Bible literacy is a real issue in the modern church and Christian family. What can we do about it? How does inductive Bible study help?
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Welcome to the show notes for Episode #77 of the Homeschool with Moxie podcast!
As a former classroom teacher, now homeschooling mom of five, I love to equip and encourage other homeschooling families.
Stick around to learn how to homeschool with moxie. It’s about embracing your journey and finding your groove.
EPISODE #77: Bible Literacy
Many of you who grew up in a Christian home and church like I did were also not taught how to study the Word.
Others of you didn’t grow up learning the Bible, so you are just for the first time learning it along with your kids.
In my experience as a pastor’s wife, I’ve seen great Bible illiteracy, even from people who have been in the church all their lives. And I think most of the devotional studies being touted as “Christian” resources are really not biblically based.
We’re told in Romans 12 to have our minds renewed. We need Bible resources and homeschool curriculum for our kids that will not keep serving up fluff. They need the real meat of Scripture.
And I think the best method to use if you want to let the text of Scripture speak for itself is the Inductive Bible Study Method.
Inductive vs. Deductive
The Inductive Bible Study Method is so named because of the way you interact with the text. In the inductive method, you are making obervations and then drawing conclusions from the passage, or finding the big idea.
Some of these observations might be:
- Key words
- Repeated ideas
- Compare/contrast
- Logic/argument
You’re starting from observation about the text (what does the text say?), then progressing to interpretation (what does the text mean?), and finally application (how should this change me?).
In contrast, a deductive approach to Bible study usually means that you are starting with a topic, a big idea, or a conclusion. Then, you’re studying the Bible to find passages that support this premise.
A deductive approach can work, if the premise is true. But, if you’re starting with a faulty premise, then the whole framework isn’t trustworthy.
Topical Bible studies are a common approach that use the deductive method. They can be helpful, but shouldn’t be all you use to study the Bible. This is because in a deductive method, you’re not really letting the text speak for itself. Instead, you are starting with a general statement, then looking for details to support it.
The Inductive Bible Study method also typically studies verse by verse in a complete context. Even better, with this method, you are encouraged to study whole books of the Bible at a time! This gives the best interpretation of passages, as you get a more complete view of what the author intended.
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James Inductive Bible Study Courses
Learn more about Inductive Bible Study Courses through the book of James HERE.
So if you would love to study through the book of James using a guided approach with the inductive method, then there are several resource options for your family.
- Little Fishes Bible Study – ideal for grades K-4
- Self Study Workbook – grades 5-12
- Video Lessons – grades 5-12 (includes the self study workbook)
- Family Bundle – grades K-12 (includes Little Fishes, Self Study Workbook, and video lessons)
Learn More About Inductive Bible Study
How to Do an Inductive Bible Study + FREE Inductive Bible Study Templates
Why Charlotte Mason Would Love the Inductive Bible Study Method
How Inductive Bible Study Supports Active Learning
What is Inductive Bible Study?
FREE Inductive Bible Study Samples
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