Video Transcript: Why Study the Bible?

Francis - As we talk about studying the Bible, I think we start off by just really  understanding what your disciple believes about the Bible, because we don't  want to assume that oh, this person believes that the word is the infallible word  of God. Because that's not the culture in America, I think so many people who  just think it's just another religious book. And so yeah, let's just open it and get  some good thoughts. Jesus was a good moral teacher, you know, that type of  thing. And that mentality can get into even those of us who believe in Jesus, to  start wondering about the veracity of Scripture, you know, and the authority and  then that's going to change the way we view the commands and everything  about it. And so, so listen, take some time and just let them be honest to  remember just say, Look, just tell me what do you really believe about this book? Do you really think that this is God breathed? Like, you know, like, if you heard  the voice of God, and this is equal to that, it's like, oh, then I'm gonna take the  word differently. But to hear that out and to deal with their questions that are with where they're at.  

Brian - So there might even be, obviously it's possible, you can be walked  through this material with somebody who is not yet a believer who you're saying, hey, I want to walk through this journey. And so then that's where you want to  start. Now, obviously, not with the assumption that I and you would bring to the  table that and hopefully, you as somebody who's deciplying on somebody that  okay, the Bible is the authoritative inerrant Word of God. And so if they're not  there, and then you're gonna start where they are, but the goal is to lead them  and especially if they're already a follower of Christ to realize, okay, we don't, we don't come to this book looking for options to consider, like, we come to this  book, looking for commands to obey, and and then to help them understand the  purpose of the Bible. So and that's what part a lot of this lesson revolves around, but really, to help and see, okay, this this, this book is not intended to be an  answer book for every single question we may have in life. I think sometimes  people think that's what the Bible is okay? It answers all of our questions. That's  just not true that there's a lot of things that we face in daily life and 21st century  that the Bible doesn't specifically address. But the Bible does tell us a grand  overarching story about how God saves people for His glory, by His grace, how  he reveals himself in that and he tells them, here's, here's the commands by  which you live and find joy and delight. And so we approached the Bible then for those things not looking for, to twist scripture to make it kind of fit every question we may have. But but to say, I want to submit to what what God has said in this  book. I want to know God more in the process.  

Francis - Yeah, it's about the love, too, you know, the idea of, as you study this  book, it should cause your love for him to just grow. But but also in teaching  others, you teach them because you love them. You know, Corinthians talks 

about how our knowledge of this book, in our knowledge of what's true can  actually lead to an arrogance. If we're not pouring ourselves out in love. So even as you're learning, be careful, and as you're teaching, make sure they're not just getting more and more arrogant. Oh, I know so much Bible now. But really, but  what you've learned, are you passing it on to someone else? Because you love  them? I mean, discipleship is about, okay, you are making disciples, because  you love them. You're teaching them the word of God because you love them.  And so as you listen, I think it's even, okay, don't again, those of us who are task driven don't think, okay, I must get to next lesson. Because there may be you  may be talking to someone that goes, I still don't believe this is really of God,  and, and maybe some apologetic books may help. I know, for some people I  know, for me in my early days, gosh, way back, there's this book called  Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Yeah, sure. And I would read some of the  facts. And I didn't know, you know, I'd look at some of the prophecy that he  would explain in Scripture. That's huge. And so we've got other books like that  Now, Case For Faith, Case for Christ, and we've tried to put some resources  online. Yeah, toward that. Exactly. You may take a break and say, gosh, if you  don't believe this is really the the Word of God and let's, let's study some things.  And let's, let's, let's take a couple of weeks break from multiply, because there's  no point in going on in this right, you know, until we'd get this figured out,  because now you're studying something you don't even believe in. And so take  your time on this issue, because we've got to approach the Word of God in the  right way.  

Brian - This lesson is, it's so foundational, because so much after this is just  involves a journey to the story of Scripture, but if this why, why do we study the  Bible? Why does disciple making revolve around the word of God? If this is not  clear, then it's the The waters are gonna be really muddy and it's gonna be really confusing the days to come. And we'll miss the whole point. So make sure this is clear.  

Francis - Yeah. And one last thought is just don't get defensive. I mean,  sometimes we can get defensive when people ask us questions, or, I mean, we  want to create environments where people have doubts, and bring them you  know, and let's figure this out together. And don't be afraid of that. But just let  them share the work. Here's what it is. And let's work it through together  because they say, You know what, I don't even know the answer that one and I  need to figure it out, too. So again, let's work through some of these things and  learn together and, and again, just trust that the Holy Spirit is going to lead you  in the right direction. If you want this truth. God's gonna give it to you. And enjoy, enjoy. Enjoy studying the Word of God.