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“I knew one pastor who lived in mortal fear of teaching the Bible! He felt that he was a fraud; his sermons came from a magazine or the internet and he concentrated on counseling (at which he was good). It took a lot of arm-twisting to get him to learn the Bible. He was embarrassed that people would find him out.” • - Why Should We Study the Bible? By Richard J. Krejcir
Becoming Like the Bereans The Importance of Bible Study
(Acts 17:11) • 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. (NKJV)
(Acts 17:11) • 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. (NKJV)
(Acts 17:11) • 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. (NKJV)
(Acts 17:11) • 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. (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home.
Studying the Bible to Get Home • (Genesis 3:4) • Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. (NKJV) • (Revelation 22:14) • Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to Get Home • (Luke 19:10) • "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home. • …to know what is right.
Studying the Bible to know what is right. • (Revelation 22:18-19) • For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to know what is right. • (Romans 6:17) • But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to know what is right. • (Matthew 4:4) • 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.'" (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to know what is right. • (Revelation 22:15) • But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to know what is right. • John 17:17 • "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to know what is right. • (1 John 4:1) • Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home. • …to know what is right. • …to know how to defend what we believe.
Studying the Bible to know what is right. • (1 Peter 3:15) • 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; (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home. • …to know what is right. • …to know how to defend what we believe. • … to grow.
Studying the Bible to grow. • (1 Peter 2:2) • “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home. • …to know what is right. • …to know how to defend what we believe. • … to grow. • … because we want to know the God we love.
Studying the Bible because we want to know the God we love. • (Psalms 63:1) • O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home. • …to know what is right. • …to know how to defend what we believe. • … to grow. • … because we want to know the God we love. • … to equip ourselves to teach others.
Studying the Bible to equip ourselves to teach others. • (2 Timothy 2:15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (NKJV) • (2 Timothy 4:2) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to equip ourselves to teach others. • (2 Timothy 2:2) And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (NKJV)
Studying the Bible to equip ourselves to teach others. • (2 Timothy 2:2) And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home. • …to know what is right. • …to know how to defend what we believe. • … to grow. • … because we want to know the God we love. • … to equip ourselves to teach others. • … because it is a mirror.
Studying the Bible because it is a mirror. • James 1:21-25 “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (NKJV)
We study the Bible… • …to get home. • …to know what is right. • …to know how to defend what we believe. • … to grow. • … because we want to know the God we love. • … to equip ourselves to teach others. • … because it is a mirror. • …because it is a “rock.”
Studying the Bible because it is a mirror. • (Matthew 7:24-27) • "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (NKJV)