Bible Study
Prize the Bible More and More
Is the Bible the Word of God? Then let us all resolve from this day forward to prize the Bible more. Let us not fear being idolaters of this blessed book. People may easily make an idol of the Church, of ministers, of sacraments, or of intellect. People cannot make an idol of the Word. Let us regard all who would damage the authority of the Bible, or impugn its credit, as spiritual robbers. We are traveling through a wilderness: they rob us of our only guide. We are voyaging over a stormy sea: they rob us of our only compass. We are toiling over a weary road: they pluck our staff out of our hands. And what do these spiritual robbers give us in place of the Bible? What do they offer as a safer guide and better provision for our souls? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Big swelling words! Empty promises of new light! High sounding jargon; but nothing substantial and real! They would willingly take from us the bread of life, and they do not give us in its place so much as a stone. Let us turn a deaf ear to them. Let us firmly grasp and prize the Bible more and more, the more it is assaulted.
~ J.C. Ryle
John Piper - The word was God and became flesh
A.W.Tozer – In the beginning was the word
A.W.Pink - Christ the eternal word
Tyndale - THE DOCTRINE OF THE SON OF GOD – The preexistence of Christ
Biola University Course –
- Advanced Studies: The Character of God, on Video + other free courses on same page
The Forbidden Book – History of The English Bible from Rodica on Vimeo.
BIBLICA – A Social and historical journey through the lands of the Bible
N.T.Wright - The Whole Sweep of Scripture
Chuck Missler - How we got our Bible
Chuck Missler – Learn the Bible in 24 hours (videos approx 50-90 minutes)
Hours 1-3 click here – http://wp.me/P1eavz-89W
- Hour 1 – Introduction to the Bible
- Hour 2 – Creation and Fall of Man
- Hour3 – Prehistory, Genesis 4-11
Hours 4-6 click here – http://wp.me/P1eavz-8a5
- Hour 4 – The Patriarchs
- Hour 5 – The Birth of a Nation
- Hour 6 – In the Land, Joshua, Judges, Ruth
Hour 7-9 click here - http://wp.me/P1eavz-8ac
- Hour 7 -Monarchy, Samuel, Kings
- Hour 8 – The Poetical Books
- Hour 9 – The Book of Daniel
Hour 10-12 click here – http://wp.me/P1eavz-8al
- Hour 10 – Post Exile History
- Hour 11 – The Major Prophets
- Hour 12 – The Minor Prophets
Hour 13-15 click here – http://wp.me/P1eavz-8at
- Hour 13 – How sure can we be? Between Old and New Testament.
- Hour 14 – The New Testament Introduction
- Hour 15 – The Gospels
Hour 16-18 click here – http://wp.me/P1eavz-8aA
- Hour 16 – The Gospels Part 2
- Hour 17 – The Book of Acts
- Hour 18 -The Book of Romans
Hour 19-21 click here – http://wp.me/P1eavz-8aH
- Hour 19 – The Church Epistles
- Hour 20 -The Hebrew Epistles
- Hour 21 – Eschatological Summary
Hour 22-24 click here – http://wp.me/P1eavz-8aN
- Hour 22 – Revelation Chapters 1-3
- Hour 23 – Revelation Chapters 4-22
- Hour 24 – Conclusion / Recap
Chuck Missler – The TRINITY
David Platt
USEFUL LINKS
- Parallel Bible / Mobile App
- Bible Concordances
- Multi Source Bible/Topical Dictionary
- Bible Encyclopedia
- Bible Atlas
- Parallel Bible Commentary
- Searchable Online Library
How To Study The Bible
via the River Church of the South Bay
The goal of good Bible study is to learn what the Bible is saying and how it applies it to your life.
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22
Once you know the passage you want to study, simply observe, interpret and apply. Three steps will get the word into your life. 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?” Just answer the following questions as you study your passage. I have given you blank sheets for the Observation, Interpretation, and Application steps that you can use as often as you do bible study. This bible study technique is not original with me. I have tried to simply explain what each of these steps involve below. I hope and pray that personal bible study becomes a regular part of your daily walk with God. Take one day at a time.
Todd Wendorff
I. SELECT A PASSAGE. (Usually 3-10 verses dealing with the same topic)
Why do you want to study this passage?
II. OBSERVE THE PASSAGE BY ASKING QUESTIONS. (All observations are valuable. Write them down)
Who is writing or speaking and to whom?
What is the passage about?
Where does this take place?
When does this take place?
Why does the speaker or author say/write what he does? What problem were the recipients facing?
What are the commands?
What are the promises or cause/effect relationships?
What are the repeated words and ideas?
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)?
Write out any additional observations or insights from the passage. This may include contrasts, lists, comparisons, etc.
III. WHAT IS THE “BIG IDEA” OF THE PASSAGE – YOUR THEME?
(This can most readily be identified from the commands and the repeated words and ideas. Often there will be one command in the passage with several motivations.) In one phrase sum up the main thought of the passage. Make sure your theme is large enough in scope to include all the author is saying in the passage. It’s often the biggest point that is being made. It often requires you to step back and look at the passage as a whole.
IV. THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE RAISED FROM THE OBSERVATION STEP.
Put your answers in the form of an outline. Take your main theme and break down the passage into sub points under the theme. These subpoints form principles of life and ministry. A principle is defined as a timeless lesson in the way God works or is doing things in the world. To develop each principle (each point in your outline) you will want to EXPLAIN IT (interpretation), ILLUSTRATE IT (from the BIble or personal examples of how this principle worked out both positively and negatively) and APPLY IT. (Not every point will have specific application.) You may want to do this on a separate sheet of paper.
For example, you may be studying Luke 10:38-42, the passage about Jesus visiting the home of Martha and Mary. The passage is about choosing what is best for your spiritual life. The author is saying that sitting at the feet of Jesus is best. Now, how does each verse fit into the theme? This is where interpretation comes in. Martha is distracted by busyness. Busyness robs from our spiritual life. Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. Sitting and listening to Jesus is always a priority in our spiritual lives. Jesus says make time to sit and listen.
STEPS TO INTERPRETING THE PASSAGE (Use as many or as few as you need)
- What are the meanings of the words?
- What does the immediate context suggest? (preceding and succeeding verses)
- 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?)
- What do commentaries suggest?
V. APPLICATION
This is where you purpose to do what God has taught you through bible study. (Jas. 1:21-25, Mt. 7:24-27) It is through applying the Word that God changes our lives. Application does not happen by osmosis but by intent. God enlightens us from the Word, we enact the application with our wills and the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out these choices. It is usually best to concentrate on applying one principle at a time. The goal of all application is to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for:
- TEACHING: What did I learn?
- for REPROOF: Where do I fall short? Why do I fall Short?
- For CORRECTION: What will I do about it?
- For TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: How can I make this principle a consistent part of my life?
Via The River Church of the South Bay, Palos Verde, California
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