GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  DIGGING DEEPER IN HIS WORD

TEXT:  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15

If a person intends to find gold, he must seek the right location and be prepared to work.  Typically, gold is embedded in the earth and must be mined.  In order to discover rich deposits of gold, a lot of digging is required.

I believe the Bible is a gold mine of spiritual truth.  Most Christians either avoid the Bible or merely skim through it.  The real wealth of God's Word can be discovered as you dig deeper in the Word.

Reading the Bible is great, but studying the Bible is even greater.   Reading the Bible is not the same as studying the Bible   Consider the difference between reading for fun and studying for a test.  They are not the same thing, are they?

If you want to know God better, dig deeper in His Word.  Here are a few suggestions:

1.            STUDY REQUIRES TIME

Whether you are studying for a test or studying the Bible, time must be reserved.  You may read a chapter of the Bible in five minutes, but you'll need more time than that if you intend to study a passage.  This is the reason many believers fail at Bible study.  It is difficult for many believers to set aside time for the study of God's Word.  However, if you are serious about getting to know God, time will be required.  Let me add that it will be time well spent.  I suggest that you set aside at least 15 to 30 minutes for studying the Bible.  Obviously, the more time you set aside, the more you'll glean from the Word.  While a person needs to read from the Bible daily, you may choose to study the Bible daily or a few times a week.

Let me caution you about something.  Too many depend upon others to do the studying for them.  It is good to receive good, sound teaching at church or a small group.  However, it is important to study the Bible yourself. 

2.         USE A GOOD BIBLE

When you read and study from the Word, use an easy-to-read Bible.  As I get older, I am glad to have a giant print Bible.  Additionally, I like an easy-to-use Bible.  One time I purchased a giant print Bible by mail & when it arrived it was too large to practically use.  I like a Bible that is easy to carry and use.

3.            MEDITATE ON THE WORD

Whether you are studying a verse, a paragraph or a chapter, meditation is a vital step in the study process.  When I mention meditation, I am not referring to sitting in the floor with your legs crossed and your eyes closed while you chant.  Instead, meditation is the act of concentrating and thinking about a passage.  Meditation is a mental and spiritual exercise that can yield great results.  Meditation is a slow, but vital step in the study process.

4.         USE A CONCORDANCE

Apart from a good Bible, a concordance should be the second study resource you should own.  Although most Bibles have a small concordance in the back, these concordances are very limited.  Purchase a good concordance.  You'll be glad you did.  A concordance contains many of the words of the Bible, along with their use in the Scriptures.  The words are listed alphabetically, with individual verses beneath each individual word.  For instance, if you wanted to research the word, "grace," you'd look up the word "grace" in the concordance.  Beneath the word, "grace," you'd find all the verses in the Bible that contain that word.  Even though the concordance does not show the entire verses, it does give a line of the verse that contains the word you've looked up, plus the location of the verse.  A concordance is especially useful if you want to find a Bible verse, but can only remember part of the verse.  A commentary is also useful in topical studies or when you wish to compare Scripture with Scripture.

5.            REFER TO STUDY BIBLES

When I read from the Bible, I like to use a text Bible instead of a study Bible.  However, when you study the Word, it is good to refer to study Bibles, if they are available.  It is wrong to use a study Bible as your sole source of study.  While there are many good study Bibles available, be aware that a man has written the notes.  Study notes are not divinely inspired.  Furthermore, refer to study Bibles after you've done plenty of work on your own.  Not all study Bibles are worth the extra price.  In fact, there are some famous preachers who think that because they've achieved notoriety, they should produce a study Bible.  There are study Bibles that I do not recommend.  I could easily recommend some study Bibles in this message, but I suggest that you speak with your pastor for suggestions.  Wisely choose and purchase study Bibles and use them primarily as reference tools.

6.            REFER TO COMMENTARIES

The suggestions I offered about study Bibles also applies to Bible commentaries.  Personally, I have just a few commentaries in my library.  I have the John MacArthur commentary, the Bible Exposition Library by Warren Wiersbe and the Jamieson, Fausset and Brown commentaries, among others.  You can spend a great deal of money on commentaries.  Again, wisdom is required before purchasing commentaries.  Your pastor may be able to steer you in the right direction with this.  Commentaries should be a resource to use further in the study process.

7.         USE BIBLE DICTIONARIES & BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIAS

When you encounter a word that you don't understand, or if you want to study a word deeper, refer to a Bible dictionary or Bible encyclopedia.  For instance, the Bible refers to monetary values that we aren't acquainted with (such as shekels, talents, and denarius).  A Bible dictionary or a Bible encyclopedia can help you understand these monetary values & how they would equate to the times.

8.         USE BIBLE SOFTWARE

There are many wonderful software tools available for Christians to use.  However, many of them are costly.  Let me recommend that you download E-sword, which is a free Bible resource.  Also, there are web sites that offer free Bible study resources, such as Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com). 

Charles Spurgeon once said, "Visit many good books, but live in the Bible."  Spurgeon also advised Christians to be, "Walking Bibles."  The Bible has the power to transform lives, but we must spend time in the Bible for this to occur.  I've found that the more I dig into God's Word, the more it digs into me. 

Lord willing, we'll examine this topic further next week.

We know God better as we study His Word.  Dig into the Bible and discover the vast richness of God & His Word.