The Essential Bible Study

To be biblically illiterate is to be biblically incompetent. I’m not pointing fingers. This is a fact observed in scripture itself about people who didn’t know what they were doing when "handling" the Word of God! A great  admonishment for me  to study the Bible myself ! So I do. 

2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable  for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

That passage alone is Bible study enough to know that we NEED  to study the Bible!

Also, Prov. 8:20-21 says, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life  to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”

Except for the remembrance at the Lord’s table/breaking of bread, I believe Bible study to be the MOST important pursuit in a Christian’s life, followed by prayer. How else are we to know the will and mind of God for us, the Church, apart from what He says in His Word.

Eph. 3:8-11 says, “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God  might be made known by the church  to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And this passage might be the summary reason to study the Bible...

Eph. 3:18-19, “That you may be able to comprehend  with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know  the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

But some have said, “I know enough.”
1 Cor. 8:2 says, “If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought  to know.”

Since the Bible is God’s Word, studying it provides spiritual nourishment...
“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4

...guidance for life...
Psalm 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

...and a deeper understanding of God Himself and His will in our lives, individually and corporately...
1 John 1:3, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”

It helps us grow in faith, and develop a closer relationship with God and each other... 
Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
John 17:21-23, "That they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us."

Another reason to diligently study the Bible is to protect ourselves against false teachers. False teaching IS in the Church. The Truth of scripture has been twisted and even denied, and the subtleties of false teaching go all the way back to Genesis when satan introduces doubt, unbelief, and denial of God’s spoken Word. And it has continued throughout the history of the Church. We are told in Jude 1:4, “Certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”

The perversion of God’s Truth is evident to all who KNOW  God’s Truth.

On the subject of “prayer” James 5:16 says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Why do we stress the importance of only PART of that verse? Is the “inconvenient” part not for us today, as some say?

The “effectual (having the power to be effective) fervent (passionate) prayer of a righteous (just, blameless, being in right standing with God, exemplified by Elijah) man is able to prevail.”
This is more manifestly accomplished by sincere, loving individuals.

Prayer and the living, abiding knowledge of God’s Truth will sustain our spiritual walk with and for God!