First Post!

Hey everyone!

        So excited for my first of many posts to come! I am attending the Kanakuk Institute in Branson Missouri this year and will be blogging about the many things that I am learning while I am here. This past week we had a man by the name of David Lawson come in and speak on how to Inductively study your Bible. The first question that is raised in this topic is why even study your Bible at all? In Scripture it says "all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16) If scripture is all these things then it is a must to study. It also is God's letter to us and therefore gives us a guidebook on how to live life the way it was meant to be lived. Mr. Lawson taught us a very simple way to study and get the most out of what the text says in the Bible. There are 3 keys to studying the word of God. 1.) Observation- Look to see what the text says, ask your self who? what? when? where? why? how? 2.) Interpretation-What does the text mean. Look at the context, use cross references and utilize word studies. 3.) Application-How do you apply the text to your life? These 3 steps are very simple but are so extremely important. They will truly help the Bible to come to life and make a difference in the way you read Scripture. Here is a teaching outline, as well, that will hopefully help make things easier to understand:

Teaching Outline

I.               What is Inductive Bible Study?

a.     Reading and Studying the Word of God using 3 main techniques

                                               i.     Observation

                                              ii.     Interpretation

                                            iii.     Application

II.             Why do we study the Bible?

a.     2 Timothy 3:16

b.     Joshua 1:8

III.           Keys to Studying the Bible

a.     Observation

                                               i.     What does the text say?

1.     Who, What When, Where, Why, How?

b.     Interpretation

                                               i.     What does the text mean?

1.     Context

2.     Cross reference

3.     Word Studies

c.      Application

                                               i.     How do you apply the text?

1.     Belief and behavior

IV.            Teaching Others to Study

a.     People

b.     Places

c.      Events

d.     Key Words

e.     Contrasts

f.      Comparisons

V.              Never or add or take away from the Word of God

a.     Deuteronomy 4:2