That’s Just Your

Interpretation
Inductive Bible Study Method
Part 1: Observation
Gold Country Baptist Church
Adult Sunday School

Johnston
Johnston.bob@comcast.net
Agenda
Agenda Cont
WHY WE DON’T STUDY
THE GOOD BOOK ANY
MORE
 Bible Study Today
• 92% of Households own at least 1 copy
• Average of 3 copies per household that
has a Bible
• Use of Bible
– 73% Read occasionally (1980s)
– 59% Read occasionally (10-2000)
– 37% Once a Week – avg 52 min.

– 21% in Bible Study Group (1990)

– 14% in Bible Study Group (2000)
– Barna Group
 Why We Don’t Study the Bible

• Don’t Know How

• That’s Why We Hired Pastor
• Its Greek to Me
• Its Boring
• Its Too Much Work
• Got Spirit, Don’t Need Study
• Settling for Cut Flowers
 What, Me Study?
“… whether one likes it or not,
every reader is at the same
time an interpreter. That is,
most of us assume as we read
that we also understand what
we read…
Fee, Gordon D., and Stewart, Douglas, How to Read the
Bible for All its Worth, Zondervan, 3rd ed., 2003, pg. 18.
WHY WE CAN
STUDY
 Why We Should Study
• Inspired
(2 Peter 1:20-21)
• Profitable for Equipping
(2 Tim 3:16-17)
• Solid Food for the Mature
(Heb 5:11-14)
• Assurance of Salvation
( 1 Jn 5:13)
Foundations of Bible Study
• Infallible, Inerrant
• Unity of Bible
• Progressive Revelation
• Bible its Own Best Interpreter
• Bible Language is Mostly
Human Language
• Guidance of Holy Spirit
 Clarity of Scripture
“What they meant was that the Bible is
basically clear and lucid. It is simple
enough for any literate person to
understand its basic message. That is
not to say that all parts of the Bible
are equally clear or that there are no
difficult passages or sections to be
found in it…
Sproul, R.C, Knowing Scripture, pg. 15.
 Preparing to Study
• For Eyes to See (Ps. 119:18 )
• For Understanding and
Meditation (Ps. 119:27 )
• For Understanding Fear of the
Lord (Prov 2:1-5)
• Be Obedient (Ps. 119:98-100)
• Be Observant (Acts 17:11)
THE INDUCTIVE BIBLE
STUDY METHOD
 What is the Inductive
Method?
• Examine Particulars of the
Scriptures
• Base Conclusions on
Examination
• Bible as Primary Source
• Use of Bible Study Tools After
Own Interpretation
Inductive Bible Study Method
Overview
• Observe –
– What Does it Say?
• Interpretation –
– What Does it Mean?
• Application –
– What do I Do?
 What to Avoid: Bible Study
Tools
• Used too Soon
–Like Pre-chewed
Food

– Misses Joy of
Discovery
 What to Avoid: Methodless
Study
• Haphazard Study
–Cafeteria style
– What are we going to find
today?
• Bibliomancy
– Divination by Random
Selection of Texts
 Context

Before After

• Flow Controls Interpretation

• Contexts:
– Textual
– Cultural
– Historical
• Avoids Proof-texting
 Genre
“One of the most important aspects of the
human side of the Bible is that, in order to
communicate his word to all human
conditions, God chose to use almost every
available kind of communication: narrative
history, genealogies, chronicles, laws of all
kinds, poetry of all kinds, proverbs,
prophetic oracles, riddles, drama,
biographical sketches, parables, letters,
sermons, and apocalypses.”
Fee, Gordon D., and Stewart, Douglas, How to Read the Bible
for All its Worth, Zondervan, 3rd ed., 2003.
 Grammatical Structure
• Ideas are Terms that are Related to
other Terms
• Related Terms Form the Framework
of a Passage
• Framework can be Difficult to
Determine
• People will Differ on the Structures
 Literary Structure
Law Description Examples

Concept, event, action causes another (therefore, so, then, as a Mk 11:27-12:44; Rom 1:24-32; 8:18-
Cause & effect result) 30

Climax Progression of events, ideas Ex 40:34-35; 2 Sam 11; Mk 4:35-5:43

Comparison 2 or more alike or similar elements (like, as, too, also) Ps 1:3-4; Jn 3:8, 12, 14; Heb 5:1-10

Contrast 2 or more dissimilar or unlike elements (but, yet) Ps 73; Acts 4:32-5:11; Gal. 5:19-23

Explanation or Dan 2,4,5,7-9; Mk 4:13-20; Acts 11:1-

Idea + interpretation
reason 18

Interchange Action, conversation, concept moves to another and back again Gen 37-39; 1 Sam 1-3; Luke 1-2

Introduction &
Opening or concluding remarks on subject or situation Gen 2:4-25; 3; Josh 12; Mt 6:1
summary
Pivot or hinge Quick change in direction or flow of context; minor climax 2 Sam 11-12; Mt 12; Acts 2

Gen 1-11; 12-15; Lk 9:51-19:27; eph

Proportion Emphasis shown by amt of space given to subject
5:21-6:4)

Purpose Display of author’s intent Jn 20:30-31; Acts 1:8; Tit 1:1

Question and
Use of questions and/or answers Malachi; Mk 11:27-12:44; Lk 11:1-13)
Answer
Repetition Repeated terms or phrases Ps 136; Mt 5:21-48; Heb 11

Specific  general
or general  Mt 6:1-18; Acts 1:8; Jas 2
specific
Based on chart by John Hansel, in Hendricks, Howard G., Living by the Book, pg. 121-122.
OBSERVING THE
TEXT
 Observation
• Take Your Time
• Book Overview > Section >
Paragraph
• Discover and List Facts, Questions
• Read Repeatedly
• Chart
• Don’t Interpret
 What to Look For
• Repeated Ideas, Terms
– Pronouns, Synonyms
• Emphasized Items
• People, Places, Events
• Related Things
• Strange Things
• Things That are Not There
 5 W’s and H
WHO Author, Readers, Others

Location, Setting, Travel,

WHERE
Geography
Time, Political, Social, Religious
WHEN
Conditions
WHAT Event, Action, Argument
Why here? Why did it happen,
WHY
What is missing?
HOW How did it Happen? How is this truth
Demonstrated?
Observation Levels
 The Paragraph
• Basic Unit of Study
• Complete Thought with Supporting
Details
• Some Paragraphs Artificial
• Titles
– 2-3 words
– Memorable
– Unique
– Descriptive
 Taking Notes
• Name Sections, Paragraphs
• List Observations with Reference
• Mark Key Terms with Color or
Symbols
• Use Common Sense
• Rephrase
• Key Phrases  Main Subjects 
Theme of Paragraph, Segment, or
Book
 Markup Sheet Example
5 W’s + H Text: I John 1
Who (Author, Readers, Others)
Writer & Who = Apostle John and those in Fellowship with him have heard, seen, looked at,
touched Jesus (vs. 1, 2)
Associates Seen and testified to the life, proclaim it (vs. 1 and vs. 2)
So that you can have fellowship with us (vs. 3)
Our fellowship is with the Trinity (vs. 3)
Epistle written to have them fellowship with the readers and to make their joy full (vs. 4)
Message heard from Him (1:5)
Jesus Who = Jesus – from the beginning, physical, the Word of Life (vs. 1)
- appeared (vs. 1)
- eternal life, was with the Father (vs. 2)
Readers who have had the word of life proclaimed to them which is eternal life
Readers may have fellowship with John and his associates if they accept the proclamation (vs.
3)
Epistle written to them (vs. 4)
Claiming to be in the Light while in the dark is lying and there is no fellowship with God
or John and his associates (vs. 6)
Must walk in Light to have fellowship and cleansing from Jesus’ Blood (vs. 6ff.)
Have Sinned (vs. 8)
God John and associates have fellowship with Father and
Son (vs. 3)
Is light and has no darkness (vs. 5)
 Observation Exercise 1
• Read 1 John at Least
3 Times to get Big
Picture
• List at Least 15-20
Observations (using
the 5 W’s and H)
• Begin Chart of 1
John
 Observation Exercise 2
• Read 1 John Chapter
1 at Least 3 Times to
get Big Picture
• List at Least 15-20
Observations (using
the 5 W’s and H)
• Due Next Meeting
 Charting
• Summarize Observations
• Visualizes Relationships of Parts
to Whole
• Reveals Authors Purpose
• Keep Simple
• Revise as Needed
 Chart Example
The Gospel of Mark
“Came to Serve” “Give His Life”

PROLOGUE SERVICE And SACRIFICE EPILOGUE

Jesus Who Who Where’s Jesus

Came Is Do He Received
Mk 1:1-45 He? People Going? Up
Mk 2:1-8:26 Say Mk 8:31- Mk 16:1-20
That 15:47
I
Am?
Mk 8:27-30
Observations Markup Sheet Text: 1 Jn 1:1-10

1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen

with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim

concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and

we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to

us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have

fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus

Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in

him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in

the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is

in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son,

purifies us from all sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we

confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from

all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar

and his word has no place in our lives.

(from New International Version)

 Where Observation Form
5 W’s + H Questions 1 Jn 1

Where? (Location, Geography) Ref

Author  In the past, the author had been with Jesus while he was on earth 1:1

 They are not with the Author 1:04

Readers  The last hour 2:18

 Heard from the beginning – ongoing relationship 2:24

 Some Left the Fellowship in the past 2:19

 Outlining
• No One Right Way
• Helps us Organize Thoughts and
Teaching
• Look for Main Theme
• Then Sub-Themes
1. First Main Thought or Principle
1. Supporting Idea, Example,
Illustrations
2. Second Main Thought or Principle
 Putting it Back Together
Paragraph Segment Subsection Section Division Book

• Look for Connectives (But, And,

Therefore)
• Paragraph - Multiple Sentences
• Segment – Group of Paragraphs
• Subsection – Group of Segments
• Section – Group of Subsections
• Division - Groups of Sections
• Book – Group of Divisions
 Bibliography
• Adler, Mortimer, and Van Doren, Charles, How to Read a Book, Revised and
Updated edition, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1972.
• Arthur, Kay, How to Study Your Bible, The Lasting Rewards of the Inductive
Method, Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 1994.
• Fee, Gordon D., and Stewart, Douglas, How to Read the Bible for All its Worth,
Zondervan, 3rd ed., 2003
• Finzel, Hans, Observe, Interpret, Apply: How to Study the Bible Inductively,
Wheaton: Victor Books, 1994.
• Hendricks, Howard G., and Hendricks, William D., Living By the Book, Chicago:
Moody Press, 1991.
• MacArthur, J., F., How to Get the Most From God’s Word, Dallas: Word pub. 1997.
• Traina, Robert A., Methodical Bible Study, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1980.
• Sproul, R.C., Knowing Scripture, Downers Grove: IVP, 1977.
• Stein, Robert H., Playing By the Rules, A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible,
Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
• Sterrett, T Norton, How to Understand Your Bible, Downers Grove: IVP,1974.
• Vlach, Michael J., Americans and the Bible: Bible Ownership, Reading, Study and
Knowledge in the United States, Americans and the Bible.htm ,
TheologicalStudies.org
• Warren, Rick, Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods, Twelve Ways You Can Unlock
God’s Word, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.
 An Observer’s Prayer

We need not so much that God

should give us more benefits, as
the ability to see what He has
given.

C.H. Spurgeon
• THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way
of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are
true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe
it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct
you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the
traveller's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the
soldier's sword and the Christian's charter. Here paradise is
restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is
its grand object, our good is its design and the glory of God its
end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a
paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will
be opened in the judgement, and will be remembered forever. It
involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest
labour, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.
• — Anonymous