Inductive Bible Study by LeRoy Bartel
An inductive approach to Bible study is important because it places emphasis on the Bible itself. Although teachers who use the inductive method of Bible study recognize the value of commentaries and other books about the Bible, they study the Bible first—even before their teacher guide. A teacher who practices inductive Bible study begins with the Bible. Once he knows the Bible passage that a particular lesson is based on, he seeks to lay aside all preconceived notions about what a passage teaches and come to it with innocence of eye—looking at it as though he were seeing it for the very first time. What are the stages of inductive Bible study? How can those who teach children use it to enrich and give direction to their teaching?
What is the main focus of the Bible passage? To answer this question, the teacher recognizes that a passage teaches one primary truth—one “big idea”—and then seeks to find that truth in the words used in the Bible text. The “big idea” is usually a word or phrase in the Bible text itself that summarizes the emphasis of the passage. The teacher assumes that although there may be several supplementary truths, there is only one major, central truth. How is the main truth developed in the passage? The second thing a teacher does is pay attention to how this “big idea” is developed in the Bible passage. This calls for analysis— evaluating how the biblical writer makes his point. In the great stories of the Bible this is usually expressed in a series of scenes or episodes— snapshots, if you please. In the Epistles we try to follow the writer’s train of thought—his chain of logic. How does the passage fit into a wider context? At this stage we also pay attention to how the passage we’re studying fits into the broader context before and after the passage. A wise and effective teacher will be sure her teaching focuses on the central truth emphasized in the passage. She will try to find creative ways to get her students to learn what the Bible actually teaches. She wants them to explore the Bible passage, not a story told about that passage.
Observation— Look at the passage
Interpretation— Look back in time
At what point in your teaching preparation do you pick up your Bible? Tragically, many who teach children rarely actually study the Bible. They spend almost all of their preparation time reading the lesson guide. In fact, when they teach their lesson they often hold their lesson guide—not the Bible. Yet in Sunday School we claim to teach the Bible. And, indeed, it should be our primary textbook! That’s why we, as Sunday School teachers, should use the inductive method of Bible study as we prepare to teach.
Why use the inductive method?
In observation, the first stage of inductive study, we look closely at a Bible passage and seek to answer some fundamental questions: What does the passage say? How does it say it? How does the passage fit in its Bible context? Primary Teacher Guide
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At this stage, the teacher looks for clues in the passage that tell what was happening back then and there. What was the situation? What were the circumstances? What did Bible people feel? What human problems did they face?
