THE WHY AND HOW OF PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY SERIES -- Ursula Kemp, 1977
Lesson 3
Few of us would think of inviting an honored guest into our home without first making adequate preparations. The house must be spic and span, and the meal, in keeping with the occasion. We make ourselves as presentable as possible and are at our charming best as we try to make our guest feel welcome. Yet, when it comes to our time with the Lord of the universe, we are less careful. We reason that He knows us as we are, so we need not bother; He won't mind---or will He? May I remind you that He minds very much or else He would not have specified His terms for fellowship with Him!
Even as we can make our guest feel ill at ease or at home, so we can our Lord. Although both the Father and the Son indwell us, our fellowship with God is POTENTIAL. Turn to Ephesians 3:17 and note the Apostle's prayer:
"THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH...."
The Greek verb Κατοικέω means "to settle down." But He can only settle down if we meet His conditions: QUENCH NOT and GRIEVE NOT THE SPIRIT!
QUENCHING IS RELATED TO THE BELIEVER'S RESISTANCE TO THE KNOWN WILL OF GOD.
GRIEVING IS THE ACTUAL VIOLATION OF THAT WILL!
Never fail to distinguish where Scripture makes a distinction! RESTORATION TO FELLOWSHIP IS THE BASIC PREREQUISITE FOR THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT; IT IS A STATE OF BEING, ALSO CALLED SPIRITUALITY (our relationship with the Holy Spirit). THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT IS AN EXPERIENCE IN WHICH FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS REALIZED AND SUPERNATURAL POWER TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS APPROPRIATED.
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD ENABLES YOU TO DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD; THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT ENABLES YOU TO DO HIS WILL!
Let me suggest a simple formula towards attaining the life on a higher plane:
QUENCH NOT --- Know God's will; be willing to do it!
GRIEVE NOT --- Do God's will (or confess your failure)!
WALK --- Depend on the Spirit's power; experience victory!
OUTLINE
THE DIRECTION OF BIBLE STUDY
THE PROCEDURE OF BIBLE STUDY
A. OBSERVATION --- what does it say?
B. INTERPRETATION --- what does it mean?
C. APPLICATION --- what does it mean to me?
APPROACH
Our Bible tells us that "God is not the author of confusion" (1 Cor. 14:33). Note how organized He is: His plans precede His works (Acts 15:18; Isa. 46:10). All His works are executed in their proper sequence as His plans unfold in the various dispensations. Even His revelation is progressive, and each new precept builds on a precept previously made known. How methodical is our great God!
Christians above all people should be orderly and organized. We have a goal and aim in life and are commanded to "REDEEM THE TIME" (Eph. 5:16). We should go about our Father's business purposefully yet we frequently squander precious time.
You would no more take your car out of the garage to drive no place in particular than you would open your Bible aimlessly. You need to know just where you are going before you start out even as you need DIRECTION for your study.
**1. **THE DIRECTION OF BIBLE STUDY
Let us assume that you have made your physical, mental and spiritual preparation. You have prayed that the eyes of your understanding might be opened (Eph. 1:18), but where do you go from there?
Determine your direction! Ask yourself, "Which is my most urgent spiritual need?"
Discover where that need may best be met!
a. For greater appreciation of the Lord --- read and search the Gospels.
b. For a closer walk with the Lord --- examine the Psalms and Epistles.
c. For practical guidance IN DAILY LIVING --- go to the Proverbs, Peter or James.
d. For a more meaningful devotional time --- turn to the Psalms.
e. For reassurance --- look up God's promises; research His attributes.
Never become "professional" about God's Word! Rather, consider the Word to be the hammer and chisel that transforms your life (Jer. 23:29).
Develop a healthy curiosity about the content of God's Word! We learn by asking questions.
Saturate your mind with a chosen verse (passage); record your observations!
2. THE PROCEDURE OF BIBLE STUDY
A. OBSERVATION
It is amazing to discover how little attention people pay to their surroundings or to the contacts they make in life. Is it that they do not care or that they cannot be bothered to take note? Test yourself; could you describe accurately where you have been and what you saw?
GOD GAVE US MENTAL AWARENESS; LET US USE IT TO THE MAXIMUM, PARTICULARLY IN PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY. OPEN YOUR EYES; TRAIN YOURSELF TO CATEGORIZE MENTALLY WHAT YOU SEE. Naturally, that will require SELF-DISCIPLINE, PATIENCE, DETERMINATION, and CONCENTRATION.
When our Lord taught the multitudes during His earthly ministry He repeatedly alerted them to hear with their ears, that is, to put their God-given faculties to work. In personal Bible study, you need PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL EYESIGHT. That is why you should earnestly pray that God would open your eyes to the truths of His Word (Psa. 119:18).
NOTE THESE:
a. AUTHOR, SPEAKER
b. RECIPIENT, LISTENERS
c. TIME FACTOR
d. CONTENT, SUBJECT MATTER
e. KEY WORDS, PHRASES
f. SETTING, BACKGROUND
g. CHARACTERS INVOLVED
h. TEACHING
(1) DOCTRINE
(2) APPLICATION
RECORD YOUR OBSERVATIONS
For your initial listing of observations it is good practice to divide a page in your notebook into two columns. The left hand column should be narrow and contain the reference and words under consideration; the right hand column should be wide enough to jot down your findings.
Now let's take a sample text and apply the principles we have discussed.
TITUS 2:11--14 -- READ ENTIRE PASSAGE FOR CONTEXT!
Verse 11: Subject matter -- the grace of God manifested in salvation. Time factor -- First Advent.
Recipients -- all mankind.
Teaching --- reality and availability of salvation.
Verse 12: Subject matter --- salvation, our motivation for godly living.
Setting for godly living --- this present world (age).
Teaching -- how to live godly lives amidst ungodliness.
(1) deny ungodliness; (2) deny worldly lusts; (3) liver soberly; (4) righteously; (5) godly.
Verse 13: Subject matter --- anticipation of future event, our present motivation.
Setting for that event--- the Rapture of the Church ("that blessed hope").
Description of the event --- glorious!
Central Character of the Rapture --- the great God and (even) our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Verse 14: Time factor --- First Advent
Background --- The Cross
Subject matter --- Christ's work on the Cross; its purpose
Key words --- Redeem us from all iniquity; purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
B. INTERPRETATION
We progress from OBSERVATION to INTERPRETATION by asking a series of questions. The first logical question is "WHAT DOES IT MEAN?" For example, you could ask, concerning verse 11:
What is the "GRACE OF GOD"? (Grace is the expression of God's character.)
Which Person of the Godhead is in view? (John 1:14 -- the Son, although each Member of the Trinity has a part in the work of salvation.)
Is there other than "saving grace?" (Living, or "keeping" grace, dying grace.)
(Sustaining grace for the unbeliever -- Luke 6:35, Benefactor of all living things.)
- How does the grace of God "bring salvation?" (First Advent, Person and work of Christ.)
(Revelation by and conviction of the Holy Spirit.)
Why is salvation brought to all men? (That all might be saved. Free will of man determines acceptance or rejection of salvation provision.)
What is the implication of this statement? (God's grace toward totally undeserving mankind, a lesson to every believer, demands a conduct compatible with our so great salvation.)
NOTE THE FIRST WORD OF VERSE 11 --- "for." I SKIPPED THE WORD PURPOSELY THAT WE MIGHT TAKE IT UP SEPARATELY.
RULE #1: Every CONJUNCTION in Scripture is important. It either joins or contrasts a verse we examine with a preceding set of verses or links a principle stated with one purposed.
Rule #2: Make it your business to find out the passage to which it pertains! (Example: Verse 11 refers back to the first ten verses of Titus 2, but specifically ties in with the last part of verse 10: "...that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." It constitutes a valid reason for such a demand: the supreme sacrifice of Christ on our behalf demands a superlative conduct on the part of every Christian!
This rule is easily remembered by this little quip: EVERY TIME YOU SEE A "WHEREFORE," FIND OUT WHAT WHEREFORE IS THERE FOR!
C. APPLICATION
Obviously we cannot take the time here to thoroughly investigate every ramification of this passage. The PRACTICAL EXERCISE FOR LESSON 3 develops this threefold method of Bible study further in a specially chosen passage.
At this point let us consider the application. What personal lessons can we draw to put into effect in our own lives? Again, we ask some pertinent questions.
Verse 11,12:
Since all Scripture was written for our learning (Rom. 15:4), what does God intend to show me in these verses? (How He expects me to conduct myself.)
Am I meeting His expectations? (If not, why not?)
Do I live to gratify my own desires?
Does my conduct toward believers and unbelievers meet with God's approval?
Is "godlikeness" apparent in my daily contacts? In my thoughts? In my actions?
Is my relationship with God what it should be?
In what area of my life is a change needed?
Is my outlook on life compatible with my uplook?
Let us determine to apply the truths we have gleaned to our daily living experience, in the power and strength our Lord makes available to us.
Practical Exercises - Personal Bible Study Lesson 3
Read Luke 13:10--17!
A. OBSERVATION: List your observations! Note setting, time factor, persons involved, events and responses! Identify the Lord's divine attributes!
B. INTERPRETATION: Ask interpretive questions, such as "Why did the Lord teach in a synagogue on a Sabbath day?" List these questions and their answers.
C. APPLICATION: What specific truths taught here might you apply in this day and age?