NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the YOU curriculum.
Bible Passages: 2 Timothy 2:14-19, 22-26
Discussion Questions:
— What are some tools you use to ensure you correctly handle the Word of God?
— What do you think our culture gets wrong about God’s Word?
— How has the Word of God influenced your pursuit of godliness?
Food for Thought:
Most big baseball fans did not become fans overnight. They have spent their whole lives, including their childhood in front of the TV watching countless games and highlights. As adults, TV is no longer the only way games are viewed, but these super fans attend games in person at major league ballparks. This enhances everything they learned about baseball on TV.
In a similar way, simply reading Scripture certainly allows us to know God and His Word. But studying the Bible takes it to a deeper and richer level. The words, the events and the teaching of the Bible come alive when we invest the time to do more than just read the text. Our lives become rich as we live out what we study.
Read 2 Timothy 2:14-15. Paul’s second letter to Timothy included a strong charge to answer false teaching. Timothy was Paul’s young mentee who shepherded the Ephesian church. Although we don’t know everything the false teachers were teaching, it was clear that false teaching permeated the Ephesian church, and Timothy needed to deal with it. To help Timothy, Paul contrasted the harm of false teachers with the benefit of faithful teachers.
False teachers spend their time fighting over words. Their endless speculations, arguments, and debates were meaningless. The faithful worker, on the other hand, correctly handles God’s Word and has no need to be ashamed. Thus, faithful believers should be diligent to present themselves as approved workers.
Practically speaking, we become approved workers by carefully and accurately handling God’s Word. This approval has to do with testing. We grow in this testing as we study God’s Word diligently. Studying God’s Word means you learn historical contexts, key theological themes and basic word studies.
So, what will it take to do this well?
Time
You’ll have to set aside time to do it, but don’t be overwhelmed. You could start small. You might begin by setting aside 30 minutes per week for the intentional study of a book of the Bible.
Resources
We have at our disposal countless resources to help study the Bible better: study Bibles, Bible dictionaries, lexicons and commentaries are in abundant supply. A good study Bible can be a good first step.
Community
Fellow Christ-followers serve as a great help in studying God’s Word more deeply. Studying God’s Word together in a Bible study group can serve as a great introduction in how to study the Bible on your own.
Motivation
Studying God’s Word requires intentionality and diligence. Though it takes effort, the effort will always be rewarding.
YOU
YOU is committed to providing a complete Bible study experience for small groups and classes. Every session is written through an urban and multiethnic lens that provides relevant, engaging and applicable studies that not only encourage and equip people, but also motivate them to mission. This flexible, non-dated, all-in-one quarterly resource offers weekly Bible study for leaders and learners, devotionals and teaching plans, as well as articles on hot topics and missions. For additional downloadable online teaching resources, visit You.Lifeway.com.
Other ongoing Bible study options offered by Lifeway for all ages can be found at Lifeway.com/SundaySchool or ordered at Lifeway.com.
