INTRODUCTION

The New Testament Prophet John the Baptist was known as a "voice crying in the wilderness" as
he proclaimed the Word of God. His message was fresh, powerful, and relevant to the spiritual
needs of his time.

Many people today have become echoes of spiritual truths they hear from those around them.
They are not a voice through which God can reveal His message, but are only an echo of what
they hear from others. They are like the prophets of whom God said, "steal my words every one
from his neighbor" (Jeremiah 23:30).

In order to speak God's words you must first know what God has said. The purpose of this course
is to equip you to understand God's Word. You will need only this manual, a Bible, and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit to learn these "Creative Bible Study Methods."

A method is an organized way to accomplish something. It is an orderly plan. Bible study
methods are an organized plan to study God's written Word. The word "creative" means "having
the ability to produce that which is new." This course teaches you how to study God's Word for
yourself. You will not have to rely on the research of others because you will be able to create
your own Bible studies based on your study of God's written Word.

By learning proper Bible study methods you will become a voice through which God can speak
His truths to a spiritually hungry world. You will no longer only be an echo of what you hear
from others.

"Creative Bible Study Methods" introduces the Bible as the written Word of the one true God. It
explains divisions of the Bible, versions, translations, and paraphrases. First, the course guides
you to discover what the Bible teaches about itself, then creative methods are explained and you
are given the opportunity to use each method discussed.

The course also explains how to outline, make study notes, mark your Bible for easy reference,
and reduce lengthy passages to simple charts. The course guides you to proper interpretation and
application of God's Word. It directs attention to the greatest Teacher of all, the Holy Spirit. If
you follow the guidelines presented, you will experience a new, creative spiritual life flowing
within you.

No method of Bible study can replace the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is the spiritual
force that endues a method with creative power. He whispers into the human spirit the truths of
God's Word which create a new spiritual life flow.

The study of methods is not an end in itself. It is not the final goal. The methods are only a
means to accomplish the objective of studying God's Word. It is not enough to learn these
methods. You must use what you learn to study God’s Word and apply its truths to your life and
ministry.

Although you may complete the lessons in this manual, in reality you will never really complete
this course. Your study of God's Word will never be finished because its rich spiritual truths can
never be exhausted.