3. APPLY – How Do I Respond to What God Is Saying?

REVIEW

THREE STEPS:

1. EXPLORE – What did God say? 2. CONNECT – What is God saying? 3. APPLY – How do I respond to what God is saying?

These three steps — Explore, Connect, Apply — can help you go deeper in understanding the Bible and knowing how to apply it to the situations in your own life.

STEP ONE: EXPLORE – WHAT DID GOD SAY?

1. Survey 2. Examine o Historical o Genre o Literary o Make Observations o Redemptive o Compare Translations o Consult Commentaries o Outline the Passage o Author’s Big Idea 1 STEP TWO: CONNECT - WHAT IS GOD SAYING?

Even though the Bible was written a long time ago and life looks a lot different now, the Bible’s message is still relevant. But you need to bridge the gap between the past and the present.

1. Ask: What’s Different? (things that are time bound) • Take note of everything in the passage that’s different between then and now.

o What’s different about people? Ex: I am not an Israelite wandering in the desert with Moses. I am not a Hebrew or a Philippian.

o What’s different about the culture? Ex. Am I nomadic? No. Do we have several wives? No. Do we live in 1st century Judea? No. Do women wear head coverings in church? No.

o What different about redemptive history? Ex. I don’t live under the Old Covenant. We don’t make sacrifices of animals.

2. Ask: What’s the Same? (things that are timeless) • Take note of everything in the passage that’s the same between then and now.

o What’s the same about God – his character and ways? Ex. God was sovereign in my passage and he is still sovereign today. Jesus was merciful as he healed someone – He is still merciful today. The Holy Spirit was active then and now.

o What’s the same about people – their actions. attitudes and hopes? Ex. The people in my passage were afraid; people are still afraid today. People in the church weren’t getting along – still happens today. People were hoping and waiting for Jesus to return; we still hope and wait for Jesus to return.

o What’s the same about redemptive history? Ex. People lived after the Cross and after Pentecost; the early church was begun – the New Covenant was in effect. We live under the New Covenant and in the age of the church.

o What does this passage reveal about brokenness and/or sin? There could be several instances in your passage. Ex. Moses felt inadequate to speak before Pharaoh – we still feel inadequate today. Abram lied about Sarai being his sister – we still lie today. The Israelites didn’t believe God even after they saw his miraculous provision over and over. We still doubt and disbelieve today God today. Our natural tendency is to lack faith in Jesus’ authority, running from situations where we are uncomfortable.

o How does this passage point to Christ and the grace of God? Is there a “solution” to the “problem” of brokenness and sin? Ex. God promises his Spirit to be my strength. I am adopted into his family. God offers provision, forgiveness, faithfulness etc., to those in the passage.

2 3. Write a Theological Big Idea (TBI): this is a one sentence summary of the main point/timeless truth of the passage. • This statement will include timeless truth that was true for the people of the Bible and us today. “God” is always the subject.

STEP THREE: APPLY – HOW DO I RESPOND TO WHAT GOD IS SAYING?

Now make it personal. The truths found in the Bible are life-changing if we allow them to be. Studying and reading the Bible with a redemptive focus isn’t about an end-game of changed behavior; it’s about a changed heart. Application must always be anchored in the timeless truth of the passage; it must first be rooted in the work of Christ and the grace of the gospel.

Application is our response to who God is and what he’s done for us.

How do I respond to what God is saying?

Look back at the timeless message you discovered in step two. Ask: How does God want me — or my community — to respond to what he’s saying?

Ask: How do I share in the spiritual brokenness pointed out in this passage?

1. Ask: How does this passage point me to a redemptive solution that God provides?

2. Ask: How does God want me to respond to him from this passage? Is there something to believe? A sin to confess? An attitude to change? An ethical response that I can live out?

Response Big Idea:

Because God is … I can …

Bible Study Examples:

1 Samuel 25 EXPLORE: Author’s Big Idea – While David is on his way to take vengeance on Nabal, Abigail reminds Davis that God will care for him and conquer his enemies; David accepts her council and abandons his quest for vengeance. CONNECT: Fallen Condition – Fear-based response to difficult circumstances. We want to control our fate by taking matters into our own hands rather than trusting God to provide and fulfill his promises. Redemptive Solution – God’s servants are bound in the care of the living God. Theological Big Idea – God is faithful to his promises and graciously provides for the needs of his servants. APPLY: 3 Because we are bound in the care of God, we can trust him when life feels out of control. Genesis 12:1-9 EXPLORE: Author’s Big Idea – In response to God’s promise to bless and make Abram a great nation that would bless all families, he obeyed God and left his family and went to Canaan. CONNECT: Fallen Condition – Captivated by fear, we shrink back from entering into God’s story of being a blessing to the nations and live alternate stories like comfort and control. Redemptive Solution – The God who promises is faithful to keep his promises to bless others through us. Theological Big Idea – God calls his people to embrace his promises and enter his story of bringing blessing to all cultures and people we encounter. APPLY: Because God is faithful to his promises, I can trust him to take new faith steps and be a blessing to those I encounter.

Mark 2:1-12 EXPLORE: Author’s Big Idea – In response to the faith of the four men and scribes who questioned his authority, Jesus demonstrated his ability to forgive sins by healing a paralytic. CONNECT: Fallen Condition – Our natural tendency is to lack faith in Jesus’ authority, running from situations we are uncomfortable. Redemptive Solution – Authority of Jesus over all things. Theological Big Idea – As the divine Son, Jesus possesses divine authority to heal and forgive those who come to him in faith. APPLY: Because Jesus has authority over all things, we must run desperately to him in faith.

BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES

Online Books Blueletterbible.org How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth, Fee and Stuart Soniclight.com A Survey of the New Testament, Gundry Biblegateway.org An Introduction to the New Testament, Carson and Moo Bibleproject.com A Survey of the Old Testament Introduction, Archer Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Douglass and Tenney Study Bibles Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Brand and Mitchell ESV Study Bible (Crossway) Nelson’s Complete Bible Maps and Charts Zondervan NIV Study Bible The IVP Bible Background Commentary-New Testament, Keener The IVP Bible Background Commentary-Old Testament, Walton, Matthews, and Chavalas

Example of 1 John 1:1-4

1 John 1:1-4

STEP ONE: EXPLORE – WHAT DID GOD SAY?

1. Survey the Big Picture – Context Analysis • Historical Context o When was this written? § ~85 AD but no later than the ‘90s o Who wrote it and to whom? § John the son of Zebedee, he wrote from Ephesus, perhaps to the church in Ephesus and other churches of the region such as those in Revelation 2-3. o Why was it written? § The prologue seems to connect apostolic history with Jesus and with the mission of the apostles— The readers were confronted with the error of Gnosticism, This book calls readers back to the three basics of Christian life: true doctrine, obedient living, and faithful devotion. John wanted to assure them of their salvation.

• Literary Context o What happens in the passage before the one I am studying? § These are the opening words, so nothing is preceding this.

o What happens in the passage after? § After the prologue, John launches immediately into one of the primary tests of true faith.

o How do these passages fit together with each other? The whole book? The whole Bible? § The prologue seems to connect apostolic history with Jesus and with the mission of the apostles— Verse 3 also seems to have connections with the 4th Gospel—John 20:31—the purpose of the 4th gospel being that we might believe in Jesus—here that we might have fellowship. Also, Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, 1 John 1:1.

• Redemptive Context o When does this passage fit in the story of God? § It is the early church. New Covenant. Post-Pentecost.

2. Examining the Passage – Content Analysis • Identify the Literary Style o Genre – Epistle (letter) • Make Observations o Repeated key words, ideas, phrases § we, you, us, life (word of, eternal), made manifest, seen and heard – (3 of 5 senses– seeing, hearing, touching), proclaim, fellowship o Commands - none o Promises - none o Comparisons/Contrasts - none o Cause/Effect § We have seen it (word of life), we testify to it, so we proclaim it; we have seen and heard and proclaim so that you may have fellowship with us; these things were written so that our joy may be complete o Connectives – so that o What do I learn about God the Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit? § Eternal life was with the Father, and he made it manifest; the Father fellowships with believers; the Father has a Son – Jesus Christ; the Son fellowships with believers; the Son – Jesus Christ has a Father; Jesus is the incarnate “word of life.”

Make an Outline: I. John states that the very real word of life was made manifest to us-v.1-2 II. Johns states that the very real word of life was proclaimed to you-v.3 III. John states that they are writing for the joy of it-v.4

Author’s Big Idea: John proclaims that the very real word of life was revealed to and experienced by the apostles— and it is this eternal word of life that the apostles are proclaiming to these 1st century believers that they might have a real participation with them and God the Father and his Son—and this very writing brings John joy.

STEP TWO: CONNECT – WHAT IS GOD SAYING?

1. Ask: What’s Different? (things that are time bound) • Take note of everything in the passage that’s different between then and now. o What’s different about people? I don’t live in or around Ephesus. I don’t live in the first century. I am not John the apostle. I’m not a Gnostic.

6 o What’s different about the culture? We aren’t dealing with Gnosticism. Christianity isn’t new.

o What different about redemptive history? We are not part of the early church/apostolic tradition in the first century.

2. Ask: What’s the Same? (things that are timeless) • Take note of everything in the passage that’s the same between then and now.

o What’s the same about God – his character and ways? God is still a revealing God – he manifests his presence through Creation, his Word and his actions in the world. God is still eternal. God is able to be experienced. God is still life. God is knowable.

o What’s the same about people – their actions and attitudes and hopes? We still have the 5 senses (3 are mentioned in this passage). Man is still able to able to experience God, testify to his reality and proclaim him to others. Man is able to have a relationship with God. Man is able to experience God’s joy.

o What’s the same about redemptive history? We live under the New Covenant. We worship and serve the living Christ.

o What does this passage reveal about brokenness and/or sin? Sometimes we (like those in the passage) have the tendency to believe that Jesus is not real – neither fully God or fully man. We can have a tendency to not fully experience Christ or participate with him (through his Word, in community with other and through worship).

o How does this passage point to Christ and the grace of God? Is there a “solution” to the “problem” of brokenness and sin? Jesus is fully God and fully man – always existing. Through our salvation, he provides participation (fellowship) in him and with others.

3. Write a Theological Big Idea (TBI): this is a one sentence summary of the main point/timeless truth of the passage. • This statement will include timeless truth that was true for the people of the Bible and us today. “God” is always the subject.

TBI: The eternal word of life has been revealed, experience and proclaimed so that we might participate with God and one another to our own joy.

7 STEP THREE: APPLY – HOW DO I RESPOND TO WHAT GOD IS SAYING?

Application is our response to who God is and what he’s done for us.

How do I respond to what God is saying?

Look back at the timeless message you discovered in step two. Ask: How does God want me — or my community — to respond to what he’s saying?

1. Ask: How do I share in the spiritual brokenness pointed out in this passage? I don’t know that I fully experience Christ through his Word, community and worship as I could/should.

2. Ask: How does this passage point me to a redemptive solution that God provides? Jesus is very real and very present.

3. Ask: How does God want me to respond to him from this passage? Is there something to believe? A sin to confess? An attitude to change? An ethical response that I can live out?

Response Big Idea:

Because God is … I can …

Because Jesus is very real and present, I can expect for him to lead me through his Word.

Because Jesus is very real and present, I can expect to encounter him in corporate worship.

Because Jesus is very real and present, I can expect to see him through the diversity of community.

8 Example of Mark 4:35-41

STEP ONE: EXPLORE – WHAT DID GOD SAY?

1. Survey

• Historical Context

o When was the book of Mark written? 50s or early 60s (NIV intro to Mark) o Who wrote it and to whom? John Mark, also called “Mark” in Acts. He wrote the book from the preaching of Peter. Written to the church at Rome, or at least to Gentile readers (NIV intro to Mark) o Why was the book of Mark written? The ultimate purpose and theme of Mark is to present and defend Jesus’ universal call to discipleship (ESV intro to Mark).

• Literary Context o What happens in the passage before the one I am studying? § Teachings in Capernaum § Mark 4:1-41 - The parables of the kingdom

o What happens in the passage after? § Mark 5:1-20 - Healing a demon-possessed man § All the healing stories have to do with ceremonial uncleanliness

• Redemptive Context

o When does this passage fit in the story of God? § The kingdom of God was inaugurated but Jesus has not yet gone to the Cross.

2. Examine • Identify the Literary Style § Genre – Gospel narrative

9 • Make Observations:

Setting It is evening at the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been speaking in parables to a crowd that day. Now he decided to get on a boat with his disciples to go to the other side of the sea.

Characters Jesus and his disciples, the crowd they leave, others on the boats with them.

Plot While crossing the Sea of Galilee, a sudden storm arises and threatens to sink the boat as Jesus is sleeping. The disciples panic and wake Jesus, thinking he doesn’t care. Jesus rebukes the storm and the disciples.

Tension The tension begins at the onset of the storm when the disciples are afraid for their lives, climaxes when Jesus stills the storm and concludes with Jesus noting their lack of faith and fear and the disciples questioning who Jesus is.

Dialogue The dialogue is between Jesus and the disciples. It is mostly questions.

Geography The Sea of Galilee – it was infamous for sudden squalls. Surrounded by mountains at most points, the lake swirls violently when a strong wind enters.

Proportion The story starts out slow and wide and zooms in and speeds up once they are in the boat and the storm begins. The words “crashing” and “filling” are used in describing the situation. And zooms in even closer to show Jesus sleeping on a cushion and then zooms out a little to show Jesus rebuking the storm and the disciples.

Shift/Turn The biggest shift happens when Jesus asks the disciples, “Have you still no faith?” And the disciples became filled with a different kind of fear.

Repetition Boat(s) - 4 times; wind (windstorm) - 4 times; awoke/woke – 2; sea -2

Cause/Effect The disciples questioned Jesus regarding his care for them in the storm. Because the Decision/Consequence disciples questioned Jesus, he rebuked them by asking them why they were afraid and if they had no faith.

Key Words/Phrases Fear, faith

Connectives None

Contrasts The great windstorm and the great calm; the disciples fear and Jesus sleeping; fear Comparisons and faith; sleeping vs. awake; perishing vs. life

10 Make an Outline: § Beginning – (Setting/Problem) • At evening time, in a boat on the sea, the disciples and Jesus. A storm arises.

§ Middle – (Tension starts) • Jesus is asleep in the storm. Waves begin to break. Boat filling with water. Jesus, “Don’t you care?!”

• (Climax/High Point of the tension) o “Peace, be still.”

§ End - (Resolution/Following Action) • The wind ceases. Great calm. • He questions their faith and fear. • They question his identity.

Author’s Big Idea: Jesus’ words calm a furious windstorm in a boat at sea after the disciples wake him; they experience Jesus’ authority over creation and fearfully question his identity.

STEP TWO: CONNECT – WHAT IS GOD SAYING?

1. Ask: What’s Different? (things that are time bound) • Take note of everything in the passage that’s different between then and now.

§ What’s different about people? Ex. I am not one of the 12 disciples.

§ What’s different about the culture? .

§ What different about redemptive history?

2. Ask: What’s the Same? (things that are timeless) • Take note of everything in the passage that’s the same between then and now.

o What’s the same about God (Jesus) – his character and ways?

o What’s the same about people – their actions, attitudes and hopes?

o What’s the same about redemptive history?

o What does this passage reveal about brokenness and/or sin?

o How does this passage point to Christ and the grace of God? Is there a “solution” to the “problem” of brokenness and sin?

Try it Out:

12 STEP THREE: APPLY – HOW DO I RESPOND TO WHAT GOD IS SAYING?

Application is our response to who God is and what he’s done for us.

How do I respond to what God is saying?

Look back at the timeless message you discovered in step two. Ask: How does God want me — or my community — to respond to what he’s saying?

1. Ask: How do I share in the spiritual brokenness pointed out in this passage?

2. Ask: How does this passage point me to a redemptive solution that God provides?

3. Ask: How does God want me to respond to him from this passage? Is there something to believe? A sin to confess? An attitude to change? An ethical response that I can live out?

Response Big Idea:

Because God is … I can …

Example: Because Jesus is powerful, I can trust him in my situations that seem so big and out of control. I don’t need to worry.