WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” – Hebrews 4:12.

You sit down at the kitchen table. You have your Bible, Matthew Henry’s commentary, some note pages, and a pen. You are ready for some serious study. But today’s reading is in Leviticus, and soon, you are a bit overwhelmed. Suddenly, studying the bible feels intimidating, even a bit ominous. Yes, you want to dive into God’s Word, and yes, you are eager to learn and grow as the Holy Spirit speaks into your life.  And right there, we run head first into how we value God’s Word.

The Bible is the most essential book in the world. If we view the Bible as a beautiful book with limited application to our life in the 21st century, we will not value or study it as we should. But if we view the Bible as God showing us His heart, His plan for mankind, and the sacrificial gift of Jesus that brings us into right standing with Him, we will give it the respect it deserves. Because when we value God’s Word, we will work to grow our knowledge of it and understand that the Bible is not only a book for today but also the book of the future. Why would you not want to have the fullest possible understanding of your Savior and Creator?

The Apostle Paul said this in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “God inspires all Scripture and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” That text should end claims that we do not need to study the Bible. There is profit from a careful study of the Bible. Because God inspires the Bible, it gives us a valuable and profitable asset at our fingertips.

The 66 books in the Bible collectively make a unique volume that talks about all the most important matters of life. It deals with right and wrong, morality, life on earth, and life after death, and touches on all the complicated issues of humanity.

Attempting to understand the Bible is not a walk in the park. It takes time, effort, concentration, and perseverance. At times, we must be willing to research and dig into resources outside of our regular reading. It requires a genuine desire to learn.

Studying God’s Word may be challenging, but it is doable and eminently worthwhile. God did not give us His Word to confuse us but to enlighten us. He revealed the contents of the Bible so that we could understand. But understanding requires study. If we are unwilling to put in the effort and the work, then it is easy to miss out on the rich, life-changing knowledge we gain by studying the Bible. The rewards of pouring over and examining the Bible make the work well worth it. The effort we exert in seeking to know the Word will be nothing compared to the payment we receive back from it.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Psalm 119:103, 105, 114, and 160: What do these verses say about studying the Bible?
2. What can we do this week to improve reading and studying the Bible?