Reasons to Tune In

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

God has purposes for His inspired Word. As we study the Bible, we must be familiar with those purposes and adjust our study accordingly. In the end, Bible study should produce change in our lives. It is an essential catalyst for spiritual growth. We can't become like Christ without it.

Option 2—Reasons for Reading

Steps

1 . Write the following sentence starters on the board.

I like to read...

I read because . . .

2. Give students a few minutes to think before having them share and discuss their answers.

ASK: Do you like to read the Bible?

ASK: What are your expectations as you read the Bible?

4. Transition to the Bible lesson.

This Lesson will examine what God expects to happen when we read the Bible. Being aware of His expectations will help us wisely respond to what we read and study.

• Resources 45-RI and 45-R2

l. Bible Study Is Profitable

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

When the apostle Paul stated that the Scriptures are profitable, he did not mean that believers will make money when they apply the Word to their lives. When we read the word "profitable, " we should think of the words "advantageous" or "useful. " God's Word is useful because it is beneficial when we spend the time to understand it. Its benefits build in such a way that our lives become what God designed them to be. We grow toward the fullest realization of our potential in Christ when God's truth has free reign in our lives.

John 8:32 KJV 1900

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

ASK: In what sense does the Word of God, the truth, set us free? The truth delivers us from bondage to sin and gives us the freedom to serve and enjoy God.

The Bible is useful because God inspired it. God wrote it with our needs in mind. Even before we were born and became aware of our needs, God knew our needs and wrote the Bible to address them all. Jesus said God the Father knows our needs even before we feel the need to approach Him about them (Matt. 6:8).

God ultimately designed His Word to help us take on the character of His Son, conforming us to Christ's image (Rom. 8:28-30). God's inspired Word is sharp in its insights into our needs.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Bible provides the truth that helps us understand ourselves. we desperately need the Bible, though we often don’t realize just how much until we begin to study it.

An MRI gives us clear images of what is happening inside our bodies. The Bible acts as an MRI of our spiritual lives. It reveals who we really are, problems and all. for that reason, we should consider it our most valuable possession!

Bible Study Clarifies Doctrine

God’s Doctrine Transforms

Paul said the Bible is profitable for doctrinal teaching in our opening verse. It tells us what to believe.

Display: Resource 45-R1. Point out that doctrine tells us what is right. It is God’s truth.

Paul also wrote that learning God’s doctrine encourages us by giving us hope.

Romans 15:4 KJV 1900

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

ASK: What specific hope?

ASK: How might your outlook on life be opportunity to learn Bible doctrine?

Doctrine tells us about the past, present, and understand God's plan and where we fit into it gives us confidence as we look forward to eternity.

On a practical, day-to-day level, doctrine directs begin to think correctly and according to God's to act correctly. We will not be conformed to this transformed instead.

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Teaching is meant to be applied, not just stored gave us His doctrine to change our lives.

False Doctrine Destroys

False doctrine is also geared toward application, but not the kind that encourages and gives hope, Paul wrote that false teachers distort what it means to grow as a Christians. As a result, they keep believers from making progress in their walk with Lord.

Ephesians 4:14–16 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Leaders who spread false doctrine have selfish reasons for their teaching. they love themselves, not their people. Those who reach sound doctrine are motivated by their love for others. They want others to benefit from God’s truth.

The false doctrine known as the health and wealth gospel has grown in popularity over the last several decades. Health and wealth preachers teach that God wants all believers to be healthy and wealthy in this life. Believers, they say, simply need to put their faith in God and give generously to support the preacher's ministry. The preachers convince people, some of whom are poor, to send their money to the preacher. The preacher becomes wealthy, but his people continue to suffer financially and physically. In response, the health and wealth preacher tells the sick and poor that they didn't have enough faith in God and that they need to give even more money to his ministry. No wonder Paul said those who listen to false doctrine are tossed to and fro like the wind-driven waves (Eph. 4:14).

DISPLAY: Resource 45-R2.

ASK: What characterizes the life of a person being tossed about by wind and waves? The person is unstable, fearful, anxious, doubtful, hopeless, and spiritually immature.

We shouldn't think of Bible doctrine as boring or only for intellectual theologians; doctrine forms the foundation of a solid, stable understanding on which we can build our spiritual lives. God gave us the Bible so we might know doctrine.

Bible Study Addresses Our Hearts

The Bible Reproves Us

Doctrine affects our hearts. It shows us where we are wrong in our beliefs, thinking, and practice. The Bible reproves us (2 Tim. 3:16).

DISPLAY: Resource 45-RI . Point out that reproof is for those who are making their own path instead of obeying and following God.

The Bible reproves us by showing how we've wandered from God's truth. The Bible, then, acts as a wrong way sign warning us to get back on God's way.

No one enjoys being confronted about personal sin, but the confrontation is beneficial in the end.

Proverbs 27:6 KJV 1900

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

God, like a faithful friend, uses the Bible to show us where we aren't living according to His truth. But even when His truth hurts, we can trust it is for our good.

Humility is the key to receiving a reproof properly. If we don't humbly believe we are wrong, then we will not see a need to change.

James 4:6–10 KJV 1900

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

ASK: What does God give to those who humbly admit their sin and their need to restore their walk with God? His help in the form of grace.

God shows us our error because He wants to help us. His motives are always pure.

Proverbs 29:1 KJV 1900

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

ASK: Describe the life of the person who refuses to respond to repeated reproofs from God's Word. The person's life becomes unsettled and increasingly useless for the work of the Lord.

Psalm 139:23–24 KJV 1900

Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

ASK: What will God show us about ourselves if we humbly submit to Him? The depths of our hearts, including our motives and passions.

When we study the Bible, we should share David's prayer that God would search his heart. And we should be ready for God to answer our prayers. He will faithfully and lovingly show us where we are wrong.

The Bible corrects us

God follows up His reproof with His correction (2 Tim. 3:16). He wants us to abandon our wrong thinking and actions and begin to obey Him.

DISPLAY: Resource 45-RI. The Bible corrects us by showing us how to get right with God.

"Correction" requires a redirection from faulty actions to righteousness. The root idea of correction is to "set up straight. " Sin is crooked and devious. God's way is straight and right.

Proverbs 2:6–15 KJV 1900

For the Lord giveth wisdom: Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, And preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, And equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, And knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, Understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, From the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, And they froward in their paths:

ASK: Contrast the path of the person who listens to wisdom with the path of the person who goes his own way. The wise person is directed and guarded by God. The foolish person walks in darkness, loves iniquity, and practices deception.

ASK: When have you witnessed the reality of these two paths?

After God reproves us and we learn we aren't where we should be spiritually, He does not leave us there in our error. Through correction, God redirects us and shows us the way back to obedience. As you read the Scriptures, you will find this pattern again and again. When God tells His children that they must stop their wrong actions, He shows them what to do in the place of their sin.

We should note that whether we respond to God's reproof and correction affects more than our own lives. Proverbs 2:13 says that darkness characterizes the paths that are not on the way of uprightness. By inference, the way of uprightness is a way of light. When believers are living uprightly, having responded to correction, they become a light that shows God's saving grace to those around them.

Philippians 2:15 KJV 1900

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Bible Study Trains Us for Life

We Must Admit Our Need

The Bible also gives us instruction or training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). Instruction refers to the process a parent uses when rearing a child. Paul used the Greek word to speak of a father's responsibility to train his children in the things of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). The writer of Hebrews used the same word to describe the chastening or disciplining process through which God takes all believers (Heb. 12:5-11). A child lacks basic knowledge. It is a parent's responsibility to give a child the tools to live responsibly. That is instruction. God faithfully gives believers instruction in righteousness through His Word.

Every parent understands that instructing a child is a challenging task. Sometimes the greatest hurdle is the child's unwillingness to understand he or she needs guidance. Believers can be the same way. With an independent spirit, we set out on our own, not realizing how deficient our skills will prove to be.

If we are to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 8), we must admit we have room for spiritual growth and trust in God to train us.

Hebrews 12:11 KJV 1900

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

ASK: What does God the Father's instruction (chastening or discipline) yield in our lives? The peaceable fruit of righteousness.

We ought to be eager to learn from the Bible how to live for the Lord.

We Must Commit to the Process

DISPLAY: Resource 45-RI . Note the guardrails along the road represent instruction in righteousness.

The instruction from God's Word guides us in living to glorify, please, and enjoy God. But those guardrails are nonexistent if we don't spend time in God's Word. Bible study builds the guardrails of understanding that keep us close to God and away from sin. Memorized verses are the posts to which the guardrails are attached.

Psalm 119:11 KJV 1900

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.

ASK: What benefit comes from hiding God's Word in our hearts? It keeps us from sinning against God.

ASK: What will guide our thoughts and decisions if we have not learned God's Word? Our flesh, the world's ideas, influential friends

Jesus prayed believers would be sanctified by God's truth, meaning God's Word (John 17:17). If we aren't learning God's Word, then we won't be growing as a believer.

God's inspired Word meets our needs on every level. Everything we need to know to live for Christ is found in the Bible. The Word challenges us when we are in error and guides us to live by the truth. God promises to nurture and train us if we humble ourselves as little children. Then we will become what He has designed us to be. The Bible is truly profitable for us as God's children. We would be wise to regularly open the Bible to read and study it. This course will help us do that.