Living By The Book

Why People Don’t Study the Bible?Should I read the Bible……. or go and watch the movie

instead?

Living By The Book

It doesn`t apply into my life

Living By The Book

Living By The Book

Living By The Book

Living By The Book

Living By The Book

Living By The Book

Living By The Book

WHY do we Study the Bible ?

Living By The Book

Living By The Book

Essential in

Living By The Book

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THIS COURSE ?

Living By The Book

A Simple Proven Processinvolves certain Steps in a certain Order to reach a certain Result

3Steps to LiFe-ChaNge

Living By The Book

Self- Confidence in handling the Bible

Living By The Book

Find the Joy of Personal Discovery

Living By The Book

Grow deeperin yourrelationshipwith GOD

Living By The Book

What do you need to pay?COSTS

Living By The Book

OPENNESS to STUDY

Living By The Book

OPENNESS to GOD

Living By The Book

OPENNESS to CHANGE

Living By The Book

OVERVIEW OF THE PROCESS

Living By The Book

OBSERVATIONWhat do I see?ing for 4 things

Living By The Book

TERMSKnow the meaning

Living By The Book

STRUCTURE o Grammatical Structure

Subject ,Object, Main verb

o Literary StructureBiographical ,Geographical

, Chronological

Living By The Book

LITERARY FORMGENRE:

Biography o Exposition o Narrative Pastoral o Poetry

Proverb

Prophecy o Literature

Living By The Book

ATMOSPHERESETTING

6W ( Who? What? Where? When? Why? Wherefore? )

& HOW5SENSES

Living By The Book

INTERPRETATIONWhat does it mean?

3 Helps

Living By The Book

QUESTIONS?

Living By The Book

ANSWERSLook for the Answers

Living By The Book

INTEGRATIONPut the Answers together

INTOA Meaningful Whole

Living By The Book

APPLICATIONHow does it work for me?

How does it work for others?

Living By The Book

KEEP THE BIG PICTURE

OBSERVATION

What do I see?@ See with SIGHT

@ Insight into God’s Truth

OBSERVATION

What do I see?See MORE

See Differently

Are You Ready for OBSERVATION

OBSERVATIONLET’S START with

OBSERVATION:TERMS

But you shall receive powerwhen the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall be My witnessesboth in Jerusalem

and in all Judeaand Samaria,

and even to the remotest part of the earthActs 1:8

CONTRAST

Contrast

But you shall receive power ……

Contrast – Change of Direction

CONTEXT

Context

Contrast

But you shall receive power ………

Context : “first account”(v1)Who is Luke? Who is Theophilus?

DIALOGUEContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast

But you shall receive power ………

DIALOGUE : JC with his disciples (v6)Answers Negatively: “It is not for you to

know..”Answers Positively: “ But, you shall receive..”

Other words : But it is your responsibility

ATMOSPHEREContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast

But you shall receive power ………Atmosphere: Ascension of JC

So, vs 7&8 are Jesus’ Last words to his disciples;

Marching orders “ Now the job is yours”

WHO? YOU

Context Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who?

But you shall receive power ………

Who are they? Disciples of Jesus ChristWhat do we know about them?

MAIN VERB & TENSEContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ………

What is main verb here? Tense? Future tense

POWERContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ABILITY

What are they going to receive?POWER = ???

CAUSE & EFFECT; WHENContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ABILITY

time when the Holy Spirit has come upon you

What does “this phase” add to this verse?Holy Spirit ( cause), Power ( effect)Time: Power at the time HS comes

WHO?Context Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ABILITY

time when the (Holy Spirit) has come upon you;

Who is Holy Spirit?Holy Spirit is linked with the Power

Supernatural Power

UPON YOUContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ABILITY

time when the (Holy Spirit) has come upon you; not w/in – w/o

“Upon”= come from outside = invasion of supernatural ability on human beings

We need this Supernatural Power to do …

C&E ,TENSE , WHO?Context Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ABILITY

time when the (Holy Spirit) has come upon you;

And you shall be My witnesses

Power ( cause) Witness ( Effect) = Inside to outside

Becoming Witness is also in the futureWhose witnesses? Represent Him

DEFINITIONContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ABILITY

time when the (Holy Spirit) has come upon you;

And you shall be My witnesses

DEFINE What is a witness?

NAME OF PLACESContext Dialogue [ Q&A] {Negatively/Positively}

Contrast Who? Future

But you shall receive power ABILITY

time when the (Holy Spirit) has come upon you;And you shall be My witnesses

both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea

and Samariaand even to the remotest part of the earth.

Importance of PLACE: Jerusalem, Judah,Samaria, others

SIGNIFICANCE OF PLACES

both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea

and Samariaand even to the remotest part of the earth.

What do we know about JERUSALEM?How can I relate Jerusalem and Judea?Samaria? Remotest part of the Earth?

TEN STRATEGIES TO READINGRead ThoughtfullyRead Repeatedly

Read PatientlyRead SelectivelyRead Prayerful

Read ImaginativelyRead MeditativelyRead PurposefullyRead Acquisitively

Read Telescopically

STRATEGY:READ THOUGHTFULLYIt involves a IN-DEPTH STUDY

Reading like a journalist, detectiveInvestigate, examine & evaluate all

facts and factorsAsk tough Questions

STRATEGY:READ THOUGHTFULLY

Frank Morison, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, CS Lewis

STRATEGY: READ REPEATEDLYGod’s Word can stand up to repeated

exposureIdeas: Read entire books at one sitting

– appreciate Unity of each book & grasp the BIG picture

Start at the beginning of a book.

STRATEGY: READ REPEATEDLYRead different translations – avoid

familiarity, keeps the experience fresh

STRATEGY:READ REPEATEDLYListen to audio of Bible reading –

Change from visual to the aural

Hearing is a far more involving experience than reading

Voice/Tone ; emphases are differentBring the text alive

Play it over & over

STRATEGY:READ REPEATEDLYRead it Out Loud – pay attention to

every word

STRATEGY:READ REPEATEDLYDeut 6:7 talk of them … part of our

daily conversationDrive God’s Word into your memorySet up a schedule for Bible reading

Stick to it!

STRATEGY:READ PATIENTLY Problem: Expect result instantly

STRATEGY:READ PATIENTLYFruit of the Word takes time to ripen

Not the answer, but Experience the Process

Be Patient with the TEXT( Let it reveal its Message)Be Patient with YOURSELF

( Relax, Learn & Enjoy the Experience)

STRATEGY:READ PATIENTLY It is a long journey:

Take Ownership: Work with one book for one month

Zoom In & Out: Start with wide lens Progression of events or ideas

Zoom InSomething prominent

STRATEGY:READ PATIENTLY Close UP

STRATEGY:READ PATIENTLYZoom Out

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY Involves using right bait when you

troll the Scripture.The 6 “lures” approach:

Who? What?Where? When?

Why? Wherefore?

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY Read this text … page 137

Nehemiah 1:1-11Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in

the twentieth year, in Susa the capitolthat Hanani …. came and I ( Nehemiah) asked

them concerning the Jews and about Jerusalem and they said to me

the remnant .. in great distress & reproachThe wall of Jerusalem .. broken down and the gates … burned with fire

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY Who?

Haggai? Nehemiah ? Zephaniah?

Gideon? Jehoshaphat? Boaz?Look for (1) What is said about the

person?A cupbearer? A priest?

Son of Hacaliah? Taken to Persia?

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY Look for(2)What does the person Say?

Nehemiah asked concerning the welfare of Jews ( people), about

Jerusalem ( place) and gates ( place)

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY What is happening in this text ?

What are the events? In What order?What happens to the character?

What is the argument?What is the message?

What is the point?

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELYWhat has happened to Nehemiah?

What did Hanani tell Nehemiah?What did Nehemiah do after hearing

news from Hanani?What is the content of Nehemiah’s

prayer?

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY Where ? Location! Get A MAP

Where is the narrative taking place?Where are the people in the text?

Where are they coming from? Where were the original readers of

this text?Where is the writer?

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY Where ?

The event has taking placed in Susa city – Dan 8:2, Esther 1:2

Hanani was coming from Judah, Israel Nehemiah is in the palace, serving the

Persian king, Artaxerxes,son of Xerxes

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY When ? TIME!

When did the narrative taking place?When did they occur in relation to

other events in Bible? When was the writer writing?

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELY

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELYWhen ? When did the event take

place?In the month of ChislevIn the twentieth year.

Twentieth year estimate 446 BC the 9th Month (End Nov – Begin Dec) .

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELYWhy ? Asking for meaning!

Why is this included?Why is this placed here?

Why does this person say that?Why does this person do this?

Why? question leads to new Insights

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELYWhy ? Asking for meaning!

Why did Nehemiah respond in this manner; he wept, mourned, fasting

and praying?Weeping & Mourning = emotional

responseFasting & Praying = spiritual response

STRATEGY:READ SELECTIVELYWherefore ? SO What?!

What difference would it make if I were apply this truth?

CHANGE MY ATTITUDE?CHANGE MY ACTION?

STRATEGY:READ PRAYERFULLY Bible reading & PRAYER are related.

Turning Scripture into Prayer Nehemiah’s Prayer

ContextHis response: Pray

Adoration ( Focus on God)Confession( Sins)

Claiming God’s PromisesPetition ( Needs of People)

STRATEGY:READ IMAGINATIVELY AVOID BOREDOM!

Use different translations – stimulate your imagination

STRATEGY:READ IMAGINATIVELY Paraphrase the text

STRATEGY:READ IMAGINATIVELY AVOID BOREDOM

Read Scripture in a different languageGet someone to read the text out loud

STRATEGY:READ IMAGINATIVELY AVOID BOREDOM

Vary your setting- time & place

STRATEGY:READ MEDITATIVELY Learn to REFLECT on the text

TAKE YOUR TIME!!

STRATEGY:READ MEDITATIVELY Meditate on the text

Joshua 1:8.. Shall meditate on itProv 23:7 ..thinks within himself, so he

is. Psa 1:2 .. Meditates day and night

Psa 119:97 my meditation all the dayPsa 19 … the meditation of my heart

STRATEGY:READ PURPOSEFULLY LOOK for the AIM of the author

To discern the Meaning of the text Authors communicate their mind through

words..Watch for the VERBS, SUBJECT & OBJECT,

MODIFIERS, PREPOSITIONS, CONNECTIVES

Watch for the Literary Structure ( eg. Biographical, Historical, Ideological )

STRATEGY:READ ACQUISITIVELY Emphasis on PROCESS on Retaining

or Possessing Scripture, not just to Receive it

Get Involved in the Process, you see life-changing experience.

STRATEGY:READ ACQUISITIVELYWhat ideas can you come up to make text

stay permanent with you?* Act it out, sing it

*Rewrite the text in your own paraphrase*Try a in-depth study of a particular

person* Use Mind- mapping & Acronym

* Share it with others

STRATEGY:READ TELESCOPICALLY Means VIEWING the PARTS in light of

the WHOLE.Concept: The Whole is far greater than

the sum of the partsThe Whole : Integrated, Meaningful

and Powerful Whole

STRATEGY:READ TELESCOPCALLY HOW?

Look for Connectives ( but, and, thus)Pay attention to the Context; Close up

& Bird’s viewEvaluate the passage in light of the

book: other books.

SIX THINGS TO LOOK FOR We have learned how to READ, Now we will learn what to LOOK for when

we open the Word of God.(1)Things That Are EMPHASIZED

(2)Things That Are REPEATED(3)Things That Are RELATED

SIX THINGS TO LOOK FOR We have learned how to READ, Now we will learn what to LOOK for when

we open the Word of God.(4)Things That Are ALIKE

(5)Things That Are UNALIKE(6)Things That Are TRUE TO LIFE

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED CLUES?

Authors used certain TOOLs to emphasizeIDEAS

EVENTSPEOPLEOTHERS

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED What are the 4 TOOLs?(A) AMOUNT OF SPACE

Example: Number of chaptersGenesis has 50 chapters;

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED (A)AMOUNT OF SPACE

Ch 1-11 cover Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel

Ch 12-50 Cover 4 personsAbraham, Isaac, Jacob Joseph

The FAMILY that GOD chose to be His People

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED (B) STATED PURPOSE

Writers told us what they are up to See John 20: 30-31

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED (C) ORDER

Writers give the message a strategic placement in the text.The Order of events:

This comes before that.

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED (C) ORDER

Work is a part of curse.God places Adam & Eve in a garden to

cultivate it and keep it ( Gen 2:15)In Chap 3, they sinned and driven out of

the Garden.The Order of events in Genesis

disallows this interpretation.

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED (D) MOVEMENT FROM THE LESSER TO

THE GREATER, AND VICE VERSE(i)To build up to a climax.

Everything before leads up to 2 Sam 11-12, everything after goes down

from them.(ii)To use a certain chapter as a pivotSee Act 2.

(1)Thing that are EMPHASIZED 4 TOOLS

(i)Amount of Space(ii)Stated Purpose

(iii)Order(iv)Movement from the lesser to the

greater, and vice versa.

(2)Thing that are REPEATED Repetition Reinforces

Pay Attention!!!!!to repeated TERMS, PHRASES and

CLAUSES

(2)Thing that are REPEATED TERMS, PHRASES and CLAUSES

See Psalm 136Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good

His love endures foreverGive thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever

(2)Thing that are REPEATED TERMS, PHRASES and CLAUSES

See Hebrews 11The phrase, by faith

Talking about different people living in different times under different circumstance, living the same

“by faith” lifestyle

(2)Thing that are REPEATED TERMS, PHRASES and CLAUSES

See 1 Corinthians 15:12-28The clause, if , appears 7x

Paul uses “if” to emphasize the critical importance of Christ’s resurrection to

our faith.

(2)Thing that are REPEATED Repetition Reinforces

Pay Attention!!!!!To CHARACTERS

EG Barnabas, His name popped up whenever

someone needed help ( Saul, believers at Antioch, John Mark);

Encourager, Spiritual Mentor

(2)Thing that are REPEATED Repetition Reinforces

Pay Attention!!!!!To INCIDENTS &

CIRCUMSTANCESWriters make their point by repeating

a particular incident or set of circumstances

(2)Thing that are REPEATED INCIDENTS & CIRCUMSTANCES

In Judges, the writer begins each section with “ Then the sons of Israel did what

was evil in the sight of the Lord”This sets up the situation where God

raises up Judges to bring people back to God. Sooner or later they fall away, the

cycle repeats until end of the book.

(2)Thing that are REPEATED Pay attention to PATTERNS

Recognize the parallels between the life of Joseph and that of Jesus ChristThe parallels between the experience

of Israel and that of Jesus.

(2)Thing that are REPEATED Pay attention to NT use of OT

CITATION OF OT by the writers in NTTo emphasize that portion of God’s

Word.Example: Jesus referred to Jonah in

Matt 12:39-41.

(2)Thing that are REPEATED (a)Terms, Phrases, Clauses

(b)Characters (c)Incidents & Circumstances

(d)Patterns (e)NT use of OT passages

(3)Thing that are RELATEDThings that have RELATIONSHIP,

Connection or Interaction with each other;

Three kinds of Relationship.

(3)Thing that are RELATEDThree kinds of Relationship.

(1) Movement from General to the Specific.

(2) Q&A(3) Cause & Effect.

(3)Thing that are RELATED(1)MOVEMENT FROM THE GENERAL

TO THE SPECIFIC.Example; Gen1:1: In beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Then, follows the detailed accounts of the creation.

(3)Thing that are RELATED(2) Q&A

Q is the most powerful tools, it forces us to think critically

The writers provide Strategic Questions & helpful Answers;

See Roman 6. See Job 38.Q&A demand our Attention.

(3)Thing that are RELATED(3)CAUSE & EFFECT

Illustration; On that day a great persecution ( cause) arose against the

church …. All believers except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea .… who have been scattered

went about preaching ( effect)the word.

(4)Thing that are ALIKEALIKE – Similarity

UNLIKE – Contrasts“ See they are twins”

(4)Thing that are ALIKEALIKE – Similarity

“ Similes”Terms such as “ Like” or “as” reflect

similarity => figure of speech.As the deer pants …..

It compares his longing for God to a hot, thirsty deer.

(4)Thing that are ALIKE“ Similes”

Terms such as “ Like” in 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn babies, long for pure

milks of the word …..It compares Appetite of a baby for

mother’s milk and Appetite of a believer for the nourishment of God’s

Word.

(4)Thing that are ALIKE “Metaphors”

= figurative, not literally“I am the true vine, and My Father is

the vinedresser.”“You must be born again”

“ ..unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you ..

(5)Thing that are UNALIKE “Contrasts”

Terms like “but” signifies contrasts.In Gal 5, Paul writes, Now the deed of the flesh are… ( he gives a list) BUT the fruits of the Spirit is… ( he gives a list)

(5)Thing that are UNALIKE “Metaphors”

In Luke 18, Jesus contrast the corrupted judge who finally give in to the plea of a widow, how much more

will the Father responds to our petitions.

(5)Thing that are UNALIKE “Irony”

An case of ironic contrast; a woman with a chronic bleeding, touched Jesus and healed. Jesus stopped and asked,

“Who touch me?”

(5)Thing that are UNALIKE “Irony”

The ironic contrast that Luke want us to see:

In the midst of crisis, in the middle of the crowd, unknown lady touched

Jesus in faith – and Jesus recognized it. She stand out from the crowd because of her faith. Notice her & her faith

(5)Thing that are UNALIKE The contrast ;

Mary and MarthaJewish priest, Pharisee, Samaritan

Pharisee and publican prayed in the temple

(6)Thing that are TRUE TO LIFEIssue here is Authenticity

What does the passage tell us about reality?

What aspect of the text resonate with our experience?

We live in a different culture from that of biblical era, but we experience same

human conditions, feel same emotions, had same questions, struggles, temptations.

(6)Thing that are TRUE TO LIFEThe people in the Bible are just like

you and Me. Their weaknesses are our weaknesses.

Their desires are our desiresTheir response are our response.

Their God is our God.

Getting the BIG PICTURE HOW?

Start with the OVERVIEWCreate A CHART

Headings: Miracle, Realm, People, Means, Results, Faith.

See page 176.

Getting the BIG PICTURE Start with the OVERVIEWCreate your own CHART

Headings: Soils, Description, Growth, Hindrances, Results.

See page 183.

SUMMARIZE your OBSERVATION Put it in a Chart.

VISUAL AT A GLANCE

EASY TO REMEMBERILLUSTRATIVE

SUMMARIZE your OBSERVATION Put it in a Chart.

SUMMARIZE your OBSERVATION

SUMMARIZE your OBSERVATION

SUMMARIZED your OBSERVATION Samples

Look at pages 186,187 & 188

You can do them yourself.

OBSERVATIONSUMMARY

Understand the Meaning of the terms in the text.

The 10 Reading Strategies.The 6 Things to look for.

Put them in a Chart.

OBSERVATION

That’s all, folksThank you.

NEXT : INTERPRETATION.