the inductive bible study method level 1

© 2015 Calvary Chapel Bible College Dumaguete, Philippines. May not be reproduced without written permission from
CCBC Dumaguete, Philippines. Revised – Feb. 25, 2015
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Introduction:
The Inductive Bible Study Method has been used for many years and has proven to be
very effective. The inductive method attempts to discover the facts of a text through
careful Observation and then draw some Interpretation of these facts to understand
what the writer meant. The third step is to make Applications first in a general way and
move to more personal Application. This inductive method is known, in short,
sometimes as the OIA Method.
3 Qualities of the Inductive Method
To have effective Bible Study, one must have a method. It is the intent of this course to
develop an inductive method of study, as it is applied to Biblical analysis. Although the
inductive method of study will accomplish many things in our study of the Scripture, the
student will still have to become disciplined in the method and also realize that at times
other methods must be employed.
#1: The Inductive Method is a Scientific approach to the study of the Scriptures.
• It begins with what you see
• It follows with an interpretation of what you see
• It then demands an application
#2: The Inductive Method is Analytical.
• The student must examine the smallest details down to the punctuation.
• The structure of the literature becomes of paramount importance.
• We must learn where paragraphs, sentences, and topics begin and end.
#3: The Inductive Method is Re-creative.
This implies a rediscovery of what the authors intended to say; realizing what the
authors meant for the people to understand when hearing it for the first time.
Methods of Bible Study
Inductive Study - Begins with the Text.
It Examines, Investigates the Text.
It then inducts the truth from text.

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Illustrations:
Mango Flower Inducers
Induced Baby Labor
Deductive Study -Begins with an “Idea”, which a person believes to be true.
The student then looks for scripture text to support or prove the idea. This is called a
“proof text”. Once a scripture or proof text is found, the student then assumes and
teaches it as biblical truth (?).
Example 1:
INC - The Only True Church? (John 10:9)
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find
pasture.”
Example 2: Upon this Rock I will build my church! (Matthew 16:18)
• INC view: “Kang kinsang Iglesia (Whose church)?”
• RC View: Peter is the Rock (first pope)
• Biblical view
IBS Overview
1. Observation - “What do I see?”
2. Interpretation - “What does it mean?”
3. Application - “How should I respond?”
The inductive method attempts to:
1. Discover the facts of a text through careful observation...
2. And then draw some interpretation of these facts to understand what the writer
meant.
3. The third step is to make applications, first in a general way and move to more
personal application.
This inductive method is known, in short, as the IBS or OIA Method.
To have effective Bible Study, one must have a method. It is the intent of this course to
develop an inductive method of study.

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• Story Forms (Narratives)
• Poetic, Parable, and the Prophetic Revelation Forms
Story Form Examples Historical accounts of events in such books as:
• Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy
• Old Testament Historical Books: Joshua - Esther
• The Gospels, Acts
• People
• Places
• Events
• Emotions
• Ask: Who, What, Where, When, How
• Retell the events in your own words
• Find the relationship between the people
• Try to feel the emotions
• Place yourself in the shoes of each person
• Ask yourself what do you….see? feel? think?
Instructional & Exhortive Form Examples The logical development of a subject in books such as:
• Paul’s Epistles
• Peter’s Epistles
• John’s Epistles
• Jude, James
• Some account of Jesus’ teachings (Sermon of the mount, Upper room
discourse..etc.)
• Ideas and its logical arrangement
• Words, verbs

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Outline the development of the ideas in the passage
Note things like repeated words
Look for:
The arrangement of ideas into patterns.
The use of symbols to express the idea, such as in:
• Psalms, Proverbs, Job
The Main Features of the Poetic & Prophetic Forms
• Figurative Language
• Determine the type of Parallelism used by the Poet.
• Make a basic outline of the passage.
• Look for all the different figurative language.
• Note the things that are repeated.
Keys for Interpretation
Attempt to determine what the passage meant to the people originally hear it.
• What does the author mean to make him write this way?
• What does he see?
• What does he feel?
• What does he think?
• Why does he write this?

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• Apply the main point to your life?
o Is there an example I should follow?
o Is there a sin I should forsake?
o Is there an error I should avoid?
o Is there a promise I should keep?
o Is there a command I should obey?
How will I do it?
• What do I plan to do about it?
• What difference will I make in my life?
• What plans can I make?
Let’s Go to Work….
Assignment #1 : Mk 4:35-41
1. Read the text a minimum of three times.
2. Answer the following questions and identify whether the question is an
Observation, Interpretation, or Application question.
Mk 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other
side.”
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There
were also other boats with him.
37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly
swamped.
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to
him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind
died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the
waves obey him!”

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Developing Observation Skills
There are 3 Levels in doing a careful observation of a scripture text:
1. Observe the Big Picture of the Text- getting an Overview and first impressions
2. Observe the Structure of the Text (Breaking the Big picture apart!)
3. Observe the Details of the Text
Howard G. and William D. Hendricks (Living By the Book) suggests Ten strategies to
first-rate reading:
Part 1
Observing the Big Picture
The purpose here is to get an overview of the text by casually reading through the text
and recording your first impressions. Record the major facts.
Observe the Structure of the Scripture text
It is important for us to have a good understanding of the structure of whatever book we are
studying in the Bible.

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“a Book”
Section
“Chapters”
Segment
“Verses”
“Sentences”
Phrase
Word
Contextual Tree You may also refer to the structure as your contextual tree. When you are studying, say
a particular word and you wanted to understand its meaning, you need to go up one
step in your contextual tree to see how the word was used in a phrase, or in a sentence;
thus as you go up higher in the Contextual Tree you will begin to see and understand
the meaning by understanding how it was used in its immediate and bigger context.
Important Things to Remember
Chapter and Verse Numbers – These are NOT part of the Original Scripture
Main Theme & Definitions Main Theme – in every book of the Bible there is a Main Theme. Your Main Theme should
highlight the most important focus of the story? Ask yourself this question: What spiritual truth
is it illustrating?
Section – a section of Scriptures text has many segments
Division – usually bigger than a section, and dividing the book into major parts.
Making a Simple Outline Outlining is a way of seeing & identifying parts of the text structure. It helps us study in a
systematic way. It helps us see the whole context and It also helps us work with smaller parts
of the text. Once we have identified all the parts of the text structure, we can now begin
outlining the text.
Example: Making a Simple Outline of a Whole Book
• Break the whole text of Mark into major divisions and Sections
• Break the Sections into smaller groups of verses or Segments. (Note: in Bigger books,
the segments may further be broken into still smaller portion (or sub-segments).)
• Identify the theme of the book.

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Keys in Outlining a Text - Things To Look For:
(Where do we find the Sections & Segments? Why do we break the text at those verses?)
• Look for change of scenes;
• Look for change in subjects, statements or conversations;
• Look for Transition words;
• Look for Repeated Words.
Theme: Jesus the Servant
II. Jesus’ Early Galilean Ministry (1:14–3:6)
III. Jesus’ Later Galilean Ministry (3:7–6:6a)
IV. Jesus’ Ministry in and beyond Galilee (6:6b–8:30)
V. Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem (8:31–10:52)
VI. Jesus’ Ministry in and around Jerusalem (11:1–13:37)
VII. Jesus’ Suffering and Death in Jerusalem (chaps. 14–15)
VIII. Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead near Jerusalem (16:1–8)
IX. Jesus’ other Appearances and the Great Commission (16:9–20)
Segment Outlining Example:
(taking the first two Section of the Book of Mark)
I. The Preparation for Jesus’ Public Ministry (1:1–13)
a. John the Baptist Prepares the Way (1:1-8)
b. The Baptism of Jesus (1:9-11)
c. The Temptation of Jesus (1:12-13)
II. Jesus’ Early Galilean Ministry (1:14–3:6)
a. Jesus Begins His Ministry (1:14-15)
b. Jesus Calls the First Disciples (1:16-20)
c. Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit (1:21-28)
d. Jesus Heals Many (1:29-34)
e. Jesus Preaches in Galilee (1:35-39)
f. Jesus Cleanses a Leper (1:40-45)
g. ….

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John the Baptist Prepares the Way (1:1-8)
1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”
4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the
people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him
in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt
around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After
me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to
stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus (1:9-11)
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the
Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open
and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You
are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus (1:12-13)
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty
days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
(Section 2: Jesus Early Galilean Ministry – 1:14-3:6)
Jesus Begins His Ministry (1:14-15)
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of
God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and
believe the good news!”
Jesus Calls the First Disciples (1:16-20)
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew
casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said,
“and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother
John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left
their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit (1:21-28)

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21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the
synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because
he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a
man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “What do you
want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—
the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit shook the man
violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new
teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many (1:29-34)
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James ad John to the home of
Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told
Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left
her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-
possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who
had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the
demons speak because they knew who he was.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee (1:35-39)
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and
went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to
look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for
you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach
there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching
in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee (1:35-39)
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing,
you can make me clean.”
41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am
willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this
to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses
commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and
began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a
town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from
everywhere.

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• Read through the entire text of Mark 2
• Break the whole text of Mark 2 into Segments.
Mark 2
1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he
had come 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, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of
the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it,
lowered the mat the paralyzed 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
does this 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 their
hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to
say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?
10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….”
He said 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 they
praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he
began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the
tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners”
were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When
the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax
collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but
the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked
Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but
yours are not?”
19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?
They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the
bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new
piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new
wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and

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23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked
along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look,
why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions
were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the
house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And
he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
NIV
Observing the Details of the Text
Look at the major facts and ask questions about the text.
Who? Who are the characters mentioned in the text and, if possible to ascertain, what
their relationship to each other? What are their identities?
What? What are the key truths or happenings?
Events? Actions? Emotions? Conversations?
Where? The geography and location of the events in the passage are important?
When? The time sequence of the events. Also, if the time in reference to world history
can be identified this will be helpful.
How? Sequence of events are they unfold in the story.
There are simple but important questions which help us discover the details accurately.
These are – KEY QUESTIONS. They help “UNLOCK” the truth.
WHO? Who are the people involved in the story?
What does the text say about who they are?
Who is speaking? Who is doing the action?

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What are the people doing?
What are the people saying?
What are their actions? What are their emotions?
WHERE? Where are the places mentioned in the story?
Where do certain events take place?
Where are the people going? Coming from?
WHEN? When did the story take place?
When does the story start? End?
How long does it take from one event to another?
HOW? How did the events happen?
How did the actions take place?
Example in Observing Details of the text:
Mark 1:35-39
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and
went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to
look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for
you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach
there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching
in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Sample List of Observations
O: “Jesus”

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What did Jesus do at that early time? Where did Jesus go?
O: “Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Verse 36-37:
O: “Simon and his companions” (v.36); many people “Everyone” (v.37)
What were they doing? What were they saying?
O: “…went to look for him” (v.36); “When they found him, they exclaimed: Everyone is
looking for you!” (v.37)
O: “they exclaimed..!”
What did Jesus say to them?
O: “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That
is why I have come.”
What did he intend to do?
O: “So I can preach there also”; “That is why I have come.”
Where did he intend to go?
O: “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages”
Verse 39:
O: “throughout Galilee….in their Synagogues”
What else did Jesus do?
O: “driving out demons”
Additional Consideration in Observation:
• All of these Key questions are Inter-related.
• People are involved in “events & actions” which occur at certain “times”
• Events take place at certain “times” in certain “places” and usually involves
“people”
• The way “events & actions” take place has an effect upon “people”
Note:
Other ways of highlighting may be employed, such as use of color highlighters, symbols,
etc. Be Creative!

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Read Mark Ch. 2:1-12 (Page 14-15) carefully –
Begin observing the text and listing all your observations, starting in verse 1 and
continue until the end of the segment (verse 12). Be thorough, observe as many details
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Developing Interpretation Skills
Interpretation is – understanding the meaning of the details we’ve discovered.
To understand the meaning we need to carefully examine our observations by:
• Studying with a fresh attitude
• Setting aside “previous ideas”, teachings and biases
• Study using “sound rules of interpretation”. Hermeneutics – the art & skill of interpreting
scripture texts.
Why?...is an open-ended question
Why?...requires discernment
When we correctly answer the question - Why? We have an accurate explanation of the
meaning and purpose of the details we discovered.
Other Interpretation Questions:
How? - How do the events & actions affect the people?
How do things change?
RULE # 1 - Study the Scripture within its context
I. Literary Context
• Immediate Context
• Over-all Context
Example 1A: Look at Mark 1:37 – Which verses in Chap 1 help us understand why
everyone was looking for Jesus that day?
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• Cultural context; Manners & Customs of the lands
Example 1B – From readings in Mark 1-2: What are the impt. Details concerning historical
time, geography (places), culture (ways) – Which are helpful in understanding & telling the
story?
David, in the days of Abiathar the high priest…
New Testament period…
John the Baptist…
Jesus in Galilee proclaiming the good news…
• Jesus came preaching the good news about the kingdom of God. During this period of
ministry, Jesus also healed many sick people and delivered many from demon
possession. Many people were amazed at his teaching and seeing the miracles, such
that his fame has spread quickly all over the regions.
Teachers of the Law…
Capernaum…
Villages….
Cultural; Manners & Customs of the lands Clothing: Made of Camel’s hair, leather belt…
Food: locusts and wild honey; new wine and new wineskins…
Manners & Customs: “Sandals, I am not worthy to stoop down and untie…”
Livelihood: fishing, collecting taxes, farming methods, harvesting, etc.
Religious life: Judaism, Synagogue life, Sabbath, show yourself to the priest, fasting,
Water baptism

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• The verb “baptize” (baptiz !, intensive form of bapt !, “to dip”) means “to
immerse, submerge.” Being baptized by John in the Jordan marked the “turn” of a Jew
to God. It identified him with the repentant people who were preparing for the coming
Messiah.
Typical Palestinian home…
Social Life: Eating and drinking with Tax collectors; Typical Jewish wedding ceremony, etc.
RULE # 2 - Interpret the Scripture literally
What do the words mean in the way they are expressed? Read and understand the Bible in the same way as other literature. Look for the plain and simple meaning first. If the plain sense make sense, then seek no other sense.
Example 2A: Look at Mark 1:3
“a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
What does straight paths mean? Was the prophet referring to a literal highway when he spoke about it? Is it literal or figurative?
Does the words seem to express more than their simple definition? If it does, then let us figure out the figurative! How the words are used is what gives the words their meaning.
Example 2B: Mark 1:5
5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Does it mean that all people, including the religious Jews such as the Pharisees all repented of their sins and were baptized in the Jordan river? We know from the overall context of the book of Mark that such is not the case.
Using hyperbole Mark showed the great impact John made on all areas of Judea and Jerusalem. The imperfect tense of the Greek verbs portrays in motion-picture fashion the continual procession of people who kept going out to hear John’s preaching and to be baptized by him(The Bible Knowledge Commentary).
Example 2C: Mark 1:33
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RULE # 3 - Let Scripture Interpret Scripture
The Scriptures are the written word of God. The Scriptures will not be in conflict with each
other.
• Parallel Verses...more or less stating the same truth. Example: Gospels; Quotes from the
prophet Isaiah and others.
• Cross References…provide an additional view giving more insight and understanding.
This often requires the use of concordance such as: Strong’s, Young’s, Cruden’s and others.
Example 3A: Parallel Verses
The account in Mark 1:9-11 of Jesus baptism may be understood more fully by referring to
parallel verses in Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-23; and John 1:29-34 (this kind of study is also
referred to as the Harmony of the Gospels).
• Matthew mentioned that John the baptist tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized by
him, instead asking Jesus to baptize him instead (Matt 3:14). Jesus explained to John
why it is fitting that John baptize him. Then John the Baptist consented to it (Matt 3:15).
• Luke mentioned that while Jesus was praying, heaven was opened (Lk. 3:21).
• John gives more details during this event, such as the introduction of Jesus as the “lamb
of God who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29). He also described Jesus as
having a higher rank than him, for Jesus existed before him (Jn 1:30). Jesus was also
mentioned as the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:33).
Example 3B: Cross-Reference
Baptism was a highlight event in the beginning verse of Mark 1. Literally it means “washing”
as symbolic of inward or spiritual cleansing in the lives of Bible characters. Look at the
Concordance for other places in the Bible that the word was mentioned. By comparing the
different variances of its usage gives us better grasp of the word.
Luke 12:50, “! #$%& $ ! '( )*+&,-(.
Colossians 2:12, “/),0&+ 10'# #02 0* !.
Ephesians 4:5, “(*& 3(,+4 (*& 5$0'#4 (*& !.
RULE # 4 - New Testament Scriptures have priority over the
Old Testament

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2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ”
Mark quoted Mal. 3:1 in v. 2, and Isa. 40:3 in v. 3, both of which refer to John the Baptist, who
prepared the way for the Lord. Whenever notable people were to come to a city, the roads
were repaired so their journey would be easier. The people of Israel were at that time in a
“spiritual wilderness,” and John had to get them ready for the arrival of the Son of God, the
Servant (Luke 1:13–17, 67–79). (Weirsbe Expository Outlines in the New Testament)
Example 4B: Mark 1:15
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
The declaration, “the time has come” emphasizes the distinctive note of fulfillment in Jesus’
proclamation (Luke 4:16–21). God’s appointed time of preparation and expectation, the Old
Testament era, now stood fulfilled in accord with God’s plan ( See also Gal. 4:4; Heb. 1:2; 9:6–
15) (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).
Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Hebrews 1:1-2
Heb 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of
all things, and through whom he made the universe.
Luke 4:17-21 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place
where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them,
“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

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RULE # 5 - What is Explicit has priority over what is Implied.
Explicit- What is clearly stated and expressed; to be explicit, your interpretation need to be
clearly supported by your immediate and over-all context.
Implicit – What could be or might be expressed, but without any clear basis from the text.
Example 5A: Mark 2:5
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Whose faith was Jesus referring to in this text?
Implicit: Faith of the paralytic; faith of four men and paralytic. (What is the basis for your
answer?)
Explicit: Faith of the four men (see context: Mark 1:3-5)
3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not
get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.5 When Jesus saw their
faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Let’s Get to Work by Charting the Text
Charting is a simple way of systematically arranging your Inductive study of the Narrative
Text. Using the 3 column OIA Chart, let’s start by listing down our Observations starting with
the first verse of the Segment and followed up with your Interpretation. Continue to the next
verse, going through same pattern of study until the end verse of your Segment.
(See Charting Form – Next Page)

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Assignment #4: Chart Mark 2:1-12
• Begin by writing your first Observation detail (of your first verse) and followed up by your
Interpretation of the said detail.
• Then, moved on to your next Observation and Interpretation until the last verse of the
segment.
• Do your charting work on a separate blank sheet to be provided for this assignment and
to be submitted after the allotted time.
Developing Application Skills
Application is putting the things that we have learned into action. Once we have learned the
truth from the Scriptures, we are responsible to obey the truth and Apply it in our lives.
John 14:15 15
John 13:17 17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Howard Hendricks (Living by the Book)
Application is the most neglected yet the most needed stage in the process. Too much Bible
study begins and ends in the wrong place: It begins with Interpretation, and it also ends there.
But we’ve learned that you don’t start with the question, What does this mean? But rather,
What does this say? Furthermore, you don’t end the process by asking, What does this mean?
But rather, How does this work? Again, not does it work – but how?
Understanding, then, is simply a means to a larger end – practicing biblical truth in day-
to-day life. Observation plus interpretation without application equals abortion. In other

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on the Scriptures in terms of their purpose. The Bible was not written to satisfy your
curiosity; it was written to transform your life. The ultimate goal of Bible study, then, is
not to do something to the Bible, but to allow the Bible to do something to you, so
truth becomes tangent to life. You see, we frequently come to the Bible to study it, to
teach it, to preach it, to outline it – everything except to be changed by it.
James 1:21 21
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the
implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
The apostle James asks a penetrating question in the first chapter of his book: Does the Word
work? Answer: Yes, it does, if it is received (v.21). He uses an interesting word. It basically
means to put out a welcome mat. Do you welcome the truth into your life? Do you invite it in
the door and let it do its work on you?
Tale of 4 birds
• Bird 1: “I read a verse of the Bible every day!”
• Bird 2: “ I read a chapter every day!”
• Bird 3: “I read two chapters every day!”
• Bird 4: “ I apply it to my life!”
Gaither Vocal Band: “I heard you’re into the Word…but Is the Word getting into you!”
James 1:22-25 22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a
mirror. 24
For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who
forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Applying the Bible
(Living by the book)
If you want to apply the Bible, you need to know two things.
Know the Text
First, you’ve got to know the Interpretation of the biblical text. Application is based on
interpretation, so if your interpretation of a passage is erroneous, your application will
likely be erroneous. If your interpretation is correct, you will have a possibility that your
application will be correct.

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Here’s a statement to keep frontal in your thinking: Interpretation is one, application
is many. There is only one ultimate interpretation of a passage of Scripture. The text
doesn’t mean one thing today and something else tomorrow. Whatever it means, it
means forever. But you will never cease the process of applying that truth to your life.
Implication: Be careful how you interpret. You will only multiply error if you start with a
faulty interpretation.
Know Yourself
Not only must you know the interpretation, you must know yourself. In 1 Timothy 4:16,
Paul warns Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching.” Notice the
order: Pay attention to yourself, first; then to the communication of that truth to others.
Why? Because if you don’t know yourself, it’s difficult to help other people apply the
Bible to their lives.
In fact, one of the main reasons application is not more effective with many people is,
frankly, they really don't know themselves. How about you? Let me give you two
questions. First, what are your assets? Would you be able to write it in a sheet of paper
right now? (most people have a hard time doing that.) Second, what are your liabilities?
What are your limitations? What is your greatest hindrance to growth?
Now put this two together, and you’ll see the value in application. If you know your
assets, it will develop your confidence. If you know your liabilities, it will develop your
faith. Your assets tell you what God has done for you. Your liabilities tell you what God
needs to develop in you. The reason most of us don't grow more is that we really don't
know what we need.
Romans 12:3
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more
highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Sometimes we have an inflated view or opinion of ourselves. Other times we have a
distorted, deflated view.
Paul says, “Don’t! Don’t get a puffed up idea of who you are. But make sure you don’t
have a deflated view ignoring what God has done and built up in your life. The devil
specializes in that work of making you think God is not at work in you.
Insight, then, is the first step toward spiritual growth – insight into the passage, and
insight into yourself.

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• Apply the main point to your life?
o Is there an example I should follow?
o Is there a sin I should forsake?
o Is there an error I should avoid?
o Is there a promise I should keep?
o Is there a command I should obey?
How will I do it?
• What do I plan to do about it?
• What difference will I make in my life?
• What plans can I make?
Assignment #5: Complete Charting of Mark 2:1-12
• Review your Interpretation of the Bible text starting with beginning verses. Begin by
writing your first application, then on to the next.
• Work individually, then discuss your work with your group.
Next Page….

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Formulating Inductive Questions
When you are learning to write inductive questions, you are learning a skill. As with any
activity, your skill level in developing questions will improve with practice. The first big
step is doing a thorough and methodical study of the passage. Through your questions
the study group will find what you found. Surface study will yield surface questions and
discussions; thorough study will yield questions which involve the group with the strong
truths of the passage, so they are moved to God and His ways. This kind of result is well
worth the time and effort of careful study.
I. Study with yourself in mind first: “What does God want to teach me?” Then with
others in mind: “What can we gain for our lives as we study together?”
II. When you finish studying, look over your chart and mark points of special significance
that you want to be sure to include.
III. Formulating questions.
Your questions should lead the group into the main stream of thought in the passage so
they will discover the major points and apply them to their lives. It is important to
remember what type of group you are working with: new converts, more mature,
young, older, etc. The group will not need to go through the detailed analysis you did;
your questions will assume for them certain basics of structure, etc., which you dug out
in preparation study.
A. Start with “survey” questions that will get them acquainted with the whole passage.
(Who is involved? Where are they? What are they doing?, etc.)
B. Through your questions, lead them in sequence through the passage from
beginning to end. You may want to lead them to study section by section, and as they
move along, get them to see connections between paragraphs.
C. You will want to ask: Observation (fact) Questions.
Interpretation (meaning) Questions.
Application (action) Questions.
1. Observation Questions
• Get the group to observe what’s there.
• By various means lead them to see who, what, when, where
• They may describe some people or scenes.
• Help them get “into” the scene themselves, reliving an event or conversation, or
putting themselves in the place of people in first-century Ephesus, receiving a
letter from the Apostle Paul.

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• Lead the group to see some structure you found: “What is the contrast
between…?”
2. Interpretation Questions
• Get the group to analyze and ask “Why?” so they will find major truths.
• They will need to define some key words or phrases.
• Help them to see the reasons behind some of the structure. (Ask questions
based on your own work from the interpretation column of your charting. This is
also a way of leading them to see connections between paragraphs.)
• When they find a main truth, your question should help them think it through.
3. Application Questions
• These get the group to think about and plan change which needs to be made in
their personal lives – attitudes, relationships and actions.
• Application questions should flow naturally from the meaning of the main points,
and they should appear after a crucial point has been made clear. Keep in mind,
though, that it is more effective to have a few good application questions
scattered throughout the passage than to have too many.
Taken from “Bible and Life” Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship
Sample List of OIA Questions
Mark 1:35-39
v. 35
O: “Jesus”
When did Jesus get up in the morning?
O: “very early…while it was still dark.”
What did Jesus do at that early time? Where did Jesus go?
O: “Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
What does Jesus prayer life reveal about himself?
I: “Jesus here gives much importance in spending quality time with the heavenly father
in prayer.”

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I: “He takes pleasure in doing it and finds strength to get up even after a very busy
day.”
What will I do in view of God’s love for me?
A: “Because Jesus loves me so much, I want to love Him and worship Him.”
How will I do that?
A: “By spending time with Him in prayer, in worship and reading His word without any
distraction.”
O: “Simon and his companions” (v.36); many people “Everyone” (v.37)
Who were these people? Why were they looking for him?
I: “They were the first disciples (see v.16-20; 29-31). Jesus obviously woke up while they
were sleeping and they didn’t know where Jesus went.”
What were they doing? What were they saying?
O: “…went to look for him” (v.36); “When they found him, they exclaimed: Everyone is
looking for you!” (v.37)
Why were the people looking for Jesus?
I: Many people were healed the previous day and as a result, more people came early
the next day most likely with more sick people wanting to be healed.
What were they feeling? (What was their emotion?)
O: “they exclaimed..!”
What will I do? Is there sin to forsake or errors to avoid?
A: It would be of great error if I come to Jesus only for temporal things knowing that He
gives us much, much more!
How will I do it?
A: I should seek Him, to know Him more everyday by reading His word.
Verse 38:
What did Jesus say to them?
O: “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That
is why I have come.”
What did he intend to do?
O: “So I can preach there also”; “That is why I have come.”
Where did he intend to go?

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O: “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages”
Why did Jesus answer that way? Was he trying to avoid the crowd? Why?
I: Jesus priority is to preach God’s word to the nearby villages too.
What will I do? Is there an example that I should follow?
A: I want to serve Jesus by preaching and teaching His word in as many places as
possible, as the Lord opens the door. May my life be as a living testimony of His grace
and love for me.
1. Read text (Mark 2:1-12) several times.
2. Based on your own Chart, formulate as many observation, interpretation and
application questions as possible, then go back to see which questions would be best
to help participants work through the text in an orderly manner. It is important to ask
questions that will bring about a good working flow through the text.
4. Write out your questions in the order you will ask them. Next to each question, mark
it with an O for observation, I for interpretation, or A for application.
References:
2. Inductive Bible Study ( Dan Finfrock, Intensive Care Ministries )
3. Inspired Bible Study Workshop ( Trip Kimball, Calvary Chapel Training Center )
4. Inductive Bible Study (John Michaels, Calvary Chapel Spring Valley)
5. Bible and Life (Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship)
6. Weirsbe Expository Outlines in the New Testament
7. The Bible Knowledge Commentary

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the inductive bible study method level 1

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