Introduction
We have a few days “off” before we start the book of Philippians next week. To help us all grow in reading the Word on a daily basis and to help us better study and apply the Bible, we’re taking the next three days to share a few tools for reading, understanding, and applying the Bible more effectively. For each of the next three days, we’ve picked three different Bible study methods and three key passages from Hebrews to help be more effective in studying and living out God’s Word.
Day One
Today’s method we’re sharing involves a three-step process. As we study a passage using this method, we’re like investigators doing a deep dive asking three sets of questions. We’ll share the three steps and some key questions and encourage you to study one verse.
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Hebrews 3:13
- Observation: “What does it say?” or ”What do I see?”
As you look at the verse, what words stick out? Are any words repeated? Look at the context of the verse and passage, specifically looking at the verse prior and following. Is the passage/verse a question, statement, or command? Is the writer describing something or recounting a story or narrative? What did the author see when they wrote the passage? Try to put yourself in their shoes and make some observations. Practically, you can mark anything you observe in your bible or in a journal.
- Interpretation: “What does it mean?”
What do you think the author intends in this passage? This is where you can ask a bunch of questions of the text and where you seek to find answers to those questions. For example, if you studied John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”) you could ask: Why is Jesus crying? What led Him to start crying? Are there any other times Jesus wept? As you study the passage and its context, you put your questions and answers together as you attempt to interpret the verse/passage.
- Application: “How does it work?” or “What do I do?”
Now that we’ve made some observations and made efforts to understand what the Scripture means, we need to figure out what we do with it. How does this passage apply to me? What do I do about it? How will this passage impact my life or the lives of those around me? James 1:22-25 describes a man who looks in the mirror and sees what he looks like and then turns around and forgets what he saw in the mirror. We don’t want to be people who look into God’s Word and forget what it says. Rather, we want to be people who allow God’s Word to change and transform us, so that we might become more and more like Jesus Christ.
Practice
Quick summary: The first method we’re sharing with you this week is to take three steps with every passage you study.
- Observation: “What does it say?” or ”What do I see?”
- Interpretation: “What does it mean?”
- Application: “How does it work?” or “What do I do?”
What do you observe, interpret, and apply from Hebrews 3:13?
2 thoughts on “Bible Study Methods: Day 1”
Hebrews 3:13
1.) Observe: Encourage daily (command)
2.) Interpretation: Hold each other accountable to the Truth.
3.) Application: Be aware of the subtleties of sin that draw believers away from Christ. Lovingly challenge in the moment, realizing the enemy is lurking wanting to deceive us. Always point/direct to Christ. Life Group provides this for me.
Observation: Jesus wants us to walk in obedience to him and to stop rebelling against him. God wants us to be better than Israel and turn away from sin fully. He wants us to listen to him instead of hardening our hearts towards him.
Interpretation: God want us to encourage each other daily that people can draw closer to him and his Holy Spirit and so their hearts would be made new by God’s Spirit. He wants us to correct each other so that no sin will take rule in our hearts and so we can fully turn to God (become born again) and turn away from a lifestyle of sin.
Application: Walk in God’s commandments no matter how you feel or how others feel about you pursuing /growing in God’s truth. NEVER REBEL AGAINST HIM WHO LOVEDYOU FIRST WHEN YOU WERE AT YOUR WORST. Encourage others who may be new to the faith and even those who are still growing in their walk with Christ. Spread the gospel whenever the Spirit leads while you still have breath in your lungs (DO THIS DAILY).