Three reasons to study the Bible

Pastor Charles Stanley once said "Many of us love to read the Bible because it's filled with words of assurance, promises, and encouragement. However, it also contains warnings that we'd be wise to consider and heed".

To be sure, there are many reasons to study the Bible but these three should provide enough motivation for any believer who wants to grow closer to God, become more like Jesus, and be a useful instrument for furthering the kingdom of God.

1 - Bible study is essential to spiritual growth

Attending a Bible-believing church every week is a wonderful way to hear God’s word, worship the Lord, and be encouraged by other believers. But let’s get real, a 20 to 60-minute sermon once a week probably isn’t going to produce a sufficient amount of spiritual growth. Even if you stay focused and take notes during the sermon, this relatively small amount of time that you’re exposed to God’s word, probably won't be enough to help you overcome all the distractions, stresses, and temptations you’ll be exposed to the rest of the week.

This is why the Apostle Peter gave this advice to the church:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
1 Peter 2:2 NIV

What we need to grow spiritually is a daily helping of the pure spiritual milk of God’s word. (Pssst, that’s the Bible.) Craving for the word of God with the same intensity that a baby craves for its mother’s milk is a sure sign of a true believer. But you still have to apply what you learn to your life if you’re going to experience spiritual growth.

2 - Bible study is essential for spiritual maturity

Unless believers mature spiritually, meaning that they’ve already learned the basics of the faith, applied them to their lives, and are digging into the deeper truths of God’s word, they can’t become teachers of God’s word. A lack of bible teachers causes a lack of church growth.

This was exactly the condition of the Hebrew believers who brought this rebuke from the apostle Paul:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:11-14

Every believer is expected to mature spiritually to the point that they can counsel others in the word of God and make disciples. To be effective at this, it is absolutely critical that you progress past the fundamentals, and this requires that you study the word of God.

3 - Bible study is essential for spiritual effectiveness

To be an effective teacher of God’s word, you must study the bible so you can interpret it correctly, and discern the difference between what God's word says and all of the false beliefs and teachings that are so prevalent in the world.

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.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Scripture teaches us how God intends for each one of us to live. It's critical that we understand this if we're going to practice right living. If we’re not living our life the way God intended, then we’re a poor example to other believers (and unbelievers). And this lack of Bible-knowledge makes us unprepared to do the work that God has planned for us to do.

Not all of us will become pastors or evangelists, and that’s fine. In fact, that's a good thing because not everyone is called by God to do those things. But we’re expected to be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks us to give them the reason for the hope we have in the gospel of Jesus Christ (see 1 Peter 3:15).

My friends, make Bible study a priority so that you can fulfill God’s purpose for your life. You can find at least 15 minutes of your day to do this, can't you?

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