Inductive Bible Study
What is Inductive Bible Study?
It’s the process of
observing Scripture,
accurately interpreting what it means, and
applying what we’ve discovered from it to grow as Christians.
Observation
The first step in inductive study involves reading the passage carefully, noticing details about how the author told the story, what specific data he emphasized, and the settings and circumstances he recorded.
Interpretation
The second step is learning enough about setting, circumstances, and other relevant factors to correctly understand the passage as the author and his original audience understood it.
This perspective is imperative! We miss so much when we interpret Scripture using only our contemporary point of view.
Application
The last inductive study step might be the most provocative, but if we’ve accurately seen and correctly understood our study passage, we will be moved to act upon it.
We accomplish this by reviewing what we’ve learned and how we were convicted and corrected through the study, then letting the Spirit guide us to growth from it.
See 2 Timothy 3:16-17.