The Christian and the Bible
(Lessons edited by Matthew L. Vance)
Theme: The Bible is God's blueprint to our lives. It would be foolish for
an earthly builder to neglect a blueprint. Let us not neglect our blueprint
- God's Word.
Scripture Reading for the Lesson: Acts 17:11-12, 1 Pet 2:2, Mat 4:4, Ps
19:7-11,
2 Tim 3: 16,17
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things were so.
12: Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which
Greeks, and of men, not a few.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, it
is written, Man shall live by bread alone, but by every word that preoceedeth
out of the mouth of God.
Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
converting the soul: The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the
simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing
the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring
for ever, the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
and in keeping of them there is great reward.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction, for instruction in righteousness.
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
unto all good works.
Introduction
What a treasure the Bible is!
We have often taken the Bible for granted and do not realize how valuable
it really is. It is not the work of man, but it is the very Word of God.
It is not for our entertainment but for our instruction. God has preserved
and protected His Word so that we might have it in our hearts: so that
we might read it and put in our minds: so that we might believe it and
put it within our hearts. It is our guide to heaven and eternal life. It
is our instruction manual that we might know how to live godly in this
world. It is for our nourishment that we might grow spiritually strong.
Every believer should cherish the Bibl and make it a part of his daily
life. When we neglect the Bible we do so at our own peril.
Exposition of the Lesson
When Paul preached in Thessalonica, he reasoned with them out of the
Scriptures and some believed while some resisted. (See Acts 17:1-10) Paul
and Silas were forced to leave Thessalonica and went next to Berea where
they again began to preach the Gospel. Here Luke records in Acts 17:11
that the congregation in Berea was "more noble than those in Thessalonica."
What made these people more "noble?" Was it that they were from "noble"
families. No, it was none these things. The reason they were described
as "more noble" has to do with their attitude toward God's Word. There
are 3 importan factors mentioned here in this verse, and will use them
as the main points of study today.
1. Desire for Truth
These Bereans received the Word of God "with all
readiness of mind." This phrase "readiness of mind" indicates desire:
they were eager for the truth. They were not content to sit smugly wrapped
in the opinions. They had a mind eager for the truth. We use the word "prejudice"
almost exclusively in referring to attitudes regarding race. The fact is
that many people are prefudiced in spritual mnatters. That simply means
that they have already "pre-judged" the matter and have made up their mind
about it and do not want to hear anything different than their opinion.
It has been well said that some people's minds are like concrete; they
are all mixed up and permanently set. Do you really desire trhe truth:
Do you want the truth even if it destroys your opinions or pet beliefs?
In Jesus' day, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Lawyers , and Rulers
of the people did not want to hear the Gospel that Jesuss preached. But
Mark 12:37 says that "the common people heard him gladly." While the "religiousexperts"
were satisfied with their own opinions and had no desire to hear the truth,
the common people were eager to hear.
Every sinner needs to hear the truth. Without, they
will be lost forever in hell. Yet, thousands of people are holding their
fingers in their ears to shut out the voice of the truth. They do not want
to hear it because they would have to change some of their beliefs and
opinions.
Thousand of "believers" are guilty of the same sin.
Th;ey are not eager to read and study the Bible. They are more satisfied
with their own opinions about about religious matters. I think they are
afraid that the real truth would force them to change some of their opinions
and they just can't have that. Do you really want to know and do what the
Bible says? Are you more interested in what a certain preacher says about
the Bibler than what the Bible says itself? Do you read it for yourself?
We read in Luke 21:38 "all the people came early in the morning
to him in the temple for to hear him." I quote the verse not to suggest
that everyone must read the Bible early in the morning, but to point out
the desire that these people had for the truth. They were eager
to hear the words of the Lord and made the Bible a priorty in their day.
So must every Christian make the Bible a priorty in the life and their
day.. In Acts 13 we read the account of Paul's preaching in the synagogue
in Antioch. In verse 42 we read that "when the Jews were gone out of the
synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to
them the next Sabbath." These Gentiles were eager for the truth. They desired
to hear it so much that they begged Paul to preach to them.
Peter told us in 1 Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby." Every believer
should desire the Word just as a newborn desires milk. The baby will cry
if it does not get milk and will keep crying until its hunger is satisfied.
Oh, that we would be so hungry for the truth that nothing could keep us
from the Bible and we would say as Job did " I have esteemed the words
of thy mouth move my necessary food." (Job 23:12)
11. Receive the Truth
The Bereans were noble because they not only wanted
to hear the truth, but when they heard it they received it. "They received
the word." (Acts 12:11) There are some who seem eager to hear the truth
until they do hear it; then they turn away and will not receive it. The
rich, young ruler in Mark 10 seemed very eager to hear the truth. He came
"running" and "kneeled" and "asked, 'Good master, what shall I do that
I may inherit eternal life?" These are the actions that indecate great
desire, but when he heard the truth that he would have to give up all his
possessions and follow Jesus, "he went away sorrowful." He was not willing
to receive the truth. In John 6 we read that the mulitude who had been
miraculously fed by Jesus "came seeking" for him. The seemed really eager
for the truth and asked him, "What shall we do that we might work the works
of Gods?" Jesus proceeded to explain the cost of discipleship, that they
would have to partake of suffering and practice self-denial. They then
replied, :this is a hard saying, who can hear it." And "from that time
many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him." (John 6:60,66)
We must follow our desire for the truth by receiving it like the Bereans
did. Otherwise, we are not disciples at all. Paul commended the Thessalonians
later in 1 Thess 2:13 because they received the Word of God "not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God." We must accept the
Bible as true because it is true. Its history is reliable, its commands
are binding, its prophecy is certain. Our test verses from Psalms 19 tell
us that God's law is perfect and will convert the soul. His testimony is
sure and will make the simple wise. The Lord's statutes are right and will
cause the heart to rejoice. The commandments are pure and bring understanding
to the mind. The fear of the Lord is clean and wil endure forever. The
Lord's judgements are true and righteous. We should desire God's Word more
the than we desire gold and material things. It is by the Word of the Lord
that we are warned of evil andthose who keep his Word will find great reward.
Psalms 112:1,2 "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the
LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty
upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed."
"
11. Receive the Truth
These Bereans are called noble by Paul for a third reason. They "searched
the Scriptures daily, whether thoose things were so." They didn't just
listen while Paul preached and then go on their many way. They went home
and studied the Scriptures to see if what Paul had said was really true.
I encourage my people to not only follow along in their Bibles while I
preach while I preach, but to go home and study the Bible and confirm what
is taught in the church.These are the religious groups that deliberately
keep their people from personal, diligant study of the Bible. These groups
and religions should be avoided like like a plaque. When the preacher,
leader, pastor, presbyteror, or whoever he is tells you.. "We will think
for you, we will study for you, you just submit to us and do what we say."
Run, run, run! Get away fast! This is a warning flag that you are in a
danger zone. God never intended for people to follow men like sheep to
the slaughter. Heinteded for His Word to be in the hands of every man and
woman so that they could seek out and know the truth for themselves. We
are not demeaning preachers for we recognize the importance of spiritance
leadership, but God called preachers to lead the people into a deeper relationship
with Him through His through His Word. In Isaish 34:16 the people are encouraged
"Seek out the book of the Lord and read." In John 5:39 Jesus said "Search
the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they
which testify of me." Paul reminded us in 2 Timothy 3:16,17 that "all Scripture
is given by
ys in Timotyhyinspiritation of God and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the
man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Paul says
in 2 Timothy Timithy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needet not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of thruth."
It is not enough to hear it preached occassionally, you must read it and
study it for yourself.
Read it - Every Christian should read the
Bible every day. Whether you read a certain number of chapters or a certain
length of time, you should read daily.
Every Christian should read the entire Bible through.
Even though there are difficult passages like genealogies with hard names,
you should read it all. Just opening the Bible and pointing to a certain
place is not God's plan for your daily devotion. It is a lazy man's way
out of serious reading.
Study It - Just reading it is not real study.
You need to look up the words that you do not understand. You need to follow
topics through the Bible and see what is said about them in other verses.
There are various methods of studying the Bible but it is important that
you study it.
Meditate Upon It - The Bible is not just
a story book or rule book. It is alive with the Spirit of God. Meditate
on what you have read and let it saturate your mind and soul.
Memorize It - Every Christian should commit
Scripture to memory. Memorizing is not easy but it is profitable. Be a
"noble" believer!
Illustrations
We scoff at the publishing of a Reader's Digest Bible
which is only about 40% of the whole Bible, but if we only read 40% of
our whole King James Bible we might as well have the Reader's Digest Bible.
Lesson Next Week: The Duty and Privilege of Prayer
