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HANDLE WITH CARE

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THEWORD OF TRUTH

An Equipping Class based on “How to Study Your Bible” © Precept Ministries International

“WEEK 4” STUDY (MAR. 9 – MAR. 21 )

1 Thessalonians 2:14-3:13•Note the flow to gain a

Chronological Perspective1

DAY

1 Thessalonians 3•Mark “Thessalonians”•List what you learn

2DAY

1 Thessalonians 3•Mark bookmark keywords•“Afflictions” list (ch. 1 – 3)

3DAY

1 Thessalonians 1 - 3•“Faith / Believe” list (ch. 1 -3)4

DAY

Satan Cross-References6DAY

1 Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:13•Mark “Satan / Tempter”•List what you learn

5DAY

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KEY WORDS WE’RE OBSERVING

RECIPIENTSAUTHORSREFERENCES TO TIMEGOSPELFAITH / BELIEVELOVEHOPEHOLY SPIRITSATAN

hope

satan

A QUICK LOOK BACK

ON WHERE WE’VE BEEN

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WHY BIBLE STUDY IS IMPORTANT

2Timothy 3:16-171Thessalonians 5:20-21

Hebrews 5:12-141Peter 2:2-3

SPIRITUALGROWTH

SPIRITUALMATURITY

SPIRITUALEFFECTIVENESS

SPIRITUALPROTECTION

THE VALUE OF INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY

SLOWS US DOWN WHENREADING THE BIBLE

THE BIBLE BECOMESTHE PRIMARY SOURCE

OF INFORMATIONABOUT THE BIBLE

DRAWS US INTOPERSONAL INTERACTION

WITH THE AUTHOROF THE BIBLE

Form PRECEPTSand BELIEFS

Determinewhat the detail

means

Start withthe FACTS& DETAILS

INDUCTIVE

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INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY APPROACH

OBSERVATION

INTERPRETATION

APPLICATION

WHAT DOES THE PASSAGE SAY?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOESIT MAKE?

AN APPROACH FOR OBSERVATION

MARK KEY WORDS

MAKE LISTS

ASK QUESTIONS

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PRINCIPLES GUIDING INTERPRETATION

1. Context rules

2. Seek the full counsel of the Word of God

3. Scripture will never contradict Scripture

4. Do not base doctrine on obscure passages of Scripture

5. Interpret Scripture literally

6. Look for the author’s intended meaning of the passage

7. Check your conclusions by using reliable commentaries

TOOLS NEEDED FOR INTERPRETATION

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TOOLS NEEDED FOR INTERPRETATION

OR

biblegateway.com

biblehub.com

e-sword.net

biblestudytools.com

blueletterbible.org

TECHNIQUES TO HELP INTERPRETATION

1. WORD STUDIES

2. USE OF CROSS REFERENCES

3. CHARACTER, OR BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES

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BUT FIRST . . . ANOTHER TIP

UNDERSTAND THE OCCASION OF A BOOK BYSPENDING TIME UNDERSTANDING:

• Who wrote the book

• When they wrote the book

• Where they wrote the book

• Why they wrote the book

BUT FIRST . . . SOME MORE TOOLS

Author and Title

Purpose, Occasion, and Background

Date

Theme

MAXIMIZE THEUSE OF YOURSTUDY BIBLE

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BUT FIRST . . . SOME MORE TOOLS

INTERPRETATIONCHARACTER STUDIES

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WHY DO CHARACTER STUDIES?

WHY DO CHARACTER STUDIES?

1. BECAUSE OF WHATWE CAN LEARNABOUT OURSELVES

2. BECAUSE OF WHATWE CAN LEARNABOUT OUR GOD

Now these things happened tothem as an example, but theywere written down for ourinstruction, on whom the endof the ages has come.

(1Corinthians 10:11)

For whatever was written informer days was written forour instruction, that throughendurance and through theencouragement of theScriptures we might have hope.

(Romans 15:4)

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A SIMPLE APPROACH

1. DECIDE ON THE CHARACTER YOU WANT TO STUDY

2. COMPILE A LIST OF VERSES AND PASSAGES THATDEAL WITH THE CHARACTER

3. READ, OBSERVE, AND TAKE NOTES OFMAIN TRUTHS

4. CHECK OUT EXTRA-BIBLICAL REFERENCES

5. COMPILE YOUR FINDINGS

6. APPLY WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED

WHERE TO FIND THE VERSES?

1. CROSS REFERENCES IN YOUR BIBLE

2. CROSS REFERENCES IN THE BACK OF YOUR BIBLE

3. AN EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE

4. A TOPICAL BIBLE

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WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR?

1. MEANING OF NAME

2. ANCESTRY

3. UPBRINGING / TRAINING / CONVERSION

4. SHORTCOMINGS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

5. SPIRITUAL LIFE

6. IMPACT OF THEIR LIFE ON OTHERS

A SIMPLE EXAMPLE

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1 And the people of Israel, thewhole congregation, came intothe wilderness of Zin in the firstmonth, and the people stayed inKadesh. And Miriam died thereand was buried there.

Numbers 20:1 ESV

MIRIAMA CHARACTER STUDY

1. Pick someone to study

CONCORDANCEExodus 15:20Exodus 15:21Numbers 12:1Numbers 12:4Numbers 12:5Numbers 12:10Numbers 12:15Numbers 20:1Numbers 26:59Deuteronomy 24:91Chronicles 4:171Chronicles 6:3Micah 6:4

NAVES TOPICAL BIBLEExodus 2:4-8 (Naves)

MIRIAMA CHARACTER STUDY

1. Pick someone to study2. Compile a list of verses

1

2

3

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OBSERVATIONS•Older sister of Moses (Exodus 2:4)•Monitored Moses in the river (2:4)•Brokered a “nanny” for Moses (2:7)•A prophetess (15:20)•A worship leader (15:20-21)•Spoke against Moses (Numbers 12:1)•Protective or jealous? (12:1-2)•Called on the carpet by God (12:5-9)•Judged with leprosy (12:10)• Interceded for by Moses (12:13)•Exiled for 7 days & healed (12:14-15)•Dies after return to Kadesh (20:1)•Daughter of Amram & Jochebed (26:59)•Her leprosy a warning (Deut. 24:9)• Identified as a co-leader of the exodusalong with Moses and Aaron (Micah 6:4)

MIRIAMA CHARACTER STUDY

1. Pick someone to study2. Compile a list of verses3. Observations in context

HEBREW LEXICON04813 מרים Miryam meer-yawm’Miriam= "rebellion"1) elder sister of Moses and Aaron2) a woman of Judah

SMITH’S BIBLE DICTIONARY(rebellion) the sister of Moses, was the eldest of thatsacred family; and she first appears, probably as ayoung girl, watching her infant brother's cradle inthe Nile (Exodus 2:4) and suggesting her mother asa nurse (verse 7). After the crossing of the Red Sea"Miriam the prophetess" is her acknowledged title(Exodus 15:20). The prophetic power showed itselfin her under the same form as that which it assumedin the days of Samuel and David,-poetry, accom-panied with music and processions (Exodus 15:1-19). She took the lead, with Aaron, in the complaintagainst Moses for his marriage with a Cushite(Numbers 12:1-2) and for this was attacked withleprosy. This stroke and its removal, which tookplace at Hazeroth, form the last public event ofMiriam's life (Numbers 12:1-15). She died toward theclose of the wanderings at Kadesh, and was buriedthere (Numbers 20:1).

MIRIAMA CHARACTER STUDY

1. Pick someone to study2. Compile a list of verses3. Observations in context4. Extra-biblical information

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MIRIAMA CHARACTER STUDY

1. Pick someone to study2. Compile a list of verses3. Observations in context4. Extra-biblical information5. Create a Summary

MIRIAM THE LEADER

AS A CHILD:• Alert, head in the game, bold

AS A PROPHET AND WORSHIP LEADER• Worshiped with abandon• Declared the wondrous workings

of God boldly

AS A CO-LEADER• Ambitious – to a fault• Protective of her brother – to a fault• Jealous – always leads to a fault

AS A WARNING• God is no respecter of persons,

even those He has called to lead

MIRIAMA CHARACTER STUDY

1. Pick someone to study2. Compile a list of verses3. Observations in context4. Extra-biblical information5. Create a Summary6. Make Application

To lead where God has called meto lead, I need to be:

1. Bold• God has not given me a Spirit

of fear, but wants me to faninto flame my call (2Tim 2:6-7)

2. Unreserved in worship• I need to model how to give

God glory

3. Wary of ambition• Content to fulfill the role that

God has called me to

4. Operating in grace• God will accomplish the work He

has begun in and through me

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INTERPRETATIONCHARACTER STUDIES

NEXT WEEK . . .

BREAKOUT GROUPS

“STANDING FIRM”• Week 4 review• Day 7 Questions

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HANDLE WITH CARE

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THEWORD OF TRUTH