Lesson #04

Bible Perspectives: How to Study the Bible for Yourself — Part I
Lesson #04
The Soft Ground

• Spiritual Diary Discussion
• Homework Discussion: Verse Analysis Bible Study [To go to the Homework Answers–for the teacher]
• 1Pet 2:8
• 1Joh 2:5
• Isa 40:8

• Class Lesson: Receptivity to the Word of God

• How receptive you are to the Word of God will determine whether or not you hear God speak to you. Your heart needs to be soft ground for God to speak to you.
• When you hear a church sermon or attend a Bible Study class, you should always ask yourself:
• =1= Have I heard anything to which my life does not fully conform?
• =2= Have I heard anything that I need to do this week to change my life?
• Jesus spoke about being receptive to the Word of God in a parable.
• Read Luk 8:4-15
• Why did Jesus use parables?
• =1= They directed a teaching that met with scorn, unbelief, hardness of heart, etc. to those who would believe it.
• =2= They withdrew the light from those who love darkness.
• =3= They are easily remembered so that new truth can be uncovered later.
• =4= They reveal the seekers of the truth who do not rest until it is understood.
• How to interpret parables:
• The word, “parable”, comes from a Greek word which means, = placing beside or together. It is a comparison.
• Parables are used in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament.
• Rules for interpretation:
• =1= Analogies must be real and not arbitrary. Look for the meaning of symbols in other parts of the Word of God.
• =2= A parable is to be considered to be a part of a whole with the interpretation not to erase or supersede the lessons taught by other parables or other scripture.
• A parable will never teach anything contrary to the rest of the Word of God.
• =3= The direct teachings of Christ present the standard by which all parable interpretations are to be referred.
• =4= Always look for the central theme or message.
• =5= Always consider to whom the parable was directed.

• Types of Bible Study Methods: #3 The Parable Bible Study

• Hints to help you:
• Question #1 = Looking at the context of the parable, consider:
• Who is speaking?
• To whom is the person speaking?
• What environmental or cultural conditions are present?
• Question #3 = What is a parallel passage?
• When considering Jesus’ parables, you will sometimes find the same parable reported in one or more of the other Gospels. Often one gospel will contain details not given in another gospel.
• Homework
• =1=

Work on your Spiritual Diary reading through the Psalms and completing one section for 15 minutes each day.

• =2=

Continue adding scripture references to your Personal Concordance.

• =3=

Using the “Parable Study” sheet, work on Luk 8:4-15. There are 6 questions. Answer one question each day.

#3 The Parable Bible Study

The name of the parable:

The scripture passage: Luk 8:4-15 Date:

=1= What circumstances led up to this teaching, if any?

=2= Write a brief summary of the parable:

=3= List any additional details given in parallel passages:
(The same parable is in Mat 13:1-23 and Mar 4:1-20)

=4= Does the author of the parable give an interpretation? If so, what is it?

=5= What is the one central truth that the parable teaches?

=6= Application: Is there something that I can apply to my life? If there is, how can Iapply it?