Why Should I Study the Bible?

I grew up attending church almost every Sunday.  I’ve sat through hundreds, if not thousands, of Sunday school lessons, sermons, and Bible studies.  For much of my life I depended on the teaching of others to understand the Bible. 

About four years ago I began to study, not just read through, the Bible on my own.  What I’ve realized in the last four years is that many things that were taught when I was young are not in Scripture or contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture.  There are several examples I could cite, but for the sake of brevity I’ll choose one: alcohol.

Spiritual Growth - Studying the Word

This is part three of a three part series as a follow up from the message “Obedience to the Word Results in Growth” that I taught at The Embassy on October 13.

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

1 Peter 2:1-3

Spiritual Growth – Studying the Word

It’s interesting that in the passage above Peter doesn’t say to study the Word, memorize the Word, read the Word, or anything else like that.  He says long for it.  Desire it. Crave it, like a hungry baby craves its mother’s milk.  Spiritual growth does not result from changing your behavior.  Spiritual growth results from changing your desires.  If your desire is for sin your behavior will be sinful.  If your desire is God, you will still sin, but generally you will want the things of God and the spiritual disciplines like prayer and study will not be viewed as chores to check off a list, but the great privilege that they are.  Today I finish up this brief series with a look at the effective study of God’s Word.

Spiritual Growth - Prayer

This is part two of a three part series as a follow up from the message “Obedience to the Word Results in Growth” that I taught at The Embassy on October 13.

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

1 Peter 2:1-3

Spiritual Growth – Prayer

The passage above doesn’t mention prayer specifically, but prayer is one of the most vital aspects of the follower of Jesus’ life.  Unfortunately in my experience it has been one of the least taught subjects in church.  When I was a kid I thought prayer was only for times when something was wrong.  The idea of being in a personal relationship with God Himself was not taught until I was in my mid-teenage years.  Below is my advice for developing your prayer life.

Spiritual Growth - Dealing with Sin

This is part one of a three part series as a follow up from the message “Obedience to the Word Results in Growth” that I taught at The Embassy on October 13.

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

1 Peter 2:1-3

Spiritual Growth – Dealing with Sin

I hope that as a follower of Jesus you have a sincere desire to be free from sin.  The good news is that you one day will be.  The bad news is that that day has not yet come.  While we have already been set free from the penalty of sin through faith in Jesus, between now and the day we go home to be with the Lord we will continue to battle sin in our lives.  We are in a lifelong process of being set free from the power of sin in our lives and becoming more like Jesus, called sanctification.  This process is not always easy or fast.  Below are some practical guidelines for dealing with sin.