Living by the Book

An Introduction to Bible Study Methods

Week 1

What is the Bible?

• What are some views of the Bible?– Answer Book– Owners Manuel– Theological Text Book– Tool for Manipulation

• What are the issues that come with each of these views?

What is the Bible?

The Bible is not a book for the faint of heart - it is a book full of all the greed and glory and violence and tenderness and sex and betrayal that benefits mankind. It is not the collection of pretty little anecdotes mouthed by pious little church mice - it does not so much nibble at our shoe leather as it cuts to the heart and splits the marrow from the bone. It does not give us answers fitted to our small-minded questions, but truth that goes beyond what we can even know to ask.

from Thoughts and Reflections by Rich Mullins

What is the Bible?

• A working definition:

A collection of writings containing the record and revelation of God’s interaction with man.

Where are we going?

•Observation•Interpretation•Application•Correlation

A collection of writings…

• Must begin with reading– Elementary Reading

• Rudiments of the art of reading• Receives basic training in reading• Acquires initial skills• What does the sentence say?

– Inspectional Reading• Time is a key element at this stage• Maximize involvement within given

parameters• What is this book about?

A collection of writings…

• Must begin with reading– Elementary Reading– Inspectional Reading– Analytical Reading

• More complex and systematic• Ask organized and many questions• Preeminently for the sake of understanding

– Syntopical Reading• Most complex and systematic• Interacting with resources in relationship to

another topic/idea/conceptfrom How to Read a Book by Adler & Van

Doren

Units of Thought

Words

Sentences

Paragraphs

Chapters

Book

Observation Tools

• Reading Strategies– Thoughtfully– Repeatedly– Patiently– Selectively– Prayerfully– Imaginatively– Meditatively– Purposefully– Acquisitively– Telescopically

Observation Tools

• Reading Strategies• Questions to Ponder

– Who?– What?– Where?– When?– Why?– Wherefore?

Observation Tools

• Reading Strategies• Questions to Ponder• Grammar Structure

– Verbs– Subject and Object– Modifiers– Prepositional Phrases– Connectives

Observation Tools

• Reading Strategies• Questions to Ponder• Grammar Structure• Literary Structure

– Biographical– Geographical– Historical– Chronological– Ideological

Observation Tools

• The Laws of Structure– Cause & Effect– Climax– Comparison– Contrast– Explanation or Reason– Interchange– Introduction & Summary– Pivot or Hinge– Proportion– Purpose– Question & Answer– Repetition– Specific to General; General to Specific

Observation Tools

• Reading Strategies• Questions to Ponder• Grammar Structure• Literary Structure• The Laws of Structure

Observation Tools

• Reading Strategies• Questions to Ponder• Grammar Structure• Literary Structure• The Laws of Structure• Mile Markers

– Emphasized– Repeated– Related– Alike– Unlike– True to Life

Observation Tools

• Reading Strategies• Questions to Ponder• Grammar Structure• Literary Structure• The Laws of Structure• Mile Markers

Titus 3:-8

• Take some time this week to practice observing

• Titus 3:3-8 and Titus 3:3-8 (remix) have been provided to allow you to take notes

• Consolidate questions• Prioritize information• Bring back 50 observations by

next week

Next Week

•Observation•Interpretation•Application•Correlation