WHY SHOULD WE STUDY THE BIBLE?

MOVEMENT ONE: ME/WE

WOULD YOU RATHER… Have a normal summer break, or have school year round and have three month long breaks?

Story abouteveryone does something that is pointless!

!!!SUMMER BREAK!!!

It served it’s purpose in its time, but why do we still do it?

Do you ever feel that way about reading your Bible? Like, at some point somebody said this was important, and I know I’m supposed to do it, but if we’re honest we’ve forgotten WHY.

MOVEMENT TWO: NAMING PRESENT ACTION

Exercise: Agree/Disagree

Agree or disagree: The Bible is just as relevant today as when it was first written.

Agree or disagree: There is such a thing as a bad reason to read the Bible.

Agree or disagree: It is impossible for us to fully understand the Bible.

Agree or disagree: The Bible is powerful and automatically changes us when we read it.

“I have found in the Bible words for my inmost thoughts, songs for my joy, utterance for my hidden griefs and pleadings for my shame and feebleness” (Samuel Tylor Coleridge, English Poet and Literary Critic)

MOVEMENT THREE: WHY THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE BIBLE

LIKE A [LAMP], THE WORD OF GOD LIGHTS OUR PATH | WE STUDY THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE GIVES US DIRECTION | Key Verse: Ps 119:105

Explain the Illustration in the Text: As the Psalmist was “walking” the “road of life,” the Word made his steps clear. The sense is that he would not know where to step or how to proceed without the guidance of God’s Word. (Illustration: Hiking in Colorado to the top of the mountain; snow drifts; trying to find solid footing)

ASK THEM: What is implied about the world, or about life? A: It is confusing; it is unclear; it is dangerous.

ASK THEM: What is implied about the Bible? A: It gives “light”/clarity; it gives direction.

SO WHAT? Life is dangerous! Our choices matter! We are always moving forward and taking the next step, and we need to know where to go in order to find good ground and a solid footing.

THE POINT: In a dark world, and when we aren’t sure which way to go, God’s Word can light the way!

LIKE A [PLUMB LINE], THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR UNFAILING STANDARD FOR TRUTH | WE STUDY THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE | Key Verse: Jn 17:17

Explain the illustration: Have the students demonstrate the plumb line.

The observation: Ancient peoples were able to build INCREDIBLE structures.

The problem: How do we make sure everything is straight?

The solution: Find something that is universally unchanging!

Question: Can truth change? Should we always interpret the Bible literally? Is the Bible written about my life?

No

No

No

BUT… though the Bible is not written to us, the Bible is written FOR us. And when we study it, we can learn about the truth of who God is and what He’s like, which never changes.

LIKE A [HAMMER], THE WORD OF GOD IS USEFUL | WE STUDY THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE CHANGES US | Key Verse: 2 Tim 3:16-17

Paul says that the Scriptures are “God-breathed.” Think about that: It is breathed out by God. What does that mean? It means that God is the person from whom it proceeds. The Bible didn’t start in the mind of Paul, or Moses, or Peter! Rather, the Holy Spirit was involved in the writing of the Bible in such a way that the words that were written down are the exact words that God desired to be written down. They are, in fact, God’s Words.

And as Paul says, BECAUSE they are God’s Words, they are “USEFUL”

DEMONSTRATION: A hammer can build up AND tear down. It can be used to drive nails which create a structure, or to drive a chisel which cuts things away.

Teaching: Showing you the right path

Rebuking: Showing you how you got off the path

Correcting: Getting you back on the path

Training in Righteousness: Keeping you on the path

Another illustration: The rod and the staff, they comfort me.

Sometimes the Word of God is needed to comfort; and sometimes the Word of God is needed to correct. Because sometimes the most loving thing to do is to tell a hard truth. Think about Jesus’ words to the church in Revelation 2-3!

MOVEMENT FOUR: SO WHAT?

SUMMARY: Why should we study the Bible?

LIKE A [LAMP], THE WORD OF GOD LIGHTS OUR PATH | WE STUDY THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE GIVES US DIRECTION

LIKE A [PLUMB LINE], THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR UNFAILING STANDARD FOR TRUTH | WE STUDY THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE

LIKE A [HAMMER], THE WORD OF GOD IS USEFUL | WE STUDY THE BIBLE BECAUSE THE BIBLE CHANGES US

But in the end, while all this is true, it would be enough if all we wrote down was… “WE STUDY THE BIBLE BECAUSE IT IS THE WORD OF GOD.” If you found out that the God of the Universe had something to share with you, wouldn’t you want to pick up that phone call? I know I would! The reality is that the God who made you, and who loves you, and who died to save you wants to speak to you and have a relationship with you. And it’s that relationship that shows you the way. It’s that relationship that keeps you on track. It’s that relationship that changes you. And the Bible is simply the tool that God wants to use to speak to you. So I hope you’ll make a habit not just of reading the Bible, but of really listening to it to hear God’s voice in a world where so many other voices are shouting for your attention.

MOVEMENT FIVE: SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

Do you have any goals when it comes to engaging with the Bible?

If you had a friend come up and ask you, “Why should I even bother with the Bible,” what do you think you would say to them?

Re-read this quote from Samuel Tylor Coleridge. “I have found in the Bible words for my inmost thoughts, songs for my joy, utterance for my hidden griefs and pleadings for my shame and feebleness.” What is Samuel saying here? Have you ever felt that way?

Which of the three illustrations reminds you the most of the way you have experienced the Bible? Why that one? (flashlight, plumb line, hammer)

Which one do you need the most right now? (flashlight, plumb line, hammer)