Lesson 2

How To

Study the Bible Lesson 2: Proper Attitudes for Bible Study

By Shane Scott

Attitude is central to everything that we do. No activity can be worthwhile unless we possess the proper attitude while engaging in it This is especially true regarding Bible study. In this lesson we will examine the attitudes that are essential to good Bible study. But before we do that, we must first clear away the negative attitudes, or excuses, that we allow to interfere with our study of Scripture.

Exposing Excuses

Excuse #1. 'I just can't understand the Bible. " The Bible does contain profound truths that require years of study to absorb. Even Peter acknowledged that some things the apostle Paul wrote were "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16). But insofar as knowing what to do to please God and go to heaven, the Bible is easily understood. After all, only a sadistic God would judge us by His word but make His word impossible to understand. God is love (I John 4:8), so I can be confident that His word is clear. And the only way to grasp those deeper truths of Scripture is do be diligent in study. To say, "I'm not going to study the Bible because I can't understand it" is like saying "I'm not going to exercise because I am too out of shape"! "So then do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord I@' (Ephesians 5:17).

Excuse #2. 'I don't have the time to study the Bible. " The real issue is that we can understand the Bible if we invest the proper time in Bible study. Last week we learned that the Bible constitutes spiritual nourishment Do you always find the time to feed yourself physically? Then if you realize that the soul is more important than your body, you will make the time to feed yourself spiritually. We live at a hectic pace, so the key is setting priorities. The Bible says we are to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first (Matthew 6:33), so leave off a few minutes of TV, or overtime, or sleep, if necessary, and devote some quality time to God. A member where I used to preach took his Bible to work, and as he ate lunch he studied God's word. Maybe that is an idea you can use.

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Excuse #3: "The Bible is boring. " Maybe you have let this excuse distract you from studying the Bible. The real problem, though, does not lie with the Bible. The Bible says that it makes us come alive (James 1:18). It is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12). So if we find the Bible boring, the problem is with us! It means that our hearts have grown cold and calloused and that we are insensitive to that which is holy. If that is the case, you need to study the Bible now more than ever so you can be awakened from this spiritual stupor.

The Proper Heart for Bible Study

Having cleared away these excuses, let's examine what kind of heart we

must possess to get the most out of Bible study.

A Humble Heart

Humility is the absolute pre-requisite for Bible study. No one can be taught

unless they realize they need to learn. That is particularly true when it comes to

spiritual matters. The Bible instructs us "in humility receive the word implanted,

which is able to save your souls" (James 12:1).

A humble heart studies God's word to find out what it must do to please God. A proud heart may study God's word, but the purpose of prideful study is never to make personal corrections, but to show others why they are wrong. Paul instructed Timothy to be a diligent student (2 Timothy 2.15), but along with that admonition Paul warned, "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching" (1 Timothy 4:16). Many preachers have been lost to immorality because they ignored this critical reminder.

A Hungry Heart

A Christian should possess an insatiable craving for anything holy and

good. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall

be filled" (Matthew 5:6). Since the primary way we can know God and His righteous standard is by His revealed word, we should be especially eager to learn it

"Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word" (1 Peter 2.2). Do

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you have to wonder when a nursing infant wants milk? No! That baby lets you know in no uncertain terms that it wants to be fed, and it wants to be fed several times a day. Christians are to possess that same passionate desire to know God's word.

In the last lesson we emphasized that we cannot teach our families, our brethren, and our friends without a working knowledge of the Bible. To make that point personal, think about a particular family member, a particular spiritual brother, and a particular friend for whom you have great affection. Doesn't your concern for them motivate you to want to know as much about the Bible as possible?

An Honest Heart

Jesus' first parable, the parable of the sower, had to do with the different

kinds of reception God's word receives. The are some hearts, represented by the

wayside soil, that are so unwilling to learn that the word never even reaches them (Luke 8:12). Other hearts have no spiritual substance and soon fall away from the truth (Luke 8:13). And other hearts allow the word a place, but soon God's will is choked out by concerns of the world (Luke 8:14). The only heart that bears fruit is the "honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15).

An honest heart is based in the humility we talked about earlier. An honest heart will examine a different point of view because it realizes it doesn't know everything. Further, when an honest heart realizes it is wrong, it will change. Bible study that does not lead to personal application is a waste of time, but it requires an honest heart to apply the truth.

Conclusion

If we will refute the excuses that stand in the way of Bible study, and learn God's word humbly, hungrily, and honestly, we will get the very most out of the Bible.

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Questions for Review and Discussion

1. What parts of the Bible are easy to understand? Which are difficult?

2. Make a list of ideas for finding time to study the Bible.

3. If we feel that the Bible is boring, is that a greater reflection on us are on the Bible? Explain.

4. Why is humility an important trait for a student of the Bible?

5. Why does a proud person study?

6. Why should we hunger for a knowledge of God's word?

7. What separates the honest and good heart from other kinds of hearts?