• Approaching Bible study: Isarah 34:16
    • Search
      • Purposeful examination for truth, John 8:32
        • Know this will separate you from those who do not seek it. John 17:17
        • Understand some can have truth, but misappropriate it. Romans 1:18
      • Make no attempt to prop up preconceptions or merely “ammunition” for an argument.
      • Make use of various translations, dictionaries, concordances, maps, etc.
    • Read
      • Regularity - attend to it, strive for consistency - I Timothy 4:13
      • Purposefully - with the idea of learning and application - Acts 17:11
      • Reverentially - respecting God’s Word for what it is - His Word! - I Thessalonians 2:13
  • Approaching Bible study: Psalms 103:18
    • Remember
      • God-fearing exhorted to remember the law, Malachi 4:2-4
      • Apply this precept on rememberance, Acts 20:35
    • Obey it
      • Knowledge does not substitute obedience, Romans 2:18
  • Reason for Bible study #1: Comprehension
    • Eunuch was reading to learn. Acts 8:28
    • “How readest thou?” - is there discernment? Luke 10:26
  • Reason for Bible study #2: Wisdom
    • Hearing Christ today is our wisdom. Matthew 7:24
    • Epistles contain wisdom given to the apostles. II Peter 3:15
    • We can understand it. Ephesians 3:4
  • Reason for Bible study #3: Memory
    • Experience, through reading and application, develops good memory. James 1:23-25
  • Reason for Bible study #4: Conviction
    • Search to believe Moses about Christ. John 5:39
    • Hear gospel and believe, Acts 15:7
  • Reason for Bible study #5: Knowledge
    • So the profit of reading may be had by all. I Timothy 4:13
    • Grow in knowledge, II Peter 3:18
    • Teach others, successive training. II Timothy 2:2
    • Instructed to share the word, must become common knowledge. Colossians 4:16
    • 10 times in gospels Jesus upbraids them for no knowledge, failure to read, Matthew 12:3; etc.
  • Reason for Bible study #6: Root out error/set forth truth
    • Letters written to be read and deal with heresy, Acts 15:23
    • Galatians written to deal with issues, Galatians 1:6
    • Learn what is lacking and fix it, Titus 1:5
  • Reason for Bible study #7: Godly living
    • To enjoy the highest form of spiritual and moral prosperity, Revelation 1:3
    • In reading, hearing, keeping (II Peter 1:3
  • Conclusion
    • Christians are less than we could/should be when we do not study as we ought.
    • Preachers and elders preach/allow false teaching when they get away from solid study.
    • The world does not know God when it will not read - this is the big problem, we do not search and read!
    • Therefore God’s plan for saving men is oft discredited because men simply do not know it is there.
  • God’s plan for saving man:
    • Hear the gospel - Romans 10:17
    • Believe Jesus is the Son of God - Mark 16:16
    • Repent from sin - Acts 17:30
    • Confess faith in Christ - Romans 10:9-10
    • Be baptized - I Peter 3:21
    • Live faithfully unto God - Revelation 2:10