The Devotional Method of Bible Study

Here is a copy of the notes from the S.P.A.C.E. P.E.T.S lesson for anyone who may not have received a handout.

I.             Why should we study the Bible?

a.     We are commanded to do so:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

The Greek word translated Study in this verse is the word spoudázō, this word could also be translated: use speed; make effort; be prompt; labor; be diligent; endeavor. The NIV translates this word with the phrase “Do your best.”

b.     It is for our benefit:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

                                          i.    Scripture was given for:

1.     Teaching us

2.     Reproving us

3.     Correcting us

4.     Training us in Righteousness

5.     Making us competent

6.     To equip us for every good work

c.     It keeps us from error:

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

 Acts 17:11 (NIV)

II.           What do we gain by studying the Bible?

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;  the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;  the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;  the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV)

From these verses we see that studying the Bible:

a.     Restores our soul

b.     Makes us wise

c.     Brings us joy

d.     Gives us enlightenment

e.     Warns us

f.      Gives great reward

Additionally, studying the Bible:

a.     Helps us to know God

b.     Shows us our sinfulness

c.     Teaches us what God expects from us

III.         The three parts of Bible Study.

a.     Observation: What does the Bible say?

b.     Interpretation: What does the Bible mean?

c.     Application: How do I put what I learned into practice?

Application is the ultimate goal of Bible Study:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 7:24 (ESV)

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:22 (ESV)

Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary warned, “Interpretation without application is abortion.”

IV.          Going from observation to application.

All you need is S.P.A.C.E. P.E.T.S.

S. Is there a Sin to confess or to avoid in this passage?

P. Is there a Promise that I can claim?

A. Is there an Action to take or an Attitude to change or avoid?

C. Is there a Command to obey?

E. Is there a positive Example to follow or to avoid?

P. Is there anything here that I need to Pray about?

E. Does this passage show me an Error that I need to avoid?

T. Is there some Truth here that I need to believe?

S. Is there Something here that I can praise or thank God for?

So now that we have the tools and know what we need to do, how do we put this into practice?

V.            Putting it into practice.

When I study I try to look first at the book as a whole in order to establish the context of what is being said. Once I think that I have a handle on the context of the book I will typically study it a chapter at a time. But even though I am looking at the chapter (and the book) as a whole I will typically study it a paragraph at a time.

Below is an example of how I used this method of Bible Study in studying the 1^st chapter of the Book of James. You will notice as we go through this that there are elements of both Observation and Interpretation here, but the ultimate goal is when this is completed to be able to write out a personal application that is: personal, practical, possible, and provable.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

James 1:1 (ESV)

James, who was the half brother of Jesus, saw himself as a servant of God. This is an attitude that I need to develop in my own life and an example that I need to follow.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

When I encounter trials do I view them with joy? If my answer is no then this is a sin that I need to confess.

Facing trials with joy is also a command, and it is something that I need to pray about.

Not facing trials with joy is an error that I need to avoid.

There is also a conditional promise in this paragraph. When I face trials with joy and endure in faith verse four says that I will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (For further study look up what it means to be perfect and complete)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5-8 (ESV)

Verse five contains another promise: God will give wisdom generously and without reproach to those who ask Him. Verse six make this promise conditional by saying that the one asking must ask in faith.

Verses seven and eight show me the negative example of one who is double-minded. In the MacArthur Study Bible Dr. MacArthur wrote:

A literal translation of the Greek expression that denotes having one’s mind or soul divided between God and the world. This man is a hypocrite, who occasionally believes in God but fails to trust Him when trials come, and thus receives nothing. The use of this expression in 4:8 makes it clear that it refers to an unbeliever.^[1]

Application: Pray daily for wisdom and trust that God will provide me with the wisdom that I need then trust Him completely without wavering in every situation that arises.

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

James 1:9-11 (ESV)

Example to follow: Exercise humility (Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation).

Truths to believe:

1.     The humble have a high position before God (See Luke 14:11)

2.     Riches will not save: even the wealthy will pass away like grass.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James 1:13-15 (ESV)

Truths to believe:

1.     God cannot be tempted by evil

2.     God does not tempt anyone

3.     My temptations are a result of my own lusts and desires

4.     Desire leads to sin, and sin brings forth death

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:16-18 (ESV)

Command: Do not be deceived. What am I not to be deceived about?

The Greek expression refers to erring, going astray, or wandering. Christians are not to make the mistake of blaming God rather than themselves for their sin.^[2]

Truths to believe:

1.     Every Good and perfect gift is from God

2.     God is unchanging (This is also something that I can praise God for)

3.     God saved me (brought me forth) of His own will (Something that I can thank God for)

4.     Salvation comes though the word of truth

5.     Christians are a “kind of firstfruits of His creation.”

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:19-21 (ESV)

Command: Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

*Note for further study – this verse does not say “do not get angry.” This must mean that there is an acceptable anger.

Command: Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and humbly receive the implanted word.

Verse 21 says that the implanted word “is able to save your souls.” What does this mean? We see in Romans 10:17, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, and Ephesians 1:13 the importance of hearing the word of God and its role in our coming to Christ. Is that what James is referring to here as well?

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James 1:22-25 (ESV)

Command: Be a doer of the word.

Example to avoid: Do not be like one who hears the word but doesn’t do what it says. This person looks at himself in the mirror of God’s word and then goes away forgetting what he saw; he hears the word but forgets what he heard.

Promise: The person who looks into the law of God, hears what it says, and then does it, will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:26-27 (ESV)

Sin to Confess: Not keeping my tongue bridled

Truths to believe:

1.     False religion – a religion that does not help others – is useless.

2.     True religion before God is to care for those in need and to keep myself unstained by the world.

Summary of James Chapter 1:

S.         Sin I need to confess: Being a hearer and not a doer of the word

P.         Promise to claim: The doer of the word will be blessed

A.         Attitude to avoid: Being prideful of what I have; I need to humbly use what God has blessed me with to help others

C.         Command to obey: Be quick to hear and slow to speak

E.         Example for me to follow: I need to always see myself as a bondservant of Christ like James did

P.         Things I need to pray about: My attitudes and my tendency to doubt. That the Holy Spirit would reveal to me any area where I am not being a doer of the word or any area where I am being deceived (either by myself or others)

E.         Error to avoid: Do not be a forgetful hearer

T.         Truth to believe: God is unchanging; therefore I can trust Him completely

S.         Something to thank or praise God for: I can thank God for giving me this warning. I can praise Him for His love, His faithfulness, and His word.

Verse to Memorize:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:22 (ESV)

Personal Application:

I have a tendency to approach the Bible as an academic pursuit, so starting today I will make it a point to see what God says in His word not as a way to gain knowledge but as a way to change my behavior. When God shows me something in His word I will look for a way that I can put it into practice instead of just trying to understand what it means.

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^[1] MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Jas 1:8). Nashville: Word Pub.

^[2] MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Jas 1:16). Nashville: Word Pub.