Deepening Our Understanding: The Importance of Bible Study

 

Summary

In our time together, we are embarking on a journey to deepen our understanding and skill in interpreting the Bible. This endeavor is not about finding quick and easy solutions but about committing to a disciplined study that stretches our knowledge and equips us to handle difficult passages responsibly. The question we begin with is fundamental: Why should we study the Bible at all? Despite being the perennial best-seller, the Bible is often left unread or superficially engaged with. Many Christians feel guilty for not being diligent students of Scripture, yet struggle to find the discipline or method to study it effectively.

One common objection is the perceived irrelevance of the Bible in our modern, scientific age. This is not a new issue; even in the third century, people questioned the Bible's relevance. However, the Bible's timeless truths remain applicable, and our task is to learn how to interpret and apply these truths to our lives today. Another frequent objection is the Bible's complexity. Many find it daunting, especially when faced with books like Leviticus or Revelation. Yet, the Protestant reformers emphasized the perspicuity, or clarity, of Scripture, particularly regarding its essential message of redemption and salvation.

The Bible is clear on the essentials: the story of creation, fall, and redemption through Christ. This message is accessible even to a child, and it is the most crucial message the world needs. While not every part of Scripture is equally clear, the essential truths are within reach for all who seek them. God is not an elitist; He communicates in ways that even the simplest among us can understand.

Our study of the Bible is both a duty and a privilege. God requires us to be diligent in studying His Word, not as a burdensome task but as a means to experience the fullness of life He offers. As we delve into the principles of mastering the Word of God, let us embrace this journey with the understanding that it is both our responsibility and our joy to grow in our knowledge and love of Scripture.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Diligent Study: Engaging with the Bible requires more than casual reading; it demands a disciplined approach to truly understand and apply its teachings. This commitment is not just a duty but a pathway to spiritual maturity and deeper relationship with God. [02:53]

2. Relevance Across Ages: Despite cultural and historical differences, the Bible's truths remain relevant. Our task is to learn how to interpret these truths in a way that speaks to our current context, recognizing that God's Word transcends time and culture. [05:21]

3. Clarity in Essentials: While some parts of the Bible are complex, its essential message of redemption is clear and accessible. This clarity ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or education, can grasp the core truths necessary for salvation. [14:27]

4. God's Communication: God communicates in ways that are understandable to all, even the simplest among us. This divine condescension reflects His desire for everyone to know Him and experience His love, emphasizing the accessibility of His message. [20:46]

5. Duty and Privilege: Studying the Bible is both a duty and a privilege. It is a duty because God commands it, but it is also a privilege because it leads to life and spiritual fulfillment. This dual aspect encourages us to approach Scripture with both reverence and eagerness. [23:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:36] - Introduction to Bible Study
- [01:17] - Opening Prayer
- [02:08] - The Bible's Popularity and Neglect
- [02:53] - The Challenge of Diligent Study
- [03:24] - Authority vs. Influence of Scripture
- [04:02] - Relevance of the Bible Today
- [05:21] - Historical Objections to Relevance
- [06:34] - Melville's Symbolism and the Bible
- [07:20] - Redburn's Map and Modern Application
- [09:20] - Misunderstanding Scripture's Relevance
- [10:09] - The Bible's Difficulty and Clarity
- [13:16] - The Principle of Perspicuity
- [15:06] - The Essential Message of Redemption
- [17:18] - Complexity vs. Clarity in Scripture
- [20:46] - God's Communication to All
- [23:48] - Duty and Privilege of Bible Study
- [25:18] - The Shema and Diligent Study
- [26:40] - Life Through God's Word

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
3. Hebrews 4:12

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some reasons mentioned in the sermon for why people might find the Bible irrelevant or difficult to study? [04:45]

2. How does the sermon describe the Bible's essential message, and why is it considered accessible to everyone? [15:06]

3. What is the significance of the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, as discussed in the sermon? [24:35]

4. According to the sermon, what is the dual nature of studying the Bible as both a duty and a privilege? [23:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon suggest we can overcome the perception of the Bible's irrelevance in today's culture? What practical steps can be taken to apply biblical truths to modern life? [10:09]

2. In what ways does the sermon highlight the clarity of the Bible's essential message, and how does this impact our understanding of Scripture? [14:27]

3. How does the sermon explain God's method of communication through the Bible, and what does this reveal about His character? [20:46]

4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between diligent Bible study and spiritual maturity? [23:48]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current Bible study habits. What specific changes can you make to approach Scripture with more discipline and commitment? [02:53]

2. Consider a time when you found a biblical passage difficult to understand. How can you seek clarity and guidance in such situations, and who might you turn to for help? [12:35]

3. The sermon emphasizes the relevance of the Bible across ages. How can you actively work to interpret and apply biblical truths in your daily life, especially in areas where you feel they might not be relevant? [05:21]

4. How can you incorporate the practice of discussing and teaching biblical principles in your family or community, as encouraged by the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-9? [25:18]

5. Identify one essential truth from the Bible that has impacted your life. How can you share this truth with someone who might be struggling to see the Bible's relevance? [15:06]

6. Reflect on the idea of Bible study as both a duty and a privilege. How can this perspective change your approach to reading and studying Scripture? [23:48]

7. What steps can you take this week to experience the fullness of life that comes from engaging deeply with God's Word? [26:40]

Devotional

Day 1: The Discipline of Deep Study
Engaging with the Bible requires more than a casual glance; it demands a disciplined and intentional approach to truly understand and apply its teachings. This commitment is not merely a duty but a pathway to spiritual maturity and a deeper relationship with God. Many Christians struggle with finding the discipline or method to study Scripture effectively, often feeling guilty for not being diligent students. However, the journey of studying the Bible is about stretching our knowledge and equipping ourselves to handle difficult passages responsibly. It is a commitment to a disciplined study that enriches our spiritual lives and brings us closer to God. [02:53]

"For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." (Ezra 7:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to create a more disciplined routine for studying the Bible, and how can you hold yourself accountable to this commitment?


Day 2: Timeless Relevance
Despite cultural and historical differences, the Bible's truths remain relevant across ages. Our task is to learn how to interpret these truths in a way that speaks to our current context, recognizing that God's Word transcends time and culture. This is not a new challenge; even in the third century, people questioned the Bible's relevance. Yet, the timeless truths of Scripture continue to apply to our lives today, offering guidance and wisdom that are as pertinent now as they were centuries ago. By understanding the Bible's relevance, we can apply its teachings to our modern lives and find answers to the questions we face. [05:21]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you feel disconnected from biblical teachings. How can you seek to understand and apply the Bible's timeless truths to this area today?


Day 3: Clarity in Core Messages
While some parts of the Bible are complex, its essential message of redemption is clear and accessible. This clarity ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or education, can grasp the core truths necessary for salvation. The Protestant reformers emphasized the perspicuity, or clarity, of Scripture, particularly regarding its essential message of redemption and salvation. God communicates in ways that even the simplest among us can understand, ensuring that His message of creation, fall, and redemption through Christ is within reach for all who seek it. [14:27]

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you found a particular passage of Scripture difficult to understand. How can you seek clarity and understanding in God's Word, especially regarding its essential messages?


Day 4: Divine Communication
God communicates in ways that are understandable to all, even the simplest among us. This divine condescension reflects His desire for everyone to know Him and experience His love, emphasizing the accessibility of His message. The Bible is clear on the essentials, and God is not an elitist; He communicates in ways that are accessible to everyone. This ensures that His message of love and redemption is available to all who seek it, regardless of their background or education. [20:46]

"For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it." (Job 33:14, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a person in your life who may feel distant from God. How can you share the simplicity and accessibility of God's message with them in a way that resonates with their current situation?


Day 5: The Joy of Duty and Privilege
Studying the Bible is both a duty and a privilege. It is a duty because God commands it, but it is also a privilege because it leads to life and spiritual fulfillment. This dual aspect encourages us to approach Scripture with both reverence and eagerness. God requires us to be diligent in studying His Word, not as a burdensome task but as a means to experience the fullness of life He offers. Embracing this journey with the understanding that it is both our responsibility and our joy to grow in our knowledge and love of Scripture can transform our spiritual lives. [23:48]

"Blessed is the man who delights in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of joy and privilege in your daily Bible study, and what practical steps can you take to ensure that it remains a central part of your spiritual life?

Quotes


The goal of this time together will be for all of us to increase our ability and our skill as interpreters of the Bible so that we can read that book for ourselves and understand it and be able to deal with it in a responsible, a mature, and a diligent way. [00:00:15]

Every year the results are the same; the Bible continues to be the perennial national best-seller of all of the books in print. But the cynics, of course, respond to that by saying, yes, everybody buys a Bible, everybody owns a Bible, but there are precious few who read it, and even less who diligently study it. [00:02:08]

People will say to me frequently, "I don't study the Bible because it simply is no longer relevant to our culture. Why should I give myself to intensive study of such a thick book and of so many obscure things that cover history that took place so long ago about a Jewish nation of which I'm really not all that interested?" [00:04:38]

Melville was using the artistic device of symbolism in that book to say something about the Bible, and he was saying it with tears, that he had been born and raised in a home where the Bible was treasured and where biblical values were inculcated into the children, but as he became a man, he grew into a sense of frustration. [00:09:13]

When Luther and the protestant reformers set forth the principle of perspicuity of the Scripture, they were saying that the Bible is basically clear or essentially clear, and what they meant by essentially clear was, "clear with respect to the essentials." Clear with respect to the essentials; that is to say, a child who has an ability to read at perhaps a fifth grade level can make his way through the Bible. [00:14:27]

The basic message that Luther was speaking of is the basic message of redemption, the message of salvation, the message that says to us that we as human beings are created by a holy God and that after God has created us, in many ways, we have violated the trust of that creation, we have, in a word, sinned against God. [00:15:14]

God is not an elitist. I remember I was speaking on one occasion, giving a lecture -- it wasn't a sermon even -- it was a lecture to a group of people who had asked me to come and explain to them the relationship of the old covenant to the new covenant, and I was going through all the stipulations and formats of the Old Testament covenantal structure. [00:18:14]

Certainly there's nothing in human history more obscene than the cross of Christ, for in that moment, all of the filthy ugliness of sin was compacted by imputation onto the back of Jesus of Nazareth. When Christ hung on the cross, in and of Himself, He was the Holy One of Israel, beautiful; but by imputation, once the sin of the world was laid on Him, He was the incarnation at that moment of obscenity. [00:19:47]

It's primitive because God cares enough about His fallen people that at times He lisps; He condescends to speak to us in our lowest state so that the simplest child, the most primitive savage can understand the gift of eternal life. You know, in the academic world, we understand something: that to simplify difficult matters without distorting them is the true mark of an excellent teacher. [00:21:00]

The first reason why we should study the Bible, not just read it or casually examine it devotionally, but why disciplined study should be our goal is this: because dear friends, it's our duty, I know that, speaking of obscenities, that the four-letter word that's become perhaps the most despised obscenity in our culture today is that four letter word, D-U-T-Y, duty. [00:23:32]

God does, in fact, require of each of His people, not just of the priests and the prophets or the scholars and the theologians, He requires of each one of us that we be diligent in the study of His Word. [00:24:27]

But it's not enough to speak of duty; with that duty comes a sacred privilege, our Lord told us that He came that we might have life, and we are also told that the Word of God is life. So God requires this study from us not just because He's a stern taskmaster like Pharaoh that won't give us any straw for our bricks, but He requires it so we can live. [00:26:40]

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Transcript
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