Drawing Conclusions
One of the reasons for doing consistent bible study is to learn the truth. We are born without knowledge of God and the picture of the world that many of us have grown up contains deceptions calculated to keep us from God. The Scriptures strip away the illusions and replaces them with a richer picture of reality.
In addition, the only way we can know God is through his revelation of himself. God transcends this world and the abilities of our finite senses. In order for us to be able to reach out and somehow encompass God, he would have to be smaller than us. Instead, we are dependant on God breaking into our world and describing himself in ways that accommodate our limited understanding. The Scriptures are a large part of how God makes himself known to us. One of the purposes of bible study is to grow theologically.
We also study scripture to grow ethically. Sin has touched every part of our lives. You need look no farther then the daily headlines to know that there is something very wrong with us. The Scripture teaches that we don’t know how live in a healthy way and Jesus came to show us the way to a just, fulfilling, and purposeful life. Scripture contains Jesus’ teachings on how we should live and his Spirit empowers us to follow him. With this in mind, we don’t come to Scripture merely to learn information. We come to Scripture looking for guidance. Jesus called his followers disciples, apprentices. We should come away from Scripture with very specific applications of God’s teachings.
An application should be specific rather than vague. Something that you can act on and that you can know you have completed. Most applications will have incremental steps. If God is asking you to talk about him with other people, a good application might be to share with a roommate or with one person that day. If you have never shared before, a goal to share with your whole resident hall in the next week might not be wise. God usually grows us one step at a time rather than just pushing us into the deep end.
In your applications set goals rather than desires. A goal is something you can control. It is a goal to clean your room as an act of love for your roommate. You can control that activity. It is a desire that your roommate will notice and appreciate your effort. The response is not under your control.