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Another Way to Think About Application

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Matthew Harmon has a helpful article with help for Bible interpretation and application. Beginning with Jesus’ explanation of the two greatest commandments to love God and love neighbor (Matt 22:37-39), Harmon then uses these two commands to shape his advice for both interpretation and application.

Harmon gives four interpretation questions to ask of any Bible passage:

  1. What do I learn about God?
  2. What do I learn about people?
  3. What do I learn about relating to God?
  4. What do I learn about relating to others?

Then he gives four application questions:

  1. What does God want me to understand/think?
  2. What does God want me to believe?
  3. What does God want me to desire?
  4. What does God want me to do?

Unfortunately, in the realm of interpretation, I find Harmon’s list a bit reductionist. Though they are great questions that certainly come from the two great commandments, they may in fact lead you to read such questions back into the text and thus miss the author’s main point. You might end up with a list of glorious theological truths that are sub-points alongside the main thing the author intends to communicate. So as you interpret, don’t neglect the structure and train of thought so you can arrive at the author’s true main point (which may or may not be easily categorized into one of the two great commandments).

But in the realm of application, this categorization works marvelously. Since the two great commandments summarize all the obedience God wants from his people, these categories fit more naturally here. And Harmon does a great job showing that “application” has to do with much more than simply “doing” (though, of course, it includes “doing” as the fourth question).

Harmon’s four questions put in different words the model we propose here of head, heart, and hands. Those questions could gain a dimension by considering the two great commands (which we call the two “directions” for application). Thus, we can ask not only “What does God want me to understand/think?” but also “How can I help others to understand/think this truth as well?” And so on, into the application matrix.

So if you’d like a more visual approach, check out our application matrix. If you’d benefit more from a list of questions, Harmon’s article does a nice job explaining them.

Check it out!

How to Be Teachable

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According to the book of Proverbs, the chief difference between wisdom and folly lies in how willing a person is to listen to God’s instruction. In other words, are you teachable and open to counsel from the lips of God? I blogged my way through the first 9 chapters of Proverbs a few years ago to show this is so.

On his blog, Kevin Halloran recently summarized, in a few key principles from Proverbs, how to be teachable:

  1. Be humble.
  2. Seek wisdom and instruction as though your life depends on it.
  3. Learn from the right teachers.
  4. Receive correction as a blessing.

Halloran lists specific proverbs for each point, along with many helpful suggestions and a closing prayer for teachability. He does a great job showing us how to apply these truths from Proverbs in personal and specific ways.

Check it out!

Look and Look and Look

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When I first learned how to study the Bible, I heard the story of Professor Agassiz, telling his student to look, look, and look again at a fish. The story tells of the wonder and amazement that comes from simply learning how to observe. And it shows how difficult it is to overcome our assumption of familiarity which prevents us from observing as we ought.

It’s a classic illustration, and John Piper tells it beautifully in this short video from Desiring God.

https://vimeo.com/208846470

Let this spur you to keep looking at the Scripture. You might think you already know it, but you’ll be amazed at how much more there is to see of the beauty and glory of Christ. Check it out!

HT: Andy Cimbala

One Week That Changed the World

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Every Wednesday, I encourage you to check out something on the web (not on this site) to show that we’re not the only ones talking about or employing the OIA Bible study method. In particular, I’m eager to show you that I didn’t invent this method, and that I’m not the only one using it with great profit.

This week I am delighted to refer you to the keynote messages from our recent DiscipleMakers Fall Conference. (DiscipleMakers is the campus ministry organization I serve with.)

In these messages, the main speakers walked through John’s account of the last few days of Jesus’ passion week. We aimed to observe the text, interpret what John meant to communicate, and apply it practically and specifically. These men have been some of the most influential teachers in my life, and I’m eager to commend their messages to you.

Mark Fodale on the arrest of Jesus:

Brian Parker on the trial of Jesus:

Rhys John on the crucifixion of Jesus:

And I closed the conference with the resurrection of Jesus. In this talk you’ll notice many themes from my recent studies in Exodus. John has much to say in applying tabernacle imagery to the work of Christ:

If you’d like to see more such teaching, getting more models of OIA Bible study in action, you can find our library on the DiscipleMakers website. Check it out!

3 Questions to Help Kids Read the Bible

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At the Gospel Coalition, Sara Wallace has two principles and three questions to help us teach our kids to read the Bible.

The principles:

  1. The Bible is Not About You
  2. The Bible Tells One Story

The questions, for the kids to consider when they read:

  1. What does this passage teach me about God?
  2. What does this passage teach me about human being (or myself)?
  3. What does this passage teach me about the need for and the coming of a Savior?

It’s really that simple. Whether you try these three questions, or our devotional page, or any other way to frame these issues—the best thing we can do for our kids is inspire them to drink from the fountain of delights which is this book, the word of God. Whatever makes most sense to you and to your kids, do it!

Check it out!

The Golden Rule of Bible Reading

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This short video from John Piper explains what he calls “The Golden Rule of Bible Reading”: Figure out what the original, divinely inspired author intended to communicate. Piper readily concedes that this rule is an attempt to define what “meaning” is, as in, “How do we decide the meaning of a passage of Scripture?” So he gives four reasons for this definition of “meaning.”

  1. The Bible assumes this definition of “meaning.”
  2. We should treat the biblical authors the way we wish they would treat us (Matt 7:12).
  3. Humility requires it of us.
  4. God’s authority over us requires it of us.

https://vimeo.com/223505453

Piper’s challenge is one we would do well to heed. The video is well worth your time.

Check it out!

Tips for Reading the Bible with your Kids

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I recently wrote of an “aha” moment, when I realized I could read the Bible to my kids. At Crossway’s blog, David Murray has a few short articles that can help you, too, to get started with what he calls this “holy habit.”

In “How to Help Your Kids Get Excited About Reading the Bible,” Murray explains the one crucial technique—in fact, the only technique—you must master: being enthusiastic about Bible reading yourself. Do this, and your kids can’t help but get infected.

In “6 Tips for Reading the Bible With Your Kids,” Murray gets specific with these practical tips:

  1. Give them a good reason to read the Bible: make sure they know why you’re doing this!
  2. Establish a routine: do it in the same time and place each week.
  3. Be realistic: understand what your children can handle.
  4. Be systematic: read through whole books, not just a verse here and a verse there.
  5. Ask good questions: help them to process what you read.
  6. Ask God for help: pray together!

These encouraging articles give much help and encouragement to families. But don’t read the Bible with your kids just because you should. Do it because you can. Because you get to. Because you can’t wait to do it. Let them see your excitement, so they can come to see the value in it with you.

Check it out!

What the KJV Translators Can Teach Us About Bible Translation

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At the LogosTalk blog, Mark Ward has posted some much-needed insights into Bible translation—directly from the quills of the KJV’s own translators. Would you believe they never expected the KJV to be very well-received? Or that they knew it wouldn’t be the ultimate English translation of the Bible? Or that they expected better and different translations to come along in future generations?

Ward first translates the original preface to the King James Version into modern English. Then he reflects on some lessons we can learn from it about Bible translation. In particular:

  1. People don’t like change.
  2. Watch out for petty objections.
  3. No translation is perfect.
  4. People must have the Bible.

I find especially helpful Ward’s comments on the way uninformed readers today love to make sweeping generalizations about what is the “best” Bible translation or “best” way to translate segments of the Bible:

The KJV translators anticipated waves of abuse from the great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents of today’s internet trolls. If there’s one line in the KJV preface that has come to mind over the years more than any other, it’s this from the second sentence: “Cavil, if it do not find a hole, will make one.” In other words, by sentence two the KJV translators are already complaining archly about the human propensity to let petty objections destroy something good.

Every Bible translation involves approximately 327 gazillion decisions about word choice, word order, textual criticism, assonance and consonance, meter, theology, tradition, typography, the current state of the target language, and numerous other factors. Someone, somewhere, is going to dislike just about every choice of any significance—particularly if it is an innovation overturning an established tradition. As the KJV translators say, “So hard a thing it is to please all, even when we please God best, and do seek to approve ourselves to every one’s conscience.”

I think (I hope) most Christian people have a sense that it is indiscrete to offer unsubstantiated opinions about pork futures in Australia (Market’s goin’ up ten points this year!) or the best fabric blend for patio table umbrellas (80% polyester, 10% elastane—that’s what I always say!). But somehow sweeping generalizations about the NIV (They’ve given in to gender politics!) or the ESV (They’ve given in to gender politics!) are permitted, even from people who’ve never read either side in significant translation debates.

It’s not wrong to have opinions about Bible translations: it’s wrong to speak opinions boldly about complex matters when you haven’t done the work to back them up. Internet commenters and cavil-hole makers of all sorts, be warned: the KJV translators are on to you.

If you can see any piece of yourself in Ward’s criticism, I highly commend his reflections to you.

Check it out!

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Learning From Young People Who Wrestle With Difficult Scriptures

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Writing at Discipleship Research, Ruth Perrin addresses the uncomfortable topic of acts of violence, committed by God in Scripture. She uses this topic to discern how young people tend to deal with such difficult parts of Scripture. Her keen insights deserve serious consideration.

From her research through focus groups, Perrin identifies 5 ways these young folks tend to grapple. These responses range from unquestioning acceptance to outright denial.

She moves from these observations to ask some great questions:

How SHOULD I help young adults make sense of the complicated, beautiful, ancient literature we believe was inspired by God Himself? How can we help our guys to do that well – not just be boggled, resigned or confused by how to make sense of the word of God?

And her conclusion:

This really matters – when faced with aggressive secular atheism and well documented biblical illiteracy we have to equip our young people to be confident in handling Scripture in a meaningful and life-giving way.

I commend Perrin’s article to your consideration. She is absolutely right: it really matters to equip our people (including our young people) to confidently handle Scripture in a meaningful and life-giving way.

Check it out!