This method is one of the most effective way of studying bible. You can really dig deeper into the word of God and find treasures. In the next few paragraphs, I will show you how to use Manuscript bible study method. I am not very strict in following the method and have modified it a bit. I have been blessed in my quiet time and personal bible study (check out: How do do your Quiet Time). I hope and pray that this may be useful to you.

Things you need:

• Wide-margin manuscript of biblical book (You can print the bible passage with wide margin on both sides, if you don’t want to write in your bible.)
• Colored pencils or pen
• Bible dictionary (If available) (Free Bible Study Resources Online)
• Bible concordance (If available)

Observation:

• Look for and write down: (Highlight with different colors)
• Read the passage 2-3 times as you start marking.
• Repeated words and ideas (Assign different colors, symbols)
• Repeated themes (’Son of God’ etc)
• Contrasts
• Metaphors
• Key words such as ‘therefore’, ‘but’, ‘then’, ‘because’ etc.
• Setting of writing or event
• Time of day, month or year
• Characters
• Cause and effect
• Use Bible dictionary when words, places or peoples identities or customs are unclear.

Interpretation:

• Make connections
• Write down your ideas
• Ask yourself why the author decided to tell the details
• Feel free to draw lines, arrows between different words
• Find out the main message of the passage
• Give few interesting titles for the passage

Application:

• How can you apply what you have learned in your daily life?
• How can you relate to the event or teaching in the passage?
• There can be many applications depending upon the passage you are studying. I will post some of my manuscript bible study. This is the basic method for the manuscript study, you can also add many more things to it.

Check out How to Study Your Bible: The Lasting Rewards of the Inductive Method

More Bible Studies:

• Inductive Bible Study Method: How to Guide
• How to Do Quiet Time – Time Alone with God
• How to Lead Small Group Bible Study Effectively
• Over Half a Million Page Views
• How to Lead Small Group – Practical Suggestions

Manuscript Bible Study Method is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide

• Trinity is a theological term to define and describe three-fold doctrine of God; God the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
• Bible does not contain a word for ‘Trinity’, but the concept of Triune God flows throughout the bible from the Old testament to the New Testament.
• Trinity is a mystery, beyond human comprehension or understanding. It is reflected through scriptural revelation only. It is not an idea from philosophical reasoning.
• Biblical definition of Trinity is that
  • God is One in three distinct persons.
  • Each of the person is God (not a part of God).

Non-biblical View of Trinity:

• Trinitarian view of Godhead in bible balances unity and distinctiveness of persons of God. If one of these characteristics is compromised, we find non-biblical view of Trinity.
  • Christian Polytheism: If one only emphasize on the distinctiveness of God, it reflects three Gods, with different roles. (This may be similar to Hinduism concept of ‘creator’, ’sustainer’ and ‘destroyer’.)
  • Unitarianism: It only focuses on the unity. According to this view, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are placed in the lower categories (less divine) than God the father.
• Both of these views undermines the biblical doctrine of Trinity.

Trinity in the Bible: Old Testament

Before we can understand the triune God, we need to understand progressive revelation of God. God did not reveal His plans, purpose or Himself in one time and place, but they were progressive in nature. Trinity was not fully known or understood in the Old Testament. However, there are many references, which alludes to the unity and distinctiveness of Godhead.

Distinctiveness of God:

• Gen 1:1-3 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
• Gen 1:26 – “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image…”
• Gen 11:7 – “Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Unity of God:

• Deut 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

Creation:

• Ps 33:6 – “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”
• Proverbs 3:19 – “By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place…”

Revelation and Salvation:

• Ps 107:20 – “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

Trinity in the Bible: New Testament

• In New Testament, the concept of Trinity is more clear and distinct without violating ‘oneness of God’.
• For the first disciples, Trinity was more than a philosophical concept.
• They were with Jesus, God in flesh.
• They saw Jesus, his extraordinary claims, his miracles, his prayers to God the father, and his ultimate victory over death.
• They witnessed Jesus ascending into heaven.
• They experienced the incoming of Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and there after.
• John describes Jesus as the ‘Word of God’ in the Old Testament. (John 1:1-4)
• Jesus himself affirmed the Trinity.
  • John 14:16 – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.”
  • John 15:26 – “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”
  • Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…”
• Baptism of Jesus: Mat 3:16-17 – “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
• Paul – 2 Cor 13:14 – “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
• Peter: 1 Pet 1:2 – “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

Practical but Imperfect Analogies for understanding Trinity:

Time:

• Past
• Present
• Future

Space:

• Length
• Width
• Height

Matter:

• Solid
• Liquid
• Gaseous

These are some of the practical, but imperfect analogies of the biblical doctrine of Trinity. Many of us may not agree with using such analogies or ideas. But, these practical examples can help us understand the mystery of Trinity. However, we must recognize that it is a mystery, which we cannot completely comprehend, with our finite minds. And we need to trust in the revelation of God through His words.

Please feel free to share your comments, ideas, or disagreements.

More Bible Studies:

• Who is the Holy Spirit: Bible Doctrine
• Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew – Matthew 1:18-25 | Bible Study
• Beatitudes: Blessed are Poor in Spirit – 8 Part Series
• The Sadducees and Jesus – Question about Resurrection
• Jesus Christ – The Cornerstone of the Church

The Doctrine of Trinity is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide

• In Hebrew: ‘adham’, ‘Ish’
• in Greek: ‘aner’, ‘anthropos’
• There are more than 3000 instances of word used for ‘man’! There is no doubt that man is the one of the central theme of bible.

Four fundamental aspects concerning Man:

1. Origin
2. Present Condition
3. Salvation
4. Destiny

• These are  4 principle aspects of the doctrine of man. You may go to any part of the world, culture, society, religion, past and present, and you will encounter these four aspects concerning man. Every religion, culture or society will try to answer these questions in various ways. Their answers shapes every area of one’s life and worldview, how they relate to themselves, to God and to other people.
• This bible study guide discusses the doctrine the origin of man according to bible (Christianity).

Q. Who created man according to the bible?

• It is very clear from the beginning of the bible that God created man and woman. (Gen 1:7)
• Man did not evolve (emerge) from the lower forms of life. But God is the creator of man. Gen 2:7 -”the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
• Bible does not explain just ‘how’ God created man and ‘how much’ time it took. But it is sure that the moment, God breathed into his nostril, he became alive, before he wasn’t.
• Science may explain millions of years of evolution process and gradual formation of the earth and its beings. But Bible is very clear that  man started to exist, when God breathed life into lifeless form made of dust of the ground.

Q. What are the three chief ingredients of man according to bible?

1. Body (Gen 2:7)
2. Soul: ability to reason and think (mind) and ability to feel (emotion) (Rev 6:9, Hebrew 12:23)
3. Spirit: Moral nature, free will to choose (Pr 26:27, 1 Cor 2:11)

• (1 Thes. 5:23 – “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”)
• The difference between man and animals is not that we have soul and spirit and animals don’t. (Eccl 3:21 -”Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”) But the fact that man is created in the ‘Image of God’ and animals aren’t.
• Man was created with highly developed intellect, knowledge, reasoning and moral character. Many people have a picture of a cave man (with no sense of understanding), when they think of first humans. But bible teaches that man was endowed with these qualities from the beginning. (Think of our great grand parents, they were by no means, less intellectual or knowledgeable than we are. Off course, their understanding and knowledge were less technical and scientific.)

Q. What is the chief purpose of man?

• Dominion: God has given man dominion over the earth and nature. (Gen 1:28-29)
• Stewards: The dominion however, does not mean to abuse the earth, but men are  to be faithful stewards of the authority given by God. (Gen 1:29)
• Seek their creator: (Acts 17:27: – God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”)

Q. Created in the Image of God:

• Man is created in the image of God. (Gen 1:26-27, 2:7, 5:1, 9:6, Eph 4:24, Col 3:10)
• Group exercise: Take a portrait or an image of someone (with some fine details) and ask the group, “what do they see?” The image will reflects the attributes of the actual person in the picture.
• When God created man in His image, man reflects what or who God is like, His attributes, His reflection. Following are few attributes:
  • Personality: Ability to reason, think, choice, wisdom
  • Authority: Just as God has the ultimate authority over all things, God have man an authority to rule and dominion over the earth and nature. (Gen 1:28-29)
  • Creativity: God gave man ability to create. Man can procreate.
  • Moral character: Ability to choose from right and wrong, good and evil, ability to distinguish.

This summarize the biblical doctrine of the origin of man (Anthropology). The doctrine of sin and consequences (present condition, salvation and destiny) will be discussed in the later part of this series.More Bible Studies:

• The Doctrine of Trinity
• Blessed are Pure in Heart – Beatitudes – Part 6 of 8
• Tension between Science and Theology
• Angels and Demons – Biblical Perspective
• The Book of Hebrew – Introduction

The Doctrine of Man in the Bible – Biblical Anthropology is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide

Inductive Bible Study method is one of the most effective bible study methods for personal  bible study, quiet time or group bible studies. This guide presents three basic steps of Inductive bible studies, Observation, Interpretation and Application. It will walk you through each step of inductive bible studies in details.

By definition, inductive logic or induction means ‘the type of reasoning which involves moving from a set of specific facts to a general conclusion’. (Wikipedia) Inductive bible study method provides a bible-based tool to study bible by observing the facts, investigating the motives and reasons behind it and thus offering life applications relevant to individual’s life experiences. (Also check out: Manuscript Bible Study Method)

What You Need:

• Bible, Notebook, and Time!
• Other resources: Bible commentary, Bible dictionary, study guide etc.

How to Start:

• Spare about 20-30 minutes for the bible study, more if possible.
• Start with Prayer and ask God for his guidance specifically for the study time.
• Select a bible passage. It is good to select a book of bible and study it continuously. However, it all depends upon your own preference. In any case, select a bible passage, which consists of 10-15 verses (Usually one or two paragraphs which may cover the story, topic or event). Selecting a very long passage or whole chapter of bible may not be the best approach, as you won’t be able focus on one particular event or aspect of the chapter.
• Read the passage 2-3 times. While first read may be a quick read, reading second or third time, will give you a good overview and outline of the bible passage.
• The three steps of Inductive bible studies are Observation, Interpretation and Application.

Observation:

Observation is an essential aspect of inductive bible studies. So often, we get to the interpretation or even application of the bible verse without understanding its context. But if we miss this step, we can miss a lot about what passage has to offer. In this step, you should ask yourself following questions:

• Who: Who is mentioned in the passage? To whom it is said or written? Who are the audience? It helps you to get the picture of what is going on in the passage.
• What: What is happening? What is the passage about? Is there some kind of teaching, event like miracle or healing, exhortation, warning, conversation, debate, arguments, discussion etc?
• It also helps to ask question, weather the bible passage is the historical event, poetry, narration, letter etc?
• When and Where: This is an important piece of information. Ask yourself, when and where did this occur?  The place and its significance, time of the day/month/year?
• One useful way of observation is to imagine yourself present in the settings of the bible passage.

Interpretation:

Once you get a good background and understanding of the bible passage. Now, you can move to questions about the interpretation.

• Why: Why is it mentioned? What is the core issue? What is the main focus or theme of the passage?
• You may use some other resources, such as bible dictionary or a bible commentary, if the passage is difficult to understand.
• Observation and Interpretation may overlap each other sometimes, but these two steps will enable you to understand the context and meaning of the bible passage.

Application:

Finally, Inductive bible study is not complete, unless you have an application from the bible passage. The idea of bible study is not only to learn and gain knowledge but also to apply and implement in our own lives. Ask yourself:

• How does this passage apply to present situation?
• What can I learn from this passage?
• How does it apply to me personally?
• Application process helps you to make the bible passage relevant to you, and your life experiences. It is the step in which you can relate to the bible and discover how God communicates to you through the bible passage.

So, if you have not ‘try out’ inductive bible study method, test for yourself. You will be amazed at the treasures, you may discover though it!

Other Resources:

• Reflections on Inductive Bible Study, by Ajith Fernando
• Independent bible study: E-Book - Independent Bible Study Method, written by Irving L. Jensen, published in 1963 by Moody Press. The book is freely available as ‘E-book’ in pdf format. It offers a great in depth method of using Inductive Bible study method.

(Check out: NASB Study Bible – Most Popular NASB Study Bibles)

Inductive Bible Study Resources on Amazon:

More Bible Studies:

• Manuscript Bible Study Method
• How to Do Quiet Time – Time Alone with God
• Discover God’s Will – Practical Preparation
• List of Spiritual Gifts: Discovering Your Gifts
• Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew – Matthew 1:18-25 | Bible Study

Inductive Bible Study Method: How to Guide is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide

Leading small groups can be one of the most exciting and satisfying experience of your christian life. You can really influence and impact your group members. Today, we are going to discuss principles to effectively leading small group bible study. You may be leading students, married couples, men, women, teenagers, youth, or any age group, these principles remain the same. So here are some of the key principles for leading a bible study small group.

1. Know Your bible study Group:

• Know every member of your small group. Show genuine interest and care for them.
• Names are extremely important. There is nothing more pleasing to ears than our name. You must know every member of your group by name.
• If there is a new member or visitor, make sure that you acknowledge him and introduce to the group.
• If you have more than 2-3 visitors, you can take some time for the introduction with some fun questions or game. (Like, what is the weirdest food, you have ever had?…)

2. Preparation:

• Preparation is the most important part of leading bible study group.
• There is nothing more painful than to see under prepared bible study leader. I am amazed to see that people spend so much time on assignments or job at school or workplace, yet when it comes to leading a group, they are so under-prepared!
• Prepare well, spend lot of time in the Word of God.
• Don’t think that since it is a discussion, you don’t have to work as hard as ‘Preaching’!
• Write down your thoughts, ideas, notes, questions, answers… I don’t know about you, but I can not remember everything. Writing notes will also be helpful in future bible studies.
• Note down the questions. Don’t just ask, “What do you think about this verse?” Form a question from that verse. Rephrase the question.
• If you use study guides for preparation, use it as a guide only! You don’t have to exactly follow them. (After all, they are just a guidelines!)
• You can use bible dictionary, commentary, but use your own insight also. (Make your own commentary!)

3. Be Creative and Imaginative:

• Be creative in your discussions and questions.
• Visualize the situation.
• Use maps, whiteboards, games, time lines.
• Give some small assignment, quiz or fun group activity to the group, keep the engaged.

4. Facilitator and Not a Preacher:

• Remember that you are not a preacher, you are facilitator of the discussion group. Make sure that you don’t keep talking.
• Communicate your questions well, rephrase it if possible.
• Don’t let it be silent for long time, give hints, ask individuals.

5. Equal Opportunity:

• Make sure that every one participates in the discussion.
• You will always find few people, more responsive than others.
• But, don’t let it be discussion between just 2-3 persons. Ask individual, remembering names will be useful here.
• You will often be surprised to hear insight from people who generally remain quiet.
• Remember that silence does not always mean non-participation.

6. Diversion:

• Many times, you will find the discussion being side tracked or distracted in particular topic.
• Use your judgment, to continue or bring the group back to the main idea or passage.
• If there is some major important issue, let the discussion continue. The idea is to learn here and not stick to the passage.

7. Time Management:

• 25-30 minutes of bible study time is perfect. Don’t make it too long.
• Don’t let the group loose focus.
• If there is some important theological discussion going on, you can conclude bible study, but continue the discussion, so that those who need to leave can go.
• Don’t try to finish the passage because you run out of time. You can continue next week. (So many times, I have seen leader’s finishing the passage or topic suddenly, so that they don’t have to lead next week.) Again, good preparation will be helpful here.

8. Finish Strong:

• Spend enough time in the application of the word.
• Challenge your group for the not only ‘learner of the word but the doer of the word’.
• Don’t make it too emotional. After all, the things that will stay with the group is not the emotion, but the teaching.
• Encourage them for personal bible study.

Check out an excellent resource by Grahame Knox for Bible Study for Youth Leaders – Free Ebook. It provides an excellent resource for different techniques and ideas for effectively leading bible study groups.

Check out Practical Suggestions for Leading Small Group Bible Study

Other Resources: Leading Life-Changing Small GroupsMore Bible Studies:

• How to Lead Small Group – Practical Suggestions
• How to Overcome Temptation
• How to Do Quiet Time – Time Alone with God
• Discover God’s Will – Practical Preparation
• 9 Ways God Speak to His People in Bible

How to Lead Small Group Bible Study Effectively is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide

• John 2:1-11:
• Miracle of Water Into Wine

Q. What was the wedding like in an eastern culture? Who were invited? How long can it go?

• In Eastern cultures, wedding was like a social event, family, friends, distant relatives, neighbors are all invited. (Parable of Great Banquet)
• Wedding celebration can go upto 2-3, even 7 days.

Q. The passage starts with ‘On the third day’, So was is it referring to? How was Jesus’ Schedule like?

Let us trace back Jesus’ schedule for this week.

• 1st Day – John spoke about Messiah (John 1:26-28)
• 2nd Day – John testifies about Jesus (John 1: 29)
• 3rd Day – Jesus’ first disciples – Andrew and Simon Peter (John 1:35)
• 4th Day – More disciples – Philip and Nathaniel (John 1:43)
• 7th Day – Jesus at the Wedding (John 2:1)

It seems like John is giving account of major event on every day of the week. This is quite fascinating. In some ways, this gives us idea of what happened during first few days of Jesus’ public ministry.

Q. Where was Cana?

• Small town in Galilee (you can locate Cana in your bible map). It is this place where Jesus performed his first miraculous sign, in his public ministry. (John 2:11)
• Jesus also performed another miracle in Cana. (John 4:46 – “Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.”)
• Cana is also mentioned in John 21:2 as a Nathanael’s home town.

Q. What does it mean to run out of food in the Wedding in that culture?

• Public disgrace, shame for the family
• In some eastern cultures, legal actions can also be taken against it.

Q. Why did Mary tell Jesus about the problem?

• To report, or just to inform, or may be to do something about it.
• Her anticipation is clear from her instruction to servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
• (Mary may seem like a meddler! But it is quite common for the elders to help out in some critical situation during wedding)

Q. What do you think about Jesus’ address to his mother?

• “Dear Woman”, sounds strange! Nonetheless, it was a respected term.
• (Jesus used similar words on the cross, John 19:26 -”When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son..”)

Q. Why did Jesus tell, “My time has not yet come”?

• Jesus implies that the time has not yet fully come to publicly reveal his true identity.
• Compare it with John 12:23, John 12:27, John 13:1, John 16:25 and John 17:1.
• (Jn 17:1 – “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you”.)

Q. What were those six stone jars for?

• They were for the purpose of Jews washing their hands before they begin to eat and for other purification purposes.
• Each stone jars, can approximately contain 20 gallons of water. So, its about 120 gallons of water (~450 liters). (Total number of wine bottles, click here)

Q. Who was the master of banquet?

• Wedding planner.

Q. What does wine represent in the bible?

• Wine is often considered a symbol of Joy. (Isaiah 55:1)

Q. How many people knew that Jesus performed this miracle? What can we learn from this passage?

• His mother, his disciples, and the servants.
• This was the first miracle Jesus performed. It was very low profile. Very few people knew about it. It was at the wedding, in very insignificant town, in front of the servants.
• Jesus cares for the insignificant.
• He can turn our ordinary life into exceptional for his Glory (John 2:11)
• There is a wonderful poetic expression of miracle of water into wine: “The conscious water saw its God and blushed.”

More Bible Studies:

• Joseph in the Gospel of Matthew – Matthew 1:18-25 | Bible Study
• Feeding the 5000 | Bible Study
• The Parable of the Great Feast | Luke 14:15-24 | Bible Study
• Jesus Calming the Storm – Bible Lesson
• How to Do Quiet Time – Time Alone with God

Miracle of Jesus at Cana Wedding – John 2:1-11 | Bible Study is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide

Bible study passages with the list of spiritual gifts:

• Romans 12: 3-9
• Eph 4: 2-12
• 1 Cor. 12: 1-31
• 1 Peter 4: 10-11

What is Spiritual Gift?

Spiritual Gift is a special attribute given by the Holy Spirit to Every Member of the body of Christ according to God’s Grace for use within the context of the Body.

Why to Discover our Spiritual Gifts?

• Spiritual Gifts assist  in finding God’s will in our life (Discovering God’s Will)
• Spiritual Job Description
• Commitment of points of our gifts rather than abstract commitment
• More effective service
• Appropriate commitment to Ministry
• Helps overcome feelings of inferiority

Hindrances to Spiritual Gifts:

• False modesty
• Inexperience
• Disobedience
• Lack of commitment
• Unloving Spirit
• Lack of Prayer
• Lack of Environment
• Focusing our weakness

This is the comprehensive list of spiritual gifts mentioned in various passages of the bible. You can take a spiritual gift inventory test to discover your personal gifts.

Other Resources: Discover Your Spiritual GiftsMore Bible Studies:

• Feeding the 5000 | Bible Study
• Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness – Beatitudes Bible Study | 4 of 8
• Who is the Holy Spirit: Bible Doctrine
• Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh – 2 Cor 12:7-10 | Bible Study
• Jesus Heals the Leper – Mark 1:40-45 | Bible Study

List of Spiritual Gifts: Discovering Your Gifts is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide

For more details: Read ‘Learn to Lead’ – How to effectively lead small group bible study

Other Resource: Coaching Life-Changing Small Group LeadersMore Bible Studies:

• How to Lead Small Group Bible Study Effectively
• Proverbs 12: Christian Wisdom
• Temptations of Jesus in the Wilderness | Bible Study
• How to Do Quiet Time – Time Alone with God
• Inductive Bible Study Method: How to Guide

How to Lead Small Group – Practical Suggestions is a post from: Bible Study Lessons | Christian Bible Studies | Inductive Bible Study Guide