Sermon Central
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Week Three Bible Study And Prayer Series
Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 28, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: The way you and God talk to each other.
BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER
I. INTRODUCTION
Everyone raised in church has repeatedly heard about Bible study and prayer. Sadly, repetition is required because we tend to forget to do them even if we have been Christians for thirty years. If you are a new convert, please listen closely to this lesson and make a concerted effort to study your Bible and pray daily. Faithfulness in these two things will hasten your Christian maturity. Soon you will be surpassing many that are older than you in the Lord.
II. BIBLE STUDY
{A} Frequency
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
We often think that a Sunday school lesson, two sermons on Sunday, and a bible Study on Wednesday night are enough for us. We wonder why with all that teaching we are not as successful as we desire in our Christian life. As this verse says, we have not realized that we are to meditate or chew on the Word like a cow does its cud day and night. We want spiritual fast food and then wonder why we have indigestion and poor nutrition. If we would eat physical meals like we eat spiritual ones there would not be an overweight Christian on the planet. Indeed, we would all be anorexics. (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4) We fuss about coming to church two days a week and two services on one day. Yet, the early church met daily to learn and to fellowship. (Acts 2:42-47) They turned the world upside down and we have trouble turning out of bed on Sundays. Can it be possible that this is why our world is in such calamity?
{B} Purpose
Not only do we have a problem with the frequency of our study but we also forget the purpose of it. Note that it says to meditate and do all that is written. James amens this in James 1:22. Many people come, listen and congratulate their teachers and preachers on the great lessons or sermons, only to go home and not implement in any form what they have been taught.
Can you imagine a sports team studying plays and strategies before a game and then refusing to get off the bench or each player doing whatever he wanted? They would be a laughing stock and no one would come to see their games. The church is often like that. God's game plans and strategies are discussed and then the Church just sits on the bench. People hear what they want or just do their own thing. They even hand the ball to the opposing team and cheer them as they score. Brethren, it ought not to be so!
If we are to be successful as a Christian and as a church, we as the team members must sacrifice the time needed to learn what God wants us to do and then go do it. Many times, though, we depend on teachers and preachers rather than digging into the Word ourselves. We act as if they are the only ones who are supposed to study and know God’s Word.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
If you are a Christian, you are a workman. A foreman on the job that is not satisfied with your work will not be placated by the fact that some of your co-workers are performing at a high level. He is going to be concerned about you knowing your job and doing it. God expects nothing less concerning His Word.
Each Christian has a job and the gifts to perform that job. We will discuss more about that in Week 5. You can learn what that gift is and how to use it through Bible study. You must study to show yourself approved, not the other guy. When you stand before God to have your work evaluated for rewards, you will be ashamed if your work is not approved or acceptable. You must learn to rightly divide or correctly interpret the Word.
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Much of the sorrow and impotence in the Church today is due to a failure to rightly divide the Word. Things that our forefathers believed were wrong and evil we now call right and good. Cults wrest scriptures out of context to their own condemnation. Christians are caught up in nonsense because they lack discernment. Many are wise in their own eyes or trust in those that are such.
