Studying the Bible: Methods I. Introduction A. The Scriptures are very clear about our need to study them! B. 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Peter 3:15, and many other passages could be cited to show that we must have a working knowledge of God's Word if we are going to be found pleasing to God C. There may be some, however, who have the desire to understand the Bible better and to study it but perhaps do not fully understand how to go about studying the Bible D. Many times people do not sit down and consider what is necessary to study the Bible properly so as to come to the correct understanding (2 Timothy 2:15) E. Let us spend some time, then, looking into methods of Bible study F. Much of what we will establish we normally do without really thinking about it too much, but let us consider the matter to make sure we are approved of God II. Types of Bible Study A. We must first ask ourselves: what type of Bible study will be done? B. There are three main types C. Survey 1. In a survey study, one takes a broad look over many books of the Bible 2. A survey study is a "big picture" study, looking at the main themes of various books and how they all work together 3. Surveys are effective means of getting the big ideas and concepts of the Scriptures, but do not provide the close attention to detail to the text that must also be done D. Textual study 1. In a textual study, one takes a given book and studies it thoroughly 2. Textual studies are essential to get a good understanding of what a given book is trying to communicate 3. Textual studies are limited, of course, to the text studied, and help fill in parts of the bigger picture E. Topical study 1. In a topical study, one collects all the Scriptures that are relevant to a topic so as to understand the will of God regarding that topic 2. One must keep all Scriptures firmly in their contexts, but topical studies help us understand exactly what we ought to do F. Which is best? 1. With the various types of Bible study, it is not really a competition as much as complementation 2. In reality, all three types of study are necessary, and all three work together to give us the message 3. Surveys provide the big picture, textual studies fill in the detail, and topical studies help us see God's intention for us G. Let us use all forms of study! III. Bible Study: Considering the Author A. All three types of Bible study require a reading of the Scriptures for understanding B. How, then, shall we read to understand? C. To read to understand, we must ask certain questions and find the answers in the Scriptures D. To begin, we must first ask questions about the author so as to understand the position of what we're reading and gives us the structure in which we can understand the message E. Who is the author? 1. Is the author revealed in the book? 2. If the author is not, what about the author is revealed? F. When did the author live? 1. Is a timeframe for the author given? 2. If not, what temporal indicators exist within the text? 3. Where does the author fit in the grand scheme-- old or new covenant, etc.? G. What is the author writing? 1. What type of book is the author writing? 2. Is he writing history? A biography? Prophecy? A letter? 3. Is the author writing a combination of the above? H. To whom is the author writing? 1. Does the author reveal his intended audience? 2. If not, what can be understood about his intended audience? I. Why is the author writing? 1. Beyond the Holy Spirit, what has prompted the author to write? 2. What needs to be conveyed to the audience? J. If we are able to have a decent understanding of these questions, and get an idea of who the author is and what the author is up to, we then have the structure necessary to understand the book itself IV. Bible Study: The Material Itself A. Once we have an understanding of the author, we can move on to the material itself B. The specific questions we ask will be different based on different types of material, but the general questions will be the same C. Who is speaking? 1. Within the text, who is speaking? 2. Is it the author? Is it a character within the book? 3. What can be known of the speaker? D. Who is being addressed? 1. Within the text, who is the audience of the message? Or is the audience the audience of the intended author? 2. What can be known of this audience? E. When are the events recorded occurring? 1. If in the past, when? 2. If in the present, what is that present? 3. If in the future, when specifically in the future, if such can be known? F. Where are the events occurring? G. What are the events? 1. What is going on in the book? H. How do the events relate? I. Why is it revealed? 1. As far as can be perceived from the text, why do we have this revealed to us? 2. Asking why is not to be done as if we are challenging God but trying to figure out why God has given us a particular event or instruction in the revelation J. When we ask these questions of the text and find their answers, we will find ourselves having a good understanding of the Bible V. Pitfalls of Bible Study A. As we study, we must avoid many pitfalls, lest we not handle God's truth rightly (2 Timothy 2:15) B. Pitfall #1: The Desire of the Heart 1. If we don't want to understand, or don't want to apply ourselves to study, we will never be able to know God's Word 2. Our heart must be in the study if it will do us any good! 3. Do we want Matthew 15:7-9 to be true of us because we don't want to apply ourselves to studying His word? 4. When we study, we must put all our effort into understanding God's Word C. Pitfall #2: Applying Without Understanding 1. The first thing to do, as previously established, is to understand the text 2. We must first understand and then apply 3. If we try to apply before we understand, we can get ourselves into all kinds of problems 4. If we don't understand the text in its context, we are not going to make the proper application D. Pitfall #3: It's Not High School Anymore 1. Many persons approach the Bible as they approached books of literature in high school 2. In high school, the talent of reading for the answers-- figuring out what must be known in the text to answer all relevant questions and to do well-- is emphasized 3. While this may work in high school for the literature read therein, the Bible is far too important to be handled that casually 4. Yes, it is true that I just presented many questions that we should ask of the text and to answer them, for such is a guide; the questions are there so that one may understand, and the point of our Bible study should not be to "have the answers" as much as to understand God's Word and how it applies to us (2 Timothy 2:15) 5. Just reading to "find the answers" will invariably miss many important details and means of understanding the text E. Pitfall #4: Bible Reading is not Necessarily Bible Study 1. I hope that it is manifest by now that Bible study requires more than just passing one's eyes over the page 2. Reading the Bible is very good and necessary, and part of Bible study is reading the text, but to study properly we must dig into the text deeply 3. Just passing your eyes over the book is not going to allow you to understand God's will! F. Pitfall #5: Bible Study Needs to be Constant 1. In Acts 2:42, we see that the disciples were constantly devoting themselves to the Apostles' doctrine 2. If Bible study is going to be effective, it must be habitual, and not a rare event 3. You are never in stasis: you either are gaining more knowledge or losing whatever knowledge you previously had (cf. Matthew 13:12) 4. The only way to understand God's will is to be constantly studying it, for there is always more to learn G. Let us avoid these pitfalls and be found to be good Bible students! VI. Conclusion A. We have examined the methods of Bible study B. We have seen the different types of study C. We have seen the types of things we must be looking for in the author and in the material itself so that we understand D. We have seen many of the pitfalls that would hinder us from understanding God's will E. Let us constantly study God's Word and be found pleasing in His sight! F. Invitation/songbook G. When we look into the Bible, we see the message of redemption in Christ Jesus H. If you have not received that redemption, you have the opportunity today I. If you have received the redemption, yet need encouragement, you can receive some today J. Whatever is necessary, let us help you; come to the front as we stand and sing