Lesson Notes

Introduction

• In the evangelical church we generally love the Bible, but aren’t always good about reading it – LifeWay Research found that 49% of evangelicals read at least a little bit each day.
• We may have tried and gotten stuck, found it confusing, or simply found life too busy
• Or we see the professional up front preaching or leading video-based Bible studies, conclude we can’t do what they do, and give up.
• That isn’t God’s desire for you!
  • I want to convince you from God’s Word that God wants you to study the Bible and that He gives you what you need to understand it
  • I consider a major part of my job is to help each of you fall more in love with Christ, get excited about the Bible, and feel confident to engage God’s Word for yourself
  • I know from my own experience and from many of you, it will change your life and deepen your understanding and passion for Christ in powerful ways
• This course is intended to help  you grow in your ability to understand and study
  • With an emphasis on things that every single one of you can do
  • You don’t need advanced studies or ancient languages to understand and study
  • I’m also not going to teach really elaborate systems like you often find because that simply isn’t how I understand and study the Bible

Why You SHOULD Study the Bible

• All Scripture is God-breathed and useful… – 2 Timothy 3: 14-17
  • I can only preach and teach through a fraction of it before we all pass away 
  • Yet God has written all of it for the benefit of His people, not just portions
  • Conclusion – you must study the bible on your own to experience the blessing of the full counsel of God in Scripture
• To discern between true and false teaching – 2 Peter 3: 14-18
  • Acts 17: 10-11 – the Berean church
  • Erroneous teaching has always existed and is increasing – 2 Timothy 4: 3-4
  • Example – false prosperity gospels
• To experience personal transformation
  • The only spiritual habit that affects every other aspect of discipleship is regular Bible reading and study
  • 1 Timothy 4: 7b – train yourself for godliness
• It will literally change everything about you over time ifyou’re faithful and systematic
  • Hebrews 4: 12 – the Word is living and powerful
  • Pretty much all of Psalm 119, e.g. Psalm 119: 9-16
• It will bless you as it soaks into your soul
  • Psalm 1
  • Psalm 19: 7-11
• John Blanchard, How to Enjoy Your Bible
  • “Surely we only have to be realistic and honest with ourselves to know how regularly we need to turn to the Bible. How often do we face problems, temptation, and pressure? Every day! Then how often do we need instruction, guidance and greater encouragement? Every day! To catch all these felt needs up into an even greater issue, how often do we need to see God’s face, hear his voice, feel his touch, know his power? The answer to all these questions is the same: every day!“
  • Don’t settle for reading about the Bible. Read and study the bible for yourself in addition to growing through teaching from preachers and teachers
  • Questions & Discussion

Why You Can Understand the Bible

• Some are reluctant to study because they have a hard time understanding the Bible
  • I get it! It can be hard to understand…
  • There’s a cultural gap, everyone has funny names, the language can be hard and unfamiliar, and there are difficult concepts and doctrines
  • You like the prepared materials by me and the great teachers we have access to today – JD Greear, Tim  Keller, Matt Chandler, John Piper, John MacArthur, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Jen Wilkin, etc.
  • They know so much that we’re satisfied with their teaching and get intimidated to read and study – what could we possibly add to what they understand?
    • We teachers don’t help things in this regard when we describe historical, cultural, and original language matters we know after extended study
    • All these resources are great, and that knowledge is helpful, but we’re still called to study!
    • So that it soaks into our souls and because ultimately application must be personal. Understanding the Bible always leads to action and life change and nobody can apply Scripture to what you need better than you!
    • I promise God equips you to do what He calls you to do – study His Word!
  • The Holy Spirit empowers you to understand – 1 Corinthians 2: 11-16
    • Every believer receives the Holy Spirit when they trust in Christ
    • He removes the veil that prevents proper understanding – 2 Corinthians 3: 14-15
    • 1 John 2: 20-27 – you are equipped with what you need!
    • Pray for God to speak through Scripture – Psalm 119: 17-19
    • Luke 24: 44-45
  • The more you read and study, the more you connect and understand
    • I make new connections every time I read through books, testaments, and the whole Bible. It’s exhilarating when you start having those breakthroughs!
    • The 2 biggest keys I’m going to teach you involve knowing the big story of the Bible and reading carefully in context
      • Everyone can do these!
      • Plus take notes as you study
  • Perspicuity of Scripture
    • The most important truths shine the most clearly!
    • Specifically what we need to know to be saved
  • Extraordinary tools are available to you at low or no cost
    • We’ll talk more in a future week
    • Bible translations – you need a good translation that works for you
      • We have riches unlike any Christian before us!
      • Word-for-word vs. Thought-for-thought
      • My favorites: ESV, NIV, CSB, NLT
      • Study Bible s- notes, cross-reference, and indexes
• Questions & Discussion

• I’ll teach how to understand and study the Bible like I do – it’s not the only way, but I’m not going to teach what I don’t do!
• It isn’t rocket science!
• 2 Keys to Understanding
  • The Big Story of the Bible
  • Read Carefully in Context
• Keys to Understanding & Studying 4 Types of Biblical Writing
  • Old Testament passages
  • Bible narratives, i.e. history and stories
  • Poems and prophecy
  • New Testament Letters
  • I hope to film a bonus online episode on Parables
• Introduction to tools to help you better understand and study the Bible
• Welsh pastor Geoffrey Thomas in Reading the Bible
  • “Do not expect to master the bible in a day, or a m onth, or a year. Rather expect often to be puzzled by its contents. It is not all equally clear. Great men of God often feel like absolute novices when they read the Word. The Apostle Peter said that there were some things hard to understand in the epistles of Paul (2 Peter 3: 16). I am glad he wrote those words because I have felt that often. So do not expect alwasy to get an emotional charge or a feelign of quiet peace when you read the Bible. by the grace of God you may expect that to be a frequent experience, but often you will get no emotional response at all.
  • Let the Word break over your heart and mind again and again as the years go by, and imperceptibly there will come great changes in your attitude and outlook and conduct. You will probably be the last to recognize these. Often you will feel very, very small, because increasingly the God of the Bible will become to you wonderfully great. So go on reading it until you can read no longer, and then you will not need the Bible any more, because when your eyes close for the last time in death, and never again read the Word of God in Scripture you will open them to the Word of God in the flesh, that same Jesus of the bible whom you have known for so long, standing before you to take you for ever to His eternal home.”