Why You Need To Read Your Bible

Why You Need to Read Your Bible

September 22, 2013 Evening Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: We must have more than just a working knowledge of God’s Word in our lives.

Focus Passage: Acts 17:10-12

Introduction: While studying in the Holy Lands, a seminary professor of mine met a man who claimed to have memorized the Old Testament--in Hebrew! Needless to say, the astonished professor asked for a demonstration. A few days late they sat together in the man's home. "Where shall we begin?" asked the man. "Psalm 1," replied my professor, who was an avid student of the psalms. Beginning with Psalm 1:1, the man began to recite from memory, while my professor followed along in his Hebrew Bible. For two hours the man continued word for word without a mistake as the professor sat in stunned silence. When the demonstration was over, my professor discovered something even more astonishing about the man--he was an atheist! Here was someone who knew the Scriptures better than most Christians ever will, and yet he didn't even believe in God.

Jack Kuhatschek, Taking The Guesswork Out of Applying The Bible, IVP, 1991, p. 16.

Which of the following aren't in the Bible?

Cleanliness is next to godliness

God helps those who help themselves

Confession is good for the soul

We are as prone to sin as sparks fly upward

Money is the root of all evil

Honesty is the best policy

None of the are!

Source Unknown.

Why You Need to Read Your Bible:

I. So you can know if someone is making stuff up about God or the Bible

a. The Bereans searched the Scriptures to make sure Jesus was telling the Truth (vs 11)

b. Would have saved a lot of problems with other religions, sects, and cults

II. So you can be prepared to live a life of victory

a. If you know what God expects from you, you can live it

b. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (Psalms 119:11 NASB)

c. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB)

III. So you can defend your faith

a. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:15)

b. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB)

c. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB)

IV. So you can tell others the truth

a. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; (2 Timothy 4:2 NASB)

b. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NASB)

c. The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (2 Timothy 2:24-25 NASB)

Invitation: I challenge you to read the entire Bible through in a year. It should take much less time than a year, but you can give yourself a year and have it done. Then, when you are done, do it again. Make it a goal each year to read the entire Bible.