Question: Why should we read and study the Bible?

ILL: George Mueller, a man of great faith 'the vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts. I have read the Bible through a hundred times and always with increasing delight. Each time it seems like a new book to me. Great has been the blessing from consecutive, diligent, daily study. I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God.'

Read: Matt. 4:4

 -Successful living  (Joshua 1:8)
 -Healing and deliverance  (Ps. 107:20)
 -Direction and guidance  (Ps. 119:105)
 -Victory over sin  (Ps. 119:11)
 -Abundant peace  (Ps. 119:165)
 -Overflowing Joy  (Jer. 15:16)
 -Enriched living  (Jn  6:63)
 -Freedom from bondage  (Jn 8:31-32)
 -Mature faith  (Rom. 10:17)
 -Preparation for service  (2 Tim. 3:17)

Question: Why can Christians trust the Bible?

1. Because they believe it is a closed Canon?
     -The collection of authoritative, inspired Scripture is complete and can not be added to by any additional writings or spoken
       words.

     -The Jewish canon was defined as closed at the Council of Jamnia  in 90. It was at the Council of Carthage in 397 where
      the  undisputed decision of the canon of Scripture and  it's 66 books

     -We hold the Bible to be a closed canon because of God's providential control over the biblical writers, on its preservation
       throughout history and the inherent consistency  regarding the content and purpose of the Bible.  (Rev. 212:18-19)

2. Because God is our ultimate authority
 -The Bible as the expression of the will of God to us who has the supreme right to define what we are the believe and to obey.

3. Scripture itself gives us reason to believe it is true.
 -It is holy (Rom. 1:2)  It is pure (Ps 12:6) It forbids anything profane or unholy, sinful. It commands holiness of all who will be
   in the presence of God.
 -It is powerful to convince and awaken and wound the conscience. (Heb. 4:12)
 -It is powerful to convert and change the heart (Ps. 19:7)
 -It is powerful to quicken men out of spiritual death and darkness (Isa. 55:3; Ps. 119:50)
 -It is powerful to rejoice and comfort under the deepest distress. (Ps. 19:8)
 -It presents a supernatural intelligence; in the unity of design developed through its entire structure. There  is consistency
   between the Old and New testaments. There is fulfillment of prophecy.

Question: How do we interpret the Bible?

1. Study the original meanings. A Bible dictionary will help.
2. Look at the grammar. Is it a question, statement, command?
3. Context: What is immediately before and after the verse you are looking at. What is the chapter saying..the book?
4. Ask these questions about the book:
    Who wrote it? When was it written? Why was it written? Who was it written to? What style of literature is it?
5. Compare other Scripture that speaks of the same thing.

Question: What aids are available to help us understand what the Bible says?

1. Bible Concordance.
2. Bible Dictionary
3. Bible Atlas
4. Bible Commentary
5. Study Bible

Question: What are devotions?

 The regular study of God's Word and Prayer.

Question: How do you do devotions?

1. Read through the Bible in a year.
2. Study a particular book of the Bible
3. Study a particular person in the Bible
4. Study a particular topic in the Bible.
5. Pray for your time with God
6. Pray for your family, job/school
7. Pray for other believers from church
8. Pray for help during difficult times
9. Pray for God to help you to serve Him as He desires.
10. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

     -Begin small: 5-10 mins a day.
     -Build up as much time as you can give in a day.
     -Spend longer time but do it less often during the week.
     -Use a structured devotional guide: Daily Bread, Morning and Evening...
     -Use the following format

Pick an item or more from each of the categories for your time with God.
Then get a Bible and set aside 10 minutes to listen and talk to God.

Pick a Place (The quieter the better)
 -Your bedroom
 -While walking
 -On the back porch
 -At your desk
 -During study hall
 -In the woods
 -In the living room or other room you can get comfortable

Pick a Time (When you are most refreshed)
 -Morning
 -Lunchtime
 -After school or work
 -Just before bedtime
 -During a break at work

Pick a Prayer (or more)
 -Thank God for something
 -Praise God for something
 -Ask God for something
 -Confess a sin
 -Pray for a friend or family member
 -Admit a need
 -Ask for strength for a specific problem

Pick a Passage
 -A Psalm
 -A Parable
 -Gospel account
 -OT event or person
 -NT event or person

Pick a Project
 -Write in a journal
 -Sing a hymn/praise song
 -Read from a devotional guide
 -Write down some spiritual goals for the day
 -Practice giving your testimony of how you came to Christ
 -Memorize a verse of Scripture