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Christian TeachingMinistry

Lesson 2

Bible Study Methods

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Daniel 4:1-3

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and

languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be

multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to

show the signs and wonders that the Most High

God has done for me.

How great are his signs,

how mighty his wonders!

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and his dominion endures from generation to

generation.

What does this passage mean to you?

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Video: What does this verse

mean to you? After viewing the clip, answer these questions as

a group:

What is the problem in this approach to Bible

study?

Why is this approach popular today?

What are some ways the teacher could avoid thiserror, while still encouraging discussion and groupparticipation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPjZY2UBtjwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPjZY2UBtjwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPjZY2UBtjwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPjZY2UBtjw

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Steps of Bible Teaching

Studying

Focusing

Structuring

Teaching

Evaluating

What does it say?

Who is my audience?

How will I teach it?

Thus sayeth the Lord!

Was I effective?

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Bible Study: Bridging the Gap

The Worldof the Bible

Our WorldToday

Language

Genre

Culture

Revelatory Era

Geography

History

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Bible Study: Bridging the Gap

The Worldof the Bible

Our WorldToday

Language

Genre

Culture

Revelatory Era

Geography

History

The Goal of Bible Study

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Steps of Bible Study

Observation

Interpretation

Generalization

Application

Implementation

What does it say?

What does it mean?

What is the big idea?

Whats the difference?

What must I change?

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The Steps of Bible Study

Observation Interpretation Generalization Application Implementation

The Worldof the Bible

Our WorldToday

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Step 1: Observation

What does it say?

Pay attention to details.

Pay attention to context.

Historical

Literary

Use tools to help with yourresearch.

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Psalm 1Setting Questions

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Who is the author?

The author is not always

stated.

Do not confuse the authorand the speaker.

Key Resources:

Bible Dictionary

Introductions to the book

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Why was this book written?

In other words, what is theoccasion of the book?

Every writer had a purpose

or agenda.

Sometimes but not alwaysdirectly stated.

Discovered by following thebooks argumentation and

areas of emphasis.

Key Resources:

Bible Dictionary

Introductions to the book

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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What historic events surroundthe book?

What were the majorevents in world politics?

What were specific eventsin the immediatecommunity?

Sometimes, but notalways, addressed in the

book itself. Key Resources:

Bible Dictionary

Introductions to the book

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Who were the originalrecipients?

Helps understandquestions of context andpurpose.

What did these peopleneed to hear?

Key Resources: Bible Dictionary

Introductions to the book

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Psalm 1Context Questions

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What literary form is used?

In other words, what is thegenre of the passage?

How does this impact ourunderstanding of it?

Common Genres:

Narrative

Poetry

Epistle Speech

Key Resource:

Bible Commentary

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Why was this passageincluded in the book?

What is the overallmessage of this book?

How does this passage fitinto that message?

Everything was written fora purpose.

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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What precedes and followsthis passage?

Place the passage withinthe overall outline orargument of the book.

May help to list eachchapter and give eachone a title.

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Psalm 1Structural Questions

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Is there any repetition?

Repetition is a commonmeans of emphasis.

Important concepts areoften repeated for

emphasis.

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wickedare not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wickedwill not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wickedwill perish.

Psalm 1

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Are there comparisons orconclusions?

Comparisons: Look for key

words like, as.

Conclusions: Look for keywords therefore, for.

Conclusions are oftenmade in dialogue (speechbetween characters)

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Does the author raise anyquestions?

Sometimes they questionsare raised in dialog.

Other times they are askeddirectly.

Sometimes, they are simplyimplied.

How are questionsanswered?

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Are there cause/effectrelationships?

Cause: Delight in GodsLaw

Effect: Fruitfulness

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Is there any progression?

Temporal progression:

Passing of time

Geographical progression:Movement from place toplace

Behavioral progression:change in actions

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,norstands in the way of sinners,norsits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Does the passage have aclimax?

Narrative passages alwayshave a climax.

Sometimes, other genreshave a climax in their

thought process.

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Are there any figures ofspeech?

Simile

Metaphor

Etc.

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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Is there a pivotal statement orword?

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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What linking words are used?

Pay attention to howconcepts are events arelinked together.

Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

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What verbs are used todescribe action?

Especially important innarrative passages.

What do people do in thepassage?

Blessed is the manwho walksnot in the counsel of the wicked,norstandsin the way of sinners,norsitsin the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in thejudgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of therighteous;

for the LORD knows the way of therighteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1