Last Friday at Wildfire, we had a different lesson plan for the night: instead of one of our leaders teaching us, we simply got out our Bibles, read through the passage from the lesson, and discussed it. I really enjoyed that discussion. I didn’t know it was possible to squeeze so much out of 9 verses, but we thoroughly dissected and analyzed each part of the passage and came up with some pretty good takeaways. Our discussion was memorable because we were asking questions and working together to figure things out.
I was reminded that we don’t need to have everything taught to us. Sometimes the learning can come simply through reading the Bible and trying to understand what it says.
As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 puts it, “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
We can read many books and listen to many sermons teaching us about God and the Bible, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but in the end, all of it boils down to the Word of God. We should be able to read and understand what God is speaking to us through His word, and not be dependent solely on others to teach us about God.
It may seem daunting to study a large chapter or passage, but even a small passage can teach us a lot. Though there are many resources and ways to teach and help us to understand more about God and the Bible, there is no substitute for reading the Bible and finding things out for ourselves.
Lord, help us to study your word.
Guide us and give us understanding of what we read and how to apply it to our lives.
Amen.