Bible Study About Hearing From God

[Genesis22]

I am leading my bible study group tomorrow because the leader can't be there. He's asked me to preach about hearing from God (whether it be through the bible, conviction, confirmation, audibly, whatever). I can preach anything related to that subject. You'd think it would be easy since I talk to God every day and just need to preach about how He speaks to me...but I feel like I need to go more in depth and I need some ideas. What are some specific topics or verses/chapters I can use? How would you go about this subject? I need some fresh ideas.

[scott00049]

This site has a ton of verses listed:

http://www.openbible.info/topics/listening_to_god

Hope that these verses will give you a direction to follow and a guide for the main body of your study.

Scott

[makeupgirl]

Romans 10:17 Faith cometh by hearing; hearing by the word of God

Oh also Gotquestions.com as an extra source

[SaintTexas]

I am in the Psalms right now. They are an excellent place to be for that very question. David was always writing about that very thing! Why not find one that the Lord shows you through praying and asking Him which one He would like you to teach, then teach through it, explaining it line by line and making application as believers?

[morovich]

Go get Mark Virker's study.....










NOT!

[makeupgirl]

Go get Mark Virker's study.....










NOT!

dude, what was the point of this?

[Steve53]

I am in the Psalms right now. They are an excellent place to be for that very question. David was always writing about that very thing! Why not find one that the Lord shows you through praying and asking Him which one He would like you to teach, then teach through it, explaining it line by line and making application as believers?

Being careful that the prism is clean and the refraction undistorted and clear. Let not bias enter the "application" for the sake of a "teaching."

[SaintTexas]

? Too tired or too blonde to get whatever you mean, Steve.

Inductive study is observation, explanation, application.

God's Word always has an application in our lives. That is my only point. What is the point of teaching or study God's Word if we don't then put feet on It ourselves?

That's all.

[Steve53]

? Too tired or too blonde to get whatever you mean, Steve.

Inductive study is observation, explanation, application.

Meaning that whomever is teaching, if not properly applying the scriptures, can lead others off a cliff. Discernment is key.

God's Word always has an application in our lives. That is my only point. What is the point of teaching or study God's Word if we don't then put feet on It ourselves? That's all.

Context is relative to any application in our lives. Many false doctrines have sprung up around misused Bible verses/passages.

[SaintTexas]

Meaning that whomever is teaching, if not properly applying the scriptures, can lead others off a cliff. Discernment is key.



Context is relative to any application in our lives. Many false doctrines have sprung up around misused Bible verses/passages.

?

I don't mean to be obtuse, but why are you addressing what I posted?? I am suggesting an inductive study of a Psalm that could be chosen by petitioning the Lord to show Him which one (which will also involve him reading himself waiting on the Lord to show him, and then the Lord by His Spirit helping him to teach it by the Holy Spirit), Inductive study by its very nature helps the teacher not lead others off a cliff since it's literal, contextual, grammatical, historical, etc. and it always includes application to us as believers. I attend a Calvary Chapel, if that helps you understand my train of thought, and that is the teaching and studying method we employ, like in Nehemiah 8, for lack of a better example coming to mind at the moment. (8:8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.)

It's those who do not teach this way who lack discernment, come with an agenda and lead people off a cliff. If someone wants you to fill in, you still should be teaching through a large passage that addresses the topic at hand to show the Lord's thoughts on the matter.

[Steve53]

I am suggesting an inductive study of a Psalm that could be chosen by petitioning the Lord to show Him which one .....

And therein lies the rub. A Psalm poorly chosen do to some bias in interpretation or misunderstanding can lead down the wrong path(s) very quickly (your qualifiers notwithstanding - there have been far too many folks who claimed a "leading" or "special insight").

A far better practice might be to employ deductive reasoning to your studies rather than inductive reasoning.

My whole point is simply to reinforce the idea of practical discernment and a proper exegetical study and not necessarily a direct "application" to ones life that may be implied through inductive study. I'm advising caution. There is too much wiggle room with inductive study and too many people find it far too easy to apply the generalizations inherent in inductive reasoning to specific circumstances and that's where the trouble comes in.

[SaintTexas]

The problem with deductive reasoning is that you come with an agenda rather than seeking the Lord, and since every Word in the Bible is Holy Spirit insprired, working through the Bible, word by word, line by line, verse by verse, book by book, literally, keeping things in their context and bringing in things within God's Word that helps luminate a portion of Scripture should keep one from misleading people.

I am confused. How can we have moderators with such very different views on studying God's Word? This is how OWL teaches. This is how Fruchtenbaum teaches. This is how Ezra and Nehemiah teaches. This is how Peter taught on the day of Pentacost. Are you familiar with what Inductive Bible Study is? It's just a label put on something that already existed.

We hear from the Lord by His Word. How is it a problem to pray to Him asking for Him to help with a one day teaching gig to show what He might have this person teach and then working through that Psalm with 150 to choose from and so many that are about the subject that the pastor asked him to teach on? If anything, the actual issue in my opinion, is that he was asked to teach on a topic rather that on a prechosen portion of the Bible---much easier to get into trouble with a topic rather than just sticking to God's Word and teaching through it and seeing what the Lord has for us to learn in context.

I will have to disagree. The prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. We cannot teach His Word without total dependence on His Spirit to do the illuminating. It's impossible. Flesh does not comprehend Spirit. If he prays in earnest asking the Lord to help him both to choose what to teach (since that is what has been asked) and asks the Lord for understanding and the Holy Spirit to do the teaching in humility and dependence on the Lord, I believe that the Lord will hear him (subject of the post) approaching Him rightly and answer by His Word!

I do this every day when I read my Bible, knowing that I cannot understand it unless the Spirit teaches me (1 John 2:27) and this is what happens twice a week when I go to study at our fellowship as we work through book by book, verse by verse, line by line through the Word of God. The Spirit teaches. God answers us when we call on Him in humility.

[SaintTexas]

Genesis22, I also just wanted to say that the first one to go to with this question would be the Lord. We do learn from one annother, but teachers of the Word have a higher standard with the Lord (see James) because you influence and can mislead. Pray and ask Him what He would want you to teach. Depend completely on Him to provide and supply and guide you by His Spirit to feed His flock His Word. I would personally be terrified to attempt to teach His Word and His people any other way.

Far too often we go to other people rather than directly to our Creator, Author and Finisher of our faith, The Living Word, and the only One qualified to answer the question you asked (and most other questions). He gave His Word to us and put His Spirit inside us at our rebirth specifically for this very purpose---that we might hear from Him and have understanding.

1 John 2:27 says, " But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him." The Holy Spirit is our teacher--see John 14-16--Who always points us to Jesus. How does God hear our prayers? Jesus talks about it in John 14. The writer of Hebrews talks about this in chapter 10. David's time looked forward to Christ, and in the Psalms, this is something that can be made mention of---His Spirit is always the one that speaks, He speaks of Jesus, the Living Word, which is why we can go and read our Bibles and know the Lord wants to speak with us.

If I went to my pastor today and asked him what the Bible says about hearing from the Lord, we would pull out His Word and look to see what It has to say about it, and that would be his answer. He is more of a guide or pointer to Jesus and a believer in teaching us to fish as well.

May the Lord supply and provide all that you need and guide every word that comes forth from you by His Spirit.

Blessings, Nicole!

Genesis, you could also teach through Hebrews 1---part of understanding how to hear the Lord is also to know Who He is so that we might also know when we are not hearing from Him. You would need to probably teach through the first part of John 1 and then also John 14-16 as well as you worked through it to illuminate that portion of God's Word with others that give more information. And maybe a portion on prayer, because it involves our listening as well.

[Steve53]

The problem with deductive reasoning is that you come with an agenda....

Not necessarily so. Proper deductive reasoning works within the context of the subject at hand - theory perhaps (but not bias) to observation - whereas inductive reasoning as it concerns Biblical studies is supposed work in similar fashion yet in reverse, far too many times errant doctrine has been developed through poor exegesis, hence, my words of caution.

As concerns an agenda - What else was the OP asking? He questioned what specifically he should be looking for - that's an agenda by definition and that's why deductive reasoning as it concerns his quest (and your studies) may be the better approach.

BTW - I am keenly aware of labels and I see them misused far too often. Again, I advised caution especially when one feels they are "being led." Calvin thought he was "being led" and he has his followers, MacDaddy being a rather famous one.

Key for me in this discourse was the term you used that initially got the red flags waving and that was "application." We must be very careful when dividing the Word if looking for an application - the very definition again, of having an agenda. Application can only come after observation and proper interpretation which relies heavily on proper contextual exegesis and discernment - That's proper inductive reasoning. In other words, don't put the cart before the horse. Again - all I'm saying is apply caution.

[Steve53]

How can we have moderators with such very different views on studying God's Word? ....

We don't. We all advise proper contextual exegesis and caution especially as it regards "teachings", "revelations", "anointings" and being "spirit led." There are myriad examples on this BB alone of folks being thoroughly convinced they had something "so right" and "so special" and it was all for naught. We've had other folks so enamored of a favorite "leader" they've lost the ability to think straight and got all hurt feeling because their favorite flavor of the month was found to be apostate. Because such delusion and false teaching abounds is one of the many reasons we have rules 6 and 11 in place. We advise to be as the Bereans and test all things. Do not seek to divide us. We are united.

[Buzzardhut]

I am confused. How can we have moderators with such very different views on studying God's Word?

I don't see that.

This is how OWL teaches. This is how Fruchtenbaum teaches. This is how Ezra and Nehemiah teaches. This is how Peter taught on the day of Pentacost. Are you familiar with what Inductive Bible Study is? It's just a label put on something that already existed.

I would not equate Bible authors with moderators.

sticking to God's Word and teaching through it and seeing what the Lord has for us to learn in context.

solves the problem

[Kliska]

I'm such a logic teaching nerd, I can't resist; Inductive reasoning and extrapolation can be faulty. Even the strongest inductive argument is never 100% sure, that is reserved for sound deductive logic. My point, and I believe Steve's, is that we have to be soooo careful when we extrapolate application from scripture using induction, because it always has room to be wrong. Inductive study is highly useful, but we have to be careful in overstating conclusions.

[Steve53]

I'm such a logic teaching nerd, I can't resist; Inductive reasoning and extrapolation can be faulty. Even the strongest inductive argument is never 100% sure, that is reserved for sound deductive logic. My point, and I believe Steve's, is that we have to be soooo careful when we extrapolate application from scripture using induction, because it always has room to be wrong. Inductive study is highly useful, but we have to be careful in overstating conclusions.

Somebody's foot is always sticking out from under blanket statements.

[OnceWasLost]

I don't think we have an either/or here. Since I was referenced maybe I can shed some light of the topic and disagreement.

I do look at things, in study and subsequent presentation, using what is referred to as Inductive by many who use it.

Observation, Interpretation and Application are the elements.

In Observation, we get the who, what, where, when, why and how angles of the writing. Galatians is a good example, all those questions can apply to Paul's letter to those churches in that area. They serve as a framework that assists in understanding the many points of the Epistle.
In Interpretation, Greek word studies and tenses are taken into account, They help us understand things sometimes limited in English translation. In these first two elements comparative verses elsewhere in Scripture and the overall context are essential in gaining a well rounded view of these or any passages.
In Application, we get the, "OK what does it matter to me" part and again context is essential. It is better IMO than topical, presupposition based read and ramble all too often used in the cotton candy world of the modern church.

That being said, any study method it is only as good as the person employing the method and their ability to avoid presuppositions before cracking open The Word.

** EDIT TO ADD **

After reading Kliska's last post, it should go without saying that the conclusion of Inductive must always lead to an agreement with the whole of Scripture, or their was a fault in steps.

[Kliska]

I don't think we have an either/or here. Since I was referenced maybe I can shed some light of the topic and disagreement.

I do look at things, in study and subsequent presentation, using what is referred to as Inductive by many who use it.

Observation, Interpretation and Application are the elements.

In Observation, we get the who, what, where, when, why and how angles of the writing. Galatians is a good example, all those questions can apply to Paul's letter to those churches in that area. They serve as a framework that assists in understanding the many points of the Epistle.
In Interpretation, Greek word studies and tenses are taken into account, They help us understand things sometimes limited in English translation. In these first two elements comparative verses elsewhere in Scripture and the overall context are essential in gaining a well rounded view of these or any passages.
In Application, we get the, "OK what does it matter to me" part and again context is essential. It is better IMO than topical, presupposition based read and ramble all too often used in the cotton candy world of the modern church.

That being said, any study method it is only as good as the person employing the method and their ability to avoid presuppositions before cracking open The Word.

** EDIT TO ADD **

After reading Kliska's last post, it should go without saying that the conclusion of Inductive must always lead to an agreement with the whole of Scripture, or their was a fault in steps.