Tag Archives: Inductive study method

The only thing that matters

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We have really been enjoying reading through the New Testament in our daily devotion reading plan. I’m doing an inductive study, journaling my responses to three questions of each passage:

What does it say?
What does it mean?
How do I apply it to my life?

 

I am always pleased to rediscover those verses that highlight basic truths for living. We read one of those in Galatians 5. Paul was warning the church (and us!) about being enslaved by the law and the sinful nature (actually our own desires). Pursuing his ‘run the race’ theme he encourages us to stand firm and seek the freedom Christ offers. The part that spoke to me was this summary of the gospel of Jesus in V 6:

 

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

 

This echoes the consistent message I’ve received through this entire cancer journey. I keep yearning for less of this or more of that. I want to fight but sometimes all I can do and stand firm and let God do the fighting:

 

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

 

But in my quiet times with God (and some not so quiet ones) I keep hearing this same message, that through it all, the thing that matters most is staying faithful.

 

I shared this with one of my former students, who has been suffering from a different form of Leukemia for several years. I’ve lost count of the number of chemo cycles she has endured. She writes:

“Four treatments down and ten to go this cycle. Question of the day…..when do you say enough is enough? When do you say I am too tired to keep up this fight, especially when it feels like it really doesn’t matter whether you do or you don’t?”

 

Looking at her posted photo, I could see the frustration and hopelessness in her eyes. I’ve been there, though I suspect her battle is much more extensive than mine. You’ve been there too. Maybe you are there today. The phrase that catches my attention is “IT FEELS LIKE”. We can’t seem to escape our feelings. After all, the body and soul are constantly interpreting the world to us and clamoring for our attention. Our spirit, united with The Spirit interprets GOD’s reality to us, but so often is out shouted by the cries of our body and soul. The body and soul say, “It feels like it doesn’t matter.” The Spirit says, “The ONLY thing that matters is faith – expressing itself in love.”

 

Have you ever kept a journal of your daily walk with God? Part of that story is the accounting of your daily experiences as told in a dialog between your body, soul, spirit – and the Spirit of God who reveals guiding truth and sustaining grace and power for living a life defined by love. It is this ongoing dialog that grows and nourishes the only thing that counts:

 

Faith expressing itself in love. 

 

 

How To Read The Bible -2

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Would you go mountain climbing without equipment and training? Me neither. Understanding and applying the Bible’s truths equips you to climb (or move!) the mountains in your life. It gives you the tools you need to live beyond the circumstances that surround you. It gives you hope in the face of seemingly hopeless situations.

The Inductive Study Method (see yesterday’s post) is a simple approach to reading, understanding and applying God’s Word so that you can live out your life with joy, peace, faith, and real power. (If you want to enjoy His promises, read and apply His Word.)

It is a discipline that will improve your skills and your life over time. It starts with a desire to not just know more about God (and yourself) but to experience more of who God is and how much He loves you. After all, this book is his personal love story to you.

When something you read and interpret strikes you as important, stop and reflect on this. You might want to write your impressions down in a notebook for future reference. One thing I have often done is simply write one word or phrase on a 3×5 card and placed it in my pocket, or on a mirror, or by my computer to challenge me to ponder the truth I had just read. Holding this truth up against how I am living leads me to ask myself how life would be better if I actually applied this truth to my daily routines and life goals.

Transformation comes from taking truth from the mind to the heart and then into our daily lives. Why not try this for thirty days? Hopefully you can find a quiet spot, free from distractions, and a set time of day to better understand God’s plan. If you want, ask a mature friend that you trust and respect to study with you.

You CAN understand the Bible. You CAN grow closer to the one true living God who loves you dearly. You CAN apply tested truths to living a victorious life no matter what your circumstances! Ask God to help you understand and see what happens!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:5-7

How To Read The Bible For What Its Worth

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The Bible has helped millions of people discover the secrets of living a victorious life despite the circumstances that surround them. And yet many don’t read the Bible. Why is that? Is it because there just isn’t time? Or because we fear its truths might require us to change? Or perhaps because it seems so intimidating? Could I really understand it?

In a word, yes. It makes sense to take a look at the book that has literally transformed the lives of millions of people over two millennium. You might ask, “But HOW do I get started?”

Let me suggest a simple and solid approach called the Inductive Study Method. In this approach you ask three questions when reading:
1. What does the passage say?
Observe what the Bible says. Pay attention to the words and read with a receptive mind. Who is talking? Who is involved? What has just happened? What do the words actually say? Being a skilled observer of the word does take practice, but it is a skill you already have applied to other areas of learning. Why not apply it to reading God’s Word today?

2. What does it mean?
Carefully observing what the passage says allows you to better interpret what it means. Sometimes our biases and past experiences lead us to think we know what something means without actually paying attention to the facts. As you take time to observe what the passage says, look up words and names you don’t understand. Check out other passages that discuss the same topic. The more you observe and interpret, the more wisdom and skill you gain.

3. How do I apply it to my life today? Application is where you take action on what you have read and interpreted. But action is always based on belief. As you read the passage, what truths are revealed? Ask yourself to what extent you believe them or what stands in the way of believing. Lives aren’t transformed by reading or knowing what a passage says. Ultimately our lives are forever transformed through God’s power in us, and this begins with the simple actions we take, like confession, submission, trust, and obedience.

You CAN read and understand the Bible. Why not start with the book of John in the new testament? Maybe you’d like to ask a trusted friend to study with you. You can read it free online at www.biblegateway.com.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17