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Lesson: Study Your Bible
SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 17:10-11.
GOLDEN TEXT: Revelation 1:3.
The Bible is consistently on the best-seller’s list. Yet for many who have a copy - it is one of the least read and most often misunderstood of books.
Why don't people read the Bible?
There are probably as many reasons as there are people. Most people do not read the Bible because they do not understand the Bible. If people would read it they would be SHOCKED at the truth in their own Bible.
These Bible Studies in our monthly newsletter are here to help you in your Bible Study. The idea is for you to "stick your nose" in your Bible and read the answers to the questions. This way you will know what the Bible says.
1. Will you be "blessed" if you read and study the Bible? (Revelation 1:3). Do you need to "keep those things which are written in it?" (Same verse.)
2. Do you need to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God? (Matthew 4:4).
3. Do you need to be diligent and study "rightly dividing the word of truth" to show yourself approved unto God? (2 Timothy 2:15). How can you do this without reading the Bible?
4. Is the study of the Bible profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness? (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Are you willing to let God reprove and correct you from the pages of His word, the Bible? People usually resent being corrected. Is man’s carnal mind at enmity with God? (Romans 8:7).
Note: Enmity means that man is opposed to God or he hates God. Man has a hatred of God’s law and he does not want to be told that he can’t sin.
5. Are we to study the Bible to be equipped for every good work? (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
6. Should you read, study and search your Bible daily to learn more about God and His truth? (Acts 17:10-11). Should you search the scriptures daily as the Bereans did in the apostle Paul’s day? (Same verses).
7. Should we "prove and test all things and hold fast to that which is good?" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
8. Should we be able to give an answer from the Bible of "the hope that is within us?" (1 Peter 3:15).
9. Is the Bible living and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword? (Hebrews 4:12). Is God’s word a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart? (Same verse). The Bible opens and exposes our innermost thoughts. Are we to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ? (2 Corinthians 10:5).
10. Are we to worship God in spirit and in truth? (John 4:24). Is God’s word truth? (John 17:17). Is God’s word a lamp unto our feet? (Psalms 119:105).
11. Is there a danger in not studying the Bible? Could we be turned from sound doctrine to fables? (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Did Isaiah also talk about a time when people would rebel against God and want their prophets to prophesy smooth things? (Isaiah 30:8-10).
Note: Why should you read and study the Bible? The Bible is God’s divine revelation of basic needed knowledge, which man is not capable of finding out for himself by any other means. Within It’s pages are the answers to many of our problems and questions regarding life: Why were you born? How do you get along with your neighbors? How can you be happy? How can you succeed financially? Is there life after death? How do you rear a teenager? What’s next in prophecy?
By reading the Bible you will gain knowledge and understanding. By applying this knowledge in your life you will be using wisdom and will be building righteous character. The book of Proverbs will be very helpful in this area.
12. A very important lesson that we can learn from the book of Proverbs is that we need to fear and respect God. Is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge? (Proverbs 1:7). If we have the proper fear of the Lord, will we hate evil? (Proverbs 8:13). Is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? (Proverbs 9:10). Will the fear of the Lord prolong our days, give us strong confidence and be a fountain of life? (Proverbs 10:27, 14:26-27). Will the fear of the Lord lead to honor, riches and life? (Proverbs 19:23, 22:4).
13. If we read about Jesus in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John will we find out about God the Father? (Luke 10:22). What was the "good news" message that God gave Jesus to proclaim? (Mark 1:1,14-15). Did Jesus come preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and did He tell men to repent? (Same verses).
14. Did Jesus give parables to the people so they could understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven or to conceal them? (Matthew 13:11-16).
In Conclusion: In this short Bible Study we have explored how important Bible Study is. We will be "blessed" if we read and study. God’s word is a lamp unto our feet, but we have to read it and live by it so it can light our path in the way that we should go.
One other quick tip in Bible Study is that before you begin to read, say a short prayer asking God to open up your mind to understand what He is saying in the Holy Scriptures. Ask God to let His holy spirit "guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).
Remember: You will be blessed if you read and heed those things that are written in the Bible.
Scriptures
Scripture Reading: Acts 17:10-11 (NKJV) "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. {11} These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Golden Text: Revelation 1:3 (NKJV) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
1.) (Revelation 1:3 NKJV) "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
2.) (Matthew 4:4 NKJV) "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'""
3.) (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV) "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
4.) (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV) "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, {17} that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
(Romans 8:7 NKJV) "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."
5.) (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV) "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, {17} that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
6.) (Acts 17:10-11 NKJV) "Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and
Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of
the Jews. {11} These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to
find out whether these things were so."
7.) (1 Thessalonians 5:21 NKJV) "Test all things; hold fast what is
good."
(1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV) "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
8.) (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV) "But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a
reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"
9.) (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) "For the word of God is living and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and
spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents
of the heart."
(2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV) "casting down arguments and
every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every
thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"
10.) (John 4:24 NKJV) ""God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must
worship in spirit and truth.""
(John 17:17 NKJV) ""Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is
truth."
(Psalms 119:105 NKJV) "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my
path."
11.) (2 Timothy 4:1-4 NKJV) "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom: {2} Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. {3} For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; {4}
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to
fables."
(Isaiah 30:8-10 NKJV) "Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever: {9} That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the LORD; {10} Who say to the seers, "Do not see," And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits."
12.) (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction."
(Proverbs 8:13 NKJV) "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate."
(Proverbs 9:10 NKJV) ""The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
(Proverbs 10:27 NKJV) "The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened."
(Proverbs 14:26-27 NKJV) "In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. {27} The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death."
(Proverbs 19:23 NKJV) "The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil."
(Proverbs 22:4 NKJV) "By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life."
13.) (Luke 10:22 NKJV) ""All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.""
(Mark 1:1 NKJV) "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
(Mark 1:14-15 NKJV) "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, {15} and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.""
14.) (Matthew 13:11-16 NKJV) "He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. {12} "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. {13} "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. {14} "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; {15} For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' {16} "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;"
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