Why do we study everything but the Bible for Bible Study, when our best resource is the Bible? I was scrolling through Pinterest today and clicked on a post that caught my eye. The writer of the post recommended 5 books to be used as Bible Studies. All the recommendations were books? I cannot say whether they are good or bad books. I have not read any of them. As I read through the post I began to think about this. Someone writes a book, sprinkles a few Bible verses through it and on someone else’s recommendation we pick the book up and use it for Bible Study. PLEASE DO NOT CLICK OFF THIS PAGE OR RUN SCREAMING! Books are great and serve a purpose if they are Biblically based. But, I have an observation that I would like for us to consider. I see a trend and I hope by the end of the post you understand what I am trying to say!
What is The Trend In Bible Study?
What is the trend I am seeing? I am seeing that we use man written books for Bible Study instead of the God-Breathed Book, “The Bible.”
Women, some women are biblically ignorant, I believe in part because they are not reading and studying the word of God. I have been there. I have been like many of these women who are searching for truth but instead of going to the source of truth, the word of God, they go to a human being who may or may not have studied the word. She is relying on their wisdom and knowledge. That would be like eating the food out of someone else’s mouth. They get all the nutrition and the great flavor and you end up with…well, you get my point! A nasty analogy I know but think about it, it’s true. You and I need to be studying “The Book” ourselves! Man written books are not Holy Spirit inspired. The Word of God is!
“All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction. for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Why The Trend?
I believe there are many reasons for this trend. I will only touch on a couple of them based on my own observations.
Inadequacy
One reason I believe books are used is because women feel inadequate to Study the word on their own. Guess what? We are:) We think we need help! We do need help! That help comes from a sometimes forgotten source. The Holy Spirit! Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:26:
“But the Helper the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to remembrance all that I said to you.”
Jesus promised us a Helper. A Helper that lives on the inside of us. One that guides, directs, and teaches. Having Outside help and guidance is great. I actually recommend a mentor and a group if that is available to you. But, we need time at home alone with our Bible, pen, paper, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. Books someone else writes should be the last thing we pick up. The Bible should be the main book, the first book we choose for, “Bible Study!”
The Flesh Desires Fluff
Not only do I believe we grab a book because we feel inadequate, I also think we grab books because they build up and meet a desire of the flesh. Again, I am not talking about all books but some. I do not know about you but my flesh wants to be petted and made to feel good. That is the nature of the flesh. Guess what? The flesh will never change! But, a believer a new creation in Christ Jesus, needs to push past the flesh. The apostle Paul penned these words Galatians 5:17:
“The flesh sets its desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
Notice that the believer has the Holy Spirit pressing in on him to push past the fleshy desires. The Bible does not pet the flesh. Quite the opposite it tears it down. Contrary to what the flesh believes we do not need fluff we need tearing down and breaking. This is the means God uses to build us up and make us confident in Him. Our best resource for Bible study is the Bible.
Paul teaches in the book of Philippians the true believers worship in the Spirit of God, glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:4
Break The Trend!
How can we break this trend? By making the main thing, the main thing! What I mean is take your books, your well written biblical books, and put them aside for a minute. Pick up the word of God read and study it first. When you go back and pick up that well-written, biblical book, you’re equipped to spot the error and glean some perspective from someone else. But, you will have already sat under the best teacher there is! The Holy Spirit of Promise. Now you can go pick up that book!
Pray about and look for biblically based Bible Studies. I know that sounds kinda dumb, looking for a biblically based Bible Study. I am sad to say it is dumb but true! Look for a study that takes you through the word of God and keeps you in the word of God. Here are a few I can recommend:
Precept Bible Studies By Kay Arthur
And ours Here at Conforming to the Truth!
I pray that we all become good students of the Word of God! Let’s be trend setters by getting back to the only book that we truly need for Bible Study. The Bible!
Can you recommend a really good keep you in the word Bible Study?
Be Sure to Read:
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