SESSION #1 – WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
What does it mean that Scripture is given by inspiration of God?
Theopneustos - God-breathed from theos (God) and pneu (to breathe)
The Bible consists of the complete canon of Scripture comprising:
The 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament.
The Bible is the living, inspired, authoritative, inerrant Word of God.
A QUOTE FROM THE PRINCE OF PREACHERS:
“The best food for you is the Word of God itself. Sermons and books are well enough, but streams that run for a long distance above ground gradually gather for themselves somewhat of the soil through which they flow, and they lose the cool freshness with which they started from the spring head. It is always best to drink at the well and not from the tank. You shall find that reading the Word of God for yourselves, reading it rather than notes upon it, is the surest way of growing in grace. Drink the unadulterated milk of the Word of God, and not of the skim milk and the water of man’s word.” (Charles Spurgeon, How to Read the Bible).
Interesting Note:
The Bible was written by 40 different men over a period of 1600 years. Most of these writers were not alive at the same time, and therefore they could not work together in any way. However, the Bible has one continuing story flowing through it with absolutely no contradictions. No other book has been written like this.
QUOTE: “Ultimately, success or failure in the Christian life depends upon how much of the Bible you get into your heart and life on a regular basis and how obedient you are to it. If you are not reading the Word of God, then it only will be a matter of time until you will fall apart spiritually.” (Greg Laurie, Hidden Treasure).
STORY: WHO KNOCKED DOWN JERICHO’S WALLS?
The new minister was asked to teach a boys’ class in the absence of the regular teacher. He decided to see what they knew, so he asked who knocked down the walls of Jericho. All the boys denied having done it, and the preacher was appalled by their ignorance. At the next deacons’ meeting he told about the experience. "Not one of them knows who knocked down the walls of Jericho," he lamented. The group was silent until finally one seasoned veteran of disputes spoke up. "Preacher, this appears to be bothering you a lot. But I’ve known all those boys since they were born and they’re good boys. If they said they didn’t know, I believe them. Let’s just take some money out of the repair and maintenance fund, fix the walls, and let it go at that."
OLD TESTAMENT DIVISIONS:
5 - Books of Law
12 - Books of History
5 - Books of Poetry
5 - Major Prophets
12 - Minor Prophets
NEW TESTAMENT DIVISIONS:
4 - Gospels
1 - History
14 - Paul’s Letters
7 - General Letters
1 - Apocalypse
SESSION #2 – WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
I. INTRODUCTION – WHY PEOPLE DON’T STUDY THE BIBLE:
1. The Problem of RELEVANCE - “It’s archaic, out of date!”
2. The Problem of TECHNIQUE/TRAINING - “I don’t know how!”
3. The Problem of TIME - “I just don’t have the time!”
4. The Problem of RELIABILITY/AUTHORITY - “I have my doubts about the Bible.”
5. The Problem of ENJOYABILITY - “It’s so boring!”
Howard Hendricks says, “The great tragedy among Christians today, is that many of us are under the Word of God, but not in it for ourselves.” (Living by the Book).
II. A RESPONSE TO PEOPLE’S OBJECTIONS:
1. God’s revelation is as ALIVE today as when it was first delivered
- I can’t make the Bible come alive...The Bible is alive. It makes me come alive.” (R. C. Sproul)
2. We simply need to recover the skills of READING
- You don’t need professional training to be able to understand the Bible!
3. The problem is not time, the problem is really PRIORITIES
4. The Bible is completely RELIABLE, CONSISTENT, and REASONABLE.
5. There is a JOY that comes with first-hand acquaintance with the Word.
The goal of this course is to address all of these obstacles and more…
“We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work...Our problem is that we are lazy.” (R. C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture).
Another reason why people don’t study the Bible is because they don’t realize how much it’ll benefit them!
III. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF STUDYING THE BIBLE?
1. SPIRITUAL GROWTH (1 Peter 2:2)
“As newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”
2. SPIRITUAL MATURITY (Hebrews 5:14)
“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
3. SPIRITUAL EFFECTIVENESS (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Do you want to be more effective in your Christian life? Get in the Word!
MORE BENEFITS – TO READING & STUDYING THE BIBLE:
1. PURITY (Psalm 119:9)
2. GUARD OUR HEARTS AGAINST SIN (Psalm 119:11)
3. REVIVAL (Psalm 119:25)
4. STRENGTHENING (Psalm 119:28)
5. ENLARGES OUR HEARTS (Psalm 119:32)
6. ENABLES US TO WALK IN LIBERTY (Psalm 119:45)
7. COMFORT & LIFE (Psalm 119:50)
8. WISDOM (Psalm 119:99)
9. UNDERSTANDING (Psalm 119:104)
10. LIGHT – DIRECTION (Psalm 119:105)
11. PROSPERITY & GOOD SUCCESS (Joshua 1:8)
12. CLEANSING (John 15:3)
13. JOY (John 15:11)
14. PEACE (John 16:33a)
15. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION (1 John 5:13)
Is Bible Study worth your time? Is it worth learning how to do it right? YES! But not only that – it can be an enjoyable adventure, too!
THE GREATEST GOAL OF BIBLE STUDY:
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40).
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
1. The Scriptures lead us to Jesus Christ and eternal life!
2. The Scriptures transform us into the image of Jesus by renewing our minds!
IN CONCLUSION – A MATTER OF DUTY:
“I could plead with you to study the Bible for personal edification...happiness…(for a) fulfilling and rewarding educational experience...But ultimately the main reason why we should study the Bible is because it is our duty… If the Bible were the most boring book in the world, dull, uninteresting, and seemingly irrelevant, it would still be our duty to study it...We live as human beings under an obligation by divine mandate to study diligently God’s Word. He is our Sovereign, it is his Word and he commands that we study it. A duty is not an option.” (R. C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture).
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
"Living by the Book" by Howard and William Hendricks.
"Knowing Scripture" by R.C. Sproule
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
