Sorry I’ve missed the last two days it has been very busy around here, as I’m sure you have been too.  I get to go to Presley Griffin birthday party tonight, “Happy Birthday Presley.”

Lets look at another Bible study method.

Dr. R.A. Torrey, a great Bible scholar and teacher, gives three suggestions that are helpful in studying the bible topically (How to Study the Bible, Whitaker House).

1. Be systematic

Don’t try to study the Bible in a haphazard manner that is basically undisciplined.  Make a list of all the things related to your topic, and make it as comprehensive and complete as possible.  Then take up these items one at a time, studying the in a systematic and logical order.

2. Be thorough

As far as possible, find and study every verse that relates to the topic.  The only way to know everything God has said on a topic is to go through the entire Bible and find all the passages on that topic. Use your concordance to do this.

3. Be exact

Try to get the exact meaning of every verse you study.  Be sure to examine the context of each verse to avoid misinterpretation.  The biggest mistake you must avoid is taking a verse out of context.

Essentially, a topical study is built around six steps, each of which can be summarized with one word:

COMPILE a list of all the words related to the topic.

COLLECT all the references.

CONSIDER each verse individually.

COMPARE all the references with one another.

CONDENSE your finding into and outline.

CONCLUDE by summarizing and applying the topic.

A topical study is one of the most interesting ways you can approach the Bible, and the number of topics to choose from i limitless.  Here are some suggestions of major categories in the Bible that could be studied topically:

1. Doctrines of the Bible

2. Miracles

3. Prayers

4. Problems

5. Promises

6. Prophecies

7. Attitudes

8. Animals

9. The Family

10. Becoming a disciple.

May God Bless you in your Bible studies.

The Verse By Verse Analysis Method of Bible Study involves selecting a passage of Scripture and examining it in detail by asking questions, finding cross-references, and paraphrasing each verse. We then record a possible, personal application for each verse we study.

Pray and ask God what book in the Bible He would have you study.

Step One – Write a Personal Paraphrase

Write out the verse in your own words. Do not use one of the modern paraphrases except to get the idea of how to do it. Stay true to the verse you are paraphrasing, and try to condense rather than expand it.

Step Two – List Some Questions, Answers, and Observations

List any questions you have relating to words, phrases, persons, topics, and doctrines in that verse. Write down any answers you can find and also record any observations you have.

Step Three – Find Some Cross-References for Each Verse

Using the cross-references from your study Bible or from Scripture memory, write down some cross-references (at least one) for the verse you are studying. Identify the word or phrase you are cross-referencing at the end of this chapter. Use a concordance if you do not have a cross-referenced Bible.

Step Four – Record Any Insights You Get from Each Verse

Having thought through the words, phrases, and concepts in the verse, record any insights that you get from them.  These could be further observations, words and names that you have looked up and defined, or any thought that comes to you.   Later you will have the chance to write them down in a area called Personal Application.

Step Five – Write Down a Brief Personal Application for Each Week.

Because of the number of verses in your study, you will not be able to design an application project for each verse. Instead, just try to record some devotional thoughts that come to you from each verse. Later, in a devotional Bible study, you can pick on of the thoughts and plan to work on it. Or, if a particular verse seems to meet an immediate need, go ahead and write out an application that is possible, practical, personal, and measurable.

Example

1 Timothy 1:1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Personal Paraphrase:
Paul, one sent forth as Christ’s representative, as instructed by God, the One who saves us, and Christ Jesus our hope.

Questions and Answers
Q. What does the word “apostle” mean?
A. The Greek word apostolos comes from the verb apostello “sent forth”

Cross Reference
Apostle:
2 Corinthians 1:1 – God my Saviour
Luke 1:47, Titus 1:3 – Christ our Hope
Colossians 1:27

Insights
1. The name Paul came from the Latin name Paulus, which means “little”
2. The name Timothy means “he who honors God.”
3. Paul did not need to tell Timothy that he was an apostle, so perhaps this letter was intended to be read by others as well.

Possible Personal Applications
I must begin to see myself in the role of Christ’s ambassador who has been authorized and sent out with a divine message. The authority of my witness will only be as effective as my awareness of my mission.

My God Bless you in the study of His Word.