The participants were not expected to know any of the inductive Bible study questions (IBS), since those participating had no previous inductive Bible study experience. The questions were designed for the IBS portion to be simple as this would be the participants' first experience with this biblical method of interpretation. Pre-test and post-test Questions 4, 10, 16, and 17 were concerned with the ability to perform IBS by displaying knowledge of the intricacies of the basic steps of the IBS method of biblical interpretation. Focus group questions 1 and 3, 4 also
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included a Likert scale test, and questions 22 and 24-25 aided in determining if the participants had the ability to perform the IBS method of interpretation. Data from the field notes are also synthesized with this to demonstrate that the BOBS participants have the ability to perform the IBS.
Specific questions from the pre-test and post-test also indicate that the participants of the BOBS have the ability to perform IBS. Questions 4, 10, 16, and 17 tested the ability to perform IBS by asking in-depth questions concerning the methods four steps. These questions are examined individually in the following graphs and analysis.
Question 4 asked the participants, “The analogy of Scripture is ______.” On the pre-test, 83% of the participants answered the question correctly. From the answers provided, the answer to this question may have been too obvious while some expressed that they perform cross- referencing when they study the Bible. The post-test revealed that an even higher percentage of participants correctly answered the question on the post-test (95%). The analogy of Scripture was discussed at the close of session three of the BOBS as the project facilitator explained its
meaning and importance. It could be that there was not a sufficient amount of time given for the whole class. However, the participants displayed a high level of interest in this part of the interpretive step and many volunteered to cross-reference verses in Jude. Even though a
2 5 0 33 0 2 0 38 0 10 20 30 40 A B C D
Question 4 "The analogy of Scripture is______."
Answer: D
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significant number of participants correctly answered this question on the pre-test, there was still an improvement of 15% on the post-test. This demonstrates that participants were gaining the ability to perform the IBS method of biblical interpretation.
Question 10 asked the participants, “A biblical text has ______ meaning(s) but has ______ application (s).” The pre-test shows that 80% of the participants answered this correctly and the post-test showed 95% of the participants answered the question correctly. From pre-test to post-test, there was a 19% increase in the test scores. The answer to this question was aided by the project facilitator in his role as Senior Pastor and teacher of the congregation. This principle had been stated frequently in his teaching and preaching, to help members of Nazareth Baptist Church understand the Bible. This principle was discussed during sessions three and four of the BOBS. It gave the project facilitator an opportunity to explain the difference between the meaning of a passage and the application of the passage. The participants took part in the
discussion and many understood the difference as shown by the post-test score. The focus group also answered a question concerning this topic. Question 3 of the focus group asked the
participants, “After completion of this training, can you state how the context influences the interpretation of the passage?” The participants were able to recall the importance of knowing the context of the passage in order to determine its meaning before extracting biblical
5 32 0 3 1 38 0 1 0 10 20 30 40 A B C D
Question 10 "A biblical test has ______meaning(s) but has
______application(s)."
Answer: B
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applications. Every focus group participant knew that context affects the meaning and application of the passage. One focus group participant said, “The historical, cultural, and situational setting or contexts would be pertinent to a full understanding of the meaning, relevance, and application of a passage.” Another participant in the focus group added, “Knowing the context helps determine the one meaning of the passage in order to produce applications for the church and for my life…understanding this step is important to
interpretation.”
Question 16 of the BOBS asked the participants, “What are the six basic questions of observation?” The pre-test results show 70% of the participants answered the question correctly. This question may have been obvious to some as these questions are asked in many fields where investigative principles are at work. The post-test demonstrates that 88% percent answered correctly on the post-test. Sessions one and two discussed the observation step and repetitively asked these questions for each of the passages in the book of Jude. Field notes show that the project facilitator went through the importance of asking the right questions thoroughly because it is important to the step of observation in IBS. Even though many answered the question correctly on the pre-test, this question saw a 25% improvement on the post-test.
11 1 0 28 5 0 0 35 0 10 20 30 40 A B C D
Question 16 "What are the six basic questions of
observation?"
Answer: D
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Question 17 asked the participants, “Application includes asking______.” Only 28% of the class answered this correctly on the pre-test. The post-test reveals that 80% of the participants were able to answer the question correctly. This question showed an improvement of 191% between the pre-test and post-test. From field notes collected, session five includes a thorough discussion on how each passage in the book of Jude may point to Christ. The project facilitator discussed the importance of knowing that Scripture is Christ-centered. While most of the class knew this, it does point toward the necessity of knowing a method of interpretation and having the ability to perform it. Question 4 of the focus group centered on this topic. The question was asked, “After completion of this training, are you able to show how a passage is focused on or fulfilled in Christ?” All noted that they believed Scripture is Christ-centered. One commented that being able to see Scripture in this light allows one to see “the thread of redemption that runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.” Another participant in the focus group
responded, “The training has helped me learn how to have a deeper study and better understand how a passage points to Christ.” The answers given for this question from the post-test and the focus group, provide evidence that the participants of the BOBS can perform the IBS method of biblical interpretation. 11 0 29 0 32 0 8 0 0 10 20 30 40 A B C D
Question 17 "Application includes asking______?"
Answer: A
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The pre-test and post-test results show that overall the BOBS participants can perform the IBS method of biblical interpretation. For the overall class, the average pre-test score for IBS questions was 65% with an average post-test score of 89%. As shown by the graphs, this is an average improvement of 38% once the BOBS was completed.
The focus group answered another relevant question pertaining to the ability to perform the IBS method of biblical interpretation. Question 1 of the focus groups asked, “Have you used the inductive Bible study method for your personal Bible study?” Seven of the focus group members responded that they had been using the IBS biblical interpretation method as taught in the BOBS for their own personal method of interpretation. A member of the focus group said, “This was the first time I had been introduced to this method and I am excited to implement it in my future Bible studies.” Another participant responded, “Yes, and I especially liked the
meditation component of the inductive Bible study method.”
As stated previously, the improvements made on the pre-test to the post-test, the focus group analysis, and field notes validate that the participants of the BOBS developed the ability to perform the IBS method of biblical interpretation. This directly addresses the problem that exists
65% 89% 38% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Pretest Posttest Improvement
Overall Improvement: IBS Questions 4, 10, 16, 17
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in the ministry context of members lacking a method of biblical interpretation for themselves. The data provided does show that goal number two was met, and the participants of the BOBS know the IBS method of biblical interpretation in order to address the problem of interpretive dependence within the ministry context.