Why the Word of God is Important:
The Bible
1. Is the soul authoritative point to define what we believe and how we live
2. Speaks directly to us (we can apply it to our lives today)
3. Defines truth and sin (else we would be given to our own ideas of truth)
4. Shows us our need of salvation and God’s willingness to save
5. Reveals Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior
6. Reveal God – what brings God pleasure, what He loves, what He hates,
His Intentions
7. Is our sword – we can only skillfully use it if we interpret it rightly
Divine Inspiration
1. Second Timothy 3:16
a. inspired by God – God-breathed
b. useful/beneficial for teaching
c. reproof – describes the inward and outward experience of
acknowledging our sin; leads to repentance
d. correction - (epanorthosis) – “to set up straight again”; align with; to set on course
e. training in righteousness
Characteristics of the Word
1. Effectual (Produces something)
a. Word of Life - James 1:21
Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in
humility receive the word implanted (set in firmly), which is able to save
your souls.
b. Shall not return empty/accomplishes a purpose Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not
return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without
succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
2. Eternal
b. Eternal – 1 Peter 1:24-25, Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
3. Alive
a. John 1:1, John 1:14, Hebrews 4:12
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and
truth.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged
sword, and piercing as far as both joints and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart.
**Ask Holy Spirit to speak to you/give you understanding/open your eyes to truth
Receiving God’s Word:
(1) Hearing
1 Thessalonians 2:13,
And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Acts 2:4 - they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ (HCSB)
(2) Reading
Chose a version that you can understand. (ESV, ASV, NIV study Bible)
Understand how you read/receive best. I learn best by writing things down. Write
it, read it, meditate on it
Read to get a good understanding of what is going on, what is being said, how it
applies to your life
Context is important:
be careful not to use scripture out of context
it helps to know the culture and what was going on during the time
it helps to know the audience, author
Scriptures taken out of context:
(3) Studying
Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so
Matthew 13:19-23
As you’re studying, if you come across an unfamiliar word, look it up.
Read the intro to the book: It gives great understanding.
Who wrote the book?
• To whom was it written?
• What was the occasion and purpose for writing?
• What was the historical and cultural setting in which it was written?
Resources for studying:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/
www.logos.com (Logos Bible)
www.youversion.com (Holy Bible app)
Blue Letter Bible (Bible app)
www.Oneplace.com (devotionals, topics)
online Bible, keyword search, audio Bible, topical index, devotionals, reading plans
When you don’t understand, stop and look up words or switch to another translation.
*Use the concordance or Bible dictionary to look up words before going to the dictionary. Webster may not always give me the best definition
Topical studies
(4) Memorizing
Psalm 119:11 - “I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.”
When Jesus was tempted by Satan….It is written, he had scripture memorized,
Bad memory excuse – when you don’t train yourself to memorize, you forget. Ex. Knowing phone numbers, directions….cell phones/GPS systems
Sing it, speak it, write it, post it on your mirror….however you learn best
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon you
hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you
get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.”
(Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
Moses saw the dynamics of this. He wanted the commands of God to
be firmly rooted in the hearts of Israel. To that end, he gave them specific
instructions: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon you
hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you
get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.”
(5) Meditating
“The devotional practice of pondering the words of a verse or verses of
Scripture, with a receptive heart, allowing the Holy Spirit to take the written
Word and apply it as the living Word to the inner being.”
Discussing the word