HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
2 Timothy 2:14-19
INTRODUCTION
a. Have you read or listened to the news lately
1. We are in an authority crisis
a. There is abuse and disrespect of authority on all sides
b. Political leaders have misused their offices and done things for their own gain
c. Truth is hidden and twisted - the Spin Doctors are all over
d. Parents have placed own desires above their children's'
e. Religious leaders have fallen morally and ethically
2. People are looking for an Authority to trust
b. Have you noticed the difference between generations concerning this area
1. Builders - My grandparents and parents - Respect Authority
2. Boomers - 1946-64 - My generation - Question Authority
3. Busters - 14-34 - Our children - Ignore Authority
c. You want to know why there is violence in the streets and guns in school and drugs throughout our society - No authority worthy of trust
d. In this world saying "the Bible says so" is nearly meaningless
1. It is at best only one of many types of authority
2. Something written over 2000 years ago may not be considered relevant
e. For Christians it is our authority
1. Lets look a little closer at it and what its purpose is
I. WHAT ABOUT THE BIBLE
a. Foundational information
1. Written over a period of 2500 years
2. 40+ authors in 3 three languages from 3 continents
3. Every walk of life - Kings to slaves - most educated to not so
4. Considers 100's of controversial issues - without contradiction
b. More bibliographical evidence than for any other book of antiquity
1. Any scholar of integrity will agree that what we have is what was written
2. We must therefore deal with the text and what it demands of us
c. The Bible claims to be "GOD'S WORD"
1. It comes from Him and reveals Him to us
2. The Bible describes itself as "God breathed"
II. WHY STUDY THE BIBLE
a. If it is God's Word we had better know what it says
1. The claims it makes on our lives cannot be ignored
2. It shapes our view of everything
a. Where did the idea of eternity come from - GOD
b. Where did Love and kindness come from - GOD
c. Where did forgiveness begin - GOD
d. The design for marriage - GOD
e. Justice and a society of laws - GOD
f. What is right and wrong - GOD
b. It is God's Revelation of Himself to us
1. What we know of God we know because of the Bible
c. It was written to teach us how to live with Him and each other
d. It is important but not to be worshipped
III. HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
a. Pray before you begin and ask for God to help you
b. Be regular and consistent in reading the Bible
c. Get a Bible dictionary and keep it close
d. Use a translation not a paraphrase
1. KJV, NASB, NIV - are all good translations -
2. Modern translations have been used since the Greeks translated the OT into Greek and then all was into Latin
3. Done so people could understand for themselves
e. Use a notebook and pen
1. Keep track of questions and issues
2. Write down what is meaningful and useful for you that day
3. Don't be afraid to mark in the margins or to underline
a. If you do get a new Bible every so often so you don't just read what is underlined in the future
f. If you want you can get a commentary or like some borrow mine
IV. THE BIBLE'S PURPOSE
a. Isa 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
b. Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
c. Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
d. Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
e. Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
f. The purpose of the Bible is to bring us to Christ and than to guide of lives in Him.
BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER
HYMN # 135 "AMAZING GRACE"