Kyle Talbot Bible Study Methodskyle@bethanycentral.org Spring 2016(309) 370-0680 (m) The Gospel Institute.

SYLLABUS

BIBLE STUDY METHODSUNCOVERING TREASURES OF TRUTH IN THE SCRIPTURES

I. COURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course will introduce students to core inductive Bible study tools, including observation, interpretation (hermeneutics), application, and correlation. Within each of these steps, students will learn to apply key principles as they explore various genres in the Bible. At the same time, the course will equip students to capture the central message of a Biblical book and connect each thought-unit to the larger composition. As students discover the richness of God’s Word through the methods of this course, they will glean more from their personal study of God’s Word and grow in their ability to share these truths with others.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVESThis course aims:

A. To teach students to magnify the worth of God in a more meaningful and personal way by treasuring Him in their heart above all else through a more intimate acquaintance with His Word.

B. To equip students with a consistent and trustworthy method for faithfully explaining God’s Word.

C. To orient students to the different types of literature in the Bible (e.g. narrative, poetry, prophecy, history, epistles, etc.) and to provide them with the proper tools to interpret the various forms of communication employed in the Scriptures.

D. To develop a passion for ongoing exploration in the Scriptures, producing life-change for the student.

E. To raise a crop of students who are able to search the Scriptures carefully and discern truth from popular opinions.

F. To employ the various strategies for inductive Bible study as a lifestyle for learning and life change.

Bible Study MethodsKyle Talbot 2Spring 2016G. To unleash a crop of students into their churches with a hunger for God’s

Word and an ability to share it with others.

III. COURSE TEXTBOOKS

PrimaryHendricks, Howard G. Living by the Book. Chicago. Moody Press, 1991.

RecommendedDuvall, J. Scott and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God’s Word. Grand Rapids:

MI. Zondervan, 2012.

Fee, Gordon D. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids: MI. Zondervan, 1981.

Klein, William W and Craig L. Blomberg and Robert L. Hubbard. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Nashville. Thomas Nelson, 2004.

Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral. Downers Grove: IL. IVP Academic, 2007

Zuck, Roy B. Basic Bible Interpretation: A Practical Guide to Discovering Biblical Truth. Colorado Springs: CO. Victor, 1991.

IV. COURSE SCHEDULE Week 1 (January 18) — Class Overview and Introduction

Session 1: Why Study the Bible?Session 2: How to Study the Bible

Week 2 (January 25) — ObservationSession 1: Learning to LookSession 2: The Crucial Role of Structure

Week 3 (February 1) — Observation: Studying the Structure Session 1: Tools to Survey the TerritorySession 2: Probing Genesis 25 and Isaiah 6

Week 4 (February 8) — Observation: Genre in the BibleSession 1: Different Tools for Differing LandscapesSession 2: Exploring John 3-6; Psalms; and Proverbs

Week 5 (February 15) — InterpretationSession 1: Introduction to Hermeneutics

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Session 2: Historical Backgrounds & Cultural Contexts

Week 6 (February 22) — Interpretation: Grammar & Literary Factors

Session 1: Looking at Grammatical Structure Session 2: Literary Form and Figures of Speech

Week 7 (February 29) — Interpretation: Biblical & Theological Factors

Session 1: The Relationship between the Old and New TestamentSession 2: The Gravitational Pull of Theological Systems

Week 8 (March 7) — Big Picture Illustration: 1 Thessalonians & Jonah

Session 1: The Message of 1 ThessaloniansSession 2: The Message of Jonah

Week 9 (March 14) — ApplicationSession 1: Common Misuses and Abuses of ApplicationSession 2: Place and Process for Solid Application

Week 10 (March 21) — Correlation & CommunicationSession 1: Capturing the Fruit of Your LaborSession 2: Communicating Biblical Truth

Week 11 (March 28) — Big-Picture Illustration: DanielSession 1: The Message of DanielSession 2: Last Minute Help on Final Projects

Week 12 (April 4) — Student Presentations and Closing Comments

V. COURSE ASSIGNMENT EXPECTATIONSEach week students will receive a Reading Log to complete for the next week.

Bible Study MethodsKyle Talbot 4Spring 2016All other assignments are due in typed format, 12 point, Times New Roman, and double-spaced. If you use a reference it must be cited in parentheses directly after the quote. Example: D.A. Carson states, “In the beginning immediately reminds any reader of the Old Testament of the opening verse of the Bible: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’” (D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, 113.) Afterward, if you cite the same work, all you have to do is write, (Carson). If it is a different work by the same author, you must list the title of the new book and then use the separate titles throughout.

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Weekly Projects Due

Week 1 — Class Overview and Introduction Monday January 25Read:

Read 1 Thessalonians 3 times and in this manner: (1) observe the author and recipients; (2) observe the occasion and relationship between the author and recipients; and (3) observe the main purpose(s) of the letter

Assignments: Complete Reading Log List 25 different observations from Jonah 1:1-6. Complete Getting to Know You Packet

Week 2 — Observation Monday February 1Read:

Read Jonah three times Read 1 Thessalonians Read Living by the Book Chapters 18-23

Assignments: Complete Reading Log List 25 new observations from Jonah 1:1-6 List 10 Observations from each chapter of 1 Thessalonians

Week 3 — Observation: Studying the Structure Monday February 8Read:

Read 1 Thessalonians. Read Jonah Read Psalm 19 three times Read Proverbs 30:18-31 three times Read Living By the Book Chapter 29

Assignments: Complete Reading Log Record ten new observations for each chapter of 1 Thessalonians Write chapter headings for 1 Thessalonians Record ten new observations for each chapter of Jonah Write chapter headings for Jonah

Week 4 — Genre in the Bible Monday February 15Read:

Read Proverbs 30:18-31 3 times on 3 different days; Psalm 19 3 times on 3 different days

Read 1 ThessaloniansAssignments:

Complete Reading Log List 25 observations from Proverbs 30:18-31 List 25 observations from Psalm 19

Bible Study MethodsKyle Talbot 6Spring 2016Week 5 — Interpretation Monday February 22

Read: Living by the Book, chapters 27-28; 30-35 Read 2 Thessalonians 3 times and in this manner: (1) observe the

author and recipients; (2) observe the occasion and relationship between the author and recipients; and (3) observe the main purpose(s) of the letter

Assignments: Complete Reading Log Write a one-page summary of the historical and cultural context

surrounding the church at Thessalonica citing the sources you used Complete Main Idea Worksheet

Week 6 — Interpretation Monday February 29Read:

1 ThessaloniansAssignments:

Complete Reading Log Create a basic grammatical sentence diagram for 1 Thessalonians 1

& 1 Thessalonians 3 Record at least 10 subjects for both 1 Thessalonians 1 & 3 (e.g.

grammatical, word study, etc.) that require further investigation and interpretation.

Week 7 — Interpretation Monday March 7Read:

Read Matthew 1-5 three times with careful attention to OT quotations and how they are both used and introduced.

Assignments: Complete Reading Log Complete the study guide questions for Matthew 1-5 Prepare a basic outline of 1 Thessalonians Complete What’s My Baggage worksheet

Week 8 — 1 Thessalonians & Jonah Monday March 14Read:

Read Living by the Book Chapters 44 & 46 Read the book for your final project three times

Assignments: Complete Reading Log Submit Final Project Plan for approval.

Bible Study MethodsKyle Talbot 7Spring 2016Week 9 Application Monday March 21

Read: Read Jonah Read 1 Thessalonians

Assignments: Complete Reading Log Write a two-page paper describing how the message and meaning

of 1 Thessalonians applies to your life and ministry Write a two-page paper describing how the message and meaning

of Jonah applies to your live and ministry Write chapter headings for your final project book

Week 10 — Correlation & Communication Monday March 28Read:

Read Daniel three timesAssignments:

Complete Reading Log Communicate the message of 1 Thessalonians in 50 words or less

(e.g. a poem, song, conversation, lesson, etc.) Communicate the message of Jonah in 50 words or less (e.g. a

poem, song, conversation, lesson, etc.)

Week 11 — Daniel Monday April 4Read:

Psalm 1Assignments:

Complete Reading Log Final Project & Presentation

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Final Project: Due in class on APRIL 4Each student will select one of the options below for applying the principles and methods of the course to a book of the Bible. This project can be completed either individually or in groups of no more than 3 people. Students must submit a final project proposal to the instructor by the date listed above (3/14). All projects must be approved to receive credit for the assignment. Below is a list of recommended books and project options.

Recommended Books: Ruth Micah Haggai Joel Nehemiah Ezra Ephesians Galatians Colossians Philemon Jude 1 Peter James

Recommended Project Options include: Creative Drama : Convey the Main Message, Meaning, and

Application of the Book in the form of a skit, video, or drama script of some kind.

Song : Write the lyrics and/or record a song, dance, or musical piece that captures the message, meaning, and application of the book.

Teaching Outline : Present a teaching outline which provides a blueprint for how you plan to teach the message, meaning, and application of the book.

Chart/Graphic Depiction : Create a picture/image in PowerPoint, a spreadsheet chart, or some other visual tool that communicates the message, meaning, and application of the book.

Sermon : Write a five-page expository sermon based on the entire book of the Bible chosen.