How & Why to Read & Study the Bible

1. How & Whyto Read & Study the Bible 5 April 2014

2. How the Bible Is Organized • Historical Books Genesis through Esther • Poetic Books Job through Song of Songs • Prophetic Books Isaiah through Malachi Old TestamentNew Testament • Historical Books Matthew through Acts • Epistles/Letters Romans through Jude • Prophetic Book Revelation Ancient Time to ~400 BC ~0 AD to ~100 AD

3. Examples of People in the Bible Who Studied the Bible • Jeremiah 15:16When your words came I ate them, for they were my joy and my heart’s delight. • Ezra 7:10Now Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

4. Examples of People in the Bible Who Studied the Bible • Mt. 4:4Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” • Acts 17:11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for the received the message with great and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true

5. Navigator Hand Illustration Apply James 1:22

6. Reasons to Read the Bible • The world's best selling book • Biblical faith is based on a historical event • Jesus was a real person • Believing in the Bible message changes livesPeople have been rescued from: drugs, depression, shop-lifting, heart condition, low self-esteem, a life of violence, a lesbian lifestyle, the effects of abuse...

7. Reasons to Read the Bible • Filled with real people and real places • Jesus has dramatically affected history • Brilliant people believe it to be true - George Frederic Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Haydn, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Johannes Kepler, Louis Pasteur, C. S. Lewis • Fulfils our deepest needsLove, truth, know God, overcome fear of death, find forgiveness, find peace, find freedom, find joy, find security

8. Reasons to Read the Bible • The world's most widely distributed bookThe whole Bible has been translated into 405 different languages and the New Testament into 1034 languages. • Packed with the most exciting eventsThese include human emotion (love, joy, peace, exhilaration, pain and disappointment), miracles like people rising from the dead, people receiving their sight and walking on water, suspense, battles and the supernatural (God and demons).

9. Reasons to Read the Bible What the Bible says makes senseThere must be a Creator, there is good and evil, we have trouble doing what is right, there will be a judgment for what we have done, we need forgiveness Many people have died for their faith Has survived the most sustained attack The Bible is historically reliable From the book "In Six Days (why 50 scientists choose to believe in creation)" edited by John F Ashton PhD, New Holland Publishers, 1999. http://www.changinglivesonline.org/why-read-the-bible.html

10. Bible Reading Priorities(for First Time Readers) • 4 Gospels • Rest of New Testament • Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes • Genesis (the beginning of many thinhgs) • Exodus – Esther • Job, Song of Solomon • Major prophets • Minor prophets • Book of Enoch (maybe not Bible canon, but quoted by Jesus and the apostles; worth reading to understand Genesis.)

11. Which version of the Bible? • Use an English translation based on the Greek majority text • KJV – truer to the original text • NKJV – easier to read • Beware of modern version based on the corrupted Nestle / Westcott-Hort / Alexandrian / Greek text, e.g., NIV, RSV, NASB, The Message, Jerusalem Bible, etc. • Other languages – OK, but may be poor translation and usually based on corrupted text

12. Bible Reading Plan • 1189 chapters in the Bible • 365 days per year • 3 year plan: 1.09 chapters / day • 2 year plan: 1.63 chapters / day • 1 year plan: 3.26 chapters / day • 6 month plan: 6.5 chapters / day • 4 month plan: 9.78 chapters / day • 3 month plan: 13.06 chapters / day

13. How To Study the Bible • Historical book study • Prophetic book study • Wisdom / poetic book study • Parable study • Epistle study • Topical study, e.g., angels & demons • Character study, e.g., Paul • Word study, love

14. Inductive Bible Study • Observations • What the text says • Interpretation • What the text means • Application • What do I do with it in my life?

15. Observations • Comparison • Contrast • Cause & Effect • Word repetition • Key verse(s) • Who? • What? • Why? • Where? • When? • How?

16. Interpretation • Listen for the truth; ask God for guidance • Do some research to try to understand the context and the historic situation • Let Scripture interpret Scripture, i.e., use cross references • Recognize literal and figurative language • Read the text literally unless the context demands otherwise • Don’t rely too much on commentaries

17. Study Tools • The Bible itself! (Best tool) • Concordance / Dictionary • http://www.blueletterbible.org/ • Bible maps • Internet search • Ask your pastor / church leaders

18. Application • But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. – James 1:22 • Listen to the Holy Spirit speak directly • Is there a sin I need to repent of? • Is there a character area, bad habit that I need to change or stop? • Is there a positive example I can follow? • Is there a forgotten task I need to do? • Is there a person I need to talk to?

19. Study Tools • The Bible itself! (Best tool) • Concordance / Dictionary • http://www.blueletterbible.org/ • Bible maps • Internet search • Ask your pastor / church leaders • Old Testament PowerPoint intros:http://www.somehelpful.info/OT/

20. Scripture Memory Tips • Choose a verse to memorize that speaks to something in your life right now. • Write it down and carry it or put it by your bed. • Say it out loud. • Pray with it. • Review, review, review

21. Father’s Love Letter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJvqmhGs1Y8

22. Q&A The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. – Isaiah 40:8