Bible Study Preparation

Servant Leadership School

September 28, 2003

Grammar / Illustrations / Books

The Hermeneutic Method (cont’d)

We use the method involving …

Grammar and History

We talked last week about undertanding history and culture.

We base our interpretation of Scripture upon what the passage is saying grammatically, and upon what the historical circumstances were.

Grammar

Writing Styles

This means we need to take time to be thinking about what kind of style the passage is written as.

Is it a historical account? Is it prophetic? Is it poetic? Is it symbolic? Is it a parable? Is it a proverb?

Each of these types of styles means that we need to adapt our interpretation.

A historical account is written to be read in a literal sense.

When Jesus feeds 5,000 people with a few loaves and fishes, we understand this as a miracle!

A poetic passage may contain a non-literal or metaphorical account.

When God hides us under His wings, don’t think He’s a big bird, it’s a metaphor!

Figures of speech.

The Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech, in which a word or phrase that ordinarily means one thing is applied to another thing, in order to suggest a likeness between the two. Examples of metaphors are, "a copper sky" and "a heart of stone."

The Simile

A simile is also a comparison between two things, like a metaphor; only, the comparison is indicated by, "like," or "as." Examples of this are, "a face like stone," "as hard as nails," and "his eyes were like fire."

The Analogy

An analogy is a likeness in some ways between things that are otherwise unlike. There is an analogy between the human heart and a pump, the Lord and a shepherd, and the saints and sheep.

The Hyperbole

The hyperbole is an exaggerated statement, used for effect, and not meant to be taken literally. An example is in Matthew 7, where Jesus talks about the person looking for the specks in his brother's eye, while having beams in his own eye.

The Personification

The poetic device which takes inanimate objects, and gives them human characteristics is called a personification. An example is saying that the mountains sing, or clap their hands.

The Idiom

Every language has certain peculiar phrases, which cannot be analyzed by the usual grammatical process. Idioms are a mode of expression that defies the rules, and depends on the society to supply the definition. the dictionary defines idioms as, “a small group or collection of words expressing a single notion.” We often say that “we’re in a pickle,” or “it is raining cats and dogs,” or “he’s dead from the neck up.” These are all idioms, and we depend on everyone “getting the picture” because they live in our society.

Word meanings

dunamis – from tonight’s study, the word “virtue”

(Luke 6:17-19 KJV) And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; {18} And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. {19} And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

virtue – dunamis – strength power, ability; inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; power for performing miracles. Power or ability. Virtue. Jesus promised us power when the Holy Spirit would come upon us:

(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Grammatical construction

Verb tense, number, etc.

Also from tonight’s study –

gifts – charisma – a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own; the gift of divine grace; the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue; grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit. The word here is in the plural form. It’s not a single “gift”, but several “gifts”.

healing – iama – a means of healing, remedy, medicine; a healing. This word is plural too, literally, “gifts of healings”.

We often think of a person who is used to bring healing as having the “gift of healing”, and I’m not sure that isn’t possibly the case. But it could very well be that the person who is healed is the one who has received the gift, and the idea that these gifts are plural, many, is that God offers healing to all of us. Possibly even the idea that there are different kinds of healings: Different physical diseases, emotional, social, spiritual...etc.

Illustrations

Illustrations have been called the “windows” in a message. They help bring extra light onto the points you are trying to make.

Another person has said that the goal of the teacher is to “get the cookies off the top shelf so others can reach them”. That’s what a good illustration will do. A good illustration will take a theological truth or a practical application and help it sink home into the heart of the listener.

An illustration will take a truth and walk the listener around the truth to examine it from different angles. It’s like taking a flat, two dimensional truth, and making it three dimensional.

I hate to say it, but as hard as you will work on your profound, theological Bible Studies, the thing that most people will remember will be the stories you tell.

Illustrations do not come easy for me. It’s often one of the most difficult parts of preparing a message for me. It’s something you have to work hard at to be effective. For a typical Sunday morning message, I may take an hour or two just working on illustrations.

Biblical examples of Illustrating

David and Nathan (2Sam. 12)

David was in sin. Nathan the prophet showed up and told David a story about a rich man who stole and then barbecued the only lamb of his neighbor. David heard the story and was so drawn into it that he blurted out his judgment on the wicked rich man. Then Nathan said to David, “Thou art the man”. Perfect use of illustration.

Jesus and the parables

One of Jesus’ favorite ways of teaching the people was through stories.

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10). The Prodigal Son (Luke 15).

Making your point

1. State the lesson.

You need to know what you’re trying to communicate first.

Before you ever get to the place of illustration, you need to understand the passage and have your “lesson” defined. That’s what we’ve looked at so far, understanding the history, culture, and meaning of the language. As you do this work first, you will see the “lessons” pop out at you.

I usually try to put the “lesson” into a short phrase.

I do this so that people who are taking notes will lock onto the phrase and have something short and concise to write down. I will often repeat the lesson several times as I’m talking about the point to help it sink in.

2. Support the lesson.

I will usually draw from other Scriptures to support the point.

Don’t beat it to death. A common problem among young teachers is to find twenty five verses that will all say the same thing and then make everybody turn to each and every Scripture. Share one or two of the most important ones. If it makes you feel better, footnote the other references.

Sometimes I make folks turn to the supporting passage, other times I just read it myself. If I feel this is a passage that people need to see with their own eyes, and give them a chance to underline it or book mark it, I will make them turn to it.

3. Illustrate the lesson.

Don’t tell stories for the sake of telling stories. It’s tempting, but try to stay away from it!

If you are going to tell a story, make sure it is appropriate to the passage.

At the end of the story, if the connection isn’t ABSOLUTELY clear with your point, then make it clear.

Look at the “Examples of Illustrations” paper.

Sources of Illustrations

The Bible

The best source of illustrations is the Bible. Use the stories of the Bible to bring out the truths in your text.

What story in the Bible might you tell to illustrate the following lessons –

Fleeing temptation.

(Joseph and Potiphar’s wife)

Don’t fulfill God’s plans in a fleshly manner

(Abraham and Hagar)

God’s presence in tough times (from Is. 43:2)

(Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego)

Real life

Jesus often taught using illustrations from real life that everyone could relate to. They lived in an agricultural society, and so Jesus talked a lot about farming and shepherding.

Use current events from the news, things from science. In Isaiah 44, I talked about the abortion issue and found some news articles to bring the issue current.

Personal experiences

Share examples from your own life.

From Is. 43:19 – my field trip to San Juan Capistrano

Be careful that you don’t make yourself out to be the perfect person. Some people love to tell stories about how they have always done everything correct. Yuck!

Also be careful that you don’t only talk about your failures either.

Stories

If you are going to tell a “true story”, be sure it is a “true story”. The world is ABOUNDING in hoaxes and “urban myths” these days. The Internet has only made it worse.

It’s okay to tell a fictional story as long as you make it clear that it is a fictional story.

There are lots of books of illustrations. Internet/e-mail stories. Excerpts from good books.

Books for Your Library

Background books

Halley’s & Unger’s Handbooks, Books on background, Bible Dictionaries, Josephus, Bible Encyclopedias, Commentaries (esp. Barclay), Study Bibles, Alfred Edersheim (Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah), Bible Atlas.

Language helps

Word Meanings: Different translations, Strong’s, Vines, Robertson, Vincent, Wuest, Exegetical commentaries, Computer helps

Commentaries: Recognizing the different types – Exegetical, Expositional, Devotional; Bible Knowledge Commentary, Matthew Henry, Barclay (with reservations), Keil & Delitsch, Pulpit Commentary; Tapes (especially Chuck Smith)