WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
Effective Bible Study!
The Bible is God's Word and He wishes to communicate with you through it. He wants to tell you His ways and His Will that will bring you peace, happiness and the abundant life. He wants to unfold for you His plan of salvation, His truth and His one true doctrine. He wants you to imitate the Way He lives, in every facet of your life.
God sent Jesus Christ to be your living example of how this is to be done. Jesus said His Ways are easy and pleasant (Matt. 11:30). The Bible contains accurate accounts of how Jesus lived and what He taught so that we can learn to imitate Him and do God's Will. Check out our 21 day study guides here:
1. God's Simple Plan of Salvation Study Guide here.
2. Steps for a New Christian Study Guide here.
3. Steps to Spiritual Maturity Study Guide here.
4. Gospel of John Study Guide here.
5. Encouraging Daily Devotionals here.
6. Christ Centered Monthly Newsletters here.
When you don't or won't study your Bible, you are telling God something. You are telling Him you will not force yourself to study His word and resist your evil nature, which constantly tries to talk you out of studying. When you convince yourself that you are too busy or too tired to study God's word, you are giving in to the pulls of the flesh instead of disciplining yourself for the purpose of imitating God (Ephesians 5:1; 1 Tim. 4:7).
You are to have both of your spiritual feet in the gospel and study to show yourself approved by God (Ephesians 6:15; 2 Tim. 2:15). How can you gird yourself with truth unless you know God's word, which is the truth, and then put it into action in your daily life (Ephesians 6:14)?
You have the breastplate of righteousness on when you continually and enthusiastically practice righteousness for God. If you ignore God daily, He will continue to ignore you and you will continue to live under His wrath (John 3:36). Believe means obey, put your trust in God, take action and live by His words. Then you will be a living word of God because the Word will live in you and through you. Remember, the Word is Christ Jesus, and He abides in you only when you live for Him and prove to be His disciple by being obedient to Him (John 15:8).
How to study your Bible!
Many people read the Bible and consider that study. But when you study the Bible, you should look for answers to questions. What does the Bible say, for example, about salvation and overcoming?
What is God's Will?
How do you clothe yourself in Jesus Christ, abide in Jesus Christ or walk like Jesus Christ?
How do you keep His works?
How do you pray?
How do you repent?
How do you live to please God?
There is a kind of study in which you keep learning but never come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7). Don’t fall into that life-long trap (2 Tim. 3:7). The Bible has answers to all of life’s problems. You should have a Bible translation that is easy to understand.
It is important to highlight the Scriptures or to mark them in some way when you study them. It helps you become more familiar with the word, and your Bible becomes much more familiar to you. If you make the Bible your friend and constant companion, it will save your life..
Always have a notebook and pen when you study your Bible. You can use colored markers to mark your Bible. Learn to use a Bible concordance to find all the Scriptures pertaining to a given subject. Study the subjects and it won’t be long before you will be well-informed on what the Bible really says.
Salvation is a free gift and bible study, prayer and committing all your ways to the Lord are important in your walk with the Lord. It also is pleasing God in everything you think, say and do, and not getting weary in doing good for God (Colossians 3:17; Gal. 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13).
God wants a new creature or person (Gal. 6:15). So let’s put God first every day, so He can change us and bless us (1 Corinthians 3:7; Luke 6:38).
Finding God - What does it take to know God? You can personally begin a relationship with God, right now.
Knowing God Personally Here Next Steps For New Christians Here Next Steps For Christians Here
Benefits of Reading God's Word
1. God's Word leads us to Salvation.
We are all saved by believing the truth of Scripture whether we read it ourselves or are taught it by someone else. "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,through the living and enduring word of God." (1Peter 1:23).
2. The Scriptures guide our Steps.
If we read and listen to the Lord's instructions, He will show us where to go, what to day and how to make decisions. His Word will also reveal when we are heading the wrong direction and warns us of the consequences of the path we are on. (Psalms 119:105). says "The word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path,"
3. It lifts our Burden.
Because the Lord is interested in every aspect of our lives, we can run to His Word in our pain, grief, loneliness, or sickness and receive help in our time of trouble. "My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word." (Psalm 119:28).
4. God's Word directs us to Wisdom.
"The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130). Scripture is our greatest protection. It’s like a shield before us, guarding our way and warning of danger. But if we neglect reading and obeying the Word, we won’t be able to distinguish right from wrong.
5. The Scriptures give Peace.
Perhaps the most desired possession in the world is peace, but it can only be found in the Lord. “Great Peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." (Psalm 119:165). Peace means to be bound to something, and when that something is the Word of God, we are bound to Him and experience the peace Jesus promised to His disciples (John 14:27).
6. The Word of God brings Joy.
If we love the Word, we’ll find great joy and comfort in reading it. When facing tough situations and discouragement, our first response will be to open the Scriptures. Even if we don’t know where to read, the Lord will guide us to a passage which can restore our hope and joy. "Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart." (Psalm 119:111).
God honors and is committed to blessing those who respect and love His precious Word. It is the most valuable possession we own because it is His written message to us. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His mind and heart. Everything else will pass away, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8). The Lord is still on His throne and continues doing what He’s promised in His Word. When we believe and obey it, our lives are transformed.