Do we study our Bibles?

For the next several weeks, we (the 15th and Crawford Church of Christ), will be stating several Bible principles and asking the questions: Have you heard? Do you agree? Do you follow? Would you like to know more? Giving everyone the opportunity to hear and believe (Romans 10:17) and also an opportunity to learn (Acts 8:30-35). If you would like to write in, email any questions, or responses to be answered or published, feel free to do so.

Today's principle: Bible Study. I'm sure we would all agree we could put in a little more time studying our Bibles. I recently got my first look at Jeff Foxworthy's "American Bible Challenge" and realized America needs more study. As the show unfolded, I noticed they even promoted Bible study. They gave them a topic and then told them to go to the study room, which leads us to today's principle (2 Timothy 2:15-16) "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness."

Does it take a game show to get us in the Bible? Sometimes we find ourselves using our Bibles as a tool to answer a question and then we're done. In reality, that is not true study. One glance at a passage five years ago will not sustain us spiritually. Have you ever looked at a photo for five minutes, put in down, then tried to recall everything in it. Some things you knew were in it. Then when you picked it back up, it was not there (or just a little different than you thought). This can happen in your Bible study as well. You may find out you have been speaking your thoughts and not God's (See 1 Peter 4:11). Furthermore, in Galatians 1:6-8, it could even lead to perverting the Gospel, and that spells "accursed."

Here are a few Bible challenges to get you started using that Bible. Answers to come next week (Or better yet, open up your Bibles and see for yourself).

1. Why was Saul told to be baptized? (Acts 22:16)

a. In order to join the local church of his choice

b. As a testimony to others that he was already saved

c. In order to wash away his sins

d. As an outward sign of an inward grace

2. What will happen to plants God has not planted? (Matt. 15:13-14)

a. they will be uprooted

b. they will have a part in the kingdom

c. they will wither

d. they will not flourish

3. All saved people are in the church? (Acts 2:47)

a. true

b. false

How did you do? Did your answers match the Bible? Now that those Bibles are open, take an old familiar passage and study it again. In the amount of time it took to read this article you could have read the book of Philemon.

Feel free to study, comment, ask questions, suggest a topic, or even stop in for a visit any time. For more information, write in or visit the Church of Christ, 1423 S. Crawford, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Any other comments or questions can be directed to me via email at (Minister Mike Chipman) at mikeychip@sbcglobal.net or by phone at (620) 224-6681. Thank you for your time and God bless.