What Tools Do You Use for Bible Study?

I came across an article today that got me to thinking about some different tools which we use for Bible study. Many of us who are preachers use concordances, lexicons, commentaries and other resources to help us in preparation of our lessons. Many people use highlighters to make certain passages stand out in Scripture. Others might use sticky notes to mark certain pages. How many of us use something like razors and glue sticks in our Bible study?

One of the most recognizable names in the history of the United States of America is Thomas Jefferson. He was our third President (1801-1809), he was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, he is one of the faces on Mount Rushmore and he is on the two dollar bill. While he is recognized as one of the greatest figures in the history of the United States, there is something many people don't recognize him for that can be quite troubling.

Thomas Jefferson was an individual who didn't believe a lot of what is in Scripture. He didn't believe in the virgin birth, the divine healings, the exorcisms and resurrections from the dead. It is stated that he felt these parts of the Bible were "superstitions, fantacisms and fabrications" (http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/11/my-take-how-thomas-jeffersons-secret-bible-might-have-changed-history)

With a razor and glue brush in hand Thomas Jefferson would set out to create his own version of the Bible for his private study by cutting out the passages he didn't believe and glue the ones he wanted to keep in his perceived order. He aligned all of these using English, French, Greek and Latin translations. I've heard of picking and choosing, but this puts a whole different perspective on that.

We are told by an inspired Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." It is not our liberty to believe some parts of Scripture and cut out what we want to dismiss. Even with some of our older generation who have viewed the Old Testament as unnecessary for us today, I have heard statements like "I don't want that Old Bible because we don't go by that," yet Paul told us "for whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4)

The next time you sit down to study your Bible, what will you use? A highlighter or a razor? Will you accentuate or will you eliminate? The choice is yours!

What are you devouring daily?

We as human beings ingest many different types of written material on a daily basis. Some people can't start the day unless they have a cup of coffee in one hand and newspaper in the other. Others have their daily fix on whatever type of magazine they prefer. Granted it can be a great thing to be able to devour the information contained in these for our consumption, but how often are we devouring the information contained in God's Word, the Bible?

The Bible is and will continue to be the world's best-selling book, yet sadly it is one of the most neglected. The majority of all American households own at least one copy, yet I wonder how many of those have pages who have never or seldom been turned. What keeps people from devouring the Word in contrast to other forms of written communication.

The way I see it, the reason for a lack of daily Bible study is due to two things: lack of time commitment and lack of love. It's not that we don't have the time available in our daily schedules; it's that we devote our time to other things instead of making the time for Bible study a priority. It's not that we don't love the Bible; it's that we love other things more, and we show it by the activities and material things to which we attach ourselves rather than God's Word.

Let's make sure we're giving daily attention to God's Word by making the commitment and showing our love for the Bible. The Psalmist says in Ps. 119:97 "O how I love your law, it is my meditation all the day." We learn from the early church the importance of studying the Scriptures. The Bereans were considered more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, "for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Also, one of the things that Paul told Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:15 was that we gain God's approval by studying His Word, as we diligently digest God's message for us.

I see three things that we can take from the early church. First, we need to put an emphasis on daily Bible study. The Bereans were searching the Scriptures daily, and so should we. Second, we need to put an emphasis on personal responsibility. The Bereans weren't taking Paul's word for it; they were looking for themselves to see whether these things were so. Third, we need to put an emphasis on God's approval. Are you being diligent to present yourself approved unto God? What kind of approval rating would you give yourself? Better yet, what kind of approval rating would God give you? What are you devouring daily to further enhance your knowledge and walk with God?