Have you ever led a Bible study?

If you were assigned to lead one, would you know what to do? In the school I talked about last week — the Discipleship Bible School (DBS) in YWAM — you learn how to lead a Bible study in a way that makes your group think for themselves and bring new ideas into the story. It is called an Inductive Bible Study.

Sometimes in Biblical styles of writing there is no detail beyond a report of what happened; you may have no historical or traditional context of the times. You may also lack the thoughts and emotions of the people in the story. Inductive Bible Study is not intended to make up your own thing, but rather to try to determine what the people in the story were learning. I would like to share with you a revised example I wrote during my DBS.

 

Read Philippians 4:2-20:

² I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. ³ Yes, I ask you also, true companion,^[a] help these women, who have labored^[b] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness^[c] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, 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. ⁹ What you have learned^[d] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Yet it was kind of you to share^[e] my trouble. ¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶ Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.^[f] 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

Introduction

This is part of a letter and it may be broken up in your Bible as if there are separate ideas and topics. Because of that, it might seem choppy and that it does not flow together as one. With that in mind I would like you, as you are reading it, to read it as a whole, as if it would flow into each other. Really consider how each thought goes together and why Paul the writer of this book would have put them one after another.

 

1. Observation Questions

A. What happened with the two women in the beginning and why is Paul addressing them?

Phil. 4:2-3
Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News.

 

B. In what way is Paul suggesting the readers can react in troubling times and what will happen?

Phil. 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

 

C. What should they fix their thoughts on and do?

Phil. 4:8-9
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

 

D. What has Paul learned how to do?

Phil. 4:11-14
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

 

E. Because of the gifts they gave to him, how does Paul say that God feels and what will he do for them?

Phil. 4:18-19
At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus

 

 

2. Historical Background

This is a letter that Paul wrote in prison. The Philippian’s church was the first European church that was ever set up. This city’s population was made up of retired Roman soldiers. There was no synagogue which means there were less than 10 Jews if any. Paul and Silas weren’t in the city very long but there were a few believers. These people were very good about spreading the gospel.

The apostles and writers in all of the books after Jesus’s ascension believe from that time onward is the end times. So, that one little verse in the middle of all of them that says, “remember the Lord is coming soon,” means that because they believe they’re in the end times, you need to live to the fullness of serving God, so that they will have done well when he returns.

 

3. Interpretation Questions

A. What do you think is the main theme in this chapter?

Relying on God for every. Being content in him.

 

B. Why do you think that Paul attached the part about unhealthy vs. healthy thoughts and his contentment, to the part about the women’s disagreement and their good ministry?

Maybe they were worrying and discontented. Maybe their attitudes and strife with each other stemmed from that.

 

C. How do you think they felt with these instructions or encouragement?

It would give them some hope and understanding.

 

4. Biblical Action Principle

Rely on God in all things

 

5. Application Questions

A. Was there ever a time in your life that you struggled with contentment, what did you do about it?

 

B. Do you have a time that you remember when God’s peace was with you?

 

This is a really good outline tool for a Bible study. It leaves you open to learning even as the teacher; as you ask the questions and listen to their responses you will also see through their eyes. They will probably answer some of the questions differently than you when you are writing, so this is a fun way to grow together in the Word.

Did you see anything new about this passage in Philippians? How did the questions make you think about this passage? Would you ever want to lead a Bible study? What do you think would be your favorite topic in the Bible to teach? Let us know in the comments below.