Introduction to Exegesis (Part 6)

Examining Yourself

Take a step back now and be honest. Have you been using the techniques we have been talking about in this series in order to get deeper into God’s word? Are you striving to be a better student of God’s word? More importantly, have you been studying your Bible every day? If you answered no to any of these questions or you feel like you still are not committed to using Biblical exegesis in your study time at home, this article is for you!

Reasons why we don’t practice good Bible study techniques: (EXCUSES, EXCUSES)

1) “I’m too busy”

There is never enough time in the day! With all the daily chores and activities, who has time to sit down and read (even if it is the Bible)? Some women work full-time, some home school their kids and others stay home and raise babies. We can all agree that women are BUSY! Are we really too busy for God’s word? I’m sure we find time to watch a movie or favorite television show, read the newest James Patterson novel or play on the computer for a couple of hours. The remedy to this excuse is simple…MAKE TIME! Set aside 30 minutes to an hour everyday and stick to it. It takes time to study properly.

2) Too Lazy

Studying is HARD WORK sometimes and some do not want to put the effort in. It takes dedication and focus to methodically study God’s word. It is foolish to think that you can learn God’s word without working at it.

3) “I do not know how”

You should not be guilty of feeling this way any longer since you are reading this series that is hopefully teaching you how. We can know and understand God’s word even if we are not Greek scholars ourselves. There are many helpful resources from Greek lexicons to reputable commentaries that aid us in our studies. If you feel like you do not know how, LEARN HOW!

4) “I get all I need at church”

We are there three times a week or more. The lessons are packed with scripture and interesting facts. It is easy to convince ourselves that as long as we are going to Bible study on Sunday morning and Wednesday night we are okay and do not need to study on our own. Unfortunately, this is the same excuse some parents have used with their children. Some parents do not work with their children or teach them the Bible at home, but instead rely on their Bible school teachers to teach them everything they need to know. BUMMER! We are blessed to be able to come together with other Christians to study God’s word, but just as we should not rely on our children’s’ Bible school teachers to be the only ones teaching them, we cannot think that our study time at church alone is sufficient.

So… get to work! No more excuses. What are you waiting for? If you are reading this series, you should be using this series. Let us encourage each other to be active in the study of God’s word and to make the commitment to use the principles of Biblical exegesis in our daily Bible study time.

Exegesis Recap:

Exegesis Methodology

Step 1: Investigate

Who?, What?, Where?, When?, and Why?

Finding the Why

Step 2: Start Big and then Zoom In

Step 3: Outlining

By Aimee Lemus