Why Study the Bible?

Have you ever wondered how to study the Bible? Have you ever opened up the Bible and said to yourself, “Ok, now what?” Let’s face it, studying the Bible can seem daunting. But it doesn’t have to be hard, and it can even be enjoyable.

Through this series of videos (and don’t forget to subscribe, by the way), I want to help you to learn how to study your Bible in a way that is enjoyable and practical—and I hope I can help you start a habit that will last the rest of your life!

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success where you go. The Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:7-8

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation…

1 Peter 2:2

We all know that there is no shortage of competing voices out there, every one of them trying to tell us what to do and how to live. Well, one of the principles of the Reformation was “Sola Scriptura,” or Scripture Alone. It means that we don’t rely on tradition, or on feelings, or on peer-pressure, or even on advertising gimmicks to guide our spiritual lives, rather we look to Scriptures for guidance. For sure, science, exploration, and technology can teach us many wonderful things, but it is only by the Scriptures that we are able to discover and know the truths of God and, most importantly, about Jesus Christ.

All Scripture is breathed-out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…

2 Timothy 3:16

The Scriptures are God’s special revelation to us. The Word of God is the foundation of all life and practice for those who follow Christ. For the very reason that it is our foundation—the source of what we know—it is of utmost importance that we correctly handle God’s Word, knowing how to study it, interpret it, and apply it to our lives.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

I love to read a good book. Good books can spur the imagination, they can inspire, they can make you laugh sometimes and sometimes make you cry. The Bible can do all of these things. But the Bible is more than just a good book—it is God’s message to us. When we read it, we may be inspired, we may be challenged, we may even be offended. But all of this is part of God’s plan: God uses the Bible to sanctify us and to change us.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97

I hope that through these lessons, you will be able to say the same thing as the Psalmist: Oh how I love you law, it is my meditation all the day!

If you are a Christian, then Bible study is for you. Perhaps you have never considered that before. Think of it this way: Would you ever get a letter in the mail and not read it? I’m not talking about junk mail! If someone hand-addressed a letter to you, would you take the time to read it? You would because someone was concerned enough to think of you and mail the letter, you would naturally be curious what it said. God’s word is the same way: He loved you so much that he has given you His word!

Common Excuses

But there are common excuses for why people don’t study the Bible. Here are some of the favorite ones:

1. “I don’t know how.”

This is a legitimate concern. Maybe you want to know God’s Word better, but you don’t know where to start or how to do it. Let’s admit it: The Bible is a huge book that can seem intimidating. Have you ever heard the joke, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Learning God’s word is similar to that. These videos are for you because we’re going to learn step by step, bite by bite, how to study the Scriptures in a way that is meaningful and memorable.

2. “I’m not sure it’s worth it.”

Ouch! This is a tough one. Imagine someone handed you a treasure map and you responded the same way! Wouldn’t you want to know how to read the treasure map to find the treasure? To think that studying the Bible is not worth it is like getting a treasure map and rejecting the treasure. Would you really want to reject the treasure that God is giving you through His Word? Things like: A closer walk with God. Peace that passes understanding. The Comfort that comes from knowing Him. And much more! It’s all there just waiting to be discovered!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

3. “It’s not my job.”

Some people think that it is the pastor’s job to read the Bible and then tell them what they should know. It is the pastor’s job to love and care about you and help you to grow spiritually. But it is also your job to take care of your own spiritual health.

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk not solid food.

Hebrews 5:11-12

4. “I don’t have time.”

Well, how much time do you need? Maybe you don’t have even one hour every day that you can study your Bible. But I’m sure you can find some time. Do you watch tv? Do you browse the news? If you have time for unimportant things, then you have time for important things. And that is really what is behind this excuse. It’s not that you don’t have time, it’s that studying the Bible is not important to you.  If it were important, you would find time for it. We all lead busy lives, but nearly everyone has some time somewhere in their day that they can spare for something so important as studying the Scriptures.

5. “I may have doubts about it.”

Thank you for your honesty! But many people who have expressed doubts about the Bible have also never even read it. Why not read it so that your doubts can either be confirmed or corrected? It’s easy to dismiss something when you don’t understand it. But I can assure you that as you come to understand the Scriptures more and more, you will find that your doubts have suddenly disappeared. Why is that? Because it is God’s divine message to us. God has used the Scriptures for thousands of years to transform skeptics into faithful believers. And He can do the same for you today!

6. “I don’t find it interesting.”

Perhaps you haven’t found the Bible interesting because you haven’t really read it or you haven’t really understood it. The fact is that the Bible is an epic: It has soars to heights of beauty and scours the depths of the deep; there are battles and espionage, there are love stories and betrayal; there are songs of praise, there are laments of despair, there are proverbs to live by and there examples to avoid. It even tells you have to raise children and how to run a business. There are many things in the Bible, but one thing it is not: it is not boring.

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.

Psalm 119:129-131

Since we have dealt with these objections, I hope that you come to the same conclusion as the Psalmist and that you long for God’s word.

Reasons Why You Should Study the Bible

So, maybe you’re beginning to see why it might be valuable to study the Bible. Let’s look at four specific reasons why we should study the Bible:

1. God’s Word is essential to spiritual health. (Psalm 19:7-8)

Psalm 19:7-9 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes…”

Malnourishment is a terrible, wasting disease. Too many Christian today are spiritually malnourished because they haven’t guarded their spiritual health—that is, they have failed to read and follow the Scriptures. Did you notice what Psalm 19 says that God’s Word does? It revives the soul; it makes simple people wise; it makes our hearts rejoice; and it opens our eyes to spiritual realities.

The first reason we should study God’s word is because it is essential for our spiritual health. Without God’s Word we will be spiritually malnourished.

2. God’s Word is essential to spiritual growth. (1 Peter 2:2)

1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.”

The pure, spiritual milk is God’s word. His word teaches us about true salvation, about Jesus Christ, about God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. His Word nourishes us and it helps us to grow in our faith and in our relationship with Him.

3. God’s Word is essential to spiritual maturity. (Hebrews 5:11-14)

Hebrews 5:12-14 says, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

As we have seen, God’s word is milk, but it is also meat; it is easy to drink, but it is also something to chew on. Many Christians never get to the point in their spiritual lives where they consume God’s word, instead they drink a little bit each week at church and they stay malnourished and immature in their spiritual lives. But by consuming God’s word, that is, by studying it and meditating on it, we can grow to maturity. With a constant intake of His Word, we will distinguish the false from the true, we will easily tell apart the good from the evil that is in the world.

I can testify that it was when I began to make Bible study a daily part of my life it was then that I began to grow in my relationship with God and that my spiritual life became dynamic and meaningful. I never knew what I was missing before then and I never want to go back to those dull days from before.

The third reason we study God’s Word is so that we might grow to spiritual maturity.

4. God’s Word is essential to spiritual effectiveness. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Finally, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed-out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

What is spiritual effectiveness? It is, first of all, living a life that is pleasing to God. But it is also living a life that glorifies God and that points others to Him. Have you ever wondered what to say when a friend or relative was going through a tough time? The Bible has plenty of comforting words that we could share with others. Have you ever wanted to share the Gospel with a neighbor or coworker but didn’t know how to explain it? Why not point them to God’s word and show them what the Bible says? Have you ever been depressed yourself? God’s word can revive us and remind us of the bigger picture—that we have a hope and future that are secure! Yes, God’s word helps us to be spiritually effective. It helps us to comfort, to serve, to correct, and even to pray. When we neglect his word, we neglect the major piece of equipment that the Lord has given us to persevere and stand for Him. Studying God’s word is essential because it makes us effective!

So, there you have it, we have talked about the major excuses people make for not studying God’s word and the four reasons why everyone should study God’s word. I hope that you have been encouraged and inspired to go deeper and learn the Scriptures. There is so much there for you to discover!

One thing is certain, if you begin this path, you will be changed. And that reminds me of the goal that we have in mind when we study God’s word: Life Change. We don’t study the Bible to increase our knowledge—although that may happen. Rather, we study God’s word to change our lives. God wants to transform you and change you through His word.

So, subscribe to stick with us and continue to follow these lessons and you’ll learn how to study your Bible in a way that is enjoyable and practical, that is memorable and meaningful for the rest of your life!