I. Believe The Bible
1Th 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.
A. It’s hard to rely on something that you don’t believe. You can fall backwards on the bible.
B. Bible correctors spend their time correcting the bible that should be correcting them!
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
C. Adjust your beliefs to fit the bible, not the other way around.
II. Read The Bible
A. Daily Bible Reading
Deu 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
Deu 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Isa 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
B. More Than One Way To Read The Bible
- Start reading the bible with a question or topic in mind. Write down everything you come across that pertains to that topic or question.
- Pray while you read. Read while you pray. This is God talking to you as you talk back to him.
- Read it straight through with goal in mind for the year.
III. Study The Bible
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A. Get Familiar With The Doctrines Of The Bible.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- Pauline Epistles – His books gives you the primary doctrine for the church age today.
- Prophecy – Study the rapture, the time of Jacob’s trouble, the second coming, millennium, and eternity.
- Typology – The Old Testament is full of pictures and types of the LORD Jesus Christ & every New Testament doctrine. For every doctrine in the New Testament, you have an illustration for it in the Old Testament.
B. Do An Overview Of The Entire Bible.
- Start in Genesis and go all the way through Revelation. Find out the main theme, historical, doctrinal, and inspirational application. This will help you get a general idea of what the bible is about as a whole.
- Notice how Stephen basically gave an overview of the entire Old Testament in Acts chapter 7.
C. Go verse by verse through the scriptures.
- Select a book of the bible and begin to look at each verse one by one.
- Examine the key words and phrases in each verse by comparing scripture with scripture.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
IV. Mark Up Your Bible
A. A worn out bible will keep you from wearing out.
Jer 23:18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Exo 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
- It’s so important to mark up and write in your bible because you’ll never remember it all.
- If you have references and comments wrote for each verse, then you’ll always have a quick answer when you turn to a verse.
- You could turn to a chapter of the bible and teach on it because you already have it laid out right there in your bible.
- You hardly ever see anyone with a wide margin King James bible anymore. But that is what you need.
- In Exodus 17:14 God told Moses to “write this for a memorial in a book”. He didn’t want him to forget that battle.
- You’re constantly forgetting the things you’ve learned but writing it down in your bible is like having backup brain storage. That way you don’t have to have it all in your mind.
V. Memorize & Meditate On The Bible
A. Hide The Word In You
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
- If you hide the word in you then you can access it where ever you go.
- Memorize the scriptures by writing verses in index cards and carrying them around in your pocket.
- Put a New Testament in the pocket where you usually keep your phone. Instead of scrolling Facebook you can pull out the NT and memorize a verse.
B. Think On Things That Are Holy.
Psa 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
- I put meditate and memorize together because I meditate on the words as I try to memorize them.
- If you’re walking around meditating on the word it is like talking to God on the phone and letting him do all the talking. You’re just soaking it all in.
- This will keep your thought life pure.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
VI. Befriend The Bible
A. The Bible is there for you.
Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
- the LORD is the friend who sticks closer than a brother and he comforts you through his word.
- You need to be a friend back and show yourself friendly to the scriptures.
- Think about your best friend. You like to hangout with your friend. You should want to spend time with the Bible.
- You know how you will just sit and listen to your friend talk? Get an audio bible, and just sit and listen to God talk through a voice.
- If you’re a friend to the bible than when someone shows you a supposed contradiction or error in the bible than your first thought should be Romans 3:4 “…let God be true, but every man a liar..”
- A lot of people won’t go anywhere unless they have a FRIEND with them. Take your bible to work, take your bible so school, take your bible to the doctor. He goes where you go.
- If you befriend the bible and someone approaches you claiming the bible has errors, this leads you to another thing you can do with the bible..
VII. Defend The Bible
Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
A. Fight A Good Fight.
- Fighting is good, just not among bible believers. Contention is good, if you’re contending for the right thing.
- When someone says your friend is a liar, full of errors, contradictions, or isn’t true, then stand up in the Bible’s defense.
- If the Living Word, the LORD JESUS CHRIST is perfect, wouldn’t it make sense that the written word is also perfect?
- Do you know what the Pharisees would sit around all day and try to do?
Mat 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him..
- Now what do they sit around and try to do? Find faults in the written word.
VIII. Apply The Bible
A. Let the bible transform your mind and how you live.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- If you just study, read, and memorize the bible, and never put it in practice, then you will be puffed up in your knowledge. You need to do what it says, rightly dividing of course.
1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
- Let the word of God that you’re putting in all day come out of your mouth.
So you should….
IX. HOLD FORTH THE BIBLE.
Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Psa 60:4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
A. Be A Bible For Everyone To Read
2Co 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
- You are the only bible some people will ever read. The closest some people will get to the people is when they see you reading it on break.
- Be a walking, talking, bible.
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
