Method | Knowable Word

Three Spheres of Application

January 25, 2013 By Peter Krol

Last week, I wrote about the two directions we can take with our application. This week, I’d like to propose another way of thinking about application: the 3 spheres. Over the next few weeks, I’ll explain each of these 3 spheres in greater detail. Then I’ll pull it all together into a single model that will give you practical steps to follow when seeking to apply any passage of Scripture.

The 3 spheres for application are Head, Hands, and Heart. These spheres represent 3 different aspects of your life where you can obey the Lord and be conformed to the image of Jesus.

"Head" by Tinou Bao (2006), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Tinou Bao (2006), Creative Commons

The Head represents everything you think and believe. This sphere involves thinking God’s thoughts after him and believing his truth. It involves identifying lies you believe so you can replace them with the truth.

>>You rebel against God when you believe what is not true (Rom 1:25).
>>When you know the truth of God’s Knowable Word, it will set you free from your slavery to deception (John 8:31-32).
>>”Faith” is what you demonstrate when you lay aside your deception and hold on to what is true, even if it’s not immediately visible (Heb 11:1).

"Hands" by John Lambert Pearson (2007), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

John Lambert Pearson (2007), Creative Commons

The Hands represent everything you do. This sphere involves imitating the Lord and his ambassadors, learning new skills so you can be more effective at building God’s Kingdom, and laying aside your old patterns of selfish behavior.

You haven’t really repented of sin until your life changes (Luke 3:7-8, 10-14).
Change involves believing the truth (this overlaps with the “Head” sphere), quitting your old behavior, and developing new habits of obedience (Eph 4:20-24, with specific examples in Eph 4:25-32).
Any “faith” that cares only about the doctrinal statement is not true faith. Your doctrine matters (“Head” application, again), but only if you put it into practice (James 2:14-17).

"Lego Hearts" by Bill Ward (2009), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Bill Ward (2009), Creative Commons

The Heart represents who you are. This sphere involves becoming a new person who desires the Lord above all and shows godly wisdom and selfless character.

>>Changing your behavior without changing your heart is an abomination (Isaiah 29:13-14).
>>Knowing the right thing to do (“Head” application) and doing it (“Hands” application), without being born again to new hopes and desires in Christ won’t count for anything (Gal 6:15-16).
>>A Christ-like heart with love for God and men is much more valuable than good religion and proper behavior (Mark 12:32-34).

All 3 spheres matter. Much of the trick of application is figuring out how to land in all three areas without imbalance.

Which of the three spheres do you find easiest or most difficult? Why?

Two Directions for Application

January 18, 2013 By Peter Krol

We think rich application is complicated, but Jesus proved it can be quite simple. Consider his summary of how to apply the Bible:

A lawyer asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:35-40, ESV).

“All the Law and the Prophets” is pretty comprehensive. Jesus said that the entirety of what God wants us to do boils down to two things: love God and love your neighbor.

"The Fork in the Road" by i_yudai (2008), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

i_yudai (2008), Creative Commons

These two commands show two “directions” in which we can apply any passage of the Bible: inward and outward. We can work on becoming more Christ-like people who love God more desperately (inward application), and we can work on becoming more selfless people of influence who love others as Christ has loved us (outward application).

For example, Ephesians 6:4 has obvious and immediate inward application to fathers: Be a more Christ-like, patient, loving father to your children. Instruct and discipline them in the ways of the Lord. We could get much more specific, but I think you get the general idea here.

However, taking your application outward will deepen your insight, whether you are a male with children in the home or not. How can you invest in the fathers around you to help them be better fathers? How can you make the most of your current season of life (singleness, retirement, etc.) to serve others and help them in their parenting of their children? What can you do to serve in your church’s children’s ministry? How can you image God by being a father-figure to the fatherless in your community? How might these issues affect your prayers for your church and community?

Let’s practice further on Luke 2:1-21. We previously identified Luke’s main point as: “God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.”

Inward application might yield the following questions:

Do I see myself among the lowly, or among the high and mighty?
Am I open to the Lord’s correction and salvation?
How can I give more glory to God when he rescues me from my sin and foolishness?
Where do I feel the pain of my weakness? Where am I resisting the Lord’s efforts to change me?
Who can help me be more brutally honest about my need for Christ? How can I invite that person’s counsel?

Outward application takes us in a different, yet just as important, direction:

Am I faithfully proclaiming the message of Christ’s rescue to others?
How can I be more effective at connecting every conversation to the saving power of Christ to rescue the lowly?
How can I season my conversation with salt to expose where people trust in themselves and need Christ?
Do I believe that the Lord can rescue anyone?
How can I pray for God to rescue my extended family? My neighbors? My co-workers?
Why do I remain silent, caring more about my glory and comfort than God’s glorious rescue of sinners?

As you study the Bible, remember to consider both how you can change and how you can help others to change. All the Law and the Prophets depend upon it.

Application: the Art of Producing Change

January 11, 2013 By Peter Krol

We call our Bible study method OIA to help us remember the steps: Observation, Interpretation, Application. It’s not quite perfection, but we think it’s much more than just a good idea.

In approaching any passage of Scripture, we must first observe what the text says. If we’ve had a keen eye, we can move on to interpret what the author meant. We’ve allowed the passage to lead us to Jesus so we could see his beauty and glory and mercy. We’ve discovered the main point that the author wanted to communicate.

"What's Down Your Hall?" by Ian Burt (2006), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

Ian Burt (2006), Creative Commons

Now we’ve come to the threshold of Application. We’re ready to take what we’ve learned and put it into practice.

The biggest problem is…we don’t know how.

We see people do it all the time. Maybe you’ve got a friend who always seems excited by the Bible. She’s often quoting verses and sharing what God is teaching her. She makes connections you wouldn’t have dreamed of making. She’s delightful to learn from. But you’ll never be able to duplicate her success…

Maybe you have a favorite preacher whose sermons you download onto your iPod. You can’t get enough of this great Bible teacher, because he’s just so good at making the text sing. When you hear him preach, your awareness sharpens and your conscience springs to life. You’re motivated to make changes, and you’re captivated by a vision for God’s glory. But you just can’t stimulate those same feelings in your personal Bible study…

I’m writing this post to encourage you.

Although rich application is a serious art, and some people are just natural at it, it is also a muscle that anyone can exercise and shape. If you are a Christian, you have the Spirit of God (Rom 8:15), who is able to help you understand God’s words (1 Cor 2:12-13). The Spirit glorifies Jesus (John 16:14) and brings conviction of sin (John 16:8-11). The Spirit empowers you to obey Jesus and make significant changes to your life (Eph 3:14-21).

You are able to learn how to apply the Bible in exciting ways. Over the next few weeks, we’ll unpack some specific steps, but here’s a quick overview.

We can apply a Bible passage in two directions: inward and outward. In other words, we can change our own lives to be more like Christ (inward), and we can become influencers who help others learn how to change to be more like Christ (outward). We are both slaves and ambassadors to King Jesus.

We can apply a Bible passage to three components: head, hands, and heart. In other words, a passage can address any or all three areas of conviction/doctrine, competence/skills, and character.

While a passage likely has only one main point (although there’s almost never one “right way” to phrase it), it can have almost an infinite number of applications. Since the Bible applies to any person living in any place at any time, it must be pretty versatile when it comes to specific application.

What do you find most difficult about applying the Bible to your life?

10 Reasons Why You Should Apply the Bible to Your Life

January 10, 2013 By Peter Krol

To scoff at death and evil and to find the truly good life (Deut 30:16-20).
To bear fruit all year long and never have to rake leaves (Psalm 1:1-6).
To get to go on the Lord’s camping trip (Psalm 15:1-2).
To gain the sweetest treasure (Psalm 19:7-11).
To get good flood insurance (Matthew 7:24-27).
To be the one God brags about to all his friends (Eph 2:4-10).
To remember what you should look like (James 1:23-24).
To get to share all the good stuff with God’s people (3 John 5-8).
To prove that God really does love you (Rev 3:19).
Because everybody else is doing it (Rev 7:9-10, 13-14; 14:1-5, 19:6-8).

It’s worth it.

Not to mention the opportunity to fulfill your purpose in life by bringing glory to the only Lord who is worthy of all praise (1 Cor 10:31).

What other reasons can you think of?

The Greatest Enemy of Application is Insight

January 4, 2013 By Peter Krol

Application happens when we understand the meaning of a Bible passage (i.e. we see Jesus and our need for him) and conform our lives to it. This conformity to Christ is the great purpose of God from the foundation of the world (Rom 8:29).

But the chief obstacle to vigorous application is insight. As we gain more insight into the Bible, we become more prone to revel in the insight itself and not in the life-change that ought to result from that insight.

“Debate Sobre” by Secom Bahia (2010), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

For example, have you ever read a verse like Romans 8:29 (which I referenced above) and turned it into a theological debate? What does this verse mean about the predestination/free will controversy? Which side is right? Who has the best insight into what Paul meant by the word “foreknew”?

I’m prone to feel good about myself if I can answer these questions. I really want to win such debates. I’ve invested much time fighting my way through them.

But the chief question shouldn’t be whether predestination or free will is right. The chief question is: How is my life becoming more and more conformed to Christ? It doesn’t matter which side of the debate I fall on; God’s purpose in my life remains the same. What must change in order for me to be more like Jesus, so he can have pre-eminence as the first-born?

Insight can get in the way of application in other ways too. Have you ever felt disappointed after reading the Bible because nothing new and fantastic had occurred to you?

In contrast, have you ever felt the warmth splash over your heart when you see something you’ve never seen before in God’s Word? Maybe you found an allusion to another Bible passage that wasn’t immediately obvious. Perhaps a repeated word or idea became clear. Maybe you felt like you could relate to a Bible character due to some recent experience of your own. Perhaps you just started to get the hang of this OIA stuff, and you’re amazed at the beauty and joy that results when you can find an author’s main point.

Such insight into the Bible can be invigorating, but don’t let it distract you. The task isn’t complete until you change. Keep moving forward into Application.

Jesus warned us of the danger of insight when he used the image of architecture (Matt 7:24-27). The one who hears the Word, and stops there (possibly rejoicing in his keen insight), is like a foolish builder constructing a beach hut in a hurricane zone. The wise builder is the one who hears the Word and does it.

What other hindrances to Application can you think of?

The Transition from Interpretation to Application

December 28, 2012 By Peter Krol

To study the Bible, we ought to observe, interpret, and apply. We must first see what the passage says before we can figure out what it means. Once we know what it means, we’re ready to conform our lives to God’s will.

Sometimes we stop with interpretation and never go ahead to application. Jesus said we’re in danger of flash flooding (Matt 7:24-27).

At other times, we’re quick to change, but we apply the wrong things (we haven’t interpreted carefully). Jesus said we’re in danger of missing the point (Matt 23:23-24).

How can we succeed at transitioning from Interpretation to Application? Here are 2 tips to help you build a good bridge.

“Bridge” by Umair Mohsin (2007), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Tip #1: Work from the main point

It’s important to understand the main point of a passage before beginning to apply it. Working from the main point gives your application some teeth, since it focuses you on what God considers most important. Such application is both effective and satisfying.

Note: If you’re in the Old Testament, there’s an extra step. Once you’ve determined the author’s main point, remember to connect the passage to Jesus before launching into application.

Tip #2: Ask good “So What?” questions

During the Interpretation stage, we asked lots of questions. The main types are What? Why? and So What? That third type of question can be the most difficult, but it provides the bridge between Interpretation and Application.

Let’s demonstrate this transition as we continue our study of Luke 2:1-21.

We determined the main point to be: “God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.” Now we ask, “So what?”

So what difference does Jesus’ birth make? The lowly can be saved. Their new King is a gracious King.

So what kind of people will be saved? Lowly people.

So what brings God highest glory? Saving and ruling the lowly. Humbling the great and mighty of the earth.

So what kind of person am I if Jesus has saved me? I have not done anything to earn my salvation. I am simply one more example of God using the weak to shame the strong. I am a lowly servant with a great and gracious King.

So what should I expect the Christian life to be like? Since God is in the business of glorifying himself by saving the lowly, he will constantly deepen my understanding of my lowliness and his greatness. This process might be painful, but it will generate a lifestyle of praise and thankfulness. It’s nothing less than what Jesus experienced in his birth and life.

We’ve built our bridge, and we’re now ready to apply the passage more specifically. Over the next few weeks I’ll unpack how to do this Application effectively.

4 Mistakes When Using Commentaries

December 21, 2012 By Peter Krol

Whenever I teach people how to study the Bible (this OIA stuff), the question usually arises: What about using commentaries or study Bibles?

It’s a great question, because we’re surrounded by great resources. But every blessing can become a curse when we rely on the blessing and not on the Lord, so here are some common mistakes regarding commentary usage.

Mistake #1: Ignore what others have said

We need to learn in community with others, and Study Bibles and commentaries (at least good ones) represent the best Christian thinking over thousands of years. We need to learn from the wisdom of others.

Mistake #2: Allow commentaries to do your Bible study for you

It’s tempting to read a portion of Scripture and then go right to the study notes or commentary. Once we’ve seen what the experts have said, we think we understand the passage.

This practice is not much different from what the Jewish rabbis used to do. They’d debate interpretation by quoting different schools of thought, referring to the relevant commentaries to support their position. When Jesus came along, he astonished his generation because he refused to teach this way (Matt 7:28-29). He went right back to the Scripture itself, and he observed, interpreted, and applied it for the people (Matt 21:16, 42; Mark 2:25).

Jesus passed his authority on to his followers, so they could interpret his Word for succeeding generations (Matt 28:18, 20; John 14:12, 25-26; 2 Cor 5:20). With the help of Jesus’ Spirit, you, too, can read and understand God’s knowable Word.

Mistake #3: Go to commentaries too quickly

When the meaning of a passage isn’t intuitively obvious, it’s tempting to grab a commentary right away. But I recommend that you carefully observe the Scripture and work to interpret it on your own. Spend time thinking about it. Learn how to ask questions and then answer them. Try to determine the author’s main point.

Then read some study notes or commentaries to “check your work.” See if others have already come to similar conclusions from the text. If they have, terrific. If they haven’t, then you may want to reconsider your own conclusions. Either way, you’ll get the help you need without short-circuiting the process of learning how to handle the Scripture yourself (2 Tim 2:15).

Mistake #4: Believe everything you read

Remember that paper doesn’t say “no” to ink. Cyberspace excludes no fools. Just because something has been published doesn’t mean it’s true.

The point of the OIA method of Bible study is to teach you how to think and how to draw near to the Lord. As you compare your study of Scripture to that of the experts, be humble but also be wise. Always ask if what you’re reading in the commentary is faithful to the text or not.

May we always let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, that we might teach and admonish one another in all wisdom (Col 3:16).

How to See Jesus in Any Bible Passage

December 14, 2012 By Peter Krol

Jesus is the main point of the entire Bible. He said so himself (John 5:39, Luke 24:44-48). Philip saw it (John 1:45). Peter recognized it (1 Pet 1:10-12). Paul knew it (2 Cor 1:20).

Do you?

Now, in seminary I was told that we have to be very careful here. Apparently, some ancient Christian interpreters thought they saw Jesus in every detail of the Old Testament. So Rahab’s red cord (Josh 2:18) was treated as a prophecy of the flowing blood of Christ that would save her and her family. Or, Abraham’s servant’s 10 camels (Gen 24:10) were understood as the 10 commandments which would be fulfilled in Christ.

Not every passage of the Old Testament is a direct prediction of the life or death of Jesus Christ. Some passages tell stories of what happened long before Jesus’ birth. Other passages contain songs or prayers or rebukes or instruction.

So what did Jesus mean when he said that all the Scriptures were about him?

Luke 24:46-47 provides a helpful template. Every passage of Scripture reveals Jesus by explaining at least one of the following truths:

The Messiah would suffer (die).
The Messiah would rise from the dead.
We must repent of our sin and be forgiven.
This message (that the Messiah’s death and resurrection make forgiveness possible) must be preached to all nations.

Here’s the key point: we must first understand the main point of an Old Testament passage before we can connect it to Jesus.

We shouldn’t look for Jesus in every detail. Jesus isn’t necessarily in every detail. But his message is there. The message of the whole Bible is a unified message that boils down to those 4 points from Luke 24:46-47.

For example, the call of Abram in Genesis 12:1-9 is about how God chose one man to be the focal point of blessing the whole world. What’s the connection to Jesus? His message is for every nation.

Here’s another example: when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only beloved son (Gen 22), he was showing Abraham (and us) how the Messiah had to die and rise from the dead.

When innocent Daniel was tossed into the lion’s den and came out unharmed (Daniel 6), he demonstrated the Messiah’s death and resurrection.

When Moses and Solomon wrote Laws and Proverbs, God was showing us how high his standards really are. He had to expose our inability to perform so we might learn to repent of our sin and be forgiven.

Please try this at home. When you read the Bible (especially the Old Testament), always ask which of Jesus’ 4 points is being addressed. Decent interpretation depends upon it.

The Importance of Context, Part 2

December 7, 2012 By Peter Krol

Yesterday, we saw how easy it is to take verses out of context, sort of like how Pinky takes Brain’s “Are you pondering” questions out of context. Today, I’d like to show you how context makes interpretation come alive.

Consider this set of glorious truths:

Rejoice in the Lord always.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

All of these verses come from Philippians 4. Look at the context: “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women” (Phil 4:2-3).

The Philippian church was doing well overall, but a controversy between two prominent women was threatening to rip it apart. The conflict was so severe that other people had to get involved (sort of like in Matt 18:20!) to help resolve it. Paul gave those helpers specific instructions to help with conflict resolution:

Rejoice in the Lord (not in other people liking you) – verse 4.
Keep your cool – verse 5a.
Remember that God sees everything and that Jesus is coming back – verse 5b.
Don’t get stressed out by the awkward tension. Ask God to bring peace – verse 6.
God will bring peace, even when, from a worldly perspective, there should be no peace – verse 7.
Make sure to find something, anything, good about the other person. Think about those good things, and not about all the things they did that hurt you – verse 8.
Follow Paul’s example in these matters – verse 9.

Context matters. Read books of the Bible as books, and not as collections of spiritual truisms. As you do so, and think over what I say, the Lord will give you understanding in everything (2 Tim 2:7), since you know everything (1 John 2:20) and have no need for anyone to teach you (1 John 2:27).

Now, were those last few verses used in context?

The Importance of Context, Part 1

December 6, 2012 By Peter Krol

“Pinky, are you pondering what I’m pondering?”

“I think so, Brain, but Lederhosen won’t stretch that far.”

The cartoon Animaniacs got a lot of mileage out of this joke. The two mice would find themselves in a pickle of one sort or another. Brain, the genius, would intuit a solution and ask his famous question. Pinky, the dolt, would take him out of context and say something so ridiculous that the joke never got old.

The joke isn’t funny, though, when Christians live it out in their Bible study.

Do you know what Jesus was talking about when he said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them” (Matt 18:20, ESV)? Hint: it wasn’t about prayer groups. If you pray alone, Jesus is still with you (Matt 6:6, 28:20). Observe the context in Matt 18:15-20.

Who was God assuring when he said, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11)? Hint: it wasn’t Christians who were struggling with a big decision. Observe the context in Jer 29:1-3.

What did Paul intend by his infamous “Love chapter” in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13? Hint: it was a rebuke, not a Hallmark card. Observe the context in 1 Cor 11:17; 12:31b; 14:20, 40.

Every Bible passage has a context. If we lift individual verses from their context, we endanger interpretation. At best, we might still hit on biblical truth; we just look foolish to the watching world when they see that a passage doesn’t mean what we think it means. At worst, we run into error, heresy, or unbelief, or we lead others into those things. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons use the Bible to support their doctrines, too.

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