Why Study the Bible?
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Intro: Let’s be honest. Some people love studying. Others hate it.
Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived said this:
- Ecclesiastes 12:12 …much study is a weariness of the flesh.
We should study the Bible…
I. To Show
- 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of studying God’s Word.
Notice his letter to Timothy what he asked for:
- 2 Timothy 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
The Apostle Paul commended the Bereans for their diligent study of the scriptures.
- Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
A. It was a Diligent Study – “…they searched the scriptures…”
They didn’t have Bible programs.
They didn’t have search engines.
They didn’t have concordances and Bible dictionaries.
They didn’t have Google.
They had to scour through scrolls and manuscripts.
The preacher didn’t give chapter and verse.
They had to remember it; they had to write it down or memorize it, and then go find the scrolls.
B. It was a Daily Study – “…they searched the scriptures DAILY…”
We eat every day, don’t we?
We should study God’s word daily!
- Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
C. It was a Dedicated Study – “…whether those things were so…”
They didn’t take the preacher’s word for it.
They were not blind sheep taking everything Paul said for fact.
They double checked his preaching to make sure that whether those things were so.
And Paul didn’t have a problem with it!
He commended them, even more than he did the church in Thessalonica
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
It goes to show their diligent desire to be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
There’s nothing more embarrassing than being lied to when you have a Bible to study for yourself!!
II. To Know
ILLUSTRATION: Someone just commented this morning that it is fascinating how those Old Testament verses and stories have so much relevance today.
This is no accident!
The Apostle Paul wrote that the stories in the Old Testament were given to us to study.
- Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Jesus said this:
- Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Solomon said to his son:
- Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Studying the Bible can be so much fun.
There are endless ways to study the Bible.
You can study:
- Words – you can study words, the English, then subdivide them in the Hebrew and Greek (Love, wine, etc.)
- Books – each book is an individual entity with an author, an audience, a common goal, theme, etc.
- People – the variety of people to study are endless; shepherds, kings, farmers, men, women, children, etc.
- Themes – common themes found in Scripture are fascinating; cross-referencing Old and New Testament…
- Doctrines – the list of Doctrines are staggering
- Parables – the hidden truths that Jesus concealed in these simple stories are a goldmine of knowledge
- Miracles – Old Testament Miracles, New Testament, the ones Jesus performed, the Apostles in Acts…
- Typologies – the typologies salvation in Genesis 1, of Christ in the Tabernacle, Old Testament characters…
- Numbers – the significance of numbers are extremely important
- Colors – red, blue, white, purple,
- Elements – water, blood, fire, wind, gold, silver, brass,
- Dispensations – Innocence, Human Government, Law, Grace, etc.
- Places; Kingdoms; Countries; …their significance; typologies of these places; Egypt, Moab, Israel
- Manners and Customs – the Jewish customs add so much richness to many passages of Scripture
And the list goes on and on…
We could never exhaust the treasures and truths of the word of God.
III. To Grow
- 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Joshua upon taking over after the death of Moses, said this:
Joshua 1:8
- 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
- 8 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.
The secret to a prosperous, successful Christian life is to know, remember, meditate, memorize and obey God’s word.
- Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
IV. To Sow
Once you learn the Scriptures, God will allow you to help others.
You can’t sow seed you don’t have!
You can’t be a dispenser of truth you don’t know!
You can’t help others until you’ve learned it and understand it.
Paul told Timothy to take what he’d learned and invest in others.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 3
- 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
- 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Don’t be guilty of being unskillful in the word and thereby not being able to teach others!
Hebrews 5
- 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
- 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.