In the church, today, I find one word that is almost shunned - the word
"doctrine". What is doctrine (didache in the Greek)?  Bible doctrine is
simply teaching/instruction; it is that which is taught (in the Bible).  I
have been in churches where people did not want to learn Bible doctrine.  
After all, they say,  "doctrine is boring".  My question is, what do you want
to learn?  After all, Bible doctrine is to be taught/instructed from the
Bible.  

We're more concerned with hearing an "emotionally stirring" sermon or Sunday
School lesson than we are to hear Bible doctrine!  If you're NOT learning
Bible doctrine in EVERY sermon, then you are in trouble of getting into error.

It hurts the heart of God that we will not invest the time in His Word to
study it and see who God truly is, and what we are to believe.  Pastor Bob
Jones and I will discuss different Bible subjects, trying to make sure we are
believing God's Word and not man's word.  That's one of the reasons God put
us together, to encourage and inspire each other to search the scriptures.  

NOTE: Pastor Bob Jones writes for BibleFood Devotional at least once a month. 
          Don't miss a blessing by passing over his studies in the Greek.    We
          shouldn't want the fluff,  we should want the full counsel of God  
          (through His Word).

Let me relate a story of something that happened to me.  I have been using a
computer for quite some time.  Recently, I felt a need to add to my software
skills.  So I picked up a book from the library on this new software.  Well,
today, I went and got tested on THREE Microsoft software programs (and I
studied some on all three), two I had used for approximately 7 or more years,
the other LESS than two weeks.  Guess which one I scored the highest on?  The
one I only knew for two weeks!  You may say WHY?  Here's the answer, plain
and simple.  The two programs that I knew for years, I had only been using
the applications I thought I needed for the task at hand. But when I wanted
to learn the new program, I went and got a book from the library and studied
ALL aspects of the software, then I tried to apply ALL the applications.  
This brought to light an all-too-true, but sad spiritual scenario.  

Many of us have been doing the same spiritual applications over and over for
years, BUT we have never sought to learn the whole counsel of God (all of His
Word).  We have picked and chosen what we wanted to apply of God's Word.   
Big mistake.  You have hindered your full(er) knowledge of God's Word!

This is where doctrine comes in!  We need to study ALL aspects of God's Word,
 NOT just the "feel good" subjects.  Understanding all the fundamental
doctrines in the Bible are so essential!  You will only grow so much (and no
further) if you pick and chose what you want to learn and apply.  Today, go
out and get a good book that covers the fundamentals of the Bible (i.e.,
"Know What You Believe" - Paul  E. Little).   Be sure it has a lot of
scripture and make sure you look them ALL up in your Bible to ensure it's the
truth (Bible) and not man's words.  THEN launch out into your own personal
study on some of those subjects such as: Infallibility of the Bible; the
Virgin Birth; who is Jesus Christ; the death, burial and resurrection of
Christ; who is the Holy Spirit; who is the Father; end times/last days
(Eschatology); salvation; sin, etc.

Today, start afresh studying God's complete instruction book!

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