HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

By Gus Hernandez, Jr.

In the Observation stage, read and reread your passage simply to familiarize yourself with the text.

As you read, observe as many details as possible by asking the six investigative questions to the text (who, what, when, where, why, and how).

OBSERVATION

Who is the author, and who are the recipients?

Who are the main characters involved in the text?

What is happening in the text?

What is the author intending to communicate?

What are key words in the text?

What is the context of this verse?

What important comparisons or contrasts do you see?

What is the genre (type of literature) of this passage?

When do the events take place?

Where do these events take place?

Why do the events take place?

Why was this text written?

How do these events occur?

OBSERVATION

INTERPRETATIONWhat do the key terms mean?

How do the verses or phrases relate to each other?

How does this passage fit into the larger story of the book it is in?

How does this passage relate to the story of the Bible as a whole?

How does the genre affect my interpretation of this passage?

How does this passage point to or speak of Jesus Christ?

What are the differences between the biblical audience and myself?

DEVELOPING THE THEOLOGICAL

PRINCIPLE The principle...

Should be reflected in the text

Should be timeless (not tied to a specific situation)

Should not be culturally bound

Should correspond to the teaching of the rest of Scripture

Should be relevant to both Biblical and contemporary audience

*From Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hayes

APPLICATION

Studying the Bible is more than just arriving at the proper mental comprehension of a passage.

Knowledge without application is useless information (cf. James 1:22-24).

APPLICATIONIs there an application already in the text? Is there a command or exhortation for how we should live?

What does this biblical principle mean today?

What would the application of this verse look like in my life?

What difference does this make in my life?

How can this biblical principle help me in my walk with God?

APPLICATION

Application cannot take place apart from the Holy Spirit.

When you ask God to speak to you, you are asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into accepting and living out the truths found in Scriptures.

Application is the heart of the interpretation process.

HEAR METHOD

H i g h l i g h t

E x p l a i n

A p p l y

R e s p o n d

INDUCTIVE METHOD

H i g h l i g h t

E x p l a i n

A p p l y

R e s p o n d

Observat ion

Interpreta t ion

App l ica t ion

EXAMPLE

Read Philippians 4:10-13

Read: Philippians 4:10-13 Title: Secret of Contentment

H (Highlight) – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

E (Explain) – The Apostle Paul is telling the church at Philippi that he has discovered the secret of contentment. No matter what situation was brought into Paul’s life, he realized that Christ was all he needed, and Christ was the one who strengthened him to persevere through difficult times.

A (Apply) – In my life, I will come across many ups and downs. My contentment is not found in circumstances; my contentment is grounded in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives me the strength I need to be content in all seasons of life.

R (Respond) – Lord Jesus, help me as I strive to draw my contentment from You. Through Your strength, I can make it through all the various situations in life.

EXAMPLE

HOW TO LEAD A BIBLE STUDY

HOW TO LEAD A BIBLE STUDY

3Steps to leading a Bible Study

Prep – H.E.A.R. – Research (Commentaries, etc.)

Bottom Line – Focus on ONE thing

Questions

HOW TO ASK GOOD QUESTIONS

Good questions should:

Create self-discovery

Emphasize the bottom line

Develop a desire to apply the bottom line

3 KINDS OF QUESTION

1. The discovery question (what?)

• An open-ended, well-worded question introduction a new topic and seeking to gather facts

• Example: From this passage, what does Jesus teach us about love?

3 KINDS OF QUESTION

1. The understanding question (why?)

• A more narrow, well-worded, follow-up question, seeking to find the relevance and relationship with those facts.

• Example: Why would Jesus say there is more reward in loving our enemies than our friends?

3 KINDS OF QUESTION1. The application question (how?)

• A direct, well-worded, final question challenging the participants to make those relevant facts a reality in their lives.

• Example: Think of one hard to love person in your life right now. How can you specifically show love to this person this week?

• SPAM – Specific, Personal, Attainable, and Measurable

• Bring more questions than you think you’ll need (refuel)