LIVING BY THE BOOK STUDY GUIDE AND NOTES

Notes for May 16th, 2010

What did we learn?
Attractive truth is applied truth. The question is not “are we in the word?” but “is the word
in us?” God’s plan for every follower of Christ (aka Christian, Believer) is to “conform us to
the image and likeness of Christ”. He wants to make a permanent difference in our character
and conduct.

4 Substitutes for Application

1. We substitute Interpretation for Application- settling for knowledge rather than
experience.
2. We substitute Superficial Obedience for Substantive Life Change- We apply
biblical truth to areas we are already applying it, not to the real parts of our life that
need changing.
3. We substitute Rationalization for Repentance- Rationalizing sin instead of repenting
of it.
4. We substitute an Emotional Experience for a Volitional Decision- We study, we
feel good about what we learned but no real change takes place.

Application Works, just consult the letter from James. (James 1:12-25, NLT) God blesses
those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of
life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being
tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never
tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us
away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives
birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect
comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never
changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word.
And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. Understand this, my dear brothers
and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger
does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your
lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save
your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are
only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your
face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look
carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget
what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Four Steps in Application

1. Know the Text- Interpretation is one, application is many.

2. Relate- The truth of the word of God must relate to EVERY experience in our lives
(take a spiritual inventory).
a. The working Word
i. A new relationship with God
 ii. A new relationship with yourself
iii. A new relationship with other people
iv. A new relationship with sin
v. The Word exposes your sin
vi. The Word gives you God’s promises
vii. The Word gives you God’s commands
viii. The Word gives you examples to follow
3. Meditate- We need time to process it all.
4. Practice- Ultimate goal of Bible study is to PRACTICE the truth.

Notes for May 7thth, 2010

• What did we learn? Hendrick’s 10 rules for Figuring out Figurative Language are
worth writing down and keeping in our Bibles.

Read Chapters 37 & 38- Putting it all Together and Don’t Stop Now (read this on your
own).
We will go through chapters 39 & 40 on Friday night- The Value of Application and Four
Steps in Application.

Notes for April 30th, 2010

• What did we learn? We can gain a richer, deeper and more meaningful
understanding of the Word of God when utilizing resources such a Bible
Concordance, Bible Dictionary, Bible Atlas & various commentaries. LIFT UP
YOUR HEAD O YE GATES! WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?.

Read Chapters 35- Coming To Terms (dealing with obscure terms)

Read Chapters 36- Figuring out The Figurative (10 Principals for “Figuring out the
Figurative”). WE WILL SPEND OUT TIME HERE ON THE 30th

Notes for April 23rd, 2010

• We will spend time becoming familiar with using different resources to enhance
our study & interpretation of the biblical text.

Read Chapters 32- Comparison (The value of a concordance)

Read Chapters 33- Culture (gaining cultural context.... my favorite example in this book is
from Psalm 24).
Read Chapters 34- Consultation (Using other resources- Bible Dictionaries, Bible
Handbooks, Atlases, Bible commentaries, additional resources).

Notes for April 9th, 2010

What did we learn/discover on April 2nd?

 • Fleas lose their ability to hear when you pull off all their legs!
• The meaning of the Text is not in our response to the Test but IN THE TEXT.
Meaning is not our subjective response to the thoughts read into the text but
God’s objective truth read out of the Text.
• We must avoid the Hazard of Overconfidence and say to ourselves, everyday, “I
can learn something here, not.... I already know that.”

Read Chapters 29- What Type of Literature is This?

Read Chapters 30- Content (Keys to Interpretation #1)
Read Chapters 31- Context (Keys to Interpretation #2)

Notes for April 2nd, 2010

What did we learn/discover?

• We discovered the true-to-life aspects of Abraham, Moses, Saul, Peter & John
Mark!
• We have completed our Observation Skill building section, having started with a
verse, expanded to a paragraph and then a section.

Read Chapters 26 – Facts are Stupid Things until......

1. Complete the “You Try It” section on Genesis 3:1-7.
a. Follow the 6-day reading pattern suggested.
b. Write your observations each day from the suggested perspective
c. Post a short summary of what you learned on the Friday Fellowship blog.

Read Chapters 27 –“The Value of Interpretation” and review the main points
1. Do you understand what you’re reading?
2. What do we mean by interpretation?
3. The Construction of meaning
4. Why Interpretation?
a. Language Barriers
b. Cultural Barriers
c. Literary Barriers
d. Communication Barriers

We will discuss Chapter 28 together as a group.

1. Hazards to Avoid
a. Distorting the text
b. Contradicting the text
c. Subjectivism
d. Relativism
e. Overconfidence
2. The Right to Disagree

March 26th, 2010

What did we learn?

 • Matthew 5 is heavy lifting and requires all our spiritual muscles!

Read Chapters 22 & 23 (last 3 of the 6 Things To Look For)

1. Things that are Alike
a. Similes
b. Metaphors

2. Things that are Unlike

a. Use of “but”
b. Metaphors
c. Irony

John 11:1-46 for the “you try it” section to practice on your own.

3. Things that are True to Life

a. Issue is Authenticity: What does the passage tell us about reality? What aspects
of the text resonate with your experience?
b. Look for Principles in the text.
c. Identify with the person in the text:
i. Thoughts
ii. Feelings
iii. Ambitions
iv. Goals
v. Problems
vi. Response of the character and reader

We will go through Matthew 5:17-48 in group breakouts for the 12th.

March 12th, 2010

What did we learn?

• Titus 1:5-9 is chocked FULL of great advice, insight and perspective, not only for
“elders” but for everyone.
• We pulled off the Great Surprise...... THANK YOU EVERYONE who helped
make the evening surprise for Ashley special. That was FUN!
• Pam makes a ham that would make you Slap Yo’ Mama!

Read Chapters 19, 20 & 21 (3 of the 6 Things To Look For)

1. Things that are Emphasized
a. Amount of Space
b. Stated Purpose
c. Order
d. Movement from lesser to greater (and vice versa).
2. Things that are Repeated
a. Terms, phrases, clauses
b. Characters
c. Incidents & Circumstances
 d. Patterns
e. New Testament use of Old Testament passages
3. Things that are Related
a. Movement from general to Specific
b. Questions & Answers
c. Cause & Effect

We will go through Matthew 5:17-48 in group breakouts for the 12th.

March 5th, 2010

What did we learn?

• We missed: David & Michelle Roddy, Ken & Mary Spurlin!
• We were glad to have back: Wendy Lee, David Dean, Tim & LaDonna, & Randy
Weaver!
• We were glad to have everyone that was here the week before too!
• We can perform OT Hermeneutics from the book of Judges …… Our learning as
individuals is multiplied exponentially when we are able to hear and discuss what
we have gleaned from our reading. Christ is the true and better Judge (Hebrew
word sapat = savior, deliver, liberator) because he is the perfect Judge, appointed
by God to save those who will believe on his name and he lives eternal: 1Therefore,
since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because
he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest
of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have
spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery,
lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4They think it strange that
you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on
you. 5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the
dead. 6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,
so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according
to God in regard to the spirit. 1Peter 4:1-6).
• Personalized prayer and song from scripture can be powerful, moving,
inspirational, healing, and motivational.

Read Chapters 18 (during the week work on the exercise of Nehemiah 1:4-11)

Ch 18 – Working with a paragraph. The paragraph is the most basic unit of study (use
Nehemiah 1:4-11 during this week’s preparation).
1. Check the context. Verse begins with NOW (a connective).
2. Check for clues (what do I find, what do I notice, what does this refer to?).
BOMBARD this text with your questions.
3. Label your observations.
4. No detail is trivial.
REMEMBER IT IS DIRECTION, NOT SPEED we are after in this study.

WE WILL PRACTICE OUR 10-STRATEGIES ON FIRST RATE READING IN TITUS

1:5-9 AS A GROUP ON MARCH 5th.
 February 26th, 2010

What did we learn?

• We missed: Wendy Lee, David Dean, Tim & LaDonna, David & Michelle Roddy,
Randy Weaver, Ken & Mary Spurlin!
• Again…… Our learning as individuals is multiplied exponentially when we are
able to hear what others have gleaned from their reading.
• Personalized prayer from scripture can be powerful, moving, inspirational,
healing, and motivational.
• We caught a glimpse of what the conversation might have been like between Jesus
and the two men on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus opened their eyes to see
what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah and how he was that
fulfillment.

Read Chapters 14, 15, 16 & 17 (They are not long)

Ch 14 – Reading Meditatively
5. Five passages to reinforce the value of reading meditatively: Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 23:7,
Psalms 1:1-2, Psalm 119:97, Psalm 19. On Your Own – Read John 4:1-42 and
answer the questions listed in the YOU TRY IT section.
Ch 15 – Reading Purposefully – STRUCTURE IS THE DOORWAY TO
UNDESTANDING THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE.
1. Grammatical structure – Many biblical authors communicate their mind through
carefully selected grammatical structure. Grammatical features of the text include:
o Verbs
o Subject & Object
o Modifiers
o Prepositional Phrases
o Connectives
2. Literary Structure – Biblical writers communicate their purpose through literary
structure.
o Biographical structure
o Geographical structure
o Historical structure
o Chronological structure
o Ideological structure
On Your Own – Complete the YOU TRY IT section on your own.

Ch 16 – Reading Acquisitively – READING NOT ONLY TO RECEIVE IT BUT TO

RETAIN IT.
1. We need personal, active involvement in the word. “I hear and I forget. I see and I
remember. I do and I understand.”
On Your Own – Complete the YOU TRY IT section on your own.

Ch 17 – Reading Telescopically, viewing parts in light of the whole.

 1. Look for connectives.
2. Pay attention to context
3. Evaluate the passage in light of the book as a whole
4. Look at the historical context of the book
WE WILL DO THE “YOU TRY IT” SECTION AS A GROUP ON THE 26TH.

February 19th, 2010

What did we learn?
• Reading patiently really means we have to be patient with ourselves, as much or
more than the text were reading.
• Our learning as individuals is multiplied exponentially when we are able to hear
what others have gleaned from their reading.
• We are “picking up the pace” in our study but still focused on DIRECTION, more
importantly than SPEED!

Read Chapters 11, 12 & 13

Ch 11 – Reading Selectively (Using the right questions when reading)

3. Who- who are the people involved?
o What is said about them?
o What does the person say?
4. What – what is happening in the text (events, order, characters, what is the argument,
what is the point what is the writer trying to communicate)?
5. Where – This gives you the location.
o Where is the narrative taking place?
o Where are the people in the story?
o Where are they coming from?
o Where is the writer?
o Where the original readers of this text?
6. When – This is a question of time.
o When did the events take place?
o When did they occur in relation to other events in scripture?
o When was the writer writing?
7. Wherefore – So What & Who Cares (SWWC)?
o What difference would it make if I were to apply this truth? The word of God
was not written to satisfy our curiosity, it was written to change our lives.
For Next Friday - Read Luke 24:13-35 and go through the 6 questions from above. If you
want, post your findings on the blog http://6sbgd.wordpress.com/category/friday-fellowship/
and bring them with you on Friday (17th).

Ch 12 – Read Prayerfully – Bible Study and Prayer DON’T have to be separate disciplines.
Learn to ask God the tough questions about the text your studying.

Tips for learning how to pray.

1. Don’t try to imitate other Christians. Two groups to imitate:
o Children – refreshing and realistic.
o New Converts – They have not learned all the jargon.
 2. Turn Scripture into prayer.

For Next Friday - Pick ONE of the three options (Psalm 23, IS 40:28-31, or Philippians
4:8-9) and personalize the prayer with “me” “my” or “I”. Be ready to share on Friday.

Ch 13 – Read Imaginatively
1. Use different translations
2. Rewrite the text in your own paraphrase
3. Read in a different language (if you speak one).
4. Have someone read aloud
5. Vary your setting.

For Next Friday – Pick one of the four options under “You Try It”.
1. Drama from Acts 16:16-40 (BIG PRIZE IF SOMEONE DOES A DRAMA).
2. Psalm 19 Physics or Philosophy class rewrite.
3. 1 Samuel 17 rewritten for a gang of inner city youths
OR
4. Acts 15:22-29 Rewrite the passage as a fax or email to a group of believers who meet in
downtown Nashville, TN.

February 12th, 2010

Read Chapters 9 &10
PRE-READING ASSIGNMENT! READ THE OLD TETAMENT BOOK OF ESTER,
every day this week.
• Use the suggestions below for reading repeatedly.
• Make a list of your OBSERVATIONS, how many things you learned.
• By the end of seven days, see how accurately you can reconstruct the story by telling it
to someone else.
1. (Ch 9) Read Repeatedly
a. Read in one setting
b. Start at the beginning
c. Read different translations
d. Listen to tapes of Scripture
e. Read out loud
f. Set a schedule for Bible Reading
2. (Ch 10) Read Patiently
a. Work with one book, for one month
b. Zoom in and zoom out.
c. Alter your approach
Two Principals to remember with Patient Reading:
• Be patient with the text.
• Be patient with yourself.

February 5th, 2010

What did we learn?
 • God is doing great things in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ and we
were blessed by the many testimonies shared Friday night. God was glorified with
your praise and thanksgiving and the “rocks did not have to cry out!”
• We experienced echo-chamber reading and still were able to learn and function!
• We learned that Kim needs to double the brownie recipe!
• We learned our appetite can be increased for the Word and we can become
spiritual Giants when we improve our reading skills.
Read Chapters 7 & 8
1. You must learn to Read: Reasons people STOP their efforts at Bible Study (LIST
YOUR REACTIONS TO THESE REASONS).
a. We don’t know HOW to read. Reading is a skill that can always be improved.
Learning to read better and faster will improve your ability to OBSERVE.
Learn to read as for THE FIRST TIME.
b. We don’t know what to look for.
i. Having a plan, ahead of time will help you read better and know what to
look for. We outlined a number of useful questions from Chapter 5. We
also developed a set of questions for reading Philemon.

2. SOLUTIONS:
i. Learn to read better, faster. Learn to classify books, discover an author’s
intentions, outline a book, and find key terms. Learn how to read history
books, practical books, imaginative books and more. Pam, Cheryl and
Michele all commented that they were able to put their new
reading/observation techniques to work in the last two weeks!

b. Learn to read, as for the first time. Familiarity breeds contempt (and
ignorance). DANGER – “I already know that”.

i. Read the Bible as a Love letter. If you can, dig out an old card or letter,
one that dates back years, between you and your spouse, parent, brother
or sister. Begin to read through it and compare the feelings, emotions
and perspective your able to get with what Paul, Peter or Luke might
have had when writing one of their letters over 2000 years ago.

10 STRATEGIES TO FIRST-RATE READING. Read: Thoughtfully, Repeatedly,

Patiently, Selectively, Prayerfully, Imaginatively, Meditatively, Purposefully,
Acquisitively, and Telescopically.
3. Learning to Read Thoughtfully (the Bible does not yield its fruit to the lazy)

Proverbs 2:1-12. My son, if you accept my words and store up my

commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart
to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for
understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for
hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the
knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come
knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright; he
is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the
 just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand
what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your
heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect
you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the
ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.

4. Read Philemon in advance for a group breakout: This was a GREAT discussion. What
was discovered, learned, and shared from this beautiful letter, in a matter of 30 minutes,
was amazing!
a. Questions we answered:
i. What is the relationship between Paul, Onesimus & Philemon?
ii. Reconstruct the situation.
iii. What feelings are involved?
iv. What practical considerations?
v. What questions are unanswered as you read the letter?
vi. What problems does the letter create?
vii. What issues does the letter speak too?
viii. Why is this letter included in the Bible?
b. How would you communicate the insights gained from the group exercise to
someone else (TEACH BACK).

Session Two 1-22-2010

Read chapter 5 (The Value of Observation) & Chapter 6 (Let’s Start with a Verse).

1. Observation “What do I see?”

a. Group exercises on observation skills
i. In this phase of the process, we are not after speed, but direction. Good
observation requires time, effort, skill, inquiry, etc, etc. The 12 objects
exercise often reveals that our general inclination is to try to do more
(how many objects) vs. doing more (how much about an object). In
our study of the Bible, we must SLOW DOWN TO SPEED UP. Focus
on how much about the passage not how much passage.

b. “The Watch” (capture your initial reaction and thoughts after reading the
Sherlock Holmes example on observation skills).

2. The Observation Process (using Acts 1:8, make your own notes on the text below to
follow Hendricks)
a. Start with Terms Remember TRUNK? What do the key terms force us to
do with the passage? What is the Atmosphere?

b. Who are the people involved?

c. Watch for cause-effect relationships

d. Define the terms

 e. Importance of place

f. Relate the verse to the book/letter as a whole

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my
witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even the remotest part of the
earth. Acts 1:8

3. Now try Joshua 1:8 on your own and come prepared to share with the group your
observations. Group break-out.

What we learned this time:

• Tim had a Sherlock Holmes Games (Jay was not shocked by that).
• Danny went on a Strawberries & Cream diet this week with the LETTER of ACTS.
• Kim LOVES breakouts and group exercises (we all do)!
• LaDonna could not wait to see what was under the tablecloth.
• We learned we made SAUSAGE TONIGHT!

Session 1, 1-15-2010

Purpose of the study: Through a shared learning experience using God’s word, our spiritual
gifts and the study methods in Hendricks’s resource, we can better understand the life changing
truth in God’s Word so that we may glorify God and impact the world around us.

Feedback - EXPECTATIONS FROM OUR STUDY:

Expectation Feedback/consensus
Fellowship & study with peers
Better Understand the word (application)
Develop/nurture a passion for studying the word
Develop more time with God during the week

QUOTES THAT STAND OUT

“More than words on a page” “Excited about or fellowship time together” “Looking forward
to…. “I need this….”

Discussion topics:

1. Why people don’t study their Bible:

a. They don’t think it is relevant.
b. We have lost our ability to read.
c. “I am not qualified to read & understand”
d. Bible study does not take a high priority f our time.
e. We don’t view the Bible as relevant, authentic and credible.
f. It’s boring.
Did anybody ever tell you what you would gain from studying your Bible?

2. Benefits of studying our Bible: Hendricks listed 3 reasons, than added a 4th.
 a. Essential for Spiritual Growth (I Peter2:2) “like newborn babies, crave pure
spiritual milk….”
b. Essential for Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 5:11-14) Are you moving on to
college or still in the kindergarten of spiritual schooling?
c. Essential for Spiritual Maturity (II Timothy 3:16-17) If your spiritual life
depended on your knowledge of Deuteronomy, how would you make out?
d. Profitable for training in righteous living. ”If you don’t know anymore about
your business profession than you know about Christianity after the same
number of years of exposure, what would happen?”

3. Benefits of having a Bible Study Method

a. Simple, proven process that you will never outgrow. “the usefulness of the tool
increases with the skill of the craftsman.”
b. Gain self-confidence in your ability to handle scripture. “It gives you
confidence to think for yourself. Most people don’t think, they just rearrange
their prejudices.”
c. You will experience the joy of personal discovery as you invest in personal
discovery of the truth in God’s word. “Most people are not excited about the
truth, they are embalmed by it.”
d. Deepen your relationship with God. “If you want to know God directly, you
need to encounter his word directly.”
COSTS: Effort, Openness to God, Openness to Change
Getting Started:
1. Set reasonable goals (These questions may be helpful)
a. What needs in your life need to be addressed?
b. Are there relationships that need to be healed, cultivated, or altered
c. Are there attitudes that need to be changed or reinforced?
d. Are there habits that you need to break or form?
2. Adjust your expectations. “In Bible study, it is not speed that is important, but
direction”

4. An overview of the process. Method = “Methodicalness” and the “Methodicalness” is

designed to deliver an end-product. “The end product is that the Word of God will
CONFORM US TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST”
a. Observation “what do I see?”

b. Interpretation “what does it mean?”

c. Application “how does it work?”