What about the Bible?

The Bible claims to be God's Word. By that it means that God inspired each and every individual author of parts of the Bible.

 

Christians too, in their daily experience, can testify that it is the Word of God.

 

It is very important for us to learn about the Bible and how to make use of it. This is not for the sake of historical interest but because the Bible is God’s manual for Christian living today.

 

If we want to do things ‘His way’, then we need to "read the book.

 

How is the Bible made up?

 

The Bible is not one book, but 66! These books were written by 40 authors, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years. The authors include kings, fishermen, public officials, farmers, teachers and doctors. History, law, drama, biography and poetry are all to be found in the Bible’s pages.

Today the Bible is the most quoted book in the world. Its impact on world literature has been such that the entire Bible could be reconstructed from its quotations in other literature.

 

However, for us the most important thing is that God was behind it all: 2 Peter 1 v.20-2l. 

 ..... Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit

 

In John 5 v. 39 - 40 Jesus says there is a specific purpose for the Bible.

  ......These are the Scriptures that testify about me

 

What does the Bible say about itself?

 

The Bible states it is the inspired Word of God. 2Timothy 3v16-17

 .... All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

John is very specific about the purpose of the Bible John 20 v 31

 .... these are written that you mayA believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name

 

The Bible is not based on human ideas or wisdom, but on God revealing himself to mankind. It is a record of things that God has said and done, and acts as our final authority in matters of faith and Christian behaviour.

 

At different times the Bible describes itself as:

A sword

 

A lamp

 

Bread

 

Honey

 

Which of these pictures means most of you at the moment?

 

How do I make use of the Bible?

1. HEAR IT (Romans 10 v. 17)

.... Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

There is much to be gained from the reading and explanation of the Bible in Church:

Pray before you come to Church, asking God to speak to you.

 

Write notes that you can keep

 

2. READ IT (Revelation 1 v 3)

.... Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it

 

Read it as God’s Word

 

3. CHECK IT 

Use the Bible as a measuring rod to check what you see and hear.

 

4. MEMORISE IT (Psalm 119 v.9)

.... How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

 

Why not take a verse each week and memorise it?

 

5. THINK ABOUT IT (Psalm 1 v.2-3)

.... his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night

 

Use your imagination to make the most of what the Bible has to say.

 

If you do this, you may find it hard to accept some of the things the Bible is saying to you:

 

Mark Twain once said: "Most people are bothered by those passages of scripture they don't understand, but I have always noticed that the passages that bother me are the ones I do understand.

 

To be challenged by the Bible is part of Christian growth. This uncomfortable challenge is God’s way of showing us how we need to change if we are to be more like Jesus.

 

James 1 v. 22-23 shows what we must do if the Bible is to help us make progress in our Christian lives

....... Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like

 

Practical Suggestions for Reading the Bible

 

1. Make time to read the Bible.

2. Ask God to help you understand it.

3. Ask yourself some simple questions about the Bible passage, such as:

• What does it say about God?
• What does it say about Jesus Christ?
• What does it say about my relationship to God?
• How does it relate to my everyday life?

 A Bible Toolkit

 

 

1. Notebook: Keep a note of things you have learnt, so that you can review them.

2. Marker: God won*t mind if you write in your Bible if it helps you to find important passages more easily.

3. Contents page: With 66 books to choose from it is no wonder we need some help finding them!

4. Bible notes: These are available for every taste. They help to guide you through the Bible on a regular basis.