When looking to achieve greater understanding a good Bible student must learn how to learn. This is a series of lessons and examples to help understand the different methods of Bible study. With these techniques you can dig into the Bible to unlock your knowledge and understanding; to truly Experience the Scriptures!
An Introduction to Methods of Bible Study
The Mindset
The message of the methods of Bible Study is more than technique, but a will. The will to read and experience the scriptures is something that, if allowed, will bless the believer in the way that God intended. The fact of simply reading and studying the scriptures provides both a blessing and a promise from the scriptures of multiplying grace and peace in our lives.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
The Bible contains all things we need to know that pertains to life and Godliness.
The Methods of Bible Study
Word Study Method of Bible Study
A word study is a fundamental of bible study that will help provide a better understanding of the scripture. It also is a tool that helps with the other methods…
Character Method of Bible Study (The nature )
The Character method of Bible study is simply: putting yourself in their shoes. By taking a look at the different people in the Bible, their reactions, successes and failures; you…
Character Method of Bible Study (The personage)
The character method of Bible study is perhaps one that brings you closer to experiencing the scriptures that any other. God, in his wisdom, has allowed different people to share…
Expository Method of Bible Study
The Expository method of bible study is where you choose a passage and disassemble it to find a greater understanding. You will need all the other methods to get the…
Meditation Method of Bible Study
The meditation method of bible study is where you ponder a word, verse or passage in order to gain a full understanding. As part of this method you’ll want to…
Topical Method of Bible Study
The topical method of bible study is where you start with a topic, then search our those scriptures that fit with or explain the topic. The use of the word…
The Message
The Need of Bible Study
The need of Bible study is perhaps more relevant today than ever before. Much of this is because the day and time we live in. One of the things I have seen working for and in ministry these 20 years is that there are so many “spiritually intended” people, but not many “scripturally minded” people. Let look at few verses that bring this to light:
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
In the last days which we live in we see a group of people, made up of Christians and the lost, that are always interested in going to Church, going to a revival, going to a “Christian” concert, going to Bible study and even taking bible courses; but never growing spiritually or gaining knowledge of the truth.
This lack of growth has stunted the spiritual fruit of churches across America and abroad. While there are many churches that report large numbers of people getting saved, most of these same churches report low numbers for baptism and discipleship with retention numbers at an all time low.
Teachers having eatching ears.
Part of this movement is those who desire to (pardon the reference): “share their collective ignorance”. Home churches with co-leaders who mock the order of the new testament church, open themselves and their followers to false doctrine with no foundational path. This verse so greatly identifies this:
1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
Naturally this is facilitated by those who look for people to teach to them, rather than to preach to them. Home Churches, non-denominational churches and houses of fellowship that work hard to avoid sound doctrine as to not “offend”; will attract these that are looking to feel better about their choices.
To hedge his influence, satan has flooded society with false and absent doctrine so that if, by chance, one of these assemblies should begin to preach sound doctrine… there are many others that can hop over to.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Conclusion
As we delve into different methods of Bible study it is important not to set aside the need for diligent, regular reading of the scriptures to establish a *contextual path. They are both equally important. Additionally it is important to have the right heart for study. To approach study for any other purpose other than to have a better knowledge and relationship with God should be clearly examined.
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
*Contextual path: Having a foundation of information to reference when studying and learning; building on knowledge previously learned. Example: Someone learning math must master different levels to achieve the next. A student seeking to learn trigonometry must have a contextual path of addition, subtraction, multiplying, dividing and elements of algebra in order to have the resource info necessary to have understanding.
Part of greater understanding is within the contextual path that is developed through reading the Bible. Simply to study will only provide you with fragmented facts, reading provides context to the facts for understanding.