Studying a Book of the Bible
I’m about to write an email to the small group members at Immanuel encouraging them of the importance of studying a book of the Bible and the thoughts came to me: What importance? Why study the Bible? Why not just do topical small group studies? Aren’t topical studies more engaging, practical, and applicable to our lives?
Perhaps the answers to these questions seem easy for you, but it is important for us to think about this. First off, we study the Bible bacause God in his Word told us to. (2 Timothy 2:15) We are also told to preach the Word. (2 Tim 4:2)
God’s Word is a gift from Him–a tool for our use and for our encouragement and growth. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
Studying God’s Word develops a desire for Him and helps us to grow. (Matt 4:4) Just like we grow with the food and nutrition we eat, we need the “nutrition” of God’s Word in our lives. Through study of God’s Word, we mature as believers (1 Peter 2:2) We begin to see how empty our lives are without the continual “nutrition” we get from the Bible. (Job 23:12)
Studying the Bible helps us to know God and know our Savior, Jesus Christ. We get to see His love and grow in Him, being filled with “the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:19)
Studying the Bible helps us to discern truth. All of mankind is a sinner and cannot be fully trusted, but God’s Word is authority for our lives and can and should be trusted as we read and meditate on it. (Acts 17:11; 1 Cor 2:13; 1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1)
Studying the Bible helps us to be our best and grow in our relationship with God. It equips us with the full armor of God (Eph 6:10-18) so that we can be “conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
That’s why I’m challenging our small groups to choose a Biblical book study in their small group and carefully study God’s Word. (John 8:32)
What are you studying?
