How to Know Your Bible

PREFACE

It is a good day when the baby can finally feed itself.  Many Christians – sad to say – cannot spiritually feed themselves.  This blight keeps individuals and churches in a terribly weak condition.  Perhaps this paper can guide into the riches of God’s Word.

INTRODUCTORY STUDY

  1. Nature of the Word
    • God inspired the Scriptures, 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:14-17.  The Bible is His Own Word!
    • God preserves the Scriptures.  (See Matthew 24:35).  Like the sun, it is ancient but ever up-to-date.  Attacks of men have failed to destroy its powerful witness.
    • The Holy Spirit is the best Bible Teacher, John 14:26.
  2. Challenge of the Word
    • The Bible will work change in your life!  I Thessalonians 2:13
    • If you are praying for faith, get your Bible open!  Romans 10:17
    • It is not enough to have it in the home, or carry it in the hand, nor by rote to cram it into the head; it must be gotten into the heart by earnest study!

I.  GENERAL HELPS

  1. Devotional Reading & Study of the Bible should be distinguished from those necessary studies, such as Sunday School lessons, etc.  Develop a regular reading of God’s Word with open heart to hear the Author Himself explain and apply it to your life.  This might take the form of either:  a) Simply search for today’s help, or b) Deeper study for Spiritual Truth.
  2. Keep the Goal in View:  To get something for YOUR life.  Don’t come away with only husks:  bare, lifeless facts or the smug feeling, “There, I’ve done it for today!”  What is God trying to say to you?  A decision is demanded each time we read.
  3. Read It:  Daily, Quietly and Reverently, Prayerfully, Expectantly (Psalm 119:14, 20, 47, 135), Submissively (James 1:22).
  4. Time for Bible Study:  Most Christians prefer the first part of their day, thus starting off right with the strength of God’s Word and prayer.  Then a portion at night and prayer will build the life and deepen your knowledge of His will.
  5. General Aim is to know our Savior better–be like him, love him, serve him.

II.  SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS

  1. DO NOT make a practice of haphazardly opening the Bible and nibbling a bit.  The Bible is marvelous in its design and unity.  Written with a plan, it must be read with a plan.  Be sure to vary your plan from time to time.  Keep it fresh!
  2. VARIOUS PLANS OF READING
    1. Broad Sweep Plan
      1. Through-the-Bible tours.  Roughly, 3 chapters each weekday and 5 on Sundays will take you through the entire Bible in one year.  Other plans of study should be used along with this from time to time.
      2. Book-at-a-sitting.  Done frequently, will give you a sense of the great movement and power of Bible books.
    2. A Basic Plan  (In using this, be sure to keep right on through the book).
      1. Read a chapter, or a section at a time, handling it in accord with the following suggestions….
      2. Limit the reading even to the smallest text, if it seems God so leads and if it speaks to the heart.  Work it over in study, in by prayer, and out in your life.
    3. Special Plans  (Worthy of frequent use)
      1. Topical — Take a choice subject, or theme, doctrine, or prophecy and look it up in the concordance, follow out the chain references and related Scriptures.  You will grow!  Suggestions:  grace, love, faith, assurance, justification, Holy Spirit, rest, prayer, sanctification, hope, etc.
      2. Biographical — Thrilling, detailed study of a Bible character, learning from his mistakes as well as his victories.
      3. Sectional — Take a book or smaller section  Study its background.  Go through it for its story.  Then retrace your steps once or twice for its themes and lessons.  Key verses and summary statements should be written under proper headings.

III.  OTHER HELPS

  1. No Christian should be without his very own Bible.  Get one with good, readable print, and don’t hesitate to mark it by underscorings, tie-lines, and/or notations.
  2. Next to the Bible a concordance is key.  Some Bibles have a sketchy one in the back.  Perhaps the best one for general use is Cruden’s.
  3. Other valuable helps:  Topical Bible, Commentary on the Bible, Bible dictionary.

CONCLUSION:  Never get side-tracked into digging for bones of contention.  Go after Gold.  Yea, seek the Lord Himself.  That is why he gave the Bible to you!

THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH — Psalm 119:105

“O how I love thy law!  It is my meditation all the day.”  Psalm 119:97