Study the Bible for Growth Week 11

Our How to Study the Bible for Yourself and Others looked at Using Biblical Resources such as Commentaries, Bible Studies, Conferences, and more this past Sunday.

There are many challenges in selecting Biblical resources.  We discussed several in the November 16 class.  The number of resources has been a problem.  So many different writers and ideas are out there in books.  This leads to the second challenge.  These ideas don't even need to be published in book form.  With modern publishing and the internet, it is easy to publish an ebook and even easier to start a blog (even I did 😀).  There are so many different and accessible resources out there.  Another challenge mentioned was varying opinions.  Not just views found in the resources, but also opinions found about the resources and writers.

Another challenge in selecting Biblical resources is a wrong view of their purpose.  So what is the purpose of Biblical resources?

Simply put, the purpose is to help people understand the Bible and think Biblically, and live Biblically, not to replace it.  

In Lit!  A Christian Guide to Reading Books, Tony Reinke writes, “Scripture is the ultimate grid by which we read every book. Scripture is perfect, sufficient, and eternal. All other books, to some degree, are imperfect, deficient, and temporary. That means that when we pick books from the bookstore shelves, we read those imperfect books in light of the perfect Book, the deficient books in light of the sufficient Book, and the temporary books in light of the eternal Book.”

Here are some basic resources selection helps:

• Always read your Bible; never let other books distract you from reading the Bible.
• As it relates to what we have been studying in class, be sure to spend a lot of time in the Seeing/Observing phase of study.  
• Biblical resources should help you understand the Bible, NOT replace the Bible

Biblical resource selection comes down to discernment.  It is not about finding the right website or person to make decisions for you.  A website and people can help grow your discernment, but discernment must always depend on God and his word.

Tim Challies offers the following definition of discernment.  "Discernment is the skill of understanding and applying God's Word with the purpose of separating truth from error and right from wrong." (For a detailed explanation of this definition, go to www.challies.com/articles/defining-discernment/)

In this upcoming week's class, we will look at practical tips for personal and corporate discernment.

In last week's class, we talked about Reading In Community -drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2025/11/study-bible-for-growth-week-10.html

Study the Bible for Growth Week 9

This past Sunday, November 2, was on Bridging, Responding, and Jonah 1-4.

Lubeck describes Bridging as the missing link of Bible Study.  "Finding the shared truth is a key (but often overlooked) step in the process of Bible study.  This step focuses on the timeless truth - the main ideas - that the original author intends to share with his readers."  (p. 57)

A shared truth is eternal, universal, and reflects the author's original meaning of the text.

In class, we briefly discussed how we know whether a shared truth is valid.

Lubeck gives six questions to help in this process.

1. Is it an Old Testament teaching that is repeated in the New Testament?
2. Is the reason for a specific command given in the passage?
3. Is it a statement about God?
4. Is it a general statement about the character of humanity?
5. Is it a statement about the relationship of God and man?
6. If you are reading a narrative, does the writer pass judgment on what is happening in the story?

In addressing the concept of Bridging and Shared Truth, Lubeck helps clarify one of the problems people often face as they move towards the application part of Bible study.

The other part of last Sunday's class was on responding.  This is what most other plans refer to as Application. 

Here are some guidelines for responding.

Responding is based on the AUTHOR'S INTENTION.
Responding begins with prayerful self-evaluation and addresses real needs (RELEVANCE).
Responding involves LIFE CHANGE (THINKING, IMAGINATION, EMOTIONS, BEHAVIORS).

Bible Study is not done merely for the sake of head knowledge.
It is done help change sinful thinking, inappropriate passions, wrong living, and other sinful parts of our lives.

This upcoming Sunday, November 9, Reading in Community and Jonah 1 - 4.

Here are two articles about reading in community.

Don't Just Read It Alone
Want to Read the Bible Well? Don't Read It Alone

Most lesson material comes from Bible Study Basics:  Foundations for Interpreting and Applying Scripture by Ray Lubeck.

Study the Bible for Growth Week 6

Ezra's actions in Ezra 7:10 should be our actions.

Study the Law of the Lord.
Practice the Law of the Lord.
Teach the Law of the Lord.

This past week, October 12, we looked at Theologies, Interpretation, and Jonah 3.

To faithfully interpret Scripture requires asking the right questions.

In exegeisis, we are asking the Biblical author,

"What are you saying?"  (the grammar, text-criticism, and translation question)

"Why do you say it like that?"  (the genre, structure, argument, and historical and literary context question)

In theology, we are asking,

"What do you mean?" (the biblical and systematic theology question),

"What is the significance of this passage for us today? (the practical theology question)

UNDERSTANDING:
Biblical Theology:  Consider how your passage connects to the Bible's overall flow and message and points to Christ.

Systematic Theology:  Discern how your passage theologically coheres with the whole Bible, assessing key doctrines especially in direct relation to the gospel.

APPLICATION:
Practical Theology:  Apply the text to yourself, the church, and the world, stressing the centrality of Christ and the hope of the gospel.

Much of this information comes from:  
www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/interpreting-scripture-a-general-introduction/

From Reading for a Change by Ray Lube

Here is the schedule for the class:

September 7 - Basics of Bible Study and Basics of Studying Proverbs

September 14 - Introduction to the Class

September 21 - Seeing & Intro to Jonah

September 28 - Understanding Part 1 & Jonah 1

October 5 - Understanding Part 2 & Jonah 2

October 12 - Theologies & Interpretation and Jonah 3

October 19 - Narrative (Characters, Settings, Plot) and Jonah 4

October 26 - Narrative (Irony, Poetry) & Jonah 4

November 2 - Bridging, Responding, and Jonah 1 - 4

November 9 - Reading the Bible in Community

November 16 - Using Biblical Resources

November 23 - You Make the Class

Study the Bible for Growth Week 4

Profitable Ways to Read the Bible by J.C. Ryle

UNDERSTANDING

Our goal for reading the Bible involves re-centering our attention back on [understanding] the intention of the author:

1. It is possible for finite humans to understand the meaning of Scripture.
2. Our understanding can increase, yet it will never be exhaustive.
3. There is normally only one correct meaning to any given passage of Scripture.
4. The correct meaning is what the author intended to communicate.
5. Various interpretations are simply hypotheses that attempt to account for what the author has said, and how and why he has said it in that way.
6. Though every passage of Scripture needs to be understood in light of its literary type and genre.
7. Every passage of Scripture needs to be understood in light of its literary type and genre
8. Scriptural passages are best understood when read in light of their context.
9. Following the Bible means that we emphasize what the text emphasizes, not building main points from the details.
10. We need to evaluate our personal experience in light of Scripture not the other way around.
11. We should check out our understanding of God's Word with other believers.
12. Every passage of Scripture has meaning and relevance for the believer.

From Reading for a Change by Ray Lubeck

From Reading for a Change by Ray Lube

Here is the schedule for the class:

September 7 - Basics of Bible Study and Basics of Studying Proverbs

September 14 - Introduction to the Class

September 21 - Seeing & Intro to Jonah

September 28 - Understanding Part 1 & Jonah 1

October 5 - Understanding Part 2 & Jonah 2

October 12 - Narrative (Characters, Settings, Plot) and Jonah 3

October 19 - Narrative (Irony, Poetry) & Jonah 4

October 26 - Bridging - Jonah 1 - 4

November 2 - Responding - Jonah 1 - 4

November 9 - Reading the Bible in Community

November 16 - Using Biblical Resources

November 23 - You Make the Class

 

Study the Bible for Growth Week 3

 This morning's lesson highlights two key points about this Bible Study for Yourself and Others.

1. The class is designed for everyone, NOT JUST NEW CHRISTIANS.  Even more specifically, it is a helpful class for anyone who considers Trinity Baptist Church.  The class shows the purpose of the Bible and how to use it for personal and corporate study.
2. The class is designed to show what studying the Bible together means and how to do it.  

Over the next couple of years, I would strongly encourage members of Trinity Baptist Church to take this Core class and invite them to do the same.

During the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th week of class, the study will look at 4 short, very helpful booklets about different Bible study topics.  

This week's booklet is Before You Open Your Bible:  Nine Heart Postures For Approaching God's Word.

Approach your Bible Prayerfully

I – “Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain” (Ps. 119:36, ESV)

O – “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Ps. 119:18, ESV)

U – “Unite my heart to fear your name” (Ps. 86:11, ESV)

S – “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love” (Ps. 90:14, ESV)

Approach your Bible Humbly

"So, given that we’re not only creatures of the dust but traitors against heaven’s throne, the talkativeness of God is astounding. He would’ve been entirely right to leave us to ourselves, sunk in an ocean of ignorance (since we’re creatures) and guilt (since we’re sinners)."

Approach your Bible Desperately

Remember Jeremiah 15:16 

Your words were found, and I ate them, 

and your words became to me a joy 

and the delight of my heart, 

for I am called by your name, 

O Lord, God of hosts.

Three diagnostic questions 

1. Do I approach the Bible more like it’s a snack or like it’s a feast?
2. Is it more accurate to say I’m willing to hear from God or that I’m desperate to hear from him?
3. Am I merely interested in the Scriptures or am I also internalizing them?

Approach your Bible Studiously

 Study from Love

Think it out

Study to Worship - Romans 11:33, 36 

Doctrine drove him to delight. His theology exploded like fireworks into doxology.

Approach your Bible Obediently

Deuteronomy 10:12-13  

 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?  

Approach your Bible Joyfully

"It is the nature of discipline to give way to delight."

Approach your Bible Expectantly

"We can schedule meetings but praise God that he schedules conversions."

Approach your Bible Communally 

"If you don't need your Bible at church, the Bible says you don't need that church."

Approach your Bible Christocentrically

 "Genesis to Revelation, though recorded for you, is not finally about you." 

2 Corinthians 1:20

SEEING

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• How?

Here is a video that shows the importance of this seeing/observation step.

Study the Bible for Growth Week 2

The goal of this class, as it relates to Trinity Baptist Church, is to be more than just a class on personal Bible study. 
The class will help individuals study the Bible better personally AND learn how to study it better with others.

Don't let the "with others" part scare you.  The class will help you read and study the Bible with your friends, coworkers, and family.   While the focus will not be on teaching in a class setting, the class could help in fine-tuning your preparation skills.

Another aspect of the "with others" that may be even bigger is that this class will help you understand how Trinity Baptist Church desires to use God's word in its classes, sermons, and everywhere to show the beauty of Christ and how to live for his glory.

Not meant for serious theological consideration.
Meant for humor.

Goals of the curriculum - Bible Study Basics:  Foundations For Interpreting and Applying Scripture by Dr. Ray Lubeck - are

1. to KNOW the different categories of literature that are in the Bible.
2. to KNOW the four steps involved in Bible study as presented in this course.
3. to be able to APPLY the four-step Bible study method to reading and studying biblical stories and poetry.
4. to UNDERSTAND the message of Jonah and to APPLY it to your life.
5. to gain a greater APPRECIATION for the importance of competent reading, study, and application of Scripture.
6. to gain a greater CONFIDENCE in your ability to skillfully interpret the Scriptures.
7. to grow in your AFFECTION for God and his Word
8. to be CHALLENGED toward a lifelong commitment to independent, self-directed Bible study.

Why the Bible?  This class begins with the assumption that the Bible is true.  If you want to explore the idea of manuscripts evidence, transmission of the text, and other "why is the Bible true?" questions, check out the following resources.

• Ferrell's Shepherding Group - trinitybaptistgr.churchcenter.com/groups/co-ed-groups/shepherding-group-ferrel
• Wesley Huff - online apologist - https://www.wesleyhuff.com/
• Scribes and Scriptures book www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUXJ8Owes8E

Study the Bible for Growth

The goal of this class is to be more than just a class on personal Bible study.

It is my prayer that the class will help individuals study the Bible better personally AND learn how to study it better with others.

Don't let the "with others" part scare you.  The class will help you read and study the Bible with your friends, coworkers, and family.  

While the focus will not be on teaching in a class setting, the class could help in fine-tuning your preparation skills.

As it relates to the Bible, an important phrase is "inspired, inerrant, and the final authority". The extended phrase from the Trinity Baptist Church's doctrinal statement is "We believe in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament as verbally inspired of God, and inerrant in the original writings; and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life."  Because of these truths, we need to remember that the Bible is a unique book that must be studied in a unique way.  It must be studied humbly with the realization that our Creator and Redeemer gave us this book so that we could know Him more and more and so that we know how to live in response to who He is. 

Another important phrase we talked about in class is related to the Bible study method.  We must use a "historical-grammatical method" of Bible study.  Here is a simple explanation of this phrase.  

The original writings of scripture were written at a specific time in history to specific people.  We must always remember this.  

The Bible was also written in a specific way.  The writers used specific genres (historical/narrative, prophecy, wisdom/poetry, Gospel, Epistles, and apocalyptic), forms of figurative language (hyperbole, metaphor, simile, and others), and other grammatical tools.  

Because of this, Bible study MUST include a heavy dose of observation.  Here are four different ways to remember how to do Bible:

• OIA - Observation, Interpretation, Application
• COMA - Context, Observation, Meaning, Application
• SOAP - Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
• Seeing, Understanding, Bridging, Responding

Each of these methods includes observation at the beginning of the process.

During this combined Sunday class, the final part of the time focused on how to study Proverbs.  A couple of specific things to 

• Aphorisms and terseness
• Parallelism
• Imagery such as similes and metaphors
• Sections 1-9 and 10-31.

Next week's post will include the outline for the How to Study the Bible class
Here are the lessons for the Proverbs class. 

• The Choice:  Proverbs 9
• The Simple:  Proverbs 7
• Avoiding the Fool
• Finding Wisdom
• Bad Words
• Good Words
• How to Use Proverbs to Help Others
• The Sluggard
• Wealth and Poverty
• Giving
• Planning the Future

More class resources from tomorrow's class will be posted tomorrow afternoon.

Here are som Bible Study Resources:

One to One Bible Reading resource from Matthias Media (pdf)

Bible Reading with Your Kids from Matthias (book and video)

8 Blessings of Studying Your Bible by Paul Tripp (website)

Powerful Reasons You Need to Study the Bible (website) 

Bible Study Class PPT (click on the image for all the slides)

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