People of the Book

Are we a People of the Book?
Is our Bible more than just a coffee table decoration?
Do we know the value of the Book of Books?

According to George Gallup:

One third of those surveyed know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
Fewer than half can name the first book of the Bible;
80 percent of born-again Christians believe the phrase God helps those who help themselves is in the Bible (it's actually Ben Franklin).

So I'm thinking a lot these days about how to help the people that God brings my way to know and love the book. How do I proclaim the Scriptures in a way that honors their authority, and at the same time recognizes where my hearers are (as opposed to where I wish they were)?

Read the entire ariticle by John Ortberg

visit www.practicalbibleteaching.com for more useful articles in your walk with the Lord.

A Bible Reading Plan

Read the Bible FOR a Year,

DON'T Read the Bible IN a Year

As Christians, we believe the Bible is The Word of God. It is God’s word to us. Most churches state in their creed that the Bible is their standard for faith and morals. Paul writes to Timothy that the Bible is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Timothy 3:16 KJV)

The “man of God” that Paul refers to is firstly, one who is a minister to God’s people; and, secondly, anyone who wants to follow the Lord. We are all to be completely “furnished unto all good works.” The Bible gives us the necessary instructions for how to do that.

Being able to read the Bible for one’s own pleasure, profit, and growth is a privilege we relinquish at great peril. Yet, there are many today (2007) who no longer take the time to read the Book of Books. Of those who do, precious few know how to read with understanding. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is able to overcome our ignorance if our heart is pure. (Matt. 5:8)

We should study the Bible for at least three reasons:

1. To know what it says

2. To know what it says about Jesus

3. To know what it says to me.

The first reason is simply to become familiar with the text itself. There are 66 books in the Bible, and each one of them was written for a different purpose. Some contain historical data; others contain wisdom sayings, others contain prophetic utterances. However, every single one of the 66 books has something to say about Jesus, either prophetically or historically.

The second reason takes us beyond the mere reading of the words on the pages. It requires understanding to know how the particular book relates to anything about Jesus. Often, that understanding can only come from someone helping us to understand. (See Acts 8:30-31)

Thirdly, we should study the Bible to know what God says to each of us. It is more important to know what God is saying to me than it is to know what God is saying about others. Yet, this is the most common outcome of Bible study today—using the Bible to prove that so-and-so shouldn’t be doing such-and-such.

God has something important to say to you today. One of the ways He will do that is through your continual reading and application of His Word.

Reading is important. Reading with understanding is more important.

In the same way that Phillip asked the Ethiopian, “Do you understand what you read?”, so I ask you, “Do you understand what you read?” more>>>

The Lord is after the quality of a changed life, not how many words one can read in a year. Quality—not quantity. That is the Lord’s desire. Make it your desire also.

Discussion:

Are you one who got lost trying to read the whole Bible in a year?

Tell us about your experience.

Did you read the Bible in a year?

Tell us about your experience.

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