The first reason is that God draws an undeniable link between our knowledge of the Bible and our ability to live in the way he commands us to live. In 1 John the apostle writes, "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked" (1 John 2:3-5). How are we to know how Christ walked and how are we to imitate him if we choose not to study the record of his life? How can we be obedient to him except by studying the rule he has given to direct us? The Bible is the primary means God uses to teach us about himself and to challenge us by the Holy Spirit. "And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual"   (1 Corinthians 2:13). So to be people who are obedient to God and who do his will, we must first know this will as he has given it to us in the Bible.

The second reason is that God tells us that our desire to learn about the Bible and its doctrine is a sign of spiritual health. In 1 John 4:6 we read, "We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error." Those who are truly saved will long to be taught the Bible by skilled teachers and by the spiritual authorities God has placed in their lives. They will long to know the Word of God.

The third reason is that the Bible sets us free to glorify and enjoy God. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). The truth, as we learn it in the Bible, gives us freedom to honor God through our lives. It sets us free from legalistic attempts to please God and frees us from our false views of God. It sets us free to know God as he is and to worship him as he is. It also sets us free from falling into the all-too-common trap of basing our standing before God on the times we've done our duty in studying the Bible. Too often, I think, we allow our daily performance to be the basis of our standing before God. If I've done well in reading and prayer, I feel God's acceptance; if I have avoided or neglected it, I feel God's disfavor. But through the Bible we learn that our standing before God, our acceptance, is based on the work of Christ, not our performance, however good or however poor.

Christians should be drawn to the Bible the way a baby is drawn to his mother's milk. It is the Bible that feeds us, that nourishes us, and that equips us as saints that bring glory and honor to God. As Simon Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!" When we wish to live in a way that pleases God, we must turn to him, to the ways he has revealed himself in Scripture. A spiritually healthy Christian will read the Bible and will want to read the Bible.

My encouragement is not to wait until your heart longs for nothing more than to study the Bible before you open the cover of the Book. Rather, commit today to beginning to take time every day to read it. Ask God to give you the discipline to do so. Commit to spending even just a few minutes reading its words and a few minutes more to seek ways you can apply it to your heart. God will speak to you through his Word and show you the infinite, eternal value of studying the Bible. And as He does so, He may just transform some of that duty into a greater measure of delight.

Whether you receive and study the Word by attending the weekly Bible study with the group on Wednesday or through  an e-mail, it is vital that you "study to show yourself approved..."  It is my prayer that you will take advantage of either or both methods to study. May God bless you as you begin (or continue) your journey into His Word.

What A Mighty God We Serve,

Pastor Hamlin

Weekly Home Bible Study

     

Date	Study Text	Study Theme
May 15, 2013	Ecclesiastes 8	"The Wicked and the Righteous"
May 8, 2013	Ecclesiastes 7	"Wisdom for Life"
May 1, 2013	Ecclesiastes 6	"Solomon's Practical Council"
April 24, 2013	Ecclesiastes 5	"The Worship of God"
April 17, 2013	Ecclesiastes 4	"A Vanity of Acquiring Riches Over Family"
April 10, 2013	Ecclesiastes 3	"A Time For Everything"
April 3, 2013	Ecclesiastes 2	"The Futility of Pleasure"
March 27, 2013	Ecclesiastes 1	"Solomon's Personal Experience"
March 20, 2013	Ecclesiastes	"Ecclesiastes Overview"
March 13, 2013	Galatians 6	"Doing Good To All"
March 6, 2013	Galatians 5	"Freedom In Christ"
February 27, 2013	Galatians 4	"Paul's Concern for the Church"
February 20, 2013	Galatians 3	"Understanding the Presence of the Spirit"
February 13, 2013	Galatians 2	"The Apostles Accept Paul"
February 6, 2013	Galatians 1	"Authenticity Of The Gospel"
January 30, 2013	Galatians	"Overview Of The Book Of Galatians"
January 23, 2013	Proverbs 31	"Wisdom on Treating Others Right"
January 9, 2013	Proverbs 29	"Wisdom on Avoiding Stubbornness"
December 19, 2012	Proverbs 28	"Wisdom On Treating Others Right"
December 12, 2012	Proverbs 27	"Wisdom On Human Relations"
December 5, 2012	Proverbs 26	"Wisdom Instruction On Dishonorable Conduct"
November 28, 2012	Proverbs 24-25	"Wisdom Instructions On Greediness"
November 14, 2012	Proverbs 23	"Wisdom Instructions On Greediness"
November 7, 2102	Proverbs 22	"Wisdom Instructions On Keeping A Good Name"
October 27, 2012	Proverbs 21	"Wisdom Instructs on Integrity, Patience and God's Sovereignty"
October 20, 2012	Proverbs 20	"Wisdom Instructs on Avoiding Contentious Spirit"
October 10, 2012	Proverbs 19	"Wisdom Instructions on Character"
October 3, 2012	Proverbs 18	"Wisdom Instructions on Moral Virtues and Their Contrary Vices"
September 26, 2012	Proverbs 17	"Wisdom Instruction On Being Foolish"
September 19, 2012	Proverbs 16	"Wisdom Instructions On God's Providential Care"
September 12, 2012	Proverbs 15	"Wisdom Instructions on Right Emotions"
September 5, 2012	Proverbs 14	"Wisdom About The Fear of God"
August 22, 2012	Proverbs 12	"Wisdom Instructs For Right Living"
August 15, 2012	Proverbs 11	"Wisdom For All People"
August 8, 2012	Proverbs 10	"Wisdom For All People"
August 1, 2012	Proverbs 9	"An Urgent Call To Spiritual Drifters"
July 25, 2012	Proverbs 8	'Why Should We Live By God's Wisdom"
July 18, 2012	Proverbs 7	"How To Avoid Sexual Immorality"
July 11, 2012	Proverbs 6	"Lessons For Daily Life"
July 3, 2012	Proverbs 5	"Guard Your Heart"
June 27, 2012	Proverbs 4	"A Father's Advice"
June 20, 2012	Proverbs 3	"Trusting in the Lord"
June 13, 2012	Proverbs 2	"The Benefits of Wisdom"
June 6, 2012	Proverbs 1	"Acquiring Wisdom"
May 30, 2012	Book of Proverbs	"Overview of the Book of Proverbs"
May 23, 2012	2 Corinthians 13	"Final Advice"
May 16, 2012	2 Corinthians 12	"A Thorn in the Side"
May 9, 2012	2 Corinthians 11	"Facing Trials"
May 2, 2012	2 Corinthians 10	"Dealing with Authority"
April 25, 2012	2 Corinthians 9	"Giving Generously"
April 18, 2012	2 Corinthians 7	"Joy At The Church"
April 11, 2012	2 Corinthians 6	"The Temple of the Living God"
April 4, 2012	2 Corinthians 5	"New Bodies"
March 28, 2012	2 Corinthians 4	"Treasure in Perishable Containers"
March 21, 2012	2 Corinthians 3	"Glory of the New Covenant"
March 14, 2012	2 Corinthians 2	"Forgiveness for the Sinner"
March 7, 2012	2 Corinthians 1	"Greetings from Paul"
February 29, 2102	2 Corinthians	"2 Corinthians Book Overview"
February 22, 2012	Psalm 149-150	"A Victory Celebration"
February 15, 2012	Psalm 143-148	"Rejoicing In God's Care"
February 1, 2012	Psalm 135-142	"God May Be Speaking to You"
January 4, 2012	Psalm 126-131	"God Does Great Things"
December 21, 2011	Psalm 120-125	"Stepping Into The Presence of God"
December 7, 2011	Psalm 117 - 119	"God's Word Makes Us Wise"
November 16, 2011	Psalm 115 & 116	"Look What God Has Done"
November 9, 2011	Psalm 113 & 114	"The Scope Of God's Care"
November 2, 2011	Psalm 111 & 112	"All That God Does Is Good"
October 26, 2011	Psalm 109 & 110	"We Can Tell God All"
October 19, 2011	Psalm 107 & 108	"Thankfulness to God"
October 12, 2011	Psalm 105 & 106	"Keep Living Close to God"
October 5, 2011	Psalm 103 & 104	"God's Great Love For Us"
September 28, 2011	Psalms 101 & 102	"Living with Integrity"
September 21, 2011	Psalms 97 & 100	"Praising the Lord"
July 20, 2011	Psalms 93 & 94	"God's Unchanging Hand"
July 13, 2011	Psalms 91 & 92	"God's Protection"
July 6, 2011	Psalms 89 & 90	"Our Time Is Limited"
June 29, 2011	Psalms 87 & 88	"The City of God"
June 22, 2011	Psalms 85 & 86	"Restoring Our Love & Joy for God"
June 8, 2011	Psalms 81 & 82	"God's Is Our Deliverer"
June 1, 2011	Psalms 79 & 80	"God's Is Our Only Hope"
May 25, 2011	Psalms 77 & 78	"God's Help Is Available"
May 18, 2011	Psalms 75 & 76	"God Is The Final Judge"
April 6, 2011	Psalms 65 & 66	"God Provides Abundantly"
March 30, 2011	Psalms 63 & 64	"A Desire For God's Presence"
March 16, 2011	Psalms 61 & 62	"We Can Trust God"
March 2, 2011	Psalms 57 & 58	"God's Faithfulness"
Feb. 16, 2011	Psalms 53 & 54	"Will We Ever Learn?"
Feb. 9, 2011	Psalms 51 & 52	"A New Man"
Jan. 19, 2011	Psalms 49 & 59	"You Can't Buy Heaven"
Jan. 5, 2011	Psalms 47 & 48	"The City Of God"

2010 Archived Bible Studies

 

    

Join Us Live Each Wed. @ either 12:00pm (noon) or 7:30pm for Prayer and Bible Study and receive God's blessings in this great study.

Every church member can benefit greatly by learning more about God's Word and His plans for you.

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  

-   2 Timothy 2: 15