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How to Study the Bible Bible Studyby Matt Howell

A Bible Study on How to Study the Bible

ruf at appalachian state university

LEADER’S GUIDE

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What is the Gospel?At RUF, the gospel is our greatest treasure – it truly is the power of God for the salvationof everyone who believes (Romans 1:16-17), and that continues all throughout ourChristian lives. However, in our day and culture, there is confusion as to just what thegospel is. The following brief article, written by Pastor Tim Keller of RedeemerPresbyterian Church in New York City, clearly defines the gospel.

The Third Way of the GospelThe gospel means “good news.” It is the basic message that: ‘God made (Christ), whohad no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Cor. 5:21). The gospel says that we are so sinful, lost and helpless that only the life anddeath of the Son of God can save us. But it also says that those who trust in Christ’s workinstead of their own efforts are now “holy in his sight, without blemish and free fromaccusation” (Colossians 1:22-23).

The gospel tells us that our root sin is not just failing in our obedience to God but relyingon our obedience to save us. Therefore, the gospel is a “third way,” neither religion norirreligion. The religious person may say, “I am doing the right things that Godcommands”1 and the irreligious person may say, “I decide what is right and wrong formyself.” But both ways reject Jesus as Savior (though they may revere him as Exampleor Helper). Both ways are strategies of self-salvation – both actually keep control of theirown lives. So the gospel keeps us from legalism and moralism on the one hand and fromhedonism and relativism on the other.

The Gospel’s Power for ChangeThe gospel is not just the ABC but the A-Z of the Christian life. The gospel is not just theway to enter the kingdom but is the way to address every problem and is the way to growat every step. If we believe we can find our own worth and meaning throughperformance, then we will become either proud or disdainful of others (if we reach ourgoals), or else discouraged and self-loathing (if we fail our goals). But the gospel createsan entirely new self-image.

First, it tells us that we are more wicked and sinful than we ever dared believe but moreloved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared to hope – at the same time. In fact, if thegospel is true, the more you see your sin, the more certain you are that you were saved bysheer grace and the more precious and electrifying that grace is to you. So the gospel

1 “Our core problem, say St. Augustine, is that the human heart, ignoring God, turns in on itself, tries to liftitself, wants to please itself, and ends up debasing itself. The person who reaches toward God and wants toplease God gets, so to speak, stretched by this move, and ennobled by the transcendence of its object. Butthe person who curves in on himself, who wants God’s gifts without God, who wants to satisfy the desiresof a divided heart, ends up sagging and contracting like a little wad. He desires are provincial. ‘There issomething in humility which, strangely enough, exalts the heart, and something in pride, which debasesit.’” - Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, p. 62, (at the end quoting Augustine, TheCity of God)

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gives us enormous power to admit our flaws.

Secondly, the knowledge of our acceptance in Christ makes (for the first time) the law ofGod a beauty instead of a burden. We come to use it to delight the One who has enrichedus so mightily, instead of using it to get his attention or win his favor. The first waymakes the moral and sacrificial life a joy; the second way makes it a burden.

Therefore the gospel changes everything. It brings down racial barriers by melting awayfacial pride or inferiority. It brings down psychological problems by melting away self-inflation or self-hatred. It brings down personal facades, for we are free to admit whowe are. It effects the way we do everything... how we motivate people, how we helpthem work through counseling problems, how we worship, how we take criticism.

Where Credit is DueThere is very little (if any) original material in this study. This is more or less a crudecompilation of stuff taken from other RUF Campus Ministers like David Green, SteveBadorf, Doug Serven, Shawn Slate and countless others who have thought longer, harderand wiser in this field than I have.

A Note on MethodThis study is intended to be interactive. Therefore, the first half of the semester-longstudy incorporates what we are learning with how we are learning it (TDOEE). Eachstudy involves a brief explanation of a new topic followed by the group’s participation ofthat topic. For example, the first study involves the leader explaining what “observation”is and why it’s important and then the remaining time will be spent with the groupmaking observations of the text provided. This will go on for the first 6 weeks of thesemester.

For the second half of the semester, each student attending this Bible Study will beexpected to prepare and lead a discussion over different passages in the book ofPhilippians. The idea behind this methodology is that you actually learn how to study theBible when you learn how to teach the Bible. Make sure that you leave 10 minutes at theend of each study for the group to evaluate how the student leader did.How was their ice-breaker question? How did they do in involving everyone? Were allthe elements of O/I/A there? What could they improve on?

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Contents

Study One: Overview and Observation……………………………………..………….5Mark 2:1-12

Study Two: Interpretation………………………………………………………………7Luke 10:38-42

Study Three: Application……….………………………………….……………………9Romans 8:31-39

Study Four: Some Tricks of the Trade……….…………………………………….…11Deuteronomy 22:1-4

Study Five: How to Lead and Prepare a Bible Study……….…………………..……13Luke 5:1-11

Study Six: Bringing it All Together……….………………………………………...…15Philippians 1:1-11

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Study One: Overview and Observation

1) Inductive Bible Study

Deduction – begins with a theory poses a hypothesis makes observations confirms or rejects the theoryInduction – begins with observation establishes a pattern forms a hypothesis establishes a theory.

2) Overview

Three basic parts to inductive Bible study:1. Observation – What does it say?

What is actually there? Simply gathering facts, details.2. Interpretation – What does it mean?

What do these facts mean? Your goal here is to understand the association between thefacts.

3. Application – What will I do? What does it matter?What should I think/feel/do now in light of this? How does the gospel impact myapplication?

Participation is key! For example, when you learning how to play a new board game orcard game, the person trying to teach you eventually says something like, “Let’s just playand you’ll figure it out as we go.” That’s the same idea here. For the second half of thissemester, you will be leading our Bible studies – because you will figure it out as you go.

3) Step One(ish)1: Observation

Playing detective. Seeing what is there before jumping to what it means or how it’srelevant. Why is this a crucial and necessary first step?

Macro-detail to observe:What is the genre? Poetry, narrative, discourse, law?

Micro-details to observe:Who, what, when, where, why, how

Literary connections:Repetition (same term)Continuity (similar term)Contrast (but, however)Comparison (like)Cause to Effect (when, so, after)

1 Step one should really be prayer. 1 Cor 2:6-16 explains that you cannot understand spiritual things apartfrom the Holy Spirit’s help. So always begin by asking God to teach you and to reveal His word to you.

“The important thing isnot to stop questioning.”- Albert Einstein

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Effect to Cause (because, since)Means to End (so that, in order that)Logical Conclusion (if…then, therefore)

Example: Romans 12:1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as livingsacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do notconform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing ofyour mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good,pleasing and perfect will.

the leader should come prepared to list off their observations from this passage. A few:- It begins with “therefore.” This is the conclusion of something that came before.- Paul urges them to do something in a way that is connected to God’s mercy.- Offering your bodies as living sacrifices seems to be pleasing to God.- There is a contrast in verse 2: do not conform but be transformed.- The second command of verse 2 is passive: be transformed.- The result of this is the ability to “test and approve” God’s will.- Paul qualifies God’s will as “good, pleasing and perfect.”

Your turn: Mark 2:1-12

1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he hadcome home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door,and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carriedby four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they madean opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat theparalyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son,your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why doesthis fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in theirhearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to sayto the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Hesaid to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up,took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and theypraised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

List your observations:

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Study Two: Interpretation

1) Review

What are the three elements of Inductive Bible Study?What question is the “Observation” step trying to answer?

2) Interpretation

A) The Goal of Interpretation

The goal is:- NOT to decode a secret spiritual message.

o Ex. The Bible Code- Answering – what does the text mean?- Discovering the main point of the passage as it was originally intended by the

author to his originally intended audience.o Ex. Col 2:20 does not relate to dating…

- To understand how that main point relates to Jesus.

B) The Method of Interpretation i. Ask Interpretive Questions

- Why did the author/character do…?- Why did this event happen?- Why were _____ involved?- What is the significance of…?- What is the implication of….?- Why was this event included here?- How did the people react? Why?

ii. Answer Interpretive Questions

- Look for clues in the passage- Look at the larger context of the paragraph, book, etc.- Don’t answer questions that the passage isn’t providing answers to!

o Ex. Mark 2:1-12 – What does this passage say about modern medicine?Science and miracles?

iii. Find the Central Meaning

- What is the big idea? The author’s main point is….?- Go back through the text with this main point to test it. Do all the verses

contribute to this main point? If not, you may have come upon a secondary pointrather than a main point.

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3) Your Turn – Luke 10:38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a womannamed Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at theLord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparationsthat had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister hasleft me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”   41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about manythings, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not betaken away from her.”

Observations Interpretive Questions/Answers

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Study Three: Application

1) Review

What are the three elements of Inductive Bible Study?What question is the “Observation” step trying to answer?What question is the “Interpretation” step trying to answer?

2) Application

Answering the question – “What will I do?” Or “What does it matter?”

A) ImplicationsHow does this passage relate to people generally? Is there a…

- Sin for me to repent of?- Promise for me to claim?- Example for me to follow?- Error for me to avoid?- Command for me to obey?- Knowledge of God to believe?- Something to pray about?

B) Christological Reference

Seeing… Questioning… Comprehending… Application to Jesus You

Teaching – how you should live. Here’s what you need to do and now go out and do it.At the end of the day, this approach makes the Bible ultimately about you. This makes usmoralistic Pharisees which leads only to either self-righteousness or self-loathing.Gospel – what He has done. It’s ultimately about Him (Luke 24). The Bible is not aboutyou. The gospel of grace is always the Bible’s agent of motivation for life-change (Titus2:11-12).

So…what does this passage relate to Jesus? How has Jesus fulfill this passage?

C) Application – How will I change?

- Because of the gospel and by God’s grace, I will _______. [Think, Feel, Do]- If “Do,” then be specific! “I need to read the Bible more” is not an application, it’s animplication. Answer the questions – how and when and where you are going to do this.- Be realistic.

The author’smessage

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3) Your Turn – Romans 8:31-39

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also,along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against thosewhom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? ChristJesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God andis also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall troubleor hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Observations Interpretive Questions/Answers

ApplicationMain Point:

Christological Fulfillment:

Application for me:

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Study Four: Some Tricks of the Trade

1) Review

What are the three elements of Inductive Bible Study? What question is the“Observation” step trying to answer? What question is the “Interpretation” step trying toanswer? What question is the “Application” step trying to answer?

2) Bible Translations

There are different Bible versions because there are different ways to translate theoriginal languages into English.Compare three different versions of 1 Corinthians 7:26-27

LiteralNASB, KJV, RSV

Dynamic EquivalentsNIV, NAB, ESV

ParaphraseLiving, Phillips, NEB, The

Message26 I think then that this isgood in view of the presentdistress, that it is good for aman to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife?Do not seek to be released.Are you released from awife? Do not seek a wife.

26 Because of the presentcrisis, I think that it is goodfor you to remain as youare. 27 Are you married?Do not seek a divorce. Areyou unmarried? Do not lookfor a wife.

Because of the currentpressures on us from allsides, I think it wouldprobably be best to stay justas you are. Are youmarried? Stay married. Areyou unmarried? Don't getmarried.

What is the benefit of looking at multiple translations?

3) Some Tools [the leader should bring a copy of these for students to look at]

Commentaries – These are helpful verse-by-verse summaries and explanations for anybook in the Bible. There are tons of options here, but a good series: The NewInternational Commentary (Old and New).

Concordance – These list every occurrence of individual words (usually tied to theoriginal language). A famous one: The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, by JamesStrong.

Bible Dictionary/Encyclopedia – These give background information on names, people,places, terms, customs, as well as the authors and settings of particular Bible books. Twogood ones: The New Bible Dictionary, by J.D. Douglas and International Standard BibleEncyclopedia, published by Eerdmans.

Study Bible – Typically the all-in-one package. My two favorites: ESV Study Bible andThe Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.

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4) Your Turn – Deuteronomy 22:1-4

1 If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take itback to him. 2 If the brother does not live near you or if you do not know who he is, takeit home with you and keep it until he comes looking for it. Then give it back to him. 3 Dothe same if you find your brother’s donkey or his cloak or anything he loses. Do notignore it. 4 If you see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it.Help him get it to its feet.

Observations Interpretive Questions/Answers

ApplicationMain Point:

Christological Fulfillment:

Application for me:

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Study Five: How to Lead and Prepare a Bible Study

1) Review

What are the three elements of Inductive Bible Study? What question is the“Observation” step trying to answer? What question is the “Interpretation” step trying toanswer? What question is the “Application” step trying to answer?

2) Leading a Bible Study

i. What to Do

a. Get acquainted with each other. Ice breakers? Why are these important?!?b. Facilitate discussion by asking questions. People remember 10% of what you say and

90% of what they say!c. Make sure everyone has the Bible passage in front of them.d. Encourage interaction.

1. Use people’s answers as the basis for your next question.2. Call attention to agreement or disagreement.3. Encourage them to seek resolution to their disagreement themselves from the text.4. Ask a student what they think about another student’s answer.5. Play devil’s advocate if answers are given to quickly and confidently!6. Be ok with not clearing up murky points. Let the group stew on it.7. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: Be aware! Notice who is not speaking,

who is speaking too much, the flow of conversation (rabbit trails, etc.), hostility inthe group, etc.

e. End on time!

ii. What Not to Do

a. Don’t answer your own questions.b. Don’t be afraid of silence. Repeat or rephrase question if necessary.c. Don’t be content with just one answer.d. Don’t expect each group member to respond to every question.e. Don’t reject an answer as wrong.f. Don’t be afraid of controversy.g. Don’t allow the group to end late.

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3) Preparing a Bible Study – Luke 5:1-11

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowdingaround him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, leftthere by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, theone belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat downand taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and letdown the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets beganto break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, andthey came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord;I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fishthey had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.   Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11 Sothey pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Look at these questions. What kind of question is it (O / I / A)? Is it a good Bible studyquestion? Why or why not?

1. What is happening in verse 1?2. Where does this event take place?3. How is the Lord calling you to obey him as he did Peter?4. What do you think would have happened if Peter would not have responded to

Jesus’ request to let down the nets?5. Given that the fishermen had fished all night without success, how might they be

feeling?6. How would you apply this passage?

Create your own questions from this passage and label them as O / I /A:

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Study Six: Bringing it All Together

1) Review – True or False?

A good Bible study leader…1) does most of the talking, 2) has more Bible knowledgethan anyone else in the group, 3) answers his/her own question when the group isconfused, 4) plays “devil’s advocate” at times, 5) answers every question that groupmembers ask, 6) sees tangents as being led of the Holy Spirit, 7) lets the Bible Study gopast the time limit only if the discussion is about something really important.

2) What to do

- Bring us all the passage of scripture- Come with a set of questions prepared from the passage- Lead our discussion from start to finish- When it’s over, we will take 10 minutes and evaluate how the Bible study went

3) Our Schedule - Philippians

[The leader will assign the passages to the students.]1) 1:1-11 – the leader2) 1:12-181) 1:19-262) 1:27-303) 2:1-44) 2:5-115) 2:12-18

3) Here we go…Philippians 1:1-11

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi,together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and theLord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always praywith joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 beingconfident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until theday of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether Iam in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth ofinsight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for theday of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to theglory and praise of God.

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Philippians 1:1-11 [leader’s questions]

1) Ice-Breaker Question: When was the last time you wrote a hand-written letter?Do you like letters or not? Why?

2) As you can see in verse 1-2 – this is a letter written by Paul to the church (or“saints”) in Philippi. List 3-4 observations about how Paul feels for that church.

I’m thankful to God for you (vs. 3)I pray with joy when I pray for you (vs. 4)I have you in my heart (vs. 7)I long for you with the affection of Christ Jesus (vs. 8)

3) What are some reoccurring words or phrases in this passage?4) What is the reason that Paul gives as to why he prays with joy when he prays for

them? (vs. 5) What does that mean?5) What images come to mind here with the word “partnership”? How do you feel

about people you’ve really partnered with and entered into relationship and lifewith – and now you are separated (maybe your friends back home)?

6) According to verse 6, what is his confidence in? What does this tell you aboutGod’s role in our salvation?

7) Paul has been talking a lot about how he prays for them and why. But let’s lookat what he is actually praying. What does he tell you that he is praying for? (vs.9)

8) Paul doesn’t pray that their love would abound more in feeling but in knowledge?How does that strike you?

9) Why do you think knowledge is so important that Paul would pray for it here?Why is love in some ways incomplete without knowledge?

10) What are the two purposes behind Paul’s prayer here? (vs. 10). Can yousummarize those two purposes in your own words?

1. Able to discern what is best, 2. Be pure and blameless until the day of ChristIn other words: Wisdom and purity.

11) What is the connection between more knowing more about God and the twopurposes? Is this why you pursue knowledge (bible study, church, RUF) – forwisdom and purity? What other reasons do you think are valid?

12) Take a step back and look at this passage as a whole: How does Paul relate to andtreat this church?

He loves them. He tells them that he loves them. He prays for them and tells them what he ispraying for.

13) How does this passage inform us that this is also how Jesus relates to and treatsus?

Paul compares his love for the church with Jesus’ love for them (vs. 8). Jesus loves thechurch and has saved her (vs. 6, vs. 11).

14) Think about your friends, or your church, or other Xians. How might you relateto them differently in light of this passage?

15) What is one tangible thing we can do?