PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY
Lesson 1. The Importance Of Bible Study

(Audio Clip)

I. Who Studies The Bible?

WE ARE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

A. The majority of people who have Bibles but don't read them are CHRISTIANS. The Word of God gets put into the back row.

1. We have lost reverence, awe and value for the WORD OF GOD.

The less time Christians spend in the Word, the weaker they will be as individual people.

2. Many Christians do not spend 5-6 hours in the Bible in a month, yet are trying to reign in life.

a. Athletes compete for a crown that withers and dries up.
b. How much more should we be willing to invest in a CROWN that never withers or perishes.

WHEN BELIEF DIMS, NO AMOUNT OF FORCE CAN HOLD THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

B. What holds a society together is its HEART (morality, spiritual beliefs).

1. There is no morality without a spiritual belief.
2. When internal beliefs become WEAK, external coercion becomes necessary.
3. Over 1/4 of the people in our country are now employed by the government.
4. People no longer have an INTERNAL regulation to live right.
5. Solution - generate a society and group of people who can govern themselves.

II. Who Studies The Bible?

A. Christians as a whole do not study the Bible.

1. The RESEARCH section is the smallest section of the bookstore.
2. Many think the pastor will tell them what to believe.

a. You can't live on your pastor's FAITH.

FAITH IS DEVELOPED AS WE MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD.

b. Relying on others to tell you what to believe is setting yourself up for DECEPTION.

• Most cults start with a charismatic leader who tells the people what they are to BELIEVE.
• If the leader goes wrong no one knows - they are not STUDYING to find out.
• The majority of cult leaders were brought up in orthodox Christianity.

3. Trust leaders, but study the Words for yourselves. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2 NKJV).

A CRAFTSMAN BECOMES A CRAFTSMAN BECAUSE HE USES HIS TOOLS AND BECOMES FAMILIAR WITH THEM.

QUALITIES OF A LEADER
TAKES THE TIME TO:	MUST BE A:
Look into things	Self-initiator
Discover things	Self-learner
Research things

III. Learning To Study The Bible

A. Many Biblical issues need to be addressed.

1. Lopsided teaching - only considers one main ISSUE.

a. Faith issue
b. Prayer message
c. Discipleship message
d. Missions

2. Balanced teaching - all different areas developed.

B. The Bible is also PRACTICAL. David's value for the Word of God - Psalm 119.

The man who is too big to read the Bible needs to have a pin applied appropriately to his ego.

C. Sight-oriented society vs. a hearing-oriented society.

1. Most people only believe what they can SEE (example of Doubting Thomas).
2. The greatest cultural stimulator and developer today is the MEDIA.
3. Faith does not come by SEEING, faith comes by HEARING.

D. The purpose of this course is to get the Word in.

 

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