The Bible Door Lesson 3 Series

A. WHY MUST YOU STUDY/SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

1. Determine to know and apply all the Bible so you can serve the Lord accurately and successfully. “Study the Scriptures to know them completely, so you can faithfully serve the LORD correctly and successfully” (2 Timothy 2:15, ELT).

2. Learn the Scriptures so you can know Him. “We know the Son of God has come and given us understanding, so we may know Him”(1 John 5:20).

3. You will find Jesus and salvation in the Scriptures “neither is there salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12).

4. You will find in Scriptures the indwelling treasure of Christ. “God would make known ... this mystery … Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

5. Learn the Scriptures to demonstrate your faith-profession is real. “For me living means living for Christ” (Philippians 1:21, NLT).

6. Learn the Scriptures to prepare for serving God in ministry. “All Scripture is God – breathed and is useful for teaching … training” (2 Timothy 3:16, ELT).

7. The example of the early church. “The disciples daily devoted themselves to … teaching” (Acts 2:42, ELT).

B. USING THE BIBLE WRONGLY TO MAKE DECISIONS

1. Hope and poke. When you thumb the pages of Scriptures to ask God for help, randomly placing your finger on a verse(s) to help/lead you.

2. Wrongly interpreting a text. God leads through correct meaning and application of Scriptures.

3. Spiritual blindness/ignorance. A hungry person sees food when there is none. Projecting your answers onto text whether the answer is there or not.

4. Wrongly apply a verse because someone else used it.

5. Apply a verse because it worked in past, but your focus is a new challenge in a new situation, with new dynamics.

C. STEPS FOR USING THE BIBLE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

1. Study the Bible to know what God says. Do not go by your memory or another’s view. “What a shame … to decide before knowing the facts” (Proverbs 18:13, TLB).

2. Study the Bible to find any and all facts about the solution to the problem you seek. “The intellectual man is always open to new facts … he looks for them” (Proverbs 18:15, TLB).

3. Examine all truth in the Bible about all possible solutions, then choose. “Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight” (Proverbs 18:17, TLB).

4. Decide the solution/decision which is workable. “When you face a decision, know the testing of your faith develops perseverance … making you mature and complete” (James 1:2-4).

5. Learn what you discover, and then apply to your life and ministry. “God … is using (this) to make you ready” (2 Thessalonians 1:5, TLB).

6. Ask/pray for God to help you solve/decide. “If you want to know God’s will … ask” (James 1:5, ELT).

7. Thank God for His guidance now and next time. “Thank the Lord (for) … what He has done … how mighty He is” (Isaiah 12:4, NLT).

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.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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