|
|
|
|
The Method : Step 1 - Observe
Lesson 3 : Contrasts
Review
- Again, in this step of making observations, you ask yourself:
?
? -
First thing we learned to look for is .
What to look for: contrasts
Look for anything that is opposite. Words, phrases, sentences, people or characters, their actions, their mindset, events, before and after, beginning and end, etc., etc. You get the drift.
God often uses contrasts. Here's one that you might have heard:
if ... then this, else ... then that. And then there're plenty of sentences with the word 'but' smack in the middle. That is a telltale sign of a contrast.
Let's take a quick look at some verses. Look for the words or phrases that would give you a clue that it's a contrast? And what is being contrasted?
- "How blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night." - Psm 1:1-2 (NAS) - "For to me, to XliveX is Christ and to XdieX is gain." - Phil 1:21 (NIV)
What are other words and phrases that would give you a clue there is a contrast? + -
- however
- nevertheless
- nonetheless
- on the other hand
- though, although, even though
- notwithstanding
- yet
- despite
- in spite of
- still
Practice
Let's try a slightly longer Bible passage, a parable: Matt. 7:24-27 + -
-
Everyone who listens to these words of mine
and acts on them will be like a wise man
who built his house on rock. -
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew
and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse;
it had been set solidly on rock. -
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them will be like a fool
who built his house on sand. -
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew
and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.
This parable mainly has two parts and they have many parallels and similarities. Here are some good questions to ask yourself:
- What are the same?
- What are different?
In this process of methodically studying the Bible, I usually do it in a few iterations. It's like peeling an onion layer by layer. After each iteration, I would often go back and look at it to decide on what to do next in peeling the next layer. Hence, I would look at the observations and my findings.
An easy way to remember or review those findings would be helpful. Marking the text is one good way. And symbols help my mind to grasp things faster. Later on, I'll show you how I usually do marking.
