Welcome to the Character Quality Method: (Peter Rhebergen):
This Bible study method, accompanied by resources, will allow you to do a Bible study in your
own way. It is an example of some of the most effective Bible study methods found and discussed
more fully in the following book, which is unfortunately now out of print:
Warren, Richard, with William A. Shell, 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods,
Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois, 1987.
All the material that follows has been taken exclusively from this book and summarized for
this course. I had the privilege of studying this material under William (Bill) Shell in a class
on Biblical Interpretation at Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1988 – 1989
and found both him and his teaching very beneficial as his heart was dedicated to the equipping
of the saints. If there is any copyright infringement I am solely to blame and plead the excuse
that this material is simply too valuable not to share with others.
In each method described here, a basic outline of the method will be given and some useful
tools for this method will be listed. The studies begin with the basic method types and progress
toward studies that are more in depth and require greater allocations of time but which will also
yield greater results. Each method of Bible study presented here is accompanied by a chart, which
has been reproduced from the above book.
-- Peter Rhebergen
In the Character Quality Method of Bible study we begin to use tools other than the Bible
itself in order to discover what the Bible has to say of specific personal characteristics.
A major emphasis of this study method is on personal application of the lessons you will be
learning into your own life. The main goal of this method of Bible study is to learn God’s
view of personal characteristics.
3.1 - Tools
3.1.1 - Bible
3.1.2 - English dictionary
3.1.3 - Bible dictionary
3.1.4 - Lexicon
3.1.5 - Cross references
3.1.6 - Exhaustive concordance
3.1.7 - Topical Bible or topical listings
3.2 - Hints
3.2.1 - Select a character quality that is of interest to you or that
you wish to develop or have victory over in your own life.
3.2.2 - This study may take some time, be sure to allocate enough time
to complete the study adequately.
3.3 - Steps
Step 1 - Select the character quality you wish to study, look it up in
an English dictionary and make note of the definition.
Step 2 - Name and define the opposite quality, again using the English
dictionary.
Step 3 - Do a simple word study of the character quality first using
the Bible dictionary to define the quality from a Biblical perspective. Use the concordance
to find other verses containing the same word(s), remembering that often many different
English words can be used to translate the same Hebrew or Greek original and vice versa.
Then use the lexicon to determine the usage by the author(s) of the word(s) defining this
quality.
Step 4 - Find some cross references using either the verse listings
within your Bible or a dedicated book of cross references such as "The New Treasury of
Scripture Knowledge." The concordance and topical Bible (such as "Nave’s Topical Bible")
will also be of benefit in this step.
Step 5 - Do a brief biographical study of at least one person who
exhibits the character quality you are studying. Describe in brief the quality and the
Bible references to it in this person’s life. Use the following questions to help you along:
3.3.5.1 - What shows this quality in this person’s life?
3.3.5.2 - How did this quality affect this person’s life?
3.3.5.3 - Did this quality help or hinder this person’s growth to maturity,
spiritual or otherwise? How?
3.3.5.4 - What are the results of this quality in this person’s life?
Step 6 - Memorize at least one verse from your study that seems to stand
out and which will help you as you apply the lessons you are learning into your own life.
Step 7 - Select a situation or a relationship in which to work on this
character quality. Remember that we wish to minimize the negative qualities in our lives and
emphasize or enhance the positive qualities. Jonah’s stubbornness helps us to see our own
in light of its impact on our ability to do the will of God in our lives, whereas Moses’
humility before God in spite of his being able to meet God face to face can shed new light
on how we are to treat special characteristics of our own lives.
Step 8 - Think of practical methods by which you may apply the positive
aspects of your study into your life. If you are studying the quality of encouragement you
might wish to go out of your way to encourage Christian behavior in you fellow believers.
Step 9 - Make note of progress as you apply these lessons into your life.
This will allow you to evaluate your development in the area you have studied.
Chart for the Character Quality Method of Bible study
1. Character Quality: |
2. Opposite Quality: |
3. Simple Word Study
|
4. Cross Reference Insights:
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5. Simple Biographical Study:
|
6. Memory Verse(s):
|
7. Situational Application (where God wants you to
work on this quality in your life):
|
8. My Project:
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9. Progress Report:
|
Peter Rhebergen, was raised in a Christian home and currently
attends Westney Heights Baptist Church with his family. He is a volunteer in several of its
ministries and has served as assistant pastor, youth leader, adult Sunday School teacher and as
pulpit supply at various churches and Bible Camps in Southern Ontario. He has been married since
1989 and together with his wife has three wonderful children who have introduced them to horses,
hermit crabs and numerous other creatures they would not otherwise have met. He is an avid
photographer and poet and has held a life-long interest in astronomy thanks to Psalm 19 and an
uncle. You can visit's Peters website at
www.EachNewDay.com.
This material can be freely used by anyone desiring to bring honour to our God - Peter Rhebergen