Lesson #02

Bible Perspectives: How to Study the Bible for Yourself — Part I
Lesson #02
A Practiced Priority

• Spiritual Diary Discussion
• Homework Discussion: Question and Answer Bible Study
• Jam 1:19-27 [To go to the Homework Answers–for the teacher]
• Class Lesson: The Importance of the Word of God: A Practiced Priority

• How important is the Word of God to you?
• If you are totally convinced that the Bible is God’s way of speaking to you, your life’s priorities will demonstrate that by how much time and how often you spend in it.
• If you are convinced that the Word of God is beyond comprehension, or that it is dull, old history with no relationship to your life today, your life’s priorities will demonstrate that fact by how unexcited you are over reading and studying the Word.
• Some of you have discovered through the studies of books of the Bible in my class, that the Word of God is an exciting adventure. When people discover that fact, reading and studying it takes on a new dimension. Reading and studying the Bible is now no longer a chore or a duty, it is a love affair!
• Building the Word of God into your life takes a daily practice as you give it a high priority in your daily schedule.
• To build the Word of God in your life requires proper interpretation:
• Points of interpretation:
• Interpret the Word of God literally.
• Example: Phi 3:15-16
• Keep your interpretation in context.
• Example: Mat 5:29
• How is a word or phrase used by the same author in the same book? In different books?
• Watch for idioms.
• Idioms are phrases or expressions that society has put together that mean something different than the literal meanings of the words themselves.
• Example Mat 5:31
• Be alert to figurative use of words. (next week’s lesson)
• Types of Bible Study Methods: #2 The Verse Analysis Study
• We will examine several verses in the Bible that tell us the importance of the Word of God.
• What must we look for in a verse analysis study?
• There is a “message” line:
• You should read the verse and write it out in your own words.
• Be sure to include what the verse commands, teaches, warns, or promises.
• There is a “context line”:
• Make a record of the thoughts added by looking at one or two verses immediately preceding your target verse.
• Make a record of the thoughts added by looking at one or two verses immediately following your target verse.
• There is a “question line”:
• Write any questions that the verse raises in your mind. (We can use your questions for class discussion.)
• There is an “application line”:
• Describe one specific way you can change your attitude or action because of the teaching in this verse.
• Class Example:
• Act 17:11 [To go to answers for class example]
• #2 Verse Analysis Bible Study:

Date:

Verse for Study: Act 17:11 (copy the verse here)

Message: (What does the verse say?) 

Context:

What thoughts do the preceding verses add? 

What thoughts do the following verses add? 

Questions: 

Application: 

• Homework

• =1= Work on your Spiritual Diary 15 minutes each day.
• =2= Using one “Verse Analysis Bible Study” sheet for each verse, study the following verses. (Spend 2 days on each verse, 15 min. a day.)

• Philippians 2:16
• Colossians 3:16
• Jeremiah 15:16

#2 Verse Analysis Bible Study:

Date:

Verse for Study: Phi 2:16 (copy the verse here) 

Message: (What does the verse say?)

Context:

What thoughts do the preceding verses add?

What thoughts do the following verses add?

Questions:

Application:

#2 Verse Analysis Bible Study:

Date:

Verse for Study: Col 3:16 (copy the verse here)

Message: (What does the verse say?)

Context:

What thoughts do the preceding verses add?

What thoughts do the following verses add?

Questions:

Application:

#2 Verse Analysis Bible Study:

Date:

Verse for Study: Jer 15:16 (copy the verse here)

Message: (What does the verse say?)

Context:

What thoughts do the preceding verses add?

What thoughts do the following verses add?

Questions:

Application: