This document provides an overview of Bible study methods from the book "Living by the Book" by Howard and William Hendricks. It discusses key concepts like observation, interpretation, application, and correlation. It also examines the importance of properly applying Scripture rather than just interpreting or superficially obeying it. The document cautions that Bible principles should align with God's overall teaching and address real-life needs today. It emphasizes allowing the Bible to transform our character through patient acquisition of virtue rather than quick religious experiences.

1. Living by the Book
An Introduction to Bible
Study Methods
Week 3

2. Titus 3:3-8
For we also once were foolish
ourselves, disobedient, deceived,
enslaved to various lusts and
pleasures, spending our life in
malice and envy, hateful, hating
one another.

3. Titus 3:3-8
But when the kindness of God our
Savior and His love for mankind
appeared, He saved us, not on the basis
of deeds which we have done in
righteousness, but according to His
mercy, by the washing of regeneration
and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out upon us richly
through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that
being justified by His grace we would
be made heirs according to the hope of
eternal life.

4. Titus 3:3-8
This is a trustworthy statement;
and concerning these things I
want you to speak confidently, so
that those who have believed God
will be careful to engage in good
deeds. These things are good and
profitable for men.

5. Where we were?
• Observation
• Interpretation
• Application
• Correlation

6. Where are we going?
• Observation
• Interpretation
• Application
• Correlation

7. Application
Integrating what has been
interpreted.
Our task, then, is two-sided. First, we
must get into the Word of God for
ourselves. But then we must allow that
Word to get into us, to make a
permanent different in our character
and conduct.
Living by the Book by Howard and William Hendricks

8. Application
• Substitutes for Application
– Interpretation
– Superficial obedience for substantive
life-change
– Rationalization for repentance
– Emotional experience for a volitional
decision

9. Application
Knowledge Relate Meditate Practice

10. Practice
One aspect of world that I have been
able to identify as harmful to Christians
is the assumption that anything
worthwhile can be acquired at once…
There is a great market for religious
experience in our world; there is little
enthusiasm for the patient acquisition
of virtue, little inclination to sign up for
a long apprenticeship in what earlier
generations of Christians called
holiness.
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson

11. Words of Caution
Having determined the universal
elements of a passage through the
process of evaluation, the next step is to
discover the exact contemporary
situation to which the passage is
applicable. For though the truths one
may have found are actually timeless, it
does not follow that they can be
applied indiscriminately to any
circumstances.
Methodical Bible Study by Robert Traina

12. Governing Principles
• Principles should correlate with
the general teaching of Scripture
• Principles should speak to the
needs, interests, questions, and
problems of real life today
• Principles should indicate a
course of action

13. Governing Principles
What we are looking for in
reading [or studying] the Bible is
the ability to turn the two-
dimensional words on paper into
a three-dimensional encounter
with God, so that the text takes on
life and meaning and depth and
perspective and gives us direction
for what to do today.
The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight

14. Shortcuts
• To do and what not to do
– Converting the story of the Bible into a collection of
little more than commandments completely distorts
the Bible.
• Morsels of Blessing and Promises
– Blessings and promises of God in the Bible emerge
from a real life’s story that also knows that we live
in a broken world and some days are tough.
• Seeing what is in our head
– Instead of being swept into the Bible story, the Bible
gives us an opportunity for narcissism.
• Puzzling together the pieces to map God’s
mind
– God has given us what He wants us to know

15. Titus 3:3-8
• From your key learning of the
passage, explore some
applications
• From your secondary learning of
the passage, identify some
applications

16. Next Week
• Observation
• Interpretation
• Application
• Correlation