I. IMPORTANCE: WHY WAS THE BIBLE IMPORTANT TO JESUS?
1. Jesus was the Eternal Word (John 1:1), who became a human man (John 1:14).
2. Did Jesus have to learn the Bible?
3. Jesus was completely human so He learned the entire Hebrew alphabet and Scriptures at His mother’s table. He memorized great portions for Bar Mitzvah at age 12 (Luke 2:41-51).
4. Jesus quoted from Leviticus more than any other Old Testament book. Perhaps He memorized it as a boy.
5. Jesus eternally knew Scriptures because He revealed the Scriptures to Old Testament writers.
6. Why seven steps to Bible study? (See 7 in each lesson).
a. God’s favorite number, i.e., 7 days in a week, 7 notes in a chord, 7 colors in the spectrum.
b. Jubilee and Pentecost means, 50, i.e., seven weeks plus one Lord’s Day. “Every 50 years blow the trumpets loud throughout the land” (Lev. 25:9, BBJ).
II. SEVEN STEPS TO SHOW THE BIBLE’S IMPORTANCE TO YOU
A. HEAR:
1. Hearing means:
a. To receive a signal.
b. To perceive a sound.
c. To understand what is said.
2. The word is seed, “sown on good ground . . . hear the word” (Mark 4:20).
3. Hard or rejecting heart. “Hearing, they hear not” (Matt. 13:13).
4. Be discerning. “Take heed what you hear” (Mark 4:24).
B. READ:
1. He demonstrated Scripture reading, “As his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16, KJV).
2. Jesus wanted people to understand what they read. ‘Have ye not read . . . ?” (Matt. 12:3, 4; 19:4; 21:16, 22:21; Mar 2:5; 1:12, 21:16, 42, 22:31)
3. Why did Jesus continually ask this question?
C. SEARCH:
What principles (strategy) will guide Scripture study?
1. Study words in the Word of God. “Search the Scriptures” (John 5:39).
2. The word search means, “sift,” as one sifting grain, or separating each kernel from each other. Study each and every word.
D. TIME:
When and how much time do you give to the Scriptures in study?
1. Only length of time for prayer. “Watch with Me one hour” (Matt. 26:40).
2. Daily eat food on a regular basis.
E. PURPOSE:
Why are you studying the Scriptures?
1. Why physical food?
a. Necessary.
b. Physical response to food.
c. Enjoy.
d. Good.
e. Makes you healthy and well rounded.
2. Necessity of spiritual food. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).
F. APPLICATION:
What influence will the study of Scriptures have on your life?
1. Know the Scriptures to apply it. “Three times Jesus said, “It is written” (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10).
2. Know the Scriptures to correct mistakes. “Your mistake (you deceive yourself) is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God” (Matt. 22:29, NLT).
3. Happy. “You know these things, happy are you if you do them” (John 13:17, BBJ).
4. Results. “Seed on good soil . . . those who truly hear and understand and produce a harvest” (Matt. 13:23, NLT).
G. REPRODUCE:
How to pass on the results of Scriptures study.
1. God’s principles from the beginning. “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:20, NLT).
2. Jesus didn’t write one word, but sent the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit . . . will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).
3. Scriptures. “The whole Bible is inspired—Spirit breathed—and is useful to teach the truth and make you realize what is fake and wrong. It will strengthen you and help you do right. The Bible is God’s tool to equip you to live for Him, and prepare you to serve Him” (2 Tim. 3:15-17, ELT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
www.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-elmer-towns
Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
