WHY WE SHOULD STUDY THE BIBLE
by
Becky Rene
Introduction
1. This is a lesson about why we should study the Bible.
2. I am doing this lesson because some of you girls do not study the Bible and so you need to know why you should study it.
3. Now I want you to write down all the things you believe what the Bible teaches about different things. I will give you 5 minutes to write things down and then I will stop you. But it does not matter if you do not have everything written down.
Part 1
I. About Your Teachers.
A. How do you know that everything you believe is true?
1. Is it because your mom and dad taught you what to believe?
2. Is it because your teacher taught you what to believe?
3. Is it because your preacher taught you what to believe?
4. Is it because I have been teaching you what to believe?
B. Well, how do you know that those people have taught you what is in the Bible?
1. Is it because you think your parents or your teacher or your preacher or me cannot ever be wrong?
2. Is it because you saw they had a Bible when they were teaching you?
3. Is it because it just sounds like it must be true?
C. It is good to have teachers and we must listen to them because that is what the Bible says. But what if they are wrong about what they are teaching?
II. Look at those who are wrong.
A. Now think about children whose parents are Muslim. You think they are wrong about what they teach but…
1. Do those children believe what their parents and teachers teach them?
2. How can they know if they are being taught the truth or lies?
B. Now think about children in other churches like the Catholic church.
1. Do those children believe what their parents and teachers teach them?
2. How can they know if they are being taught the truth or lies?
C. So, how do you know if what you have been taught and are being taught now is right?
Part 2
III. Are they all Liars?
A. Now that was a lot of questions in part 1 wasn’t it? But they are questions we should be thinking about.
B. Now one of you girls said, “Oh, are you saying that our parents and teachers are liars?”
1. No, I am not saying that. I am saying that they are not perfect (not even my parents or those teachers). Maybe you were not listening or you would know I did not say that. Just look at the lesson again and see what I said.
2. But it does not matter anyway because God wants us to study the Bible ourselves doesn’t He? – 2 Timothy 2.15 and Ezra 7.10.
IV. So we Need to Study.
A. Look at what this says…
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11 NASBR)
1. Now that was Paul teaching them. Paul was an apostle of Jesus and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Do you think he was teaching them lies? No.
2. But look at what those Bereans did - they searched the Scriptures to see if it was true what Paul was saying. Wow! You might think that was very cheeky of them but that was a good thing they did because it says they were “noble-minded.”
3. Now what does “noble-minded” mean? Here is what Albert Barnes says in the commentary I have on my e-Sword program: “This literally means more noble by birth; descended from more illustrious ancestors. But here the word is used to denote a quality of mind and heart. They were more generous, liberal, and noble in their feelings; more disposed to inquire candidly into the truth of the doctrines advanced by Paul and Silas. It is always proof of a noble, liberal, and ingenuous disposition to be willing to examine into the truth of any doctrine presented.” Do you understand that?
B. So if those people looked at the Bible then they could see if that is what the Bible teaches.
1. So that is what we must do.
2. If you study the Bible yourself then you will believe something because you saw it yourself and not just because someone told you. Do you still believe in Santa Claus? Well, your parents told you that he really existed and you believed that didn’t you? But now you know that was not true don’t you?
C. So you must study.
1. If someone teaches you something and they say “Oh, this is what the Bible teaches” then make sure you study that for yourself. Some good teachers at school make you check things don’t they?
2. You should study new things even before you have been taught them by anyone. That is what we do in school isn’t it?
D. If you do not study things for yourself then…
1. You can never be sure that what you believe is true.
2. You cannot point at other people and say, “Oh, what you believe is not true.” Huh! You do not even know if what you believe is the truth!
3. Anyone can teach you anything and you will believe it.
Conclusion
1. It is good to listen to your parents and preachers and teachers because Jesus gave them as gifts to the church – Ephesians 4.7-14. But remember, it was adults that told you about Santa Claus!
2. Now look at the list you made. How many of those things have you studied for yourself? None, I bet! So how do you know they are true?
3. If you do not study then you do not know whether your beliefs are true or not, and that means you cannot be so cheeky and tell other people they are wrong. Can you see how silly that is?
4. So make sure you study the Bible yourself and then you will know it is true because you studied it yourself, and people will not be able to trick you into believing things that are not true.
5. Now Beth said to me, “How do you study the Bible?” Now that is a good question. So in the next lesson about studying we will look at how you study the Bible.