The Plea for Bible Study

1. THE FAMINE OF BIBLE STUDY
1. A Survey of Bible Reading
1. A survey entitled “Protestants, Catholics and Mormons Reflect Diverse Levels of Religious Activity” was done by The Barna Group of Ventura, California (www.barna.org) in the year 2001.  This survey included a section that provided the percentages of religious people who read their Bible in the past seven days other than while at church.
2. By religious group
1. Adventist – 49%
2. Assembly of God – 66%
3. Baptist of any type – 55%
4. Catholics – 23%
5. Church of Christ – 53%
6. Episcopal – 30%
7. Lutheran – 32%
8. Methodist – 43%
9. Mormons – 67%
10. Nondenominational – 66%
11. Pentecostal – 75%
12. Presbyterian – 48%
2. The Absence of Private Bible Reading and Bible Study
1. We are commanded to give attendance to reading the Bible (1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
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1. 1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
   See All... (New International Version) Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
2. 1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
   See All... (New American Standard Bible) Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
3. 1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
   See All... (Contemporary English Version) Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching.
4. 1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
   See All... (Holman Christian Standard Bible) Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.
5. 1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
   See All... (New International Reader's Version) Until I come, spend your time reading Scripture out loud to one another. Spend your time preaching and teaching.
2. We are also commanded to study the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
   See All...).
1. 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
   See All... (New International Version) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
2. 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
   See All... (New American Standard Bible) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
3. 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
   See All... (Contemporary English Version) Do your best to win God's approval as a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message.
4. 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
   See All... (New King James Version) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
5. 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
   See All... (Holman Christian Standard Bible) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
3. The End of This Movement
1. The events moving away from Rome
1. “If God preserves my life, I will cause a boy that driveth a plow to know more of the Scriptures than the pope.” – William Tyndale
2. With the publishing of the King James Bible it was said that "The Reformers dethroned the Pope and enthroned the Bible." – God’s Secretaries – The Making of the King James Bible
2. The events leading back to Rome
1. Dependency upon the original languages for Biblical understanding
2. Dependency upon the preacher for Biblical understanding
3. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (Amos 8:11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
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2. THE FAMINE OF SOUND BIBLE FAMILIES
1. The Role of the Man
2. The Role of the Woman
3. The Rearing of Children
3. THE FAMINE OF SOUND BIBLE TEACHING AND PREACHING
1. Replaced with Social Issues
2. Replaced with the Teaching of Men (Mark 7:13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
   See All...; 2 Timothy 2:2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
   See All...; Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
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3. Replaced with the Dreams and Visions of Men (Jeremiah 23:16-17 [16] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. [17] They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
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4. Replaced with Standards and Convictions

              The Purpose for Bible Study                                2 Timothy 3:16-17 [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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1. PROFIT (Joshua 1:8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
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1. Psalm 19:7-11 [7] The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. [8] The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. [9] The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. [10] More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. [11] Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
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1. Converting the soul
2. Making wise the simple
3. Rejoicing the heart
4. Enlightening the eyes
5. Warning the servant
6. Obedience to the scriptures yields great rewards.
2. Psalm 119
1. The removal of shame (Psalm 119:6Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
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2. The cleansing of a man’s ways (Psalm 119:9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
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3. The withholding from sin (Psalm 119:11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
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4. The provision of delight and counsel (Psalm 119:24Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.leth.
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5. Strength (Psalm 119:28My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
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6. Liberty (Psalm 119:45And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
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7. Comfort (Psalm 119:50This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
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8. A song in the house of pilgrimage (Psalm 119:54Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
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9. Wisdom (Psalm 119:98Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
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10. Understanding (Psalm 119:99-100 [99] I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. [100] I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
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11. A lamp and a light (Psalm 119:105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
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12. Rejoicing (Psalm 119:162I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
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2. FOR DOCTRINE
1. This Would Be the Teachings of Scripture.
2. Concerning Christ and Salvation (John 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
   See All..., 46)
3. Concerning Truth (Matthew 22:29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
   See All...; Acts 17:10-11 [10] And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. [11] 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.
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3. FOR REPROOF - This Would Be the Enlightenment of Error.
4. FOR CORRECTION - This Would Be the Enlightenment of Righteousness.
5. FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS - This Would Be the Instructions Needed to do Righteous Things.
6. THE PERFECTING OF THE BELIEVER - This Would Be the Growth of a Believer (2 Peter 3:18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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7. FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS - This Would Be the Equipping for Obedience to the Scriptures.