Welcome to the CMF Training page on BIBLE STUDY. A great way to begin our discussion and training on Bible Study is to look at the import of the Bible.
THE BIBLE
Anonymous
This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the Way of Salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrines are holy; its precepts are binding, its stories are true; and its decisions are immutable. Read it, to be wise; believe it, to be safe; and practice it, to be holy.
It contains light to direct you, food to sustain you, and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.
Here Paradise is restored, heaven is opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.
It is the mind of wealth, a paradise of glory, a river of pleasure.
It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the laborer, and condemns all who trifle with its contents.
A.W. Tozer said of God's Word:
The great need of the hour among persons spiritually hungry is twofold: first, to know the Scriptures, apart from which no saving truth will be vouchsafed by our Lord; the second, to be enlightened by the Spirit, apart from whom the Scriptures will not be understood.
Our challenge as believers is to become master workmen of God's Word who correctly understand it and apply it to daily living. Bible Study is the key and requires us to place ourselves in a training mindset that will work to discover God in His Word.
2 Tim. 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
1 – A TRAINING MINDSET
To appropriate truth in an experiential way requires discipline and effort on our part.
1 Tim. 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Phil.4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—[choose to] think about such things. [train your mind to think]
2 – GOD IS FOUND IN HIS WORD
God wants us to know Him, and to know Him, we must know His Word. He is found in His Word.
John 20:31 But these [Words] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 14:7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Bible study – Roll Up Your Sleeves – Study so as to master
Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
This is where you roll up your sleeves and wrestle with God until he blesses you from the Word. We exhort you to be like Jacob who continued to wrestle with the angel until the angel blessed him. Bible Study is wrestling with God's Word until the particular passage "blesses you."
This requires effort, discipline, WORK.
Genesis 32:22-28 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27The man asked him, "What is your name?" Jacob," he answered. 28Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."