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 3, 7, 11, and 15 were concerned with the basic steps of the IBS method of biblical interpretation, while focus group question 6 also pertained to the IBS method of biblical interpretation. Along with field notes, this data will be coalesced to show that the participants of the BOBS know a method of
interpretation.
Specific questions from the pre-test and post-test also indicate that the participants of the BOBS know a method of biblical interpretation. Question 3, 7, 11, and 15 tested the basic knowledge of the four steps of the IBS.
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Question 3 asked the participants of the Bible Only Bible Study (BOBS), “Observation answers the question______.” While 50% of the participants answered correctly on the pre-test 70% answered correctly on the post-test. The first two sessions of the BOBS covered the observation step which is the first step of IBS. Field notes reveal that the project facilitator discussed that observation is asking the question “What do I see?” Most of the incorrect answers for this question revolve around answer “A” which is “What am I reading?” Field notes and audio recordings reveal that the project facilitator mentioned many times that observation includes reading the text slowly multiple times. This is possibly the reason many people chose “A” on the pre-test and post-test. Despite the participants' possible misunderstanding of the question, there was still an improvement of 40%.
14 4 20 2 10 1 28 1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 A B C D
Question 3 "Observation answers the question______."
Answer: C
Pre Post 0 3 35 2 2 0 10 28 0 10 20 30 40 A B C DQuestion 7 "Application answers the questioin______."
Answer: D
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Question 7 asked the participants, “Application answers the question______.” Only 5% of the participants answered this question correctly on the pre-test, while 70% correctly answered it on the post-test. Again, this is because none of the participants had taken any course in IBS previously and were not familiar with the terminology of the IBS method of biblical
interpretation. According to filed notes, this question was also discussed in session five of the BOBS. One of the weaknesses in presenting the application step was that it only lasted one week. More time was spent on the book of Jude finding application principles, than discussing the actual step of application as in previous steps. However, this question represents the biggest percentage of improvement of all the questions from pre-test to post-test (1300%) and shows that the participants were learning the IBS method of biblical interpretation.
Question 11 asked the participants, “Appropriation answers the question______.” The pre-test reveals that 50% of the participants correctly answered the question on the pre-test while 73% answered correctly on the post-test. Field notes collected from sessions six and seven reveal from some of the answers the participants gave during these sessions, that some of the
participants may have confused the step of application and appropriation. A few of the participants, as well as the project facilitator, used the phrase “apply it to my life.” This may have caused some of the participants to answer “B” instead of “C”, which is the correct answer.
6 12 20 2 2 8 29 1 0 10 20 30 40 A B C D
Question 11 "Appropriation answers the question______."
Answer: C
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Overall there was a 45% improvement on this question that demonstrates that participants were learning the IBS method of biblical interpretation from the BOBS.
Question 15 asked the participants, “Interpretation answers the question______.” On the pre-test, 40% of the participants answered correctly and, on the post-test, 73% answered
correctly. The step of interpretation was addressed during sessions three and four. The project facilitator and the participants discussed the interpretive question in the class sessions. It is possible this caused “C” to be chosen on the post-test, because people confused the steps of the IBS. After completing the BOBS, there was an improvement of 81%. Again, this shows that participants were learning a method of biblical interpretation, which they could use as their own personal Bible study method.
The pre-test and post-test results show that overall, the BOBS participants know a method of biblical interpretation upon completion of the training. For the overall class, the average pre-test score for IBS questions was 36% with an average post-test score of 71%. Once the BOBS was completed, an average improvement of 95% is shown as the graph below indicates. 16 10 11 3 29 2 6 3 0 10 20 30 40 A B C D
Question 15 "Interpretation answers the question______."
Answer: A
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The demographic analysis also shows that the participants are familiar with a method of Bible interpretation.600 When the scores are analyzed by age, the highest rate of improvement
was in the 18-24 group with 80%, while the lowest was 32% among the 56-65 age group. All groups displayed significant improvement from pre-test to post-test scores. Among the education levels, those with some high school and 6-year degree groups, showed a 150% improvement in scores. By church membership, the largest improvement was by those who were members of Nazareth Baptist Church for 21 plus years, with an improved score of 63%. Improvement was the same among gender as both males and females had an average improvement of 50%.
The focus group data also demonstrates that the participants of the BOBS know a method of biblical interpretation. Focus group question 6 asked, “Did the inductive Bible study help you learn how to study the Bible?” There was meaningful and helpful interaction from the focus group when the question was posed. One respondent said, “The inductive Bible study helped me to learn how to study the Bible better…the four steps of observation, interpretation, application,
600 See Appendix G for overall demographic scores concerning IBS.
36% 71% 95% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Pretest Posttest Improvement
Overall Improvement: IBS Questions 3, 7, 11, 15
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and appropriation helped me to better understand Scripture.” Another participant said, “Knowing the basics of the inductive Bible study took my studying to a deeper level.” It was encouraging for the project facilitator to see the BOBS positively impacting the participants. While many participants were there to support their Senior Pastor with the project intervention, the participants kept returning each week to learn a method of biblical interpretation and demonstrate their knowledge learned. Throughout the seven sessions of the BOBS, the participants asked questions concerning the IBS method. During each week the participants wanted to be sure they were doing the tasks of each step correctly, and from questions fielded and discussed, the participants were learning the IBS method of biblical interpretation.
Improvements on the pre-test to the post-test, the focus group analysis, and field notes, all indicate that the participants of the BOBS learned a method of biblical interpretation. This
directly addresses the problem that exists in the ministry context of members not knowing a method of biblical interpretation for themselves. The project facilitator is confident that many of the participants understand the IBS method as taught in the BOBS and will continue to use it as their own personal method of biblical interpretation.