Applying the Bible in my life

What is applicationMe and my violin

Christian who is not applying the Bible is like

a cyclist never ride a bikeA fisherman never fished

A pilot never flyingA cellist never playing

Applying the Bible is simply allowing the Bible to make a difference in our

lives.

What is applicationApplication is answering the question;

“so what” after any sermon or Bible study

OrWhy should I know these facts?How can I use this information?

What am I going to do about what I have just learned?

What is applicationI know that;

“Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or

proud, never haughty or selfish or rude” (1 Cor 13:4-5)

“So what?”

Why Apply• The Bible is God’s Word, and whatever

God says to us is full of living power. • It is sharper than the sharpest dagger,

cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires, exposing us for what we really are (Heb 4:12).

• It was the Holy Spirit within these godly men who gave them true messages from God (2 Pet. 1:20-21)

Why Apply• So, the whole Bible was given to us by

inspiration from God • It is useful to teach us what is true• It makes us realize what is wrong in our

lives.• It straightens us out.• It helps us do what is right.• It makes us well prepared and fully

equipped to do good to everyone• (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Problems• When we study the Bible we find books

which might explain facts of Septuagint, Pentateuch and Ammonites, when I

want to know about worry, stress, peer pressure, and anger.

Sometimes• We dont read the Bible thinking that just

having a Bible at home, in my car, loaded on my phone is enough to bless and change my life.

• We read, and memorize verses, even compete in Bible quizzes

• We read and understand much of what the Bible is saying. But we don't know how to apply.

There is still a gap between the Scripture we read and the lives we live.

James ExplainedJames 1:22-25

We are to do what the Bible says, not just read and understand

St. Paul Explained1 Corinthians 10:11

St. Paul is saying that reading the Bible should affect the way we live.

Isaiah told God’s people

“Won’t even one of you apply these lessons from the past and see the ruin

that awaits you up ahead? (Isaiah 42:23)

Because of who God is:God knows us and He knows

everything about us.God knows our talents, potential, gifts,

and fears.He also knows everything happened, is

happening and will happen.God loves us and wants the very best

for us.It only makes sense to discover God’s

will and do it.

Because of who we are:We can’t see the future, we don’t know

ourselves very well, and we easily forget the past.

If we are left to our own device, we stumble, fall, and fail.

We need help.We need directions.We need wisdom.

We need encouragement.We need answers.

Because of the way the world is:Our world is fallen.

It is filled with sin and ruled by Satan.It is filled with temptations, questions,

pressures, and pitfalls.

God does not want to remove us from the world; He want to use us to make a difference in the world (Jn 17:13-18)

But how can we tell how well we are applying the

Bible?Consider the following five steps in

application process:1. Read2. Understand3. Comprehend4. Apply5. Do

ReadOpen the Bible and read a passage; get a

general idea of the storyUnderstand

Know what all the words mean; learn facts; see the concepts

ComprehendFind the biblical principles, the timeless

truths that God wants to communicate

applySee myself in the story and how the

biblical principles relate to my life; make the timeless truths timely; see what God

wants me to dodo

Design an action plan; obey God and put into practice now what He has taught

me in His WordStep 1 reading, is the bare minimum

Step 5 doing, is the goal.

Let us assess our relationship with the BibleGive a number that is most appropriate for

each step:1-bad; 2-poor; 3-all right; 4-good; 5-very good

1. Read2. Understand3. Comprehend4. Apply5. Do

The first stageMust be open to God as He speaks through

His Word.Approaching scriptures with the prayer

“Lord, speak to me”And eagerly anticipating God’s direction,

counsel, and personal communication

The second stage“Taking it personally”

We should put the Bible truths and principles into a personal context, asking,

“what does the message mean for me?”In other words, it means looking at Bible study

from a personal perspective, going beyond the historical and cultural context, the words

in the text, and the theology.It also means taking a look, an honest look, at

our lives, anticipating that there will be a lesson to learn and apply.

The third stage“What should I do about

it?”What; looking for a specific action to takeShould; understanding that the message is to

be obeyedI; recognizing that the application is for me.Do; seeing that action, obedience, is involved.About; knowing that the action is a response.It; to a biblical teaching.

The forth stage“Action plan?”

Now what?; this involve thinkingNow that I know what God wants me to do,

What am I going to do about it?Where am I going to start?What will be my first step?

So farWe have discussed;

What is applicationWhy application is importantSelf-assessed our relationship with the BibleLooked generally at the steps involved:

1. Receive the message2. Reflect on my life3. Identify what I need to change4. Lay out a plan to make that change.

Actually, it seems very simple, doesn’t it?

So

Why is application so difficult?

• The initial 5 steps (what’s) are:• Read, understand, comprehend, apply, and do

• Of course speaking about the process of studying the Bible is easy; but doing it takes a

lot more work.• i.e. Moving from reading to comprehend or from

comprehend to apply is a big jump.• Let us break the task down into smaller tasks.

• Using smaller steps, will help us be able to climb the Bible study ladder much more easily.

• Let us take them one at a time.

Read• Use a translation of the Bible that is easy to

understand yet accurate (Van Dyke) / (NKJV, NRSV)

• Use Bible study tools.• Attend Bible study with a group.

• Prepare your shopping list. • Express your needs to God.

Before you read the Bible• Stop and take a simple spiritual diagnosis

before opening the pages of Scriptures.

• What conflicts am I facing at work, home, school, or church?

• What resources do I lack? (time, energy, money, relationships)

• What difficult situations am I facing?• What personal shortcomings am I struggling to

overcome?

Before you read the Bible• By discovering your needs and expressing

them to God, you will prepare your heart to receive His words.

• Verses will seem to jump off the page, and you will find more applications.

• Focusing on your needs will help you to respond to directions given by God in the Bible.

People• Human nature has not changed over the centuries, neither have human struggles and

problems.• Find people, including all the characters in the

passage, those actively taking parts and those mentioned.

• Sometimes no specific individuals or groups of people are mentioned such as in Proverbs. But

we should not forget the author, the original audience and God.

People• In Exodus 13, we have

• Moses giving the speech and writing the book;• The nation of Israel;

• Pharaoh;• Other nations,

• Joseph• Israel’s sons• And God

People• In Acts 3:1-11, we have

• Peter;• John;

• The beggar• The individuals who carried the beggar to the

temple’s gate.• People who saw the man healed,• The Lord Jesus is also mentioned.

• The author (Luke)• And God

People• We should identify the people and learn

something about them.• For example, if in a prophetic book, the prophet

spends a full chapter condemning a nation we’ve never heard of, we should use a Bible

dictionary and find out more about what those people were like.

People• Here is some questions to ask:

1.Who are all of the people in this passage?2.How are these people like in today’s world?3.What characteristics in myself do I see

represented in these people?

Place• This step helps put the passage in its original

setting, the historical and cultural context.

• The more we know about the culture, history, and problems of the people in the passage, the more we will be able to find parallels to our lives

today. (drinking wine, the word “woman”, . .).

Place• Here is some questions to ask:

1.What is the setting of this passage?2.What are the significant details in the history,

culture and geography?3.What are the similarities to my world?

Scenarios / plots• Look for what is going on among people or

between God and people.• This step is easy in historical books but it is

difficult in other books. (Philemon).• Questions:1.What is happening in this passage?2.What would I have done in this situation?3.How is this similar to what is happening in my

life or in the world today?

Principles• To identify the message

• Questions:1.What is the message?2.What is the timeless truth?

Example; Number 17• The story of Aaron’s staff budding, blossoming

and producing almonds.• The Lord wanted to stop the constant

complaints of the people against Moses and Aaron.

Present• To bring biblical principles into the present;

• Questions:1.What does this principle mean for my society

and culture?2.How can I make the timeless truth timely?

Apply• In James 1:19; the principle is simple;

Christians should “listen much, speak little, and not become angry”

• To bring this principle into the present, take a moment to think about the possible applications for home, school, work, church, neighbourhood

and the world.

Priorities• This step involves looking at how we should

change on the inside in order to change the outside

• It means stopping to think about the work God wants to do in our lives before determining

specific vertues.• How should I set up my priorities?

• Values, beliefs, attitudes, character, thoughts, motives

• What kind of person does God want me to become.

Action• That is actually doing what God TOLD me to

do.• It is putting words into action.

• It is to live differently• This step involves selecting a goal, breaking it

down into bite-size pieces, then DO IT.• Confirm what God wants me to do about what I

have learned (GOAL)• Determine what steps will get me to that goal.

Action• There are two types of actions:

• Intentional• I WILL followed by TO DO in order (1, 2, 3, ..)

• Conditional• IF followed by THEN• Applying 1 Cor 13

Action• I will be more loving to my wife by:

1.Not complaining when I come home from work2.Clearing the table after dinner3.Bringing her roses next week

And4.If she had a bad day, then I will listen to her

5. and not argue with her.

The need for a goal• To apply the message we received, we need a

strategy• But first we must determine our goal• Goals can be long term or short term.• Goals can be quantitative or qualitative

• Goals can be general or specific• Be realistic

Action

• There are two types of actions:• Intentional

• I WILL followed by TO DO in order (1, 2, 3, ..)• Conditional

• IF followed by THEN

•Be realistic

• Even after designing a realistic action plan to reach a realistic goal, you still have to

overcome the biggest problem.The first step

we must make the first step so small.When we take the first step, we will be much

more likely to achieve our goals

Small steps• Are there doctrines that God wants me to know

and believe?• Are there lessons here for me to learn?• Are there examples for me to follow?• Are there sins for me to avoid?• Are there prayers for me to pray?• Are there commands for me to obey?

Small steps

Then, I move to the relational questions. I take my time in meditating on these:

• What does this passage reveal about God’s heart?

• How am I to respond to God and to His response to the people in the text?

• How will I live to improve and deepen my relationships?

• How can I better love the people around me?

Small steps