Transcript HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

[By Ron Halbrook, adapted from Cecil Willis, How to Study the Bible]
• Introduction
1.
We must prepare the heart
with the right disposition to study the Bible
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart
to seek the law of the LORD,
and to do it,
and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
2
• Introduction
2.
The condition of the heart
determines what we learn & how we react
3
2.
The condition of the heart
determines what we learn & how we react
10 And he said, Unto you it is given
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:
but to others in parables;
that seeing they might not see,
and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now the parable is this:
The seed is the word of God.
4
2.
The condition of the heart
determines what we learn & how we react
12 Those
are they that hear;
then cometh the devil,
and taketh away the word out of their hearts,
lest they should believe and be saved.
13 They
are they,
which, when they hear, receive the word with joy;
and these have no root, which for a while believe,
and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell
are they,
which, when they have heard, go forth,
and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures
of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
5
2.
The condition of the heart
determines what we learn & how we react
15 But that
are they,
which in an honest and good heart,
having heard the word, keep it,
and bring forth fruit with patience.
6
2.
The condition of the heart
determines what we learn & how we react
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle,
GOOD
HEART:
covereth it with a vessel, or putteth
it under
a bed;
but setteth it on a candlestick,
Listen carefully
that they which enter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret, that shall
not bemuch
made manifest;
Learn
neither any thing hid, that shall not be known
Shine brightly
and come abroad.
18
:
for whosoever hath, to him shall be given;
and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken
even that which he seemeth to have.
7
3. Let us prepare our hearts for God’s Word:
Study with reverence toward God
Believe all of God’s holy Word
Employ mental industry in Bible study
Moral purity prepares the heart to understand
Desiring the truth opens the heart
Expect to understand God’s Word
We must desire & intend to obey God
8
I. Study with Reverence Toward God
A. We Revere God by Revering His Word
Timothy knew “the holy scriptures”
We should accept the Bible
message as “the word of God”
9
We should accept the Bible
message as “the word of God”
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing,
because,
when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us,
ye received it not as the word of men,
but
,
which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
10
Peter gave
abundant
II. Believe
All of God’s Holy Word
irrefutable
A. God
Gives Evidence to Prove His Word True
evidence
to convince
We can know for certain
honest
hearts!
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
11
II. Believe All of God’s Holy Word
A. God Gives Evidence to Prove His Word True
Speak, Lord, we will obey
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down:
and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say,
Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.
So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood,
and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.
Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.12
II. Believe All of God’s Holy Word
B. We Obey Whether or Not We Understand Why
Obey what is revealed
29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:
but those things which are revealed belong unto us
and to our children for ever,
that we may do all the words of this law.
13
II. Believe All of God’s Holy Word
B. We Obey Whether or Not We Understand Why
God’s will & purpose higher!
14
God’s will & purpose higher!
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
15
God’s will & purpose higher!
10 For as the rain cometh down,
and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither,
but watereth the earth,
and maketh it bring forth and bud,
that it may give seed to the sower,
and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
16
II. Believe All of God’s Holy Word
C. To Pick & Choose What to Believe Is Unbelief
17
III. Employ Mental Industry in Bible Study
A. Concentrate, Meditate, Do Your Best to Learn
Eager, diligent study
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed,
rightly handling the word of truth. (ESV)
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IV. Moral Purity Prepares the Heart to Understand
A. Pure Hearts See & Apply Truth More Clearly
A pure heart has a single focus: God
8 Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God.
19
IV. Moral Purity Prepares the Heart to Understand
B. Love of Sin Darkens the Mind
Some are corrupt in mind & deed
15 Unto the pure all things are pure:
but unto them that are defiled
and unbelieving is nothing pure;
but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God;
but in works they deny him, being abominable,
and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.20
IV. Moral Purity Prepares the Heart to Understand
B. Love of Sin Darkens the Mind
Corrupt hearts cannot hear
21
Corrupt hearts cannot hear
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,
which saith,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;
and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's
is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and should understand with their
,
and should be converted,
and I should heal them.
22
IV. Moral Purity Prepares the Heart to Understand
B. Love of Sin Darkens the Mind
Love of sin blinds the mind
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
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V. Desire for Truth Opens the Heart
A. Truth Must Be Our First Priority
Sacrifice everything for the truth
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not;
also wisdom, and instruction,
and understanding.
24
V. Desire for Truth Opens the Heart
A. Truth Must Be Our First Priority
The truth sets us free from sin
32 And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.
25
V. Desire for Truth Opens the Heart
A. Truth Must Be Our First Priority
The kingdom of God is
the kingdom of truth: its value is great!
26
The kingdom of God is
the kingdom of truth: its value is great!
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven
is like unto treasure hid in a field;
the which when a man hath found, he hideth,
and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath,
and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven
is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
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V. Desire for Truth Opens the Heart
A. Truth Must Be Our First Priority
Hearts not loving truth
are easily deceived
28
Hearts not loving truth
are easily deceived
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish;
because
,
that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that
:
12 That they all might be damned
who believed not the truth,
but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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V. Desire for Truth Opens the Heart
B. Love of Truth Overcomes Every Obstacle
Focus on the truth—NOT the teacher’s failures,
our own past practices, or the majority view
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VI. Expect to Understand God’s Word
A. God’s Word Reveals NOT Conceals the Truth
Read & understand what is written
31
Read & understand what is written
3 how
was made
known
untounto
me me
How the
thatmystery
by revelation
he made
known
as
revelation,
I haveafore
written
briefly.
theamystery;
(asas
I wrote
in few
words,
4 When
youwhen
read this,
you ye
canmay
perceive
Whereby,
ye read,
understand
my insight
into in
thethe
mystery
of of
Christ,
knowledge
mystery
Christ)
5 Which
which was
not made
known
the sons
of men
in other
ages was
not to
made
known
in
other
now revealed
been revealed
unto
thegenerations
sons of men,asasit ithas
is now
to
hishis
holy
apostles
andand
prophets
by by
thethe
Spirit.
unto
holy
apostles
prophets
Spirit;
(ESV)
(KJV)
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VII. We Must Desire & Intend to Obey God
A. To Obey God Must Be Our Highest Priority
The right heart understands Jesus
17 If any man will do his will,
he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (KJV)
17
,
he will know whether the teaching is from God
or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (ESV)
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VII. We Must Desire & Intend to Obey God
A. To Obey God Must Be Our Highest Priority
If we call him, “Lord,” we must obey
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say?
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VII. We Must Desire & Intend to Obey God
B. The Wise Obey, the Foolish Disobey God
Only those who obey are saved
35
Only those who obey are saved
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that
the will of my Father
which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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Only those who obey are saved
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,
and
, I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine,
and
, shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell:
and great was the fall of it.
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VII. We Must Desire & Intend to Obey God
B. The Wise Obey, the Foolish Disobey God
Must learn & continue to obey
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,
and continueth therein,
he being not a forgetful hearer,
but
,
this man shall be blessed in his deed.
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Invitation
1. Let us prepare our hearts for God’s Word:
Study with reverence toward God
Believe all of God’s holy Word
Employ mental industry in Bible study
Moral purity prepares the heart to understand
Desiring the truth opens the heart
Expect to understand God’s Word
We must desire & intend to obey God
39
Invitation
2.
Yield to God’s grace in obedience:
Believe, repent, confess Christ, & be baptized
17 But God be thanked,
that ye were the servants of sin,
but
that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being
,
ye became the servants of righteousness.
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Invitation
3.
Fallen saints can be restored to grace
16
your faults one to another,
and
one for another,
that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.
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