STUDYING THE BIBLE DEVOTIONALLY

STUDYING THE BIBLE DEVOTIONALLY

One of the great dangers in personal Bible study is that these important doctrines become ends in themselves. It is the same with teaching the Bible. We let the Word of God become the aim of teaching, rather than making our aim the building up of people and making them mature in Christ. We must study the Bible for the greater purpose of learning how to live. Paul reminded Timothy of this goal,

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

There are many approaches to studying and teaching the Bible. Each chapter is designed to help you grow in Christ. But this chapter is more compelling because it moves us beyond learning the contents of Scripture to personal application of the principles and spirit of the Scriptures. Because this chapter wants to help you become more spiritual, the devotional approach to Bible study and teaching has great value. After discussing nine different approaches to the study the book of Galatians, Merrill C. Tenney wrote, THE DEVOTIONAL APPROACH IS THE CROWN

These methods may produce a good understanding of the letter of the epistle; but a mere knowledge of its facts and style will never impress its real message upon a believing heart. The crown of all study is the devotional method, by which the truths ascertained through the various means already described are integrated and applied to the needs of the individual. This same high view of the devotional approach to Bible study was also held by Howard Vos. In his survey of sixteen different approaches to Bible study, he noted,

THE DEVOTIONAL APPROACH MAKES US SPIRITUAL

The end in view in all devotional Bible study is the improvement of the individual's spiritual life by discovering in the Word the claims of God upon the believer and His instructions for living and enhancing the Christian life . . . The devotional method may be effectively executed by means of a careful study of words, verses, paragraphs, chapters, books, Biblical characters, and Christ in a given portion. You will use a variety of approaches to study and teach the Bible, but ultimately you will be most concerned with life application. As you use the various methods of Bible study and teaching to communicate biblical content, you will lay a foundation in the life of your students. When you have laid that foundation, the devotional approach to the Bible will help us guide students to apply their biblical knowledge to life. When this is done, the Holy Spirit who is our Teacher, will use the Scripture to effectively change our students' life. That is the ultimate goal of our Bible teaching ministry.

Why Study the Bible Devotionally?

There are several good reasons to use this effective approach to Bible study. One of the most significant relates to what Jesus called "the great commandment." When challenged by a Pharisee just a few days before His death to identify "the great commandment in the law" (Matt. 22:36), Jesus responded, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Matt. 22:37, 38). A devotional understanding of the Scriptures helps us love God more and more as we grow in Him.

One of God's purposes in Scripture is to help us overcome sin. The Psalmist wrote, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Ps. 119:9- 11). The person was right who wrote in the flyleaf of the Bible of Evangelist Dwight L. Moody, "This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." Studying the Bible devotionally will help us achieve victory over sin in our life.

A third reason for the devotional approach is found in the benefits of meditation. Meditating on the Scripture is one of the biblical keys to success in life. God told Joshua, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Josh. 1:8). Also, meditating on the Scriptures is one of the keys to personal fulfilment in life. The "blessed man" is described in the first psalm. "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Ps. 1:2).

As mentioned above, the goal of studying and teaching the Bible is to introduce significant change in the life of a student. More than other approaches to the Scriptures, this approach relates directly to the practical expression of our faith in living for Christ. Therefore, this approach will help us accomplish the work we are most committed to doing.

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE DEVOTIONALLY

Before we can consistently TEACH the Bible to change the lives of our students, we must first learn to STUDY the Bible devotionally. Unlike other approaches to Bible study, the key to studying the Bible devotionally is not so much in methodology as in attitude.

According to Merrill C. Tenney,

Devotional study is not so much a technique as a spirit. It is the spirit of eagerness which seeks the mind of God; it is the spirit of humility which listens readily to the voice of God; it is the spirit of adventure which pursues earnestly the will of God; it is the spirit of adoration which rests in the presence of God.

One way you can help insure you are coming to the Scriptures with the right attitude is to begin our Bible study time with prayer. As you pray, focus upon who God is and express your appreciation to Him for revealing truth to His people (Deut. 29:29). Many teachers find it helpful to pray a prayer similar to that of the Psalmist as he approached the Scriptures. "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law" (Ps. 119:18).

As you begin studying the Bible devotionally, you should take time to choose a passage that lends itself to this approach. While the focus of all Scripture tells us about God, certain parts of Scripture tend, to be better suited to devotional study than others. The Psalms lend themselves to this approach because they were written passionately for God. The Psalmist is concerned about knowing God experimentally, so your students can seek God with that same passion. Also, extended passages such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) or the Upper Room Discourse (John 13- 18) lend themselves to application. Normally, you will study shorter passages when approaching the Bible devotionally.

Next, be sure to give yourself time. One pastor commented he took an extended time Monday to study and apply devotionally the passage he would preach next Sunday. He said it was more important to feel the Lord speak to him through the passage before he prepared a sermon to speak to others.

Most will want to read the passage several times, perhaps emphasizing different verses and/or words during each reading. Also, you may wish to commit parts of the passage to memory so you can meditate on them. When you commit the Scriptures to memory, you can meditate on them even outside of your study time. The four best times of the day to meditate on Scriptures you have memorized are:

(1) when you find yourself sitting and waiting,

(2) when you commute from place to place,

(3) when you go to bed each evening and

(4) when you wake up each morning (Deut. 6:7).

While your attitude in devotional Bible study is of primary importance, you should not neglect methodology. Ask yourself several basic questions to discover the message of the passage.

First, "What is the primary emphasis or subject in this passage?"

Second, "Who is (are) the key character(s) in this passage?"

Also, "Is there any significance in the meaning of his or her name?"

Also, seek to identify the key verse in the passage being studied.

Because the focus in devotional study is your relationship with God, you should look for special insights in the passage relating to your relationship with Christ.

> What does this passage teach that God does for you?

> What should you do for God?

> What practical principles are intended in this chapter? Apply these principles to daily living.

> How do they make you feel? Do you love God more? Do you want to worship Him more? What energy do you get from the passage?

Give special consideration to the key verse of the passage. Key verses jump out at us and make us remember what is taught in a passage. They are important for two reasons:

First, because they summarize the heart of the message;

Second, they are pivotal in the development of the context of the passage.
Next, consider the meaning of key words in the passage you are studying. Begin by compiling a list of words which are used several times or words which are significant to the passage. Then look for answers to several questions about these words.

Ø  How is this word used in other places in Scriptures?

Ø  Does this writer tend to use this word in a unique way?

Ø  What did this word mean to those who first read it?

Ø  Does this word reveal some significant truth about God, people, sin or salvation?

Ø  How can this word be applied to strengthen one's personal walk with God?

Finding the answers to these and similar questions will help you better understand and appreciate the message of the passage.

PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETING DEVOTIONAL STUDY

1.    Every passage will have one interpretation governed by literal interpretation, but will also have many applications.

2.    Be careful of "spiritualizing" the Bible to make it say something apart from the meaning of the text.

3.    The Bible is a book of principles to guide our daily lives and service.

4.    Know the difference between descriptions of situations that do not apply today and prescriptions that were written to guide our lives.

5.    Apply to your life those direct applications where the Bible generally censors or approves all.

6.    Explicit commands to individuals are not always the will of God for you today.

7.    Apply to your life the obvious principles in the lives of people in Scripture.

8.    You do not need to be in the exact situation that involved a person in the Bible, to apply their principles to your lives.