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Getting More Out Of Your Bible
Introduction:
How can you get more from the Word of God? How can you better understand the Bible? It mainly depends upon:
• our having a plan,
• working at that plan consistently,
• and experiencing the joy of mining truths from the Word of God.
Success or Failure. . . Which Shall It Be?
1. Success or failure in the Christian life is dependent on how much of the Bible you get into your heart on a regular basis and how obedient you are to it.
2. You can be saved and only know John 3:16, but you will never ever become a happy successful Christian without regularly feeding on the Word of God.
a. The more you work at it - the better it will be.
b. The more you study -- the faster you will grow.
Jesus Gave Us the Formula For success When He Said,
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.†Jh 13:17
“If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.†Jh 8:31
You Can Understand the Bible
I. God Desires That YOU Understand The Bible!
1. It was not written for scholars, ministers, or theologians so they could
lecture and preach. Psalm, chapters 119 and 19, prove that to us!
2. It was written for you, “little children.†(I Jh 1:4; Jh 5:39; 17:3, 17)
3. If you gave 15 minutes a day to English, you could learn the English language.
4. If you give 15 min a day for reading and another 15 min a day for study and some spare moments for learning, by the end of three years you will have accomplished the following:
a. Read the Bible completely through.
b. Read the key books several times.
c. Accumulated the major principles, promises, and commands.
d. Studied the most important chapters.
e. Learned several key verses.
f. Developed a working knowledge of the Bible.
g. Developed a life long habit of Bible study that will enrich your
entire life.
5. There must be reading -- study -- learning -- thinking, and the results will
be dynamic! (Prov. 2:1-11; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Tim. 2:15; Psa. 119)
6. Nothing can take the place of the input of the Word of God, consider:
a. James 1:21 “en grafted Word†b. John 8:31-32 “continue in the Wordâ€Â
c. Joshua 1:8 “meditate†d. Psalm 1:2-3 “meditate day, nightâ€Â
e. Jer. 15:16 “found, eaten†f. Rom. 10:17 “faith comes by. . .â€Â
II. How Should You Study the Bible ?
• One often hears the words, “I just can’t get much from the Bible. I just don’t
seem to understand it; I read it but it seems of little value to me.â€Â
• “How can I learn more from the Word of God?†is a question we ought to
ask ourselves, ask one another, and ask God.
• What did you receive from the Word this week? What did you learn?
• How do you study the Word? Or do you?
• There are many practical principles that we ought to keep in mind in order
to receive the most from God’s Word.
1. Study (read) with a Regenerate mind. (I Cor. 2:14)
a. If we want to know the Word, we must know the Author.
b. First be saved, then open the mind and heart to spiritual truth.
c. It isn’t enough to value the Bible as literature, for its ethical, moral beauty, etc.
2. Study (read) with a Meditating mind.
a. God’s Words were “found†by him. (Jere. 15:16)
How? by searching, by diligent study. (Prov. 2:1-4)
b. He “did eat them,â€Â
• not just taste, but received entirely,
• eaten as welcomed food for the soul.
• He partook, spend time with it, absorbed it as he spiritually
digested the Word, turning it into spiritual life for the soul.
• It was good for it brought rejoicing to the soul.
c. The Psalmist meditated day and night. (Psa. 1:2-3)
• By meditating we can take the text with us in the heart.
• We can think upon it day and night.
• What we meditate upon (puruse over, go over mentally) shows us
what we have in the heart. (Matt. 12:35-37)
3. Study (read) with a Teachable heart. (Exod 3, 4)
a. God had called Moses, but was he receptive?
b. God spoke to him, but did he trust, believe God? (4:1,10)
(Matt 16:20 and
c. The disciples (apostles) heard, but did they believe? (Mark 16:14)
4. Study (read) with an Obedient mind and heart. (James 1:21-25)
a. “Whoso looketh,†into the perfect law of liberty.
• To look is to carefully, earnestly look, and heed.
• True liberty comes when we put ourselves under the yoke of the Word.
• Maybe we look, but do not see, or heed?
b. To be an obedient reader is to be a “doer of the work.†(consider v. 21)
5. Study (read) with a Searching mind. (Acts 17:11; John 5:39)
a. Paul reasoned with them out of the Word of God, and they went to the
Scriptures to search, examine, find out... “if these things are so.â€Â
b. God doesn’t fear scrutiny of His Word, it bears the closest search.
6. Study (read, heard) with a Joyful desire. (Neh. 8:9-10, 12)
a. There was joy, weeping for joy as they heard and were thrilled.
b. We must prepare ourselves with keen ears, receptive hearts,
and joyful expectation. (See Acts 10:31-33, about Cornelius.)
• desire, “Immediately therefore I sent to thee. . . .â€Â
• dependence, “. . .we are all here present before God.â€Â
• definiteness, “to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.â€Â
7. Study (read) with a Sharing desire. (Neh. 8:10; II Tim. 2:2)
a. We are to “eat the fat, drink the sweet†of the things of the Lord.
b. We are to “send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared.â€Â
III. What Bible Study Can Do For YOU!
Let’s quickly list what an “investment†in the Word of God could do for you personally, and then through you for others as well.
1. It will make you a strong Christian. (I Jh 2.:14)
These young men were no longer children but had become strong for the Word of God abode in them, and they now overcame the wicked one.
2. It assures us of our salvation. (I Jh. 5:9-13; Jh. 10:27-29; Jh. 5:24)
Having assurance we are then able to boldly share what Christ has done
for us and how others can trust Him for salvation as well.
3. It gives us confidence and power in prayer. (I Jh. 5:14-15; Jh. 15:7; Matt. 7:7)
As we read, study and abide in the Word of God it gives us power in prayer
for we become acquainted with His will, God’s heart, and consequently
we know how to pray and what to pray for that would please Him.
4. It will bring cleansing from sin. (Jh. 15:3; 17:17; Psa. 119: 9-11)
We desperately need daily cleansing from daily defilement.
Nothing can take the place of the Word of God in our lives on a daily basis.
5. It will bring great abiding joy. (Jh. 15:11; Jere. 15:16; Psa. 19:7-11)
The Word of God is a precious gold-mine of truth for us to seek for our
own soul’s need. It becomes more precious as we study, read, and apply it.
6. It will produce inner peace and stability. (Jh. 14:27; Isa. 23:6;
Psa. 119:165) There is little peace in this world, but the saved can have daily i inner peace, rest, tranquility and stability because of the indwelling Truth.
7. It will enable you to share your faith. (I Pet. 3:15; Psa. 126:5-6;
I Pet. 1:23)
How does anyone know how to share the gospel? Only by the Word of God
we make ours. It is the Word He has promised to use. (Rom. 10:13-17)
8. It will guide you in the many decisions of life. (Psa. 119:105; 37:23;
Lk 11:28; Prov. 3:4-5; II Tim. 3:15-17)
Knowing God’s will and living it brings great blessing to the individual life.
By contrast being outside God’s will brings great sorrow and loss.
9. By the application of the Word of God you will have success.
(Joshua 1:8; Psa. 1:2-3) Do you desire to be like a fruitful tree, to prosper, to have spiritual success? I trust so, it is found by being a Bible Book Worm.
• It isn’t God’s will that the Word of God be a closed book to any of us, being little understood, or a book full of mysteries to us.
• Having proven methods of Bible study will make the difference in our lives.
Simple Methods Of Getting Truth From the Scriptures
I. Reading the Bible To Get More!
Someone has said, “If you can read, you can learn almost anything.†How true. And if you are going to learn the Bible, you will have to develop the habit of reading large portions of the Scriptures and rereading books regularly.
It is the consistent reading of the Bible that will help us develop a regular study habit. It takes inspiration from the joy of Bible reading to bring about a desire to mine out the treasures God has for us.
II. How To Read It!
1. Read it daily.
2. Set a regular time and place to read it.
3. Read it prayerfully, the Word of God is no ordinary book. (Psa. 119:103)
(See I Cor. 2:9-16; Isa. 29:10-12)
4. Read with a pencil or pen in hand.
5. Read the Bible devotionally.
6. Keep a spiritual diary that you use daily.
III. What to Put In Your Spiritual Diary!
1. It ought to include the following:
a. A potential title of the portion you are studying
b. How you see the Holy Spirit in the portion
c. What you see concerning God, the Father in the portion
d. What you see concerning Christ in the portion
e. Promises to claim
f. Commands to obey
g. Examples to follow
h. Principles to apply
i. Personal application for your life for today
2. Why you should keep a spiritual diary:
a. It will provide you a handy method for recording special daily
insights from God’s Word.
b. It will produce an attitude of expectancy and excitement in the Word.
c. It will provide a daily means of receiving personal truth for growth.
d. It will provide a means of review over things God has taught you.
e. It will provide personal insight into Scripture that will help you
whenever the Word of God is preached or taught.
f. It will help you gauge your spiritual growth.
g. It will give you a new appreciation for the practicality of the Word of God
and help feed others.
h. It could be a book study, or a chapter study, a topical study or some
other way of mining truth for daily living. (See study guides.)
IV. Some Methods of Bible Reading
1. There are five different ways that we take God’s Word into our lives:
a. It will be read to us,
b. We will read it for ourselves,
c. We must study it daily, (II Tim. 2:15)
d. We must memorize it, and
e. We must meditate on the Scriptures daily.
2. So, first here are some suggestions for reading the Bible.
a. Read it by books. Consider the fact the each book has:
• a purpose for its being written,
• a setting historically, culturally, etc.,
• a God-called writer whom God used to write it.
• There probably were needs among the recipients to whom
it was written.
b. Discipline yourself to read the Word of God.
• Read it when you feel like it, and when you don’t.
• Make a sacred vow with God to meet Him in the Book.
• Make no exceptions.... maybe read or go without food, rest, etc.
• Read with the intent to glean truth, having a way to do that.
c. Read it to get the most out of it. . . suggestions: (Any book you want to
master, you need to read over and over again... 8- 12 times at least.)
(Read in the order you desire.)
• Read the book of I John twelve times
• Then read the Gospel of John twice
• Read the Gospel of Mark twice
• Read the short Epistles of Paul, (Galatians through Philemon)
(It would be best to read each one twelve times in one week
so each one will truly live to you.)
• Read the book of Acts twice or over and over for a month
• Read the book of Romans twice or over and over for a month
• Read the books of wisdom in the Old Testament, (Proverbs for 3 months)
• Read the entire New Testament
• Read the Psalms, once a month for six months
A Reading Plan for Three Years!
First year: Second year: Third year:
I John seven times A proverb each day for 4 months 1 N.T. chapters daily
John twice Two chaps daily-- (Job-Song of S.) 2 O.T. “ “
Mark twice Read repeatedly for one month: 5 O.T. “ on Sun.
Gal - Philemon I John and Jude
Luke Galatians, Ephesians
Acts Philippians, Colossians
Romans I & II Thess., I and II Tim.
New Testament twice James, I and II Peter
Romans
John 14-17, Revelation
V. Study the Bible by Books
> God desires that we would be approved workman, who rightly divide the Word of truth. This can only take place as we truly study the Word of God.
> The Word of God was given to us --- one book at a time, according to the
need for the truth.
> The Bible is a living organism of truth; it has in it the life of the living God, and is able (as no other book) to impart spiritual life to the soul of man.
> Reading the Bible is the very foundation of all Bible study. But then next to reading comes writing, for both are an aid to memory and provide us a source of reference and review as well as personal daily growth.
> This necessitates our developing a personal daily diary, or truly a Personal Growth Method.
> Having devotions daily can be exciting and we could do the bare minimum
that will bring little growth or we can develop a method that will bring
untold blessing.
1. It will necessitate:
a. mental work, b. discipline, c. time
2. We can do any of the following: (which we will cover in more detail.)
a. Study the Bible by books
b. Study the Bible by chapters
c. Study the Bible by doctrines,
d. Study the Bible by looking at characters
e. Study topics, or the life of Christ
3. If we study by books, or by chapters we will need to ask the following
questions, for we must be good observers!
a. Who?
• was the human writer?
• were the recipients?
• were the characters involved in the action?
• were the characters not directly involved in the action?
• were the special people addressed in the passage?
b. What? (the key truths or events)
• Key ideas • Key events
• Theological terms • Important words
• Figures of speech • Atmosphere or setting
c. Where? (the geography and location)
• Places mentioned • Buildings, cities, nations, landmarks
d. When?
• Date of authorship • Duration of the action (if any)
• When in the church age? • When in the life of Israel?
• Past, present, or future?
e. Why? (the purpose of the passage or book)
• What was the readers’ need?
• What was the writer’s message?
Here you are discovering the purpose of the passage or book. The purpose is like a two-sided coin. On the one hand, you have the need that caused the revelation to be given, and on the other hand, you have the author’s message, addressed to meet the need.
The need question could also be called the problem as God lead someone to give answers to those problems. Of course, not all Scripture addressed problems, but usually there was something happening in the lives of the readers that warranted the writing of the book or the passage. (And much doctrinal truth was given for every saved person for all the church age.)
VI. Study the Bible By Chapters
> One of the most thrilling ways to study the Word of God is to study chapters.
> Possibly first you would desire to study those that mean the most to you at that time or those you feel you need the most.
> The average chapter is 25 verses, a handy length to read and although they often are divided into several paragraphs, they often have one central lesson or subject. (Or study each paragraph of thought as complete in itself.)
> A single chapter is a handy length to work with and a chapter analysis will prove to be a rich source of blessing. Or one could break it down into the paragraphs.
> Not all chapters have the same potential for our spiritual wealth, so you will particularly want to make a decision to study those most significant to one’s spiritual well-being, and that will aid your growth and maturity.
1. A suggested list of chapters to master:
Group A: Group B:
Ephesians chapters 1 - 6 John chapters 2, 3-5
Colossians chapters 1 - 4 Matthew chapters 5-7, 13, 24-25
Galatians chapters 1 - 6 John 11-12, 18-21
Philippians chapters 1 - 4 Acts 2 - 3
John chapters 14- 17 I Corinthians chapters 6, 15
Romans chapters 3, 6, 8, 12 II Corinthians chapters 4-6, 12
I Timothy chapter 1 - 6 Proverbs 2 - 7,
II Timothy chapters 1-4 Psalm 1, 27, 37, 103, 139
I Corinthians chapters 3, 13 I Corinthians chapters 12, 14
(These are only suggestive for each person might come up with his own list.)
2. How to analyze a chapter: You will be looking for the following:
a. What is the main subject?
b. Who are the main people?
c. What does it say about Christ?
d. What do I find about God the Father or the Holy Spirit?
d. What is the key or main verse?
e. What is the central lesson?
f. What are the main promises?
g. What are the main commands?
h. What error or sin should I avoid?
i. What example is here?
j. What do I need most in this chapter to apply to my life today?
3. It is tremendously helpful to work on a chapter summary in your own words.
You should (after reading it many times and answering the foregoing) be
able to reduce the whole chapter to three to five paragraphs.
4. Then seek to outline the chapter as you see it:
VII. Study Bible Characters
Some of the most interesting people who ever lived we find in the pages of the Word of God. Someone has said there are approximately 2,930 different men and women in the Old and New Testaments. Many are only referred to once or twice, but there are many key figures in the Scriptures, such as: Adam, Abraham, Moses,
David, Solomon, Joshua, Daniel, Paul, Peter, John, and many more.
The New Testament tells us that their deeds were recorded for our profit and that “. . .these things happened unto them for examples (unto us). . .†(I Cor. 10:11) The examples of these lives aren’t much value to us unless we take the time to study what God has given us concerning each one.
This could be a wonderful and profitable method to learn much for our lives and those who live in our homes. In a separate study guide I share a method of research into the lives of people who God used or who were in the record of His Word.
VIII. Study Biblical Topics
Topical studies are one of the great ways to secure a good understanding of
God’s will, and the doctrinal truths we need to understand for our personal lives.
1. There are a number of topics that are extremely important to every saint. Doctrinal subjects, such as:
sin, justification, sanctification, redemption, prayer, faith, righteousness,
repentance, grace, salvation, adoption etc.,
2. There are a number of good results that such a study will give you:
a. You begin to truly understand the meaning of those terms or doctrines
as they apply to your own life.
b. You will see how they relate to your general Bible reading.
c. And you better understand the teaching and preaching that is shared in the ministry of the church.
d. The truths you put into your heart from such a study will bring stability,
establish you, strengthen you for service, and bring greater understanding
toward teaching (discipling) your own child.
There are so many topics one could study. A good topical study book like Torrey’s New Topical Text Book would be a great aid or Nave’s Topical Bible.
IX. Making the Psalms and Proverbs Special
1. They are a rich source of practical instruction, encouragement and information.
a. Some of them are very short,
b. others very long and must be divided into sections as one studies them.
A majority of the Psalms were written by King David, who in spite of his terrible sins committed at one point of his life, was really a dedicated man of God with a love for God, and who manifested many unique insights. Also it is interesting that the Psalms were written over a period of almost 1,500 years.
2. Originally, the Psalms were used as the hymn book of Israel.
a. Many were written in Hebrew parallelism, that is, they say the same thing twice, but in a different way.
b. The second phrase of verses sometimes just repeats; others times it is an amplification of the first. (See Psalm 102:1 and 2.)
3. Here are suggested Psalms and Proverbs for a special study.
You may want to choose others as well.
Special Psalms: Special Proverbs:
Psalm 1 -- Introductory Psalm Proverbs 1 -- Importance of wisdom.
Psa. 8 -- Glory of God, the Messiah Prov. 2 -- Wisdom saves from evil
Psa. 23 -- The great Shepherd Psalm Prov. 3 -- Principles for happy living
Psa. 27 -- An encouragement to faith Prov. 4 -- A father’s advice to his son
Psa. 32 -- Blessings of forgiveness Prov. 6 -- Advice to parents
Psa. 37 -- The faith-rest life Prov. 7 -- The high price of immorality
Psa. 13 -- The cry of the heart Prov. 11 -- Integrity living
Psa. 43 -- Why am I cast down? Prov. 20 -- Righteous living a blessing
Psa. 51 -- A cry for forgiveness Prov. 22 -- How to conduct business
Psa. 59 -- A cry for help Prov. 24 --Motivation for righteousness
Psa. 78 -- God’s dealings with Israel Prov. 31 -- The Virtuous woman
Psa. 91 -- The best way to live
Psa. 103 -- A message of praise
Psa. 119 -- God’s description of His Word
Psa. 127 -- The blessings of a family
Psa. 146, 147, 148, 149, 150 -- Chapters of praise and thanksgiving
X. Study Christ’s Life and Teachings
1. An inspiring topical study would include Christ’s life and His many teachings as found in the Gospels.
2. Or if a person wanted to study the diety of Christ there are many portions that would give a full picture Christ’s deity.
3. Some potential studies:
Christ, the Word, Jh 1 The temptation of Christ, Matt 3
The first miracle, Jh 2 The call of the disciples, Matt 4
Christ heals a crippled man, Jh 5 Feeding the 5,000, Jh 6:1-14
Jesus walks on water, Jh 6:15-21 Healing of the man born blind, Jh 9
(This is just a few of a long list that one could include.)
4. The parables of the Lord Jesus would be another source for understanding truths He set forth. A person also needs a good understanding of the Principles for the Bible Interpretation of Parables.
In the process of making a chapter analysis of each one of the parables of Christ, you could allow about one week or one and one-half hours for each study. You could give this amount of time to each study on Christ’s life and in this way you would have a thorough knowledge of His life and ministry. (See chart on Jesus’ Life and Teachings)
How To Make the Scriptures Yours
I. By Understanding The Inter-relationship of the Books of the Bible
1. The timeline of the Old Testament:
a. Approximately 2,000 years from Gen. 1 - Gen 12. (Call of Abraham)
b. Approximately 2,000 years from Gen. 12 - through Malachi.
• About 500 yrs from the call of Abraham until the Exodus (Exod 3 -4)
• About 500 yrs. from Exodus till the time of the Kings (thru Judges)
• About 500 yrs. from I Kings through II Chron. (Period of the Kingdom)
• About 500 yrs. from the fall of the Kingdom until the time of Christ
c. All the books of the major and minor prophets fit back into the time of
the writing of the books of history. (Isaiah through Malachi fit back into
the history books of I and II Samuel through Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.)
d. The Psalms were written over a period of 1,500 years, so some of the Psalms
were written during the early kingdom right on through the captivity.
2. The timeline of the New Testament.
a. The four gospels cover the same period of time, each ending with the
Resurrection, the Great Commission, and some with the Ascension.
b. The book of Acts picks up where the gospels leave off -- and includes the
Great Commission once again, and His Ascension. (Acts 1:1-11)
c. Acts is a book of history, and all the Epistles fit back into the history of
the book of Acts. It is a book that does not close - the church age continues.
II. By Securing Major Study Helps
There are some major works that every Christian family ought to own. This minimum would include:
• a Bible Concordance, • a Bible Handbook, • a Topical Text Book,
• a one volume Commentary, • a Bible Dictionary,
• and an Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
These various study helps would give the individual a good source and variety
of helps. If they desired to invest a larger amount possibly a commentary set such as Barnes Notes (about $99.00) would be a good addition.
III. By Recognizing Some Basic Rules For Better Bible Study:
1. The Rule of Authority: The Word of God is inspired of God, the final authority in every subject that it treats. It should be our text book.
2. The Rule of Literal Interpretation: The Scriptures are to be taken literally.
3. The Rule of Christ-Centric Interpretation: Christ is the center of all of God’s revelation. We must be Christ centered in our study and application, making Him Lord of our lives.
4. The Rule of Contextual Consideration: Always study the context, interpret all Scripture in the light of the rest of Scripture. It is its best commentary. Comparing Scripture with Scripture we will find the body of truth.
5. The Rule of Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth. (I Cor. 10:31-32) The Word of God was written about and for three groups -- Church, Gentiles, Jews.
6. The Rule of Repetition: Anything repeated is done so for emphasis. Never
build a doctrine on some isolated verse. God puts emphasis on essentials.
7. Rule of Practical Application and Appropriation: Every truth revealed to us is to be obeyed and appropriated for we are accountable for truth.
8. Rule Concerning Difference Between Interpretation and Application:
Interpretation is one thing -- application may be more than one thing. Interpretation is based on grammatical, historical, cultural aspects by which we adhere strictly to what the text says. Application may be to people then, or to us as principles or truth to be applied.
9. Rule of No Private Interpretation: (II Pet. 1:20) Private interpretations take place when people interpret the Word of God in order to support their own
pet doctrines. If we desire we can make the Bible say anything we want it to
say if we take it out of context to prove our point. (II Tim. 2:15)
CHAPTER ANALYSIS...OF JOHN 17
Let’s together analyze this chapter... reading it over and over again... would bring us to what is there:
I. Main Outline: (or how the chapter falls into three natural parts)
1. The Prayer of Christ for _____________ vs. 1-5
2. The Prayer of Christ for ______ __________ vs. 6-19
3. The Prayer of Christ for the _________ of the future vs. 20-26
II. Making Subdivisions Under the Main Headings:
A. The prayer of Christ for __________ vs. 1-5, He prayed that He might
1. ________ the Father, vs. 1
2. _________ the cross, “the hour,†vs. 1
3. ___________ humanity by the bestowal of eternal life, vs. 2
4. __________ the work appointed by the Father, vs. 4
B. The prayer of Christ for the _____________, vs. 6-19
1. concern for His relation to them, their attitude toward Him, and the
message the Father had given _______. vs. 6
2. praying for their ________ with the Father, the Son, and each other, vs. 11
3. praying the Father would ________ them, (while they remained in the
world) from the power of the evil one. vs. 11, 15, 16
4. praying for their _________________, that is, that they might be consecrated to the work of the ministry, as He had been, vs. 17-19
C. The prayer for the Church of the __________, we have Christ praying....
1. for its _________, vs 21-23
2. for its ____________ before the world, vs. 21, 23
3. that the whole Church may be gathered ultimately with _________ in
eternal glory.
III. Finding What the Chapter Teaches About Doctrinal (topical) Subjects:
A. About God:
1. What He Is: His nature -- Divine v. 1, omnipotence, v.. 2;
omnipresent, v. 23, righteous, v. 25
2. What He Does:
a. With respect to Christ:
• loved Him, v. 24 • send him to the world, vs. 3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25
• dwells in Him, v. 23, • gives Him all power, v. 2
• gives believers to Him, vs. 3, 6, 8, etc. • glorifies Him, vs. 22, 24
b. With respect to believers:
• ________ them to Christ, vs. 3, 6, 8, etc.
• _________ them as He loves Christ, vs. 23, 26
• _________ in them, vs. 23, 26,
• keeps them, vs. 11, 12, 15
• ___________ them, v. 17
• makes them _____ with Himself, vs. 7, 21
• gives them __________ _______ by knowing Him, v. 3
B. About Jesus Christ:
1. What He Is:
a. His nature -- divine -- Son, v.____ b. omnipotence, v. ____
c. omnipresent, v. ____, d. equal with God, vs. 3, 10, ____, ____,
e. preexistent, vs, 5, _____ f. human --with body, v. _____
g. a man, vs. 1, 4, ____, ____ h. dependent upon the Father, vs. 7,
i. His names: ________ v. 1, _______ v. 1, __________ v. 3
2. What He Does:
a. glorifies God, vs. 1, 3 b. reveals ______, vs. 6, 26
c. knows God intimately, v. _____ d. delivers God’s ________, vs. 8, 14
e. finishes the work the Father gave Him to do, v. 4
f. ________ God’s _______, v. 8
3. With Respect to Believers: (you would find the following)
They are His, (v. 10) gives them eternal life, (v. 2) manifests the Father to them, (vs. 6, 25, 26) prays for them, (vs. 9, 20) dwells in them, (vs. 21, 23), keeps them, (vs. 12) intercedes for them, (vs. 8, 9) sanctifies Himself as their example, (v. 19), longs for them in glory, (v. 24)
C. About the Believer: (You could find many verses under these headings)
1. His relationship to God
2. His relationship to Christ
3. His relationship to the world
4. His relationship to other believers
(Further study should included the following in chapter 17 of John)
D. The World:
E. Prayer:
F. The Word of God:
This would bring you to a wonderful understanding of this chapter!!
QUOTES, IDEAS, MATERIALS, AIDS
Note: It is as useless to expect to arrive at a knowledge of the Bible without prayer and study as it is to fill one’s barns with grain without going through the process of ploughing, sowing, and reaping.
So, How Should You Read the Bible?
1. read it continuously, (without observing its divisions of chapter and verses),
2. read it repeatedly, (until you have the consciousness of its possession in your heart and mind),
3. read it independently, (without the aid at first of any commentary or other Bible help.
4. read it prayerfully, (in reliance upon the Holy Spirit who wrote it to enlighten its pages to your understanding.)
Introduction:
How can you get more from the Word of God? How can you better understand the Bible? It mainly depends upon:
• our having a plan,
• working at that plan consistently,
• and experiencing the joy of mining truths from the Word of God.
Success or Failure. . . Which Shall It Be?
1. Success or failure in the Christian life is dependent on how much of the Bible you get into your heart on a regular basis and how obedient you are to it.
2. You can be saved and only know John 3:16, but you will never ever become a happy successful Christian without regularly feeding on the Word of God.
a. The more you work at it - the better it will be.
b. The more you study -- the faster you will grow.
Jesus Gave Us the Formula For success When He Said,
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.†Jh 13:17
“If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.†Jh 8:31
You Can Understand the Bible
I. God Desires That YOU Understand The Bible!
1. It was not written for scholars, ministers, or theologians so they could
lecture and preach. Psalm, chapters 119 and 19, prove that to us!
2. It was written for you, “little children.†(I Jh 1:4; Jh 5:39; 17:3, 17)
3. If you gave 15 minutes a day to English, you could learn the English language.
4. If you give 15 min a day for reading and another 15 min a day for study and some spare moments for learning, by the end of three years you will have accomplished the following:
a. Read the Bible completely through.
b. Read the key books several times.
c. Accumulated the major principles, promises, and commands.
d. Studied the most important chapters.
e. Learned several key verses.
f. Developed a working knowledge of the Bible.
g. Developed a life long habit of Bible study that will enrich your
entire life.
5. There must be reading -- study -- learning -- thinking, and the results will
be dynamic! (Prov. 2:1-11; II Tim. 3:16-17; II Tim. 2:15; Psa. 119)
6. Nothing can take the place of the input of the Word of God, consider:
a. James 1:21 “en grafted Word†b. John 8:31-32 “continue in the Wordâ€Â
c. Joshua 1:8 “meditate†d. Psalm 1:2-3 “meditate day, nightâ€Â
e. Jer. 15:16 “found, eaten†f. Rom. 10:17 “faith comes by. . .â€Â
II. How Should You Study the Bible ?
• One often hears the words, “I just can’t get much from the Bible. I just don’t
seem to understand it; I read it but it seems of little value to me.â€Â
• “How can I learn more from the Word of God?†is a question we ought to
ask ourselves, ask one another, and ask God.
• What did you receive from the Word this week? What did you learn?
• How do you study the Word? Or do you?
• There are many practical principles that we ought to keep in mind in order
to receive the most from God’s Word.
1. Study (read) with a Regenerate mind. (I Cor. 2:14)
a. If we want to know the Word, we must know the Author.
b. First be saved, then open the mind and heart to spiritual truth.
c. It isn’t enough to value the Bible as literature, for its ethical, moral beauty, etc.
2. Study (read) with a Meditating mind.
a. God’s Words were “found†by him. (Jere. 15:16)
How? by searching, by diligent study. (Prov. 2:1-4)
b. He “did eat them,â€Â
• not just taste, but received entirely,
• eaten as welcomed food for the soul.
• He partook, spend time with it, absorbed it as he spiritually
digested the Word, turning it into spiritual life for the soul.
• It was good for it brought rejoicing to the soul.
c. The Psalmist meditated day and night. (Psa. 1:2-3)
• By meditating we can take the text with us in the heart.
• We can think upon it day and night.
• What we meditate upon (puruse over, go over mentally) shows us
what we have in the heart. (Matt. 12:35-37)
3. Study (read) with a Teachable heart. (Exod 3, 4)
a. God had called Moses, but was he receptive?
b. God spoke to him, but did he trust, believe God? (4:1,10)
(Matt 16:20 and
c. The disciples (apostles) heard, but did they believe? (Mark 16:14)
4. Study (read) with an Obedient mind and heart. (James 1:21-25)
a. “Whoso looketh,†into the perfect law of liberty.
• To look is to carefully, earnestly look, and heed.
• True liberty comes when we put ourselves under the yoke of the Word.
• Maybe we look, but do not see, or heed?
b. To be an obedient reader is to be a “doer of the work.†(consider v. 21)
5. Study (read) with a Searching mind. (Acts 17:11; John 5:39)
a. Paul reasoned with them out of the Word of God, and they went to the
Scriptures to search, examine, find out... “if these things are so.â€Â
b. God doesn’t fear scrutiny of His Word, it bears the closest search.
6. Study (read, heard) with a Joyful desire. (Neh. 8:9-10, 12)
a. There was joy, weeping for joy as they heard and were thrilled.
b. We must prepare ourselves with keen ears, receptive hearts,
and joyful expectation. (See Acts 10:31-33, about Cornelius.)
• desire, “Immediately therefore I sent to thee. . . .â€Â
• dependence, “. . .we are all here present before God.â€Â
• definiteness, “to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.â€Â
7. Study (read) with a Sharing desire. (Neh. 8:10; II Tim. 2:2)
a. We are to “eat the fat, drink the sweet†of the things of the Lord.
b. We are to “send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared.â€Â
III. What Bible Study Can Do For YOU!
Let’s quickly list what an “investment†in the Word of God could do for you personally, and then through you for others as well.
1. It will make you a strong Christian. (I Jh 2.:14)
These young men were no longer children but had become strong for the Word of God abode in them, and they now overcame the wicked one.
2. It assures us of our salvation. (I Jh. 5:9-13; Jh. 10:27-29; Jh. 5:24)
Having assurance we are then able to boldly share what Christ has done
for us and how others can trust Him for salvation as well.
3. It gives us confidence and power in prayer. (I Jh. 5:14-15; Jh. 15:7; Matt. 7:7)
As we read, study and abide in the Word of God it gives us power in prayer
for we become acquainted with His will, God’s heart, and consequently
we know how to pray and what to pray for that would please Him.
4. It will bring cleansing from sin. (Jh. 15:3; 17:17; Psa. 119: 9-11)
We desperately need daily cleansing from daily defilement.
Nothing can take the place of the Word of God in our lives on a daily basis.
5. It will bring great abiding joy. (Jh. 15:11; Jere. 15:16; Psa. 19:7-11)
The Word of God is a precious gold-mine of truth for us to seek for our
own soul’s need. It becomes more precious as we study, read, and apply it.
6. It will produce inner peace and stability. (Jh. 14:27; Isa. 23:6;
Psa. 119:165) There is little peace in this world, but the saved can have daily i inner peace, rest, tranquility and stability because of the indwelling Truth.
7. It will enable you to share your faith. (I Pet. 3:15; Psa. 126:5-6;
I Pet. 1:23)
How does anyone know how to share the gospel? Only by the Word of God
we make ours. It is the Word He has promised to use. (Rom. 10:13-17)
8. It will guide you in the many decisions of life. (Psa. 119:105; 37:23;
Lk 11:28; Prov. 3:4-5; II Tim. 3:15-17)
Knowing God’s will and living it brings great blessing to the individual life.
By contrast being outside God’s will brings great sorrow and loss.
9. By the application of the Word of God you will have success.
(Joshua 1:8; Psa. 1:2-3) Do you desire to be like a fruitful tree, to prosper, to have spiritual success? I trust so, it is found by being a Bible Book Worm.
• It isn’t God’s will that the Word of God be a closed book to any of us, being little understood, or a book full of mysteries to us.
• Having proven methods of Bible study will make the difference in our lives.
Simple Methods Of Getting Truth From the Scriptures
I. Reading the Bible To Get More!
Someone has said, “If you can read, you can learn almost anything.†How true. And if you are going to learn the Bible, you will have to develop the habit of reading large portions of the Scriptures and rereading books regularly.
It is the consistent reading of the Bible that will help us develop a regular study habit. It takes inspiration from the joy of Bible reading to bring about a desire to mine out the treasures God has for us.
II. How To Read It!
1. Read it daily.
2. Set a regular time and place to read it.
3. Read it prayerfully, the Word of God is no ordinary book. (Psa. 119:103)
(See I Cor. 2:9-16; Isa. 29:10-12)
4. Read with a pencil or pen in hand.
5. Read the Bible devotionally.
6. Keep a spiritual diary that you use daily.
III. What to Put In Your Spiritual Diary!
1. It ought to include the following:
a. A potential title of the portion you are studying
b. How you see the Holy Spirit in the portion
c. What you see concerning God, the Father in the portion
d. What you see concerning Christ in the portion
e. Promises to claim
f. Commands to obey
g. Examples to follow
h. Principles to apply
i. Personal application for your life for today
2. Why you should keep a spiritual diary:
a. It will provide you a handy method for recording special daily
insights from God’s Word.
b. It will produce an attitude of expectancy and excitement in the Word.
c. It will provide a daily means of receiving personal truth for growth.
d. It will provide a means of review over things God has taught you.
e. It will provide personal insight into Scripture that will help you
whenever the Word of God is preached or taught.
f. It will help you gauge your spiritual growth.
g. It will give you a new appreciation for the practicality of the Word of God
and help feed others.
h. It could be a book study, or a chapter study, a topical study or some
other way of mining truth for daily living. (See study guides.)
IV. Some Methods of Bible Reading
1. There are five different ways that we take God’s Word into our lives:
a. It will be read to us,
b. We will read it for ourselves,
c. We must study it daily, (II Tim. 2:15)
d. We must memorize it, and
e. We must meditate on the Scriptures daily.
2. So, first here are some suggestions for reading the Bible.
a. Read it by books. Consider the fact the each book has:
• a purpose for its being written,
• a setting historically, culturally, etc.,
• a God-called writer whom God used to write it.
• There probably were needs among the recipients to whom
it was written.
b. Discipline yourself to read the Word of God.
• Read it when you feel like it, and when you don’t.
• Make a sacred vow with God to meet Him in the Book.
• Make no exceptions.... maybe read or go without food, rest, etc.
• Read with the intent to glean truth, having a way to do that.
c. Read it to get the most out of it. . . suggestions: (Any book you want to
master, you need to read over and over again... 8- 12 times at least.)
(Read in the order you desire.)
• Read the book of I John twelve times
• Then read the Gospel of John twice
• Read the Gospel of Mark twice
• Read the short Epistles of Paul, (Galatians through Philemon)
(It would be best to read each one twelve times in one week
so each one will truly live to you.)
• Read the book of Acts twice or over and over for a month
• Read the book of Romans twice or over and over for a month
• Read the books of wisdom in the Old Testament, (Proverbs for 3 months)
• Read the entire New Testament
• Read the Psalms, once a month for six months
A Reading Plan for Three Years!
First year: Second year: Third year:
I John seven times A proverb each day for 4 months 1 N.T. chapters daily
John twice Two chaps daily-- (Job-Song of S.) 2 O.T. “ “
Mark twice Read repeatedly for one month: 5 O.T. “ on Sun.
Gal - Philemon I John and Jude
Luke Galatians, Ephesians
Acts Philippians, Colossians
Romans I & II Thess., I and II Tim.
New Testament twice James, I and II Peter
Romans
John 14-17, Revelation
V. Study the Bible by Books
> God desires that we would be approved workman, who rightly divide the Word of truth. This can only take place as we truly study the Word of God.
> The Word of God was given to us --- one book at a time, according to the
need for the truth.
> The Bible is a living organism of truth; it has in it the life of the living God, and is able (as no other book) to impart spiritual life to the soul of man.
> Reading the Bible is the very foundation of all Bible study. But then next to reading comes writing, for both are an aid to memory and provide us a source of reference and review as well as personal daily growth.
> This necessitates our developing a personal daily diary, or truly a Personal Growth Method.
> Having devotions daily can be exciting and we could do the bare minimum
that will bring little growth or we can develop a method that will bring
untold blessing.
1. It will necessitate:
a. mental work, b. discipline, c. time
2. We can do any of the following: (which we will cover in more detail.)
a. Study the Bible by books
b. Study the Bible by chapters
c. Study the Bible by doctrines,
d. Study the Bible by looking at characters
e. Study topics, or the life of Christ
3. If we study by books, or by chapters we will need to ask the following
questions, for we must be good observers!
a. Who?
• was the human writer?
• were the recipients?
• were the characters involved in the action?
• were the characters not directly involved in the action?
• were the special people addressed in the passage?
b. What? (the key truths or events)
• Key ideas • Key events
• Theological terms • Important words
• Figures of speech • Atmosphere or setting
c. Where? (the geography and location)
• Places mentioned • Buildings, cities, nations, landmarks
d. When?
• Date of authorship • Duration of the action (if any)
• When in the church age? • When in the life of Israel?
• Past, present, or future?
e. Why? (the purpose of the passage or book)
• What was the readers’ need?
• What was the writer’s message?
Here you are discovering the purpose of the passage or book. The purpose is like a two-sided coin. On the one hand, you have the need that caused the revelation to be given, and on the other hand, you have the author’s message, addressed to meet the need.
The need question could also be called the problem as God lead someone to give answers to those problems. Of course, not all Scripture addressed problems, but usually there was something happening in the lives of the readers that warranted the writing of the book or the passage. (And much doctrinal truth was given for every saved person for all the church age.)
VI. Study the Bible By Chapters
> One of the most thrilling ways to study the Word of God is to study chapters.
> Possibly first you would desire to study those that mean the most to you at that time or those you feel you need the most.
> The average chapter is 25 verses, a handy length to read and although they often are divided into several paragraphs, they often have one central lesson or subject. (Or study each paragraph of thought as complete in itself.)
> A single chapter is a handy length to work with and a chapter analysis will prove to be a rich source of blessing. Or one could break it down into the paragraphs.
> Not all chapters have the same potential for our spiritual wealth, so you will particularly want to make a decision to study those most significant to one’s spiritual well-being, and that will aid your growth and maturity.
1. A suggested list of chapters to master:
Group A: Group B:
Ephesians chapters 1 - 6 John chapters 2, 3-5
Colossians chapters 1 - 4 Matthew chapters 5-7, 13, 24-25
Galatians chapters 1 - 6 John 11-12, 18-21
Philippians chapters 1 - 4 Acts 2 - 3
John chapters 14- 17 I Corinthians chapters 6, 15
Romans chapters 3, 6, 8, 12 II Corinthians chapters 4-6, 12
I Timothy chapter 1 - 6 Proverbs 2 - 7,
II Timothy chapters 1-4 Psalm 1, 27, 37, 103, 139
I Corinthians chapters 3, 13 I Corinthians chapters 12, 14
(These are only suggestive for each person might come up with his own list.)
2. How to analyze a chapter: You will be looking for the following:
a. What is the main subject?
b. Who are the main people?
c. What does it say about Christ?
d. What do I find about God the Father or the Holy Spirit?
d. What is the key or main verse?
e. What is the central lesson?
f. What are the main promises?
g. What are the main commands?
h. What error or sin should I avoid?
i. What example is here?
j. What do I need most in this chapter to apply to my life today?
3. It is tremendously helpful to work on a chapter summary in your own words.
You should (after reading it many times and answering the foregoing) be
able to reduce the whole chapter to three to five paragraphs.
4. Then seek to outline the chapter as you see it:
VII. Study Bible Characters
Some of the most interesting people who ever lived we find in the pages of the Word of God. Someone has said there are approximately 2,930 different men and women in the Old and New Testaments. Many are only referred to once or twice, but there are many key figures in the Scriptures, such as: Adam, Abraham, Moses,
David, Solomon, Joshua, Daniel, Paul, Peter, John, and many more.
The New Testament tells us that their deeds were recorded for our profit and that “. . .these things happened unto them for examples (unto us). . .†(I Cor. 10:11) The examples of these lives aren’t much value to us unless we take the time to study what God has given us concerning each one.
This could be a wonderful and profitable method to learn much for our lives and those who live in our homes. In a separate study guide I share a method of research into the lives of people who God used or who were in the record of His Word.
VIII. Study Biblical Topics
Topical studies are one of the great ways to secure a good understanding of
God’s will, and the doctrinal truths we need to understand for our personal lives.
1. There are a number of topics that are extremely important to every saint. Doctrinal subjects, such as:
sin, justification, sanctification, redemption, prayer, faith, righteousness,
repentance, grace, salvation, adoption etc.,
2. There are a number of good results that such a study will give you:
a. You begin to truly understand the meaning of those terms or doctrines
as they apply to your own life.
b. You will see how they relate to your general Bible reading.
c. And you better understand the teaching and preaching that is shared in the ministry of the church.
d. The truths you put into your heart from such a study will bring stability,
establish you, strengthen you for service, and bring greater understanding
toward teaching (discipling) your own child.
There are so many topics one could study. A good topical study book like Torrey’s New Topical Text Book would be a great aid or Nave’s Topical Bible.
IX. Making the Psalms and Proverbs Special
1. They are a rich source of practical instruction, encouragement and information.
a. Some of them are very short,
b. others very long and must be divided into sections as one studies them.
A majority of the Psalms were written by King David, who in spite of his terrible sins committed at one point of his life, was really a dedicated man of God with a love for God, and who manifested many unique insights. Also it is interesting that the Psalms were written over a period of almost 1,500 years.
2. Originally, the Psalms were used as the hymn book of Israel.
a. Many were written in Hebrew parallelism, that is, they say the same thing twice, but in a different way.
b. The second phrase of verses sometimes just repeats; others times it is an amplification of the first. (See Psalm 102:1 and 2.)
3. Here are suggested Psalms and Proverbs for a special study.
You may want to choose others as well.
Special Psalms: Special Proverbs:
Psalm 1 -- Introductory Psalm Proverbs 1 -- Importance of wisdom.
Psa. 8 -- Glory of God, the Messiah Prov. 2 -- Wisdom saves from evil
Psa. 23 -- The great Shepherd Psalm Prov. 3 -- Principles for happy living
Psa. 27 -- An encouragement to faith Prov. 4 -- A father’s advice to his son
Psa. 32 -- Blessings of forgiveness Prov. 6 -- Advice to parents
Psa. 37 -- The faith-rest life Prov. 7 -- The high price of immorality
Psa. 13 -- The cry of the heart Prov. 11 -- Integrity living
Psa. 43 -- Why am I cast down? Prov. 20 -- Righteous living a blessing
Psa. 51 -- A cry for forgiveness Prov. 22 -- How to conduct business
Psa. 59 -- A cry for help Prov. 24 --Motivation for righteousness
Psa. 78 -- God’s dealings with Israel Prov. 31 -- The Virtuous woman
Psa. 91 -- The best way to live
Psa. 103 -- A message of praise
Psa. 119 -- God’s description of His Word
Psa. 127 -- The blessings of a family
Psa. 146, 147, 148, 149, 150 -- Chapters of praise and thanksgiving
X. Study Christ’s Life and Teachings
1. An inspiring topical study would include Christ’s life and His many teachings as found in the Gospels.
2. Or if a person wanted to study the diety of Christ there are many portions that would give a full picture Christ’s deity.
3. Some potential studies:
Christ, the Word, Jh 1 The temptation of Christ, Matt 3
The first miracle, Jh 2 The call of the disciples, Matt 4
Christ heals a crippled man, Jh 5 Feeding the 5,000, Jh 6:1-14
Jesus walks on water, Jh 6:15-21 Healing of the man born blind, Jh 9
(This is just a few of a long list that one could include.)
4. The parables of the Lord Jesus would be another source for understanding truths He set forth. A person also needs a good understanding of the Principles for the Bible Interpretation of Parables.
In the process of making a chapter analysis of each one of the parables of Christ, you could allow about one week or one and one-half hours for each study. You could give this amount of time to each study on Christ’s life and in this way you would have a thorough knowledge of His life and ministry. (See chart on Jesus’ Life and Teachings)
How To Make the Scriptures Yours
I. By Understanding The Inter-relationship of the Books of the Bible
1. The timeline of the Old Testament:
a. Approximately 2,000 years from Gen. 1 - Gen 12. (Call of Abraham)
b. Approximately 2,000 years from Gen. 12 - through Malachi.
• About 500 yrs from the call of Abraham until the Exodus (Exod 3 -4)
• About 500 yrs. from Exodus till the time of the Kings (thru Judges)
• About 500 yrs. from I Kings through II Chron. (Period of the Kingdom)
• About 500 yrs. from the fall of the Kingdom until the time of Christ
c. All the books of the major and minor prophets fit back into the time of
the writing of the books of history. (Isaiah through Malachi fit back into
the history books of I and II Samuel through Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.)
d. The Psalms were written over a period of 1,500 years, so some of the Psalms
were written during the early kingdom right on through the captivity.
2. The timeline of the New Testament.
a. The four gospels cover the same period of time, each ending with the
Resurrection, the Great Commission, and some with the Ascension.
b. The book of Acts picks up where the gospels leave off -- and includes the
Great Commission once again, and His Ascension. (Acts 1:1-11)
c. Acts is a book of history, and all the Epistles fit back into the history of
the book of Acts. It is a book that does not close - the church age continues.
II. By Securing Major Study Helps
There are some major works that every Christian family ought to own. This minimum would include:
• a Bible Concordance, • a Bible Handbook, • a Topical Text Book,
• a one volume Commentary, • a Bible Dictionary,
• and an Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
These various study helps would give the individual a good source and variety
of helps. If they desired to invest a larger amount possibly a commentary set such as Barnes Notes (about $99.00) would be a good addition.
III. By Recognizing Some Basic Rules For Better Bible Study:
1. The Rule of Authority: The Word of God is inspired of God, the final authority in every subject that it treats. It should be our text book.
2. The Rule of Literal Interpretation: The Scriptures are to be taken literally.
3. The Rule of Christ-Centric Interpretation: Christ is the center of all of God’s revelation. We must be Christ centered in our study and application, making Him Lord of our lives.
4. The Rule of Contextual Consideration: Always study the context, interpret all Scripture in the light of the rest of Scripture. It is its best commentary. Comparing Scripture with Scripture we will find the body of truth.
5. The Rule of Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth. (I Cor. 10:31-32) The Word of God was written about and for three groups -- Church, Gentiles, Jews.
6. The Rule of Repetition: Anything repeated is done so for emphasis. Never
build a doctrine on some isolated verse. God puts emphasis on essentials.
7. Rule of Practical Application and Appropriation: Every truth revealed to us is to be obeyed and appropriated for we are accountable for truth.
8. Rule Concerning Difference Between Interpretation and Application:
Interpretation is one thing -- application may be more than one thing. Interpretation is based on grammatical, historical, cultural aspects by which we adhere strictly to what the text says. Application may be to people then, or to us as principles or truth to be applied.
9. Rule of No Private Interpretation: (II Pet. 1:20) Private interpretations take place when people interpret the Word of God in order to support their own
pet doctrines. If we desire we can make the Bible say anything we want it to
say if we take it out of context to prove our point. (II Tim. 2:15)
CHAPTER ANALYSIS...OF JOHN 17
Let’s together analyze this chapter... reading it over and over again... would bring us to what is there:
I. Main Outline: (or how the chapter falls into three natural parts)
1. The Prayer of Christ for _____________ vs. 1-5
2. The Prayer of Christ for ______ __________ vs. 6-19
3. The Prayer of Christ for the _________ of the future vs. 20-26
II. Making Subdivisions Under the Main Headings:
A. The prayer of Christ for __________ vs. 1-5, He prayed that He might
1. ________ the Father, vs. 1
2. _________ the cross, “the hour,†vs. 1
3. ___________ humanity by the bestowal of eternal life, vs. 2
4. __________ the work appointed by the Father, vs. 4
B. The prayer of Christ for the _____________, vs. 6-19
1. concern for His relation to them, their attitude toward Him, and the
message the Father had given _______. vs. 6
2. praying for their ________ with the Father, the Son, and each other, vs. 11
3. praying the Father would ________ them, (while they remained in the
world) from the power of the evil one. vs. 11, 15, 16
4. praying for their _________________, that is, that they might be consecrated to the work of the ministry, as He had been, vs. 17-19
C. The prayer for the Church of the __________, we have Christ praying....
1. for its _________, vs 21-23
2. for its ____________ before the world, vs. 21, 23
3. that the whole Church may be gathered ultimately with _________ in
eternal glory.
III. Finding What the Chapter Teaches About Doctrinal (topical) Subjects:
A. About God:
1. What He Is: His nature -- Divine v. 1, omnipotence, v.. 2;
omnipresent, v. 23, righteous, v. 25
2. What He Does:
a. With respect to Christ:
• loved Him, v. 24 • send him to the world, vs. 3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25
• dwells in Him, v. 23, • gives Him all power, v. 2
• gives believers to Him, vs. 3, 6, 8, etc. • glorifies Him, vs. 22, 24
b. With respect to believers:
• ________ them to Christ, vs. 3, 6, 8, etc.
• _________ them as He loves Christ, vs. 23, 26
• _________ in them, vs. 23, 26,
• keeps them, vs. 11, 12, 15
• ___________ them, v. 17
• makes them _____ with Himself, vs. 7, 21
• gives them __________ _______ by knowing Him, v. 3
B. About Jesus Christ:
1. What He Is:
a. His nature -- divine -- Son, v.____ b. omnipotence, v. ____
c. omnipresent, v. ____, d. equal with God, vs. 3, 10, ____, ____,
e. preexistent, vs, 5, _____ f. human --with body, v. _____
g. a man, vs. 1, 4, ____, ____ h. dependent upon the Father, vs. 7,
i. His names: ________ v. 1, _______ v. 1, __________ v. 3
2. What He Does:
a. glorifies God, vs. 1, 3 b. reveals ______, vs. 6, 26
c. knows God intimately, v. _____ d. delivers God’s ________, vs. 8, 14
e. finishes the work the Father gave Him to do, v. 4
f. ________ God’s _______, v. 8
3. With Respect to Believers: (you would find the following)
They are His, (v. 10) gives them eternal life, (v. 2) manifests the Father to them, (vs. 6, 25, 26) prays for them, (vs. 9, 20) dwells in them, (vs. 21, 23), keeps them, (vs. 12) intercedes for them, (vs. 8, 9) sanctifies Himself as their example, (v. 19), longs for them in glory, (v. 24)
C. About the Believer: (You could find many verses under these headings)
1. His relationship to God
2. His relationship to Christ
3. His relationship to the world
4. His relationship to other believers
(Further study should included the following in chapter 17 of John)
D. The World:
E. Prayer:
F. The Word of God:
This would bring you to a wonderful understanding of this chapter!!
QUOTES, IDEAS, MATERIALS, AIDS
Note: It is as useless to expect to arrive at a knowledge of the Bible without prayer and study as it is to fill one’s barns with grain without going through the process of ploughing, sowing, and reaping.
So, How Should You Read the Bible?
1. read it continuously, (without observing its divisions of chapter and verses),
2. read it repeatedly, (until you have the consciousness of its possession in your heart and mind),
3. read it independently, (without the aid at first of any commentary or other Bible help.
4. read it prayerfully, (in reliance upon the Holy Spirit who wrote it to enlighten its pages to your understanding.)
