Class 1

How often do you read the Bible? (circle one)

NEVER

ONCE A MONTH

ONCE A WEEK

TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK

EVERY DAY

When you read it, how much time do you spend reading?

5 MIN.

OR LESS

15 MIN.

30 MIN.

45 MIN.

1 HR.

OR MORE

Here are a few reasons that people give for not reading the Bible. Check the ones that express why you don’t read the Bible more than you do.

___The Bible doesn’t seem relevant to my life.

The Bible doesn’t seem relevant to my life.

___The Bible seems confusing and hard to understand. I don’t know how to make sense out of it.

The Bible seems confusing and hard to understand. I don’t know how to make sense out of it.

___I used to read the Bible, and it made me feel good. But after awhile, it didn’t seem to have the same impact, so finally I gave it up.

I used to read the Bible, and it made me feel good. But after awhile, it didn’t seem to have the same impact, so finally I gave it up.

___I feel guilty when I read the Bible.

I feel guilty when I read the Bible.

___The Bible is hopelessly out-of-date. It may have some interesting stories, but it has little significance for life today.

The Bible is hopelessly out-of-date. It may have some interesting stories, but it has little significance for life today.

___I rely on my pastor or minister to explain the Bible to me. If I need to know something, he will tell me about it.

I rely on my pastor or minister to explain the Bible to me. If I need to know something, he will tell me about it.

___I have doubts about the Bible’s reliability.

___I don’t have time. I’m just too busy.

I don’t have time. I’m just too busy.

___The Bible seems boring to me.

The Bible seems boring to me.

___I don’t own a Bible.

I don’t own a Bible.

I have doubts about the Bible’s[…]”

___The Bible is full of myths and half-truths. Why study something that lacks credibility?

The Bible is full of myths and half-truths. Why study something that lacks credibility?

___I don’t read, period! It’s not just the Bible; I don’t read anything.”

I don’t read, period! It’s not just the Bible; I don’t read anything.”

Excerpt From: Howard G. Hendricks. “Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible.” iBooks. ]”

1. Bible study is essential to Spiritual growth and maturity.

1 Peter 2:2 NIV84

2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Hebrews 5:11–14 NIV84

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

heb

2. The Bible is the divine means of developing spiritual maturity. There is no other way.

2 Tim

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV84

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

3. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He defeated the devil three times by saying, “It is written.”

4. What you believe determines how you behave.

5. Many want a word from God, but don’t want the Word of God.

Excerpt From: Howard G. Hendricks. “Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible.” iBooks.

6. Many are under the Word, but they are not in the Word.

3 Reasons to study the Bible:

You will gain self-confidence in your ability to handle Scripture.

You will experience the joy of personal discovery.

You will deepen your relationship with God.

Method to Bible Study:

Observation - What do I see?

Interpretation - What does it mean?

Interpretation - What does it mean?

Correlation - Where does it fit?

Application - How does it work?

What do I see?

Terms

Structure

Grammatical

Literary

Genre and form

Atmosphere

What does it mean?

Questions

Answers

Integration

Where does it fit?

Develop and Biblical theology

Develop a Biblical life/worldview.

How does it work?

For me?

For others?

7. You should study the Bible because it’s essential to growth, it’s essential to maturity, and it’s essential for equipping and training you, to accomplish His purposes.