INTRODUCTION: There is an effort in our society to "dumb down" everything. "Dumbing down" is the process of bringing everything down to it's lowest level, instead of raising all to excellence. If test scores of some students are too low we make the test easier so all will feel good about themselves, rather than helping the low achievers to excel. If all cannot meet the requirements of the military, we lower the standards, so all may "qualify." This phenomena has led to the lowering of standards throughout our society.

There is a temptation to do such in the church. Since there is so much biblical illiteracy in the church there are those who think that we should never preach on anything other than "first principles." What should we do about the woeful lack of Bible knowledge? We need to go back to good old hard study of God's word.
 
 

BODY

I. SOME WRONG WAYS TO STUDY THE BIBLE.

A. Too many people simply refuse to study the Bible.

1. They believe the Bible to be old fashioned and outdated.

2. Many are like the Israelites who refused to hear God's word.

a. Isaiah 30:9 - "That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:"

B. Some engage in haphazard study.

1. They will pick up the Bible and read it some when they find themselves in trouble, only to discard it when the crisis passes.

2. Some will go here and there in the Bible not know where they are going, and not knowing where they have been after they have gone.

C. Others practice close minded study.

1. Too many make up their minds before they even study.

2. They know what they think the Bible says, and then go to the Scriptures to "prove it."

a. 2 Peter 3:16 - "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."

3. These close their eyes to the truth of the word.

a. Some will so close their minds to the truth that they will react angrily to the teaching of the word.

b. They are like King Jehoiakim, who cut the word up and threw it into the fire (Jeremiah 36:23-25).

D. There are some engaged in speed study.

1. This is the "how much can I cover" style.

2. There is a place for "through the Bible" studies in a given time, but this does not take the place of real study.

II. WHAT THEN IS THE PROPER WAY TO STUDY THE BIBLE?

A. We should study with a prayerful heart.

1. We need to pray for wisdom.

a. James 1:5 - "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

2. Isaiah 66:2 "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."

3. Is it any accident that those who realized their spiritual poverty most in the days of Jesus' ministry were most ready to accept his word while the proud and haughty could not be convinced concerning our Lord.

B. We should study submissively.

1. We need to have the attitude of Samuel.

a. 1 Samuel 3:10 - "And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."

2. We need to have the attitude of the Bereans.

a. Acts 17:11-12 "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. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few."

3. We must have the attitude of being willing to have the word work in our hearts and change our lives.

4. James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

C. We should study reverently.

1. While it is a commendable thing to translate the Bible where all will be able to understand, we should ever keep in mind that we are not reading a comic book, the sports page, or the National Enquirer.

2. What we are reading is the Word of God.

a. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

3. Psalms 119:161 "SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word."

4. Isaiah 66:2 "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."

D. We should study diligently.

1. Bible study is not a hit or miss exercise. There has to be effort put into it.

2. 2 Timothy 2:15 - "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth." (ASV)

3. Acts 17:11- "...and searched the scriptures daily..."

4. 2 Peter 1:10 - "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"

E. We should study systematicaly.

1. We need to have a plan for our study. What will we study? Will we study a book of the Bible? A topic? A character? We will never make any progress in Bible study if we do not have some plan.

KNOW YOUR BIBLE QUESTION SHEET

1. How many books are in the Bible?

2. What are the two major division in the Bible?
 

3. What does the following words mean?

Bible
 

baptize
 

church
 

Christ
 
 

4. Who led the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage?
 
 
 
 

5. Give the book, chapter, and verse for the following -
 

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"
 
 

"except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish"
 
 

"If we walk in the light, as he is in the light"
 
 

"the churches of Christ salute you"
 
 

"study to shew thyself approved"
 
 

"upon the first day of the week let everyone of you"
 

6. Give the plan of salvation ( five parts) and at least one scripture where it can be found.
 
 
 

 7. Give the parts of worship.
 
 
 

Copyright 1999 by Grady Scott may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.