How To Study The Bible

Introduction:

“This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book”

We are either in the book, being formed in Jesus Christ… or we are in the world, and the world is squeezing you into its mold

Most people do not know how to read the Bible, despite having multiple copies

Why study the Bible?

Three reasons why personal Bible study is not optional but essential:

Spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2 “2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” )

This passage speaks to your attitude toward the Word of God.

It’s the attitude of a newborn baby, just as the baby grabs for the bottle YOU grab for the book

That child must be satisfied when he cries

It speaks to your appetite.

Develop an appetite for the word

When people say to me, “Well I’m not getting much out of the word”, thats more of a commentary on the individual than it is on the scripture

It is possible to know, and not grow

Spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:11-14 “11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”)

We need to relearn our ABCs by disciplining ourselves.

Spiritual effectiveness (2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

It’s all profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteous living.

It not only teaches you whats right, but also whats wrong

What is personal Bible study?

It’s the method of reading and understanding the Bible!

There are three basic steps in Bible study: (NOT open Bible, read Bible, close Bible)

Observation: what do I see? Acts 17…

Interpretation: what does it mean?

Application: how does it work?

Good observation always produces good and accurate interpretation… and the same for application

How you live is a “product” of what happens in the study.

A strong public ministry derives from a strong personal ministry

We need to spend more time alone developing a helpful process

There’s no greater joy than revealing the truth that God has given in His word

Reasons for a methodical Bible study:

Think for yourself

Don’t rearrange your prejudice, they simply echo what they heard someone else say

But they don’t have the conviction that comes from personal Bible study

Evaluate the thoughts of others

My study evaluates the opposing commentaries

Personal joy of discovery

See the truth for yourself

Fall in love with the Author

It is intensely personal

1 Cor 2:9 “but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.””

The process:

Observation: What do I see?

Psalm 119:18 “18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.”

Pray for God to take the bandages off our eyes

Why is someone a better bible student than me? They can SEE more!

The only difference is what that person can see in a cubic foot of space.

ROCK into arrowhead!

It’s all there! But you need to learn how to see it for yourself

Observation allows us to see with spiritual insight. It’s there, but we need to learn how to see it for ourselves.

We need to know what to look for.

Like a physician

Interpretation: “What does it mean?”

The more you learn to see, the more you learn to understand.

Seeing always proceeds understanding

Like noticing a “new building” driving down the road thats been there for ages

I saw, but had not learned to observe

It involves:

Learning to ask the right questions

Bombard the text with questions

How to discover the right answers

And how to uncover the big picture.

Climb a tree to get the perspective you need… Zaccheus.

Application: “How does it work?”

The goal is not information; it’s transformation.

God’s word isn’t written to make you a smarter sinner, it’s written to make you just like Christ

It was given to make you new! . (2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

The main objectives are: First, how does it work for me? And then, how does it work for others?

Otherwise I’ll be a hypocrite.

“It doesn’t work for me but you ought to TRY it!”

Share from authenticity.

Look at an example with me as I close:

Acts 17.

Pick a translation and READ. READ!!!

But read to UNDERSTAND. What good is it to read if you don’t understand.

Psalm 119.

If you struggle to pick up your Bible:

what does that say about your heart?

What does it say about your worship?

What does it say about where you stand before God?

Take the sword, read it, and let it mold you into becoming more like Christ.

Study with us on Wednesday nights! There’s no greater opportunity than that.

Maybe you’ve been struggling with reading your Bible. Make the change TODAY, and the Lord promises it will be a blessing to you in your life.

For prayers and encouragement wont you come?