What Is a Bible Study?
Definition: A Bible study is an investigation into what the Bible says.
What it is not:
1.) A Debate
A debate is a discussion or argument based upon conflicting views. Each side presents its case with a view to persuading the other. This type of discussion depends more on the skill of the debater than the truth of the matter. It is possible for a skilled debater to believe the world is round, yet argue that it is flat. They may even convince others of its flatness while holding that anyone who believes such is foolish.
This is a disservice to God’s Word. It reduces the supernatural to an intellectual diversion. The apostle Paul rejected this method of propagating truth. He chose rather to demonstrate the Spirit and power of God.
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that you faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
In verse one, Paul says that he did not come to the Corinthians with excellency of speech or wisdom. In other words, he did not come as a skilled orator or debater. He simply declared the testimony of God.
The Greek word for declaring is “katangello.” It means literally to report down. In a Bible study a teacher reports from the Bible God’s testimony.
Verse three says that this was done in weakness, fear, and trembling. In other words, it was not done forcefully. Rather it was done in the spirit of meekness and humility.
As Baptists, we believe in something called “soul liberty.” This is usually defined as the right of each person to make up his own mind about the things of God. I prefer to think of it more as a responsibility than a right. The Bible summarizes this concept in Ezekiel 18:4, 20 when it says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die…” We are each responsible to God for our own actions or inactions. Hence, we must each decide for ourselves. We cannot force another to believe.
In the end, the veracity and validity of the message depends on the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. It is not the eloquence of the speaker that turns men. It is not the intellectual success of the argument. It is the power of God that brings true faith.
2.) A Pool of Ignorance
Many people think that a Bible study consists of a group of people sitting around with Bibles in lap and opinions in mouth. Everyone simply expresses his or her opinion about the verse or passage. Such gatherings act as a kind of therapy. Everyone walks away feeling good about the time spent together. This harks more to psychology than biblical insight. Our catharsis consists of sharing our thoughts and feeling good because others treat our notions as important. In reality the only opinion that is really important is God’s. He has chosen to reveal that through the Bible. The Holy Spirit is the teacher (I John 2:27 – “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you…”)
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” I Corinthians 2:13
God is not interested in our words of wisdom. In other words, He does not want to hear our ideas. He wants us to hear Him. The Holy Spirit teaches spiritual things by spiritual means. The spiritual method is that of a teacher who shares what the Bible says.
“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ…” Ephesians 4:11-12
God raises up certain individuals to be pastors and teachers. These are given to the church to build up the body by imparting knowledge from Scripture. This is not done in “lordly” fashion but by example.
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.” I Peter 5:3
The true man of God is not a tyrant, demanding obeisance. He is a humble servant expressing God’s message in both word and deed. It is an awesome responsibility to be entrusted with the treasure of God’s Word. By the same token, the student has a responsibility.
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea, who, coming there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore, many of them believed; also of honorable women who were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” Acts 17:10-12
Observe that the Bereans were more noble than those at Thessalonica. This is not talking about their earthly lineage. They were more so for two reasons – first, they received the Word with all readiness of mind. The expression “no deposit, no return” applies. How much we get out of the time depends on our attitude. Do we really want to know the truth or just tell everyone our opinion? If we sincerely want to know we will put forth some effort.
Secondly, they “searched the Scripture daily” to see “whether those things were so.” They did not just blindly accept everything the teacher told. They did their own investigation. They checked what was being said against the Book itself.
No one who is a man of God has a problem with this. Quite the contrary, we are excited when people do this! One of the goals of a Bible teacher is to get people to get into the Bible on their own. We want people to search the Scriptures.
What it is:
Coming back to our original definition, a Bible study is an investigation to determine what the Bible says. That being the case, we need to lay down some ground rules for its study.
Just click on one of the links at the top and start your Bible Study.