How to Study the Bible?- Part I

Acts 8

v.30, 31Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?

Why study the Bible?

Essential to growth1 Pet 2:2

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual

milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation

Why study the Bible?

Essential to spiritual maturityHeb 5:11-14

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again…

Why study the Bible?

Essential to spiritual maturityHeb 5:11-14

…You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Why study the Bible?

Essential to spiritual effectiveness – 2 Tim 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Purpose

• Orderly

• Systematic

• Methodical

Spiritual detective

“You see, but you do not observe”

Sherlock Holmes

Method

Observation

Interpretation

Application

Method

Observation

What do you see?

Method

Interpretation

What does it mean?

Method

Application

How does it work?

Method

Observation

What do you see?

Observation

How to read

What to look for

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few are to be chewed and digested.”

Francis Bacon

How to read?

Read

ThoughtfullyRepeatedlyPatientlyPrayerfullyImaginativelyMeditatively

What to look for?

• Terms• Structures• Forms • Atmosphere

Terms

Words in a context

Phil

Terms

Key words

Term Terms

Routine vs. non Routine