We are currently going through Journey Into God’s Word in Sunday School. This past week, we discussed the following from Pastor John Macarthur about why we need to study the word. I would add that the reasons given also explain why we’re having a Sunday School class on understanding God’s word, and why we preach expositionally every week.
WHY WE NEED TO STUDY THE BIBLE!
1) The Word of God retains the thoughts of the Spirit and brings one into direct and continual contact with the mind of the Holy Spirit who authored Scripture.
2) The Word of God is the revelation of God that brings wholeness and integrity to the reader.
3) The Word of God brings biblical literacy, yielding rich knowledge of redemptive truths.
4) The Word of God is our ultimate divine authority, rendering the very voice of God to us.
5) The Word of God transforms the reader, leading to the transformation of those around us, within and outside of our congregation.
What happens if we do not consistently study and pray the Word of God for ourselves?
1) Whenever we substitute anything in life for the Word of God and give priority of time to other activities above studying God’s Word, God’s authority over our souls is usurped.
2) Where God’s Word is not being studied individually and corporately in a church, Christ’s Lordship over those individuals and that church corporately is removed.
3) Where we do not study God’s Word, we hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
4) When we do not feel the need to study the Word of God and meditate upon it, it demonstrates an appalling pride and lack of submission to God.
5) When we do not study the Word of God and prayerfully consider its instruction, we are severed from the regular sanctifying grace of Scripture in our lives.
6) When we do not study the Word of God, our worship, both corporate and individual is crippled.
7) We cannot develop the mind of Christ apart from studying the Word of God.
8) Lack of personal Bible study and prayer prevents us from being able to speak or receive the voice of God into life situations that we and others around us experience.
9) Lack of Bible study breeds an indifference to the glory and majesty of God.
10) Failure to study God’s Word robs us of our only true source of help.
11) When we are indifferent to the Word of God and prayer, it encourages those around us to become indifferent to the same. It depreciates by example the spiritual duty and priority of personal Bible study and personal prayer.
12) We begin to listen to lies about what we really need when we do not study the Bible.
13) We will lack the power of God in our lives if we do not study and pray God’s Word.
14) We will put the responsibility for change in our lives on other things and other people rather than God when we do not study and pray His Word.
15) We will no longer be able to discern Truth from error and will be unable to contend for the Truth and our Faith adequately.
(Adapted from John MacArthur’s Book on Expository Preaching)
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