the passage by asking the question: What do I see?"

Interpret the passage by asking the question: "What does it mean?"

Apply the passage by asking the question: "What do I do?"

　

Observation: - What Does It Say?

Your first step is observation.    Here you’re not looking for answers but rather trying to understand what the verse or passage says and in particular how would the original readers have understood it.     The question you are asking yourself is, "What does it say?"

You may have read the passage a dozen times before but don’t assume you know what it says.     Read the passage and note the context.     That is, read the verses before and after so you get the setting of the passage you are studying.

All observations are valuable.    Write them down.     Use the questions of good journalism; Who? What? When? Where? Where? Why? How?     Here are some questions you can use as a guide.

• Who is writing or speaking and to whom?

• What is the passage about?

• What are the commands?

• What are the promises or cause/effect relationships?

• What are the repeated words and ideas?

• What problems were the recipients facing?

• Where does this take place?

• When does this take place?

• Why does the speaker or author say/write what he does?

• What do I learn about God?

• What do I learn about Jesus?

• What do I learn about the Holy Spirit?

• What do I learn about me (or mankind)?

Try to answer the questions by reading the passage over, and looking at surrounding verses.     For some of the tough ones you can (for your QT) use a one volume Bible Dictionary or a Commentary.     However, don’t go to these first.     Do your own investigation and you’ll have joy discovering it for yourself and it will stick with you better.
 

Interpretation: - What Does It Mean?

Your second step is Interpretation.     Now that you know what it says, you’re looking to figure out what it means.    The question you are asking yourself is, "What does it mean?"

You’ll want to discover the "Big Idea", that is, what is this passage about?     What’s the big idea the author is trying to communicate.     Write it down in your notebook.    In fact, I encourage you to summarize it in 4 words or less and write that down.

You’re looking for the principle truth being taught in that verse or passage and you want to capture it in a snap shot of no more than 4 words.

Steps to Interpreting the Passage

To help you interpret the passage, answer questions like the ones listed below. Use as many or as few as you need to.

• What are the meanings of the words?

• What does the immediate context suggest?

• What does the broader context suggest? (chapter and book)

• What do other cross references suggest?

• What is the cultural meaning? (What did it mean to those to whom it was originally addressed?

Once you’ve tried to interpret the passage and get the meaning for yourself, you can check out a commentary if you like, but don’t do that first. By doing your own investigation first you will really begin to find Bible Study an exciting and joyful experience.

Once you understand the meaning of the verse or passage you are ready for the third step.

Application: - How Does It Apply?

The Third step in Bible Study is Application. Remember, the purpose of studying the Bible is to encounter God and have our lives transformed.    The question you are asking yourself is, "How does it apply to my life?"    I have found it profoundly beneficial to always apply scripture to my life or to the circumstances I observe around me. 

Every verse applies to your life.

Not ever verse applies to your life.

Once you understand what the passage is saying you will want to ask yourself " how does this truth apply to my life?"     That raises the question, "does every verse apply to me?" Well, the answer to that is a categorical, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Let me explain.

Suppose your study includes Matthew 27:5 where it talks about Judas hanging himself. Does that apply to you? 

Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple

and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matt 27:5)

 

If you’re not careful you may conclude that the application is to go out and hang yourself just like Judas.      I wouldn’t recommend you doing that.    Okay, this may be a bit of a stretch but you get the point.    This verse does not directly apply to your life.    However, if you see this in context you might conclude that a practical application here is that we must be aware of the consequences of willful sin, well then it does apply to you.    At this point you ask yourself about possible areas in your life where you are in willful disobedience to God’s revealed will.

"What should I be doing in response to this passage?"
 

In the next Post, I’ll share with you a simple plan for applying the Word of God for your life in a very practical way.    For now, remember that at the end of your QT you should always be asking yourself, "What should I be doing in response to this passage?"     I have always found it to be very helpful to write in my notebook what I am going to do in response to what I’ve just studied. More about that in the next Post. God Bless You!

Because of Calvary
Pastor Rick