The Importance of Bible Study

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

precept and promise, law and love combining. Oh, what beautiful words from that sweet hymn. Give me the Bible. Today, let’s talk about the Bible, the Word of God, and the importance of Bible study. We’ll be right back here on the International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:22

It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. Here’s Jeff.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:47

Well, thank you always to our J-Web. Greetings to all of you. Great having you with us today as we study the Word of God together. The Word that we know of in Psalm 119, 105, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. And oh, how we embrace 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16, where all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. How beautiful is the Word of God. You know, according to a recent research article I was reading via Lifeway.com, less than one-third of the United States churchgoers read the Bible daily. Now, did you get that? Less than one-third of churchgoers read the Bible daily. Now, we must readily admit that reading and studying are two different approaches. And friends, if only one-third of churchgoers read the Bible daily, if that is only the amount of churchgoers that are reading, one has to wonder if those studying would even be less. That’s frightening. Let’s recall that wonderful text of Acts 17, 10 and 11, when the Bible tells us how the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded or noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. How they received with readiness. When you look at that phrase, friends, that means they expressed a great desire in listening to know the truth. That was their aim. They want to listen, to know, to grasp the knowledge of what God would have them to do. And then they would search it to affirm and make sure what they were hearing was right. A gentleman by the name of Johnny Stringer from the Truth Commentaries noted this. how their nobility consisted in the fact that they neither stubbornly refused to listen to new teaching, nor gullibly accepted the new teaching as those who are tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, Ephesians 4.14. Again, they did not stubbornly refuse, nor did they gullibly accept, but they heard and they received with readiness. They had a great attitude toward the Word, but they searched the Scriptures whether those things were right. Friends, we want to continue these thoughts. Let’s just keep on going. Let’s see the importance of Bible study in our lives. Consider the following. First, Bible study is important because the knowledge of the Word of God should be our trademark. You know, it used to be said that you could give a book, chapter, and verse for what you believe. As a member of the Church of Christ, I don’t know how accurate this story is, but I was told once that It was in a court of law. They could not find the Bible for people to affirm. And the judge said, is there a member of the Church of Christ here? Lay your hand on their head because they know the Scriptures pretty thorough. What a wonderful compliment. I don’t know if that would be the case today or not, friends. But you see, when there are so many thoughts and theories that are not biblically based or God-given, as well as the cultural changes in basic doctrinal beliefs or what was once called sin, is now readily accepted or easily embraced, friends, we need a greater knowledge of the Word of God. I had a friend recently on social media that posted, We always are posting about believing and believing, but we say very little about repentance. In other words, we can believe, but we need to change some lives. You know, Paul’s desire for the Corinthians was that in everything you are enriched by him in all utterance and all knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 5. Friends, that is early to a church that was divided. And he tells them you are to be enriched by him, that’s singular, in all utterance and all knowledge. What you say comes forth with what you know. Knowledge is one of those graces that one adds or supplies when one becomes a Christian, as we note from 2 Peter 1 in verse 5. And how later, three verses later, how that knowledge should even abound in one’s life. Friends, that would easily match that what we know we want to grow and let it abound. And when we see knowledge abounding, then one is growing and there is an excitement therein that is amazing. Second, Bible study is important because of the effect it has on adults. You know, I’ve noticed something through the years, and especially when I am teaching a subject, or any Bible school teacher for that matter, that the more you study and prepare and develop a subject, and you do that in order to teach, the more one teaches the subject to himself. Let me give you that again. The more one studies and develops a subject to teach, the more one teaches the subject to himself. And that is so true. And it has to begin with us as adults if we expect younger generations to follow. Let’s observe Titus 2, verses 2-8 that says, But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine. We’re going back to verse 1, and this is what he is telling Titus that Titus is going to instruct. That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. The older women likewise. That they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded in all things, showing yourself to be a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed. Having nothing evil to say of you. Now, friends, let’s kind of summarize this study of Titus 2, 1 through 8. First of all, the aged men are to be right in the first place. I mean, they need to be right. What are they doing? How are they living? And then we notice the phrase in verse 6, young men likewise exhort. So the young men as well as the young ladies, that word likewise. Okay, aged men, you’re this way. You need to be this way. then the aged women are to be right first. In verse 3, how they are to be likewise as the men, what they have learned, how they live. And then in verse 4, that they may teach the young ladies. You see, friends, it has to start with the adults. And it has to be able, and it has to be able to be conveyed. And people, children, learn from us. You know, I think about when one takes a flight and they go over all the details as the plane is about to embark, as about to go. And they say in case of oxygen pressure decreasing in the cabin, a mask will fall from the top. You put your mask on first and then you can help others with their mask. You see, it begins with us. If we try to help others, then we may pass out. Then they suffer as we suffer. It has to begin with us. The study of the Word of God has to begin with adults. You know, I think about opportunities such as, well, you’re listening to our broadcast here. My preparation helps me to grow. And then you’re tuned in and you listen. And opportunities is this, that you listen and grow. Online viewing. These options that have grown, that have expanded to where we can watch the videos that we offer here. The World Video Bible School. our YouTube channel, International Gospel Hour. So there are a number of opportunities to help us grow in Bible study and how important that is. Now let’s flow right here, not only the effect on adults, but Bible study is important because of the effect it has on our children. A number of years ago, an interesting study was brought forth comparing the amount of study time devoted to secular studies as well as Bible study for our children. They wanted to see what level of spiritual education our children would earn at the end of a 12-year period. So when they added the time together when a church assembled, and this survey was done roughly when churches met four hours a week, Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and it was concluded at the end of a 12-year period, our children would receive a spiritual education equivalent of the second grade. Can you believe that? And that’s without missing a time. Now friends, let’s think of a change or a shift in church attendance in recent years and how many churches dropped these Sunday evening gatherings from the tragic pandemic in 2020. So we even find less time assembled. Nevertheless, friends, our homes must be the number one place for teaching and training, as we see such from testament to testament. That’s taught in Deuteronomy 6, 1-7, Ephesians 6, 1-4, Titus 2, as we noted. So, friends, our home has to be the place where teaching and training of the Bible happens. So, we want to assist you in your Bible study. Now, in a moment, our J-Well will share with you how you can receive our free Bible course by mail that you can do there in your home and grow thereby. But I want to add something. For a little extra for the home, we will also send our track called You Can Do Bible Time. If you have children still at home, teenagers, maybe your grandchildren visit quite often. When you ask for the home study in a moment, just add Bible time, and we will send it right away. Now, our J-Web, and I’ll come back and wrap up the program.

SPEAKER 02 : 11:40

Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 12:19

And friends, don’t forget to add Bible Time with that request for your Bible study. And we’ll pick these studies up at another time. I’ve got to go. Thanks for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Harjee. Keep listening.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:37

Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time.

SPEAKER 1 : 12:55

God be with you till we meet again.