HOW TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE OBSERVATION What Do

HOW TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE OBSERVATION What Do I See? INTERPRETATION What Does It Mean? APPLICATION How Do I live? THE MORE TIME IN OBSERVATION The more accurate the interpretation OUR GREAT NEED… LEARN WHAT TO LOOK FOR You can see a lot by just looking. ---Yogi Berra THE GOAL Changed Lives THAT Change Lives As we all “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ” (2 Peter 3: 18)

DO YOU OBSERVE LIKE DR WATSON OR SHERLOCK HOLMES? • Holmes: “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room. ” • Watson: “Frequently. ” • Holmes: “How often? ” • Watson: “Well, some hundreds of times. ” • Holmes: “Then how many are there? ” • Watson: “How many? I don’t know. ” • Holmes: “Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed” • From: “A Scandal in Bohemia” in The Complete Sherlock Holmes [New York: Doubleday, 1927]

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIBLE STUDY TO BILLY GRAHAM Billy Graham was once asked… “If you had to live your life over again, what would you do differently? ” Graham replied… “One of my great regrets is that I have not studied enough. I wish I had studied more and preached less. People have pressured me into speaking to groups, when I should have been studying and preparing. ”

THE REAL BIBLE CODE THE ART OF BIBLICAL “CRYPTOGRAPHY” I) INTRODUCTION - Discovering the Priceless Treasures II) CONTEXT - Text before & after the text III) CONVERSATION - Pray, meditate, trust Teacher the Spirit A) CROSS-EXAMINE - Interrogate with 5 W’s & H B) CRUCIAL - Keys Words/Phrases Use to Make Lists IV) CONNECTIVES - Words that link &/or amplify meaning A) CONTRASTS - “But” >4000 times in the Bible B) CONCLUSION TERMS - Therefore, for, because C) COMPARISONS - “Picture talk” - Simile, Metaphor V) CHRONOLOGY - When, then, after, until

READ WITH AN EXPECTANT PRAYERFUL ATTITUDE Ps 119: 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law. When we open our Bible we should ask the Author to open our heart. Ps 119: 34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, and keep it with all my heart.

HOW TO BLUNT YOUR APPETITE & STUNT YOUR GROWTH 1 Peter 2: 1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation Unconfessed sin in our life will blunt our appetite for the pure milk of God’s Word and stunt our spiritual growth!

CONTEXT THE TEXT BEFORE & AFTER THE TEXT

CONTEXT UNVEILED environment • Context is the _______ in which something lives ______ before after • Context is the text that comes ______ and ______ the Biblical text we are studying. • Any time we break into the middle of a passage, we context always need to examine its _____. king • Always remember that context is ____ in the realm of Biblical interpretation. • A Biblical text taken out of context can be a pretext dangerous _______ (= an excuse given to hide real reason for doing something). cult • Every major _____ is built upon a violation of this basic principle of interpreting Scripture in context.

CONTEXTUS REX CONTEXT IS KING IN THE REALM OF INTERPRETATION

HOW CULTS BEGIN -TAKING SCRIPTURE OUT OF CONTEXT Colossians 1: 15 And He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Connective Colossians 1: 16 For (_____) by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things have been created by Him and for Him. SO WHAT? Jehovah's Witnesses interpretation = Jesus "was God's first creation, and so he is called the "firstborn" Son of God. (Colossians 1: 15) Jesus is the only Son that God created by himself. ” (Their Official Website)

HOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION with GOD interrogative Cultivate an _____ mindset. 5 W’S & H ? O H W WH WH ERE ? AT ? W ? Y H WH E N? HOW?

5 W’S & H Never read a passage without asking at least one 5 W/H question! Who is speaking? Who are the recipients? What is repeated? What is happening? Where is this taking place? Why is this mentioned now? When does (or will) this take place? How is the truth illustrated? What do I learn about God?

WHY IS AN INTERACTIVE MINDSET FOUNDATIONAL? Study at UT Austin concluded that we recall… 1) 10% Of what we read 2) 20% Of what we hear 3) 30% Of what we see demonstrated 4) 50% Combining #2 and #3 5) 70% Combine #4 with writing what you learn 6) 90% All of the above + practice The more we interact with Scripture especially by practicing interrogating the text with the 5 W’s & H, the greater will be our retention and understanding of the text. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

PRACTICE INTERROGATING GOD’S WORD with 5 W/H QUESTIONS • John 7: 1 After these things Jesus walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. • Who? Jesus Focus On The Obvious: FOTO=people, places, events • When? After these things -Time Phrase Ask: What time is it? • What? What are “these things”? - Check Context • Where? Walking in Galilee (not Judea) - Check a Map • Why? Unwilling to walk in Judea - For explains purpose • Why not Judea? Jews seeking to kill Him

SIT AT HIS FEET AND INTERACT WITH THE WORD OF LIFE 2 Timothy 1: 10 -12 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. PAUSE A MOMENT TO INTERROGATE WITH AS MANY 5 W&H QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN MUSTER! E. g. , What is Paul contrasting? When is “now”? What did Jesus’ appearance accomplish? What’s is the gospel? Why does Paul suffer? What “things” does he suffer? Why is he not ashamed? Who does he know? What does he know about Him? How is he able to endure suffering-what truth stabilizes him?

CONTEXT: KEY WORDS/PHRASES • Like keys, these help “unlock” _______ the _____ meaning of a passage, paragraph, chapter or book. repetition • Usually identified by _____ but not always understanding • Key Words are vital to _______ the passage & cannot be removed w/o affecting meaning synonyms • May include pronouns, _____, closely related phrases judgment judging (eg, judge, ______, ____. ) always • God, Jesus, Spirit – ____ key. 5 W’s & H • Remember to ask the ____for each key word or phrase • Mark key words in a distinctive way – using symbols, color, make them easily to remember.

ILLUSTRATION OF A KEY WORD John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. What is the key word? John 1: 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. These are the only 2 occurrences of “Word” in John chapter 1.

DO YOU HAVE EARS TO HEAR & A HEART TO WELCOME THE WORD? James 1: 21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness* and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive** the Word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers First: Interrogate the text who delude themselves. What is “therefore” there for? What must we do before we read the Word of God (our responsibility)? What must be the attitude of our heart? Why humility? What’s the opposite? How does James picture the Word? What is the effect of the Word? What is the clear contrast in v 22? *Filthiness: Greek = rhuparia fr rhupos = wax in the ears. Wax in the ears, makes a man “hard of hearing”. Unconfessed sin in one’s heart can make a man spiritually deaf to God’s Word! **Receive = Put out the “Welcome Mat” for God’s Word! “CLEAN OUT THE WAX” OF SIN FROM YOUR EARS IN ORDER TO HEAR THE SPIRIT'S TEACHING! THEN -- “JUST DO IT!” -- ENABLED BY THE SPIRIT

CONNECTIVE: CONTRASTS Connective = in Grammar any word that connects phrases, clauses, etc Contrasts indicate a change of direction in a passage, paragraph, book. Contrasts depict things that are unlike or dissimilar – but, yet, etc But is one of the most important words you’ll ever come across in your study of Scripture. Whenever you see it, always stop and ask, what is the contrast being made? (Howard Hendricks) What should the word but encourage you to do? Observe preceding text noting what “change of direction” author is taking What 5 W/H questions can you often ask when you see but? what, when, etc This exercise will help establish the context. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly states… “You have heard that it was said … but I say to you” (Matthew 5).

THE CLARIFYING EFFECT OF CONTRASTS Eph 2: 1 You were dead in your trespasses & sins… 4 BUT God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us 1 Samuel 11: 1 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. BUT David stayed at Jerusalem. Ro 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, BUT be transformed Ro 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Note that in each of the preceding passages a “change of direction” is associated with significant change in outcome! In the first 2 examples you must examine the context in order to discern the specific consequences, while in the third passage, the consequence is apparent.

INTERROGATE A FEW MORE CONTRASTS Job 42: 5 "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, BUT NOW my eye sees Thee. 6 Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes. “ Psalm 119: 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, BUT NOW I keep Thy word. Ephesians 2: 11 Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision, " which is performed in the flesh by human hands--12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 BUT NOW in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 2: 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, BUT NOW you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2: 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, BUT NOW you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

DON’T FORGET THE LITTLE CONNECTIVE WORD“AND” AND is can be just as crucial & clarifying as “but, etc” Psalm 37: 4 Delight yourself in the Lord; AND He will give you the desires of your heart John 15: 4 Abide in Me, AND I in you John 15: 4 Abide in Me James 4: 8 Draw near to God AND He will draw near to James 4: 8 Draw near to God you

CONNECTIVES: TERMS OF CONCLUSION Always be alert for these important connecting words for they will introduce an explanation or a conclusion and beg questions like “Why is therefore, there for? ”, “What is the author explaining? ”, etc FOR BECAUSE THEREFORE SO THAT FOR THIS REASON

CONNECTIVES: CONCLUSION TERMS Romans is full of therefores, as Paul works his way through a tightly structured argument. The Old Testament prophets use therefore extensively. Over and over they state their case against the people, and then cry, "Therefore, thus says the Lord. "

PRACTICE INTERROGATING THE TEXT & CHECKING THE CONTEXT Luke 24: 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures Before you click the next point, pause and interrogate this text with the 5 W’s & H questions…What is the “time sensitive” word? When is “then”? What has transpired? Who is “He”? Who is He speaking to? What do the Scriptures refer to? What does Jesus teach regarding how we can (or cannot) understand the Scriptures? . Luke 24: 44 Now He said to them (must check context), "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. "

LOOK FOR EXPRESSIONS OF TIME Look for words like "then", "after this", "until", "when", "soon", "now" Expressions of time identify timing or sequence of events Of the "5 W's & H" questions, time expressions answer "When? “ Mark significant time phrases in your margin with circle or clock face Observe what you learn "When" something occurs Ps 73: 15 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

THE COW OBSERVATIONS & INTERPRETATION FROM A 10 YEAR OLD STUDENT The cow is a mammal. It has six sides. Right, left, an upper and below. At the back it has a tail on which hangs a brush. With this it sends the flies away so that they do not fall into the milk. The head is for the purpose of growing horns and so that the mouth can be somewhere. The horns are to butt with and the mouth is to moo with. Under the cow hangs the milk. It is arranged for milking. When people milk the milk comes and there is never an end to the supply. How the cow does it I have not yet realized. But it makes more and more. The man cow is called an ox. It is not a mammal. The cow does not each much, but what it eats, it eats twice so that it gets enough. When it is hungry it moos, and when it says nothing it is because its inside is all filled up with grass.