Day 23 How to Study the Bible

Why Did God Give Us The Bible?

The best place to begin in refining our motivation for studying the Bible is to ask a simple question. Why did God give us the Bible? Weʼre used to the thought that the Bible is Godʼs Word.  But why did He give it us? If the Bible is Godʼs Word, why did God decide to speak to us in the first place? Until we understand what the purpose of the Bible is, we are bound to keep approaching it in ways that miss Godʼs intention.

To Teach Us About Himself

So why did God give us the Bible? One reason that seems obvious is that He wanted to describe Himself to us. From beginning to end, God is the subject of the Scriptures. Everything in this book is God-centered. Genesis begins with a God who existed alone and then spoke all things into existence. Revelation ends with this same God reigning eternally over all that He created. Every book in between reveals His character and attributes by narrating His sovereign actions throughout history.

God in heaven wants us to know certain things about Him, and He uses the Scriptures to reveal these things. Mankind naturally wants to believe in a man-centered world, so God gave us the Bible, which shows that everything revolves around God. He is the First and the Last, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is described as “holy,” which speaks to the massive disparity between God and man. It is important to God that we understand this.

It is through the Bible that we learn about Godʼs power, justice, mercy, wrath, love, kindness, anger, faithfulness, jealousy, holiness, compassion, etc. Because God is already described in the Bible; we are left with no room to formulate our own opinions. We should all

study in order to understand God better. We search diligently to know the truth about God and to rid ourselves of any misconceptions we hold about Him.

To Teach Us About Ourselves and the World We Live In

God also gave us the Bible so that we can understand the world we live in. It is a grand narrative that explains where we came from, why the world is the way it is, and where everything is headed. It explains who we are as human beings, and how we should think about our existence.

Many Christians think that the Bible is helpful for answering religious questions and teaching us how to live godly lives, but it doesnʼt have answers for the tough questions that we face in philosophy, science, or sociology. This is not true! The Bible gives us answers to all of lifeʼs most important questions. The Bible gives us much more than “religious truths;” it accurately explains the world we live in. The God who wrote the Bible is the God who designed this world.  Since this is His world, it only makes sense to view the world from His perspective and live according to His principles.

All of this means that as we study the Bible, we should be seeking to understand our God, our world, and ourselves. Rather than pursuing an emotional experience or trying to accumulate religious knowledge, we should be learning to live in the world that God made.

To Enable Us to Live Godly Lives

Another reason that God gave us the Bible is to enable us to live godly lives. Peter says that Godʼs “divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Pet. 1:3). Simply put, through the knowledge of God we gain everything we need for living godly lives. Whatever motivations we

may have for studying the Bible, godly living needs to be near the top of that list. We study because we want to be godly.

Paul says that, “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 competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). First, Paul says that Scripture is literally “breathed out” by God. Though He used human authors to write each book of the Bible, God Himself is the ultimate source of these words. But notice the purpose statement that Paul includes: “that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” So why did

God give us the Bible? He gave it to us so that we would be competent, mature people who are equipped and ready to do anything God asks us to do.  This means that as we study the Bible, we should be looking to change. 

Hebrews 4:12 warns us that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Though we primarily think of the Bible as something we read in order to gain knowledge, we actually have it backwards. The Bible reads us—it penetrates to our core and exposes who we really are. If you ever find yourself reading your Bible and not changing, then you can be sure that youʼre approaching the Bible in the wrong way. Itʼs not about finding support

for our lifestyle or way of thinking, itʼs about approaching the mind of God and letting Him change

and redefine who we are.

To Facilitate a Relationship with God

God wants you to know Him, and He gave you the Scriptures so that you can. Every relationship requires communication—the loving expression of each personʼs thoughts, emotions, concerns, and dreams that strengthens the relationship and deepens intimacy. This is how our relationships with one another function, so why would it be any different with God? The Bible is His means of sharing His thoughts and desires with us! We are relational beings because He created us that way. He Himself exhibits pure relationship in the perfect union and love between the members of the Trinity. From the day He placed Adam in the garden, God has maintained a relationship with mankind, and communication has always been central to that relationship.

When we open the Bible, therefore, we are engaging with Godʼs communication to us. He chose specific words to say to specific people at specific times. He chose 66 books to preserve for us so that we could know Him better. Though different parts of the Bible are addressed to different people, everything in the Bible is ultimately written for our benefit. If the Bible is indeed “breathed out by God”—words delivered from the mouth of God Himself—then reading the Bible is listening to the voice of God.

Every time we read the Bible we are strengthening our relationship with God—unless we approach the Bible for the wrong reasons. If we approach the Bible with humility, eagerly listening for God to speak to us, waiting to hear what God has to say rather than what we want to hear, then we are drawing closer to the one we were made to be in relationship with. True Bible study

must always have intimacy with God as a primary goal.

To Exalt Jesus

God uses the Scriptures to explain how and why He has exalted Jesus to the highest place. All of the events in biblical history point to His Son. The law was given to show us our sinfulness and our need for Jesus. Old Testament priests and sacrifices point to our need for the greater High Priest and ultimate Sacrifice. The Gospels record the loving words and actions of the perfect God-

Man. The epistles explain how it is only through His work on the cross that we can be saved from sin and filled with the Spirit. Revelation shows how He will one day return to judge and restore the earth, and reign with His followers forever. All of this is written to exalt Jesus to the glory of God the Father. These words should move us to exalt Jesus in our everyday lives.

To Prepare Us for Our God-Given Mission

From the very beginning, God has had a mission for humanity. After God finished creating the world and everything in it, He created the first man and placed him in the garden “to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). God also gave man dominion over the creation. Whatever it means for man to have “dominion” over the creation, it does not mean that he has the right to destroy the creation in any way that serves his purpose. Instead, if manʼs dominion is to look anything like Godʼs dominion, then his responsibility is to lovingly care for the world that God made. From the moment he was created by God, man has had a mission on this earth.

Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of the nation of Israel. God blessed Abraham, promised to make him into a great nation, and said, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). When we think about the nation of Israel, we often think that God chose them so that they could be separated from the rest of the world, enjoying Godʼs blessings and living their lives as Godʼs “favorites.” But from the moment He chose Abraham, God made it clear that Abraham was to look outward with the blessings he had been given. Abraham was blessed so that he could be a blessing to all of the nations of the earth. Israelʼs mission was to show the world who their God was.

In the New Testament, the mission of Godʼs people becomes even more clear. We are not on this earth merely to enjoy our own personal relationships with God. We are here to be Godʼs servants, His ambassadors. We are on this earth to continue the mission of Jesus—to

seek and save that which is lost:   Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor. 5:20)

Though much of Christian thought tells us that we are the center of it all—that itʼs all about you and God and nothing else really matters—the reality is that God is the center, and He has saved us so that we can work with Him in His mission to redeem humanity and restore

creation to what He originally intended it to be.  This means that when we read the Bible, we need to view it as our marching orders.  Rather than coming to the Bible with our own agenda and trying to find verses that support what weʼd like to do, we need to allow the Bible to shape our hopes and dreams. Every time we read the Bible, we should understand our mission a little better. Why are we on this earth in the first place? How does God use human beings to help further His cause? How can I take part in what God is doing in this world? These are all questions that the Bible answers—as long as we are ready to listen.

3. Take a minute to think through why God gave us the Bible. How should these things affect the way you think about studying the Bible?

Day 22 How to Study the Bible

Multiply

Part II: How to Study the Bible

Session 1: Why Study the Bible?

For a Christian, nothing should seem more natural than reading the Bible. Peter, one of Jesusʼ first disciples, compared it to a babyʼs natural craving for milk. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Pet. 2:2-3)

Like a newborn depends on milk to survive and to grow, we should equally depend on the words of Scripture for our spiritual survival and growth. The words of this book have impacted millions of lives over thousands of years, and God wants it to change our lives as well. If you donʼt already love the Bible, pray that you would.

No matter what your experience with the Bible has been, itʼs helpful for all of us to step back and think about what the Bible actually is. When we talk about the Bible, we sometimes use profound language without considering what weʼre really saying. Perhaps the strongest thing we

can say about the Bible is that it is the “Word of God.” 

But have you ever thought about what that means? That concept should blow our minds. When we talk about the Bible, weʼre actually talking about something that the all-powerful, all-knowing, transcendent God decided to write to us! What could be more important?  Think of how you would respond to hearing a voice from Heaven speaking directly to you. We should approach the Bible with the same reverence.

If we really believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then it should be much more than a book that we are familiar with. It ought to shape every aspect of our existence. It should guide the decisions we make in life. If God is the designer and creator of this world, if He made us and

placed us on this earth, and if He has taken the time to tell us who He is, who we are, and how this world operates, then what could be more important to us than the Bible?

But even after we decide that the Bible is important, we still need to learn to approach it in the right way and with the right motives. Many Christians misuse the Bible because they never ask themselves why they are studying it in the first place. The purpose of this session is to help you think through the nature of the Bible, why it is important to study, and how it should transform

our lives.

Studying the Right Book for the Wrong Reasons

Before you go any further, ask yourself why you study the Bible. Donʼt be overly optimistic with this; try to assess your heart. When you pick up the Bible and begin to read it, what is motivating you? Are you driven by guilt? Do you have a desire to know God more fully? Are you looking for arguments against other perspectives? Are you looking for material for a Bible study or sermon?

1. Take a few minutes to examine your motivations and write down a few thoughts below:

The fact of the matter is that most Christians study the Bible for the wrong reasons. Here we will explore four motivations for studying the Bible that we need to move beyond: guilt, status, jealousy, and teaching material.

Guilt

Many people are motivated by guilt. We all know that we should be reading our Bibles—itʼs just one of those things that Christians are told they are supposed to do. It is often added to a list with things like church attendance, tithing, and not swearing. Nobody wants to admit that they read the Bible out of guilt, but guilt is a powerful motivator.

Very often this guilt is connected with legalism. We create our own standard (I must read __ chapters per day) and then hold ourselves to it, never stopping to consider that God has not placed this standard on us, we have placed it on ourselves. It doesnʼt take long before we begin holding other people to that standard as well. And thus a culture of guilt is formed, a culture where

“good Christians” read their Bibles because theyʼre afraid not to, and “bad Christians” feel guilty about not meeting their Bible reading quota.

Status

There is a certain status or air of respect reserved for those who know their Bibles well. And rightly so. We should all aspire to know Godʼs Word inside and out. It should be on the tip of our tongues and deeply engrained on our hearts and minds.

But take a minute to ask yourself why you want to know the Bible well. God is pleased when we treasure His Word, but do you really think He is pleased with your desire to appear smart? Does your desire to be the “go-to-guy” who is never stumped really bring Him glory? What about your desire to be recognized as the best or the most spiritual person in the room?  Itʼs not about studying the Bible too much (as if that were possible), itʼs about your motivation. Too often Christians are motivated by status when we should be motivated by a

desire to know God, to be changed by His Word, and to love and serve the people around us.

Jealousy

Another motivation that is very closely connected to the pursuit of status is jealousy. Chances are, you know someone who knows the Bible inside and out. Maybe youʼve noticed how that person gets treated, and you want what he or she has. Competition is a great motivator, but itʼs the wrong reason to study the Bible. God cares more about your character than your productivity; and letʼs face it, studying the Bible in order to be better than someone else is ridiculous.

Teaching Material

Sometimes our motivations get skewed when we have to study the Bible in order to lead a Bible study, preach a sermon, or just have some sort of Scriptural gem to share with someone. This tends to be a much more subtle misuse of the Bible. Itʼs not wrong to use the Bible in preparation for teaching other people. In fact, itʼs necessary. The problem arises when we begin to approach the Bible only as a source for teaching material. If you are in a role where you preach or teach to

others, do you find yourself simply scanning the Bible for nuggets to share? Or do you soak in the Scriptures because of what they have to say to you, listening to what God wants to teach you, allowing the Bible to transform you in unexpected ways?

2. Take a minute to think about your past experience with studying the Bible. Which of the wrong motivations listed above are you guilty of? Can you think of any others?

Day 20 & 21

REST

Day 19 The Heart of a Disciple Maker

Teaching by Example

One of the worst things you can do is to teach truths that you have not applied. We call this hypocrisy, and itʼs the most common criticism of Christians in America. One could argue that it may be better to not to teach truth at all than to teach it without living it out. Jesus gave some

harsh warnings toward the religious leaders who were doing that very thing. He said:

Practice and observe whatever they [the scribes and Pharisees] tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens,

hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. (Matt 23:3-5)

Hypocrisy has damaged many, so letʼs run far from it.

James also gives a strong warning against this type of thinking. He says that if we hear the Word of God, but donʼt do what it says, we are merely deceiving ourselves (James 1:22-25).

He goes on to say that religion without practical action is worthless (vv.26-27). A self-deceived teacher who practices worthless religion is probably not the best candidate for a disciple maker. Maybe the clearest explanation of teaching by example can be found in the book of Hebrews: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7). The author of Hebrews actually calls us to consider—literally, “to examine carefully”—the outcome of a teacherʼs lifestyle. We can get so caught up in examining a personʼs doctrinal positions that we overlook his or her pattern of life. But this is essential because Hebrews calls us to imitate the faith of these people. If you are going to make disciples, you need to be putting your faith into practice so that the people around you can imitate your faith.

Because of this, being a disciple maker demands your entire life. The job description of a disciple maker is the same as that of a disciple of Jesus Christ. It requires everything. It means following Jesus in every aspect of your life, pursuing Him with a wholehearted devotion. If youʼre not ready to lay down your life for Christʼs sake, then youʼre not ready to make disciples. Itʼs that simple.

This doesnʼt mean that you need to be perfect before you start. Perfection is a lifelong process that wonʼt end until eternity (see Phil. 1:6 and 3:12-14). But it does mean that you need to “count the cost” (see Luke 14:25-33) and allow Godʼs truth to change your life. Making disciples is

all about seeing people transformed by the power of Godʼs Word. If you want to see that happen in others, you need to be pursuing it yourself.

6. Would you say that your life is being transformed by the truth of Godʼs Word? Why or why not?

7. What changes do you need to make in order to live the truths that you will be teaching other people?

8. The things youʼve been thinking through in this session are not easy to address—there are no “quick fixes” here. End your time with this session by praying that God will give you the proper motivation to make disciples, increase your love for Him and the people around you, and empower you to live out the truths that He has called you to teach to others.

Day 18 The Heart of a Disciple Maker

Take some time to consider your existing relationships—family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. The way you think about and interact with the people that God has already placed in your life can tell you a lot about your heart. Think about your relationships and ask yourself how well you love those around you. By assessing your current relationships, you should be able to identify areas you need to work on.

4. Describe your love for the people God has placed in your life. What evidence can you point to that shows that you love the people around you?

5. In addition to praying fervently, what practical steps can you take to increase your love for people?

Day 17 The Heart of a Disciple Maker

Love Comes First

Paul adds a challenge from a different angle. In the most beautiful terms, he says that gaining knowledge and power—even sacrificing our own bodies—is completely worthless apart from love:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)

The result of loveless ministry is serious: “I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…I am nothing…I gain nothing.” In other words, even the most impressive and sacrificial actions are worthless if they are not empowered by love.

Are you the type of person that would teach someone without loving them? Donʼt be quick to answer. Good pastors have confessed that they got so caught up in the busyness of ministry that they went through the motions without loving their people. Most of us have to work

hard at loving and keeping love at the forefront.  

What do you think and feel when you are in a group of people? Are you overly aware of the ones who are wealthy, attractive, or have something they can offer you? Do you worry about what people think of you? Or do you look for ways to love and opportunities to give? A sure sign of a loveless heart is seeing people as a means to your own ends—they listen to you, give you

affirmation, leave you alone, etc. Teaching other people with this type of mentality is bound to be sterile and unfruitful. According to Paul, every time we try to teach someone with this mentality we can be sure that we have become nothing more than a clanging gong or resounding cymbal.

Fulfilling Jesusʼ command to make disciples is about more than having the right theology or well-developed teaching points. Remember that if you “understand all mysteries and all knowledge,” yet donʼt have love, you are nothing. Earlier in the same letter, Paul says, “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God” (1 Cor. 8:2-3). Itʼs not about what you know—or what you think you know—itʼs about love.

If youʼre not willing to make loving God and loving people your highest priority, then stop.  Seriously, walk away until youʼve settled this one essential point. Lack of love is the unmistakable mark of death: “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death” (1 John 3:14).

Making disciples isnʼt about gathering pupils to listen to your teaching. The focus is not on teaching people at all—the focus should be on loving them. Jesusʼ call to make disciples includes teaching them to be obedient followers of Jesus, but the teaching isnʼt the end goal. Ultimately, itʼs all about being faithful to Godʼs call to love the people around you. Itʼs about loving those

people enough to help them see their need to love and obey God. Itʼs about bringing them to the Savior and allowing Him to set them free from the power of sin and death and transform them into loving followers of Jesus Christ. Itʼs about glorifying God by obediently making disciples who will teach others to love and obey God.

So the question is, how much do you care about the people around you? When you stand in a crowd, interact with your family, or talk to people in your church, do you love them and long to see them glorify God in every aspect of their lives? Honestly assessing your heart and asking God to purify your motives needs to become a habit in your life.

3. Up to this point, would you say that your desire to make disciples has been motivated by love?  Why or why not?

Day 16 The Heart of a Disciple Maker

Teaching Is Dangerous

Are you making disciples because you want to or because you think you have to?  Maybe your decision to be a disciple maker has been reluctant. Perhaps the only reason you are still working through this material is because Jesus commands you to make disciples, and you donʼt want to be disobedient. Youʼre not sure if you have much to offer, but you know you should let God use you however He desires.

Or maybe youʼve always seen yourself as a leader. You have a message that the church needs to hear, and youʼre ready to teach anyone who will listen. You donʼt need motivation; you just want to be better equipped.

For those reluctant, remember that God wants you to minister out of joy, not just mere obligation. God wants us to enjoy the privilege and pleasure of ministering to others. He wants us to be cheerful when we give (2 Cor. 9:7), and He wants us to lead others willingly and eagerly:

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly. (1 Pet. 5:2)

For those who are eager to lead, remember that God wants us to be cautious as we lead.  Remember that you will be teaching people about the Bible and guiding them into godly living.  The Bible takes the role of a teacher very seriously, and so should we.  

James gives us a terrifying warning about the power of the tongue. While we can speak truth and bring life to people, he warns that our words can also cause incredible damage. The tongue is untamable, James says, capable of diverting the direction of our lives, producing deadly poison, and “setting on fire the entire course of life.” Indeed, James even accuses the tongue of being set on fire by hell!

If you look at your heart and find even a trace of desire for the glory and prestige that comes through teaching other people, take some time to let Jamesʼ warning sink in. Think about what your tongue is capable of. As a disciple maker, you could make a huge impact for the

kingdom of God. Or you could lead people horribly astray.

2. Read James 3:1-12 and meditate on Jamesʼ warning. How do these powerful words affect you? How might you need to adjust your approach to making disciples?