We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n All of us are to go through the process of growing out of spiritual infancy.

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n All of us are to go through the process of growing out of spiritual infancy. n A key measure of growth will be how we are able to truly search the scriptures. (Heb 5:12-14)

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n Hebrews 5: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n What does a child do when he has a question? What does an adult do?

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n What does a child do when he has a question? What does an adult do? n As a Christian you will be faced with significant spiritual decisions. It is crucial that you become equipped to make the right decisions!

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n If you do not develop a discipline, consistent stand upon God’s word then your life will be determined by others. (Eph 4:11-15)

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n Ephesians 4: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ –

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n If you cannot study for yourself then you will depend on others! What happens if you blindly follow another? (Mt 15:13-14; 1 Cor 15:33)

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n Matthew 15: But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n What will a Christian do if he is asked to study with another to resolve a difference with another Christian but he actually does not know how to effectively study the Bible? (1 Pt 3:15)

We should not be afraid to be honest in a self-evaluation. n 1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n Honestly answer these questions for yourself:

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n Honestly answer these questions for yourself: n 1. How often do you study the Bible apart from assigned tasks? In other words, do you often read and study the Bible on your own?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n Honestly answer these questions for yourself: n 1. How often do you study the Bible apart from assigned tasks? In other words, do you often read and study the Bible on your own? n 2. Do you have a planned and regular Bible reading program?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n Honestly answer these questions for yourself: n 1. How often do you study the Bible apart from assigned tasks? In other words, do you often read and study the Bible on your own? n 2. Do you have a planned and regular Bible reading program? n 3. Have you ever read the entire Bible?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 4. What do you do when you run across a verse or a Bible word that you do not understand?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 4. What do you do when you run across a verse or a Bible word that you do not understand? n 5. Do you believe that you are able to take a Bible subject and research what the Bible teaches on that subject?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 4. What do you do when you run across a verse or a Bible word that you do not understand? n 5. Do you believe that you are able to take a Bible subject and research what the Bible teaches on that subject? n 6. Do you feel able to study with another about a difference in interpretation of the scriptures?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 7. What is your greatest hindrance to effective Bible study?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 7. What is your greatest hindrance to effective Bible study? n 8. What are some areas you would like this class to address?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n B. Answer these questions about Bible study tools:

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n B. Answer these questions about Bible study tools: n 1. How many Bible translations do you own?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n B. Answer these questions about Bible study tools: n 1. How many Bible translations do you own? n 2. What is your primary translation that you use? Why?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n B. Answer these questions about Bible study tools: n 1. How many Bible translations do you own? n 2. What is your primary translation that you use? Why? n 3. Do you own a Bible dictionary? A book defining Bible words like Vine’s dictionary?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 4. Do you know how to look up the Greek or Hebrew meaning of a Bible word?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 4. Do you know how to look up the Greek or Hebrew meaning of a Bible word? n 5. Do you own a Bible software program for your computer?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 4. Do you know how to look up the Greek or Hebrew meaning of a Bible word? n 5. Do you own a Bible software program for your computer? n 6. Do you use Bible websites that have translations, dictionaries, lexicons and other tools?

Where am I in my Bible study ability? n 4. Do you know how to look up the Greek or Hebrew meaning of a Bible word? n 5. Do you own a Bible software program for your computer? n 6. Do you use Bible websites that have translations, dictionaries, lexicons and other tools? n 7. Do you own any Bible commentaries?

Some general rules of Bible study n Always reason from the context.

Some general rules of Bible study n Always reason from the context. n Did you hear about the man who opened his Bible and read whatever passage his finger came down on? He first read “Judas went out and hanged himself” and then randomly quickly turned to another verse which read: “Go thou and do likewise!”

Some general rules of Bible study n You need to know the place that the book has in the overall theme of the Bible! What is the difference in reading from a passage in Genesis from Matthew or of the book of Jude?

Some general rules of Bible study n You must understand the proper divisions of God’s word such as Old Testament and New Testament. What are some other important considerations when reading from a specific Bible book?

Some general rules of Bible study n You need to understand the purpose of the writing of a given book.

Some general rules of Bible study n You need to understand the purpose of the writing of a given book. n Who wrote the book and when was it written?

Some general rules of Bible study n What was the purpose of the book being written?

Some general rules of Bible study n What was the purpose of the book being written? n Who was the book written to?

Some general rules of Bible study n Understand the setting and subject of the verse. Ask these three questions:

Some general rules of Bible study n Understand the setting and subject of the verse. Ask these three questions: n 1. Who is speaking?

Some general rules of Bible study n Understand the setting and subject of the verse. Ask these three questions: n 1. Who is speaking? n 2. Who is being spoken to?

Some general rules of Bible study n Understand the setting and subject of the verse. Ask these three questions: n 1. Who is speaking? n 2. Who is being spoken to? n 3. What is the subject?

Some general rules of Bible study n Consider everything God has to say on a subject. (Matt 4:4)

Some general rules of Bible study n Matthew 4:4 - But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.‘”

Some general rules of Bible study n Consider the possible conclusions we might draw if we only considered these verses in our study. (Rom 10:9; Gen 6:14; Matt 10:19-20)

Some general rules of Bible study n Romans 10:9 - that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Some general rules of Bible study n Genesis 6:14 - "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.

Some general rules of Bible study n Matthew 10:19 - "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Some general rules of Bible study n How does one find all of the appropriate verses on a given subject?

Some general rules of Bible study n Always interpret the hard to understand verses in light of the easy to understand verses. (2 Peter 3:16)

Some general rules of Bible study n 2 Peter 3:16 - as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Some general rules of Bible study n Consider interpretations some make on these verses and then look at other verses on the same subject.

Some general rules of Bible study n Consider interpretations some make on these verses and then look at other verses on the same subject. n Baptism for the dead. (1 Cor 15:29; 2 Cor 5:10; Heb 9:27)

Some general rules of Bible study n 1 Corinthians 15:29 - Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

Some general rules of Bible study n 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Some general rules of Bible study n Hebrews 9:27 - And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Some general rules of Bible study n Universal Salvation of the Jews. (Rom 11:26; Luke 13:3; Acts 10:34-35)

Some general rules of Bible study n Romans 11:26 - And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

Some general rules of Bible study n Luke 13:3 - "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Some general rules of Bible study n Acts 10:34 - Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

Some general rules of Bible study n Faith only salvation – (Jn 3:16; Jn 3:36 ASV; Jas 2:22-26)

Some general rules of Bible study n John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Some general rules of Bible study n John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Some general rules of Bible study n James 2: Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Some general rules of Bible study n 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Some general rules of Bible study n What kind of effort is necessary to properly understand the Bible?

Applying what we have learned n Consider one key verse in the New Testament Jude 3. Here is the NKJV:

Applying what we have learned n “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

Applying what we have learned n 1. Define these words: exhorting, contend, earnestly and the faith.

Applying what we have learned n 1. Define these words: exhorting, contend, earnestly and the faith. n 2. Who wrote the book of Jude and what was the occasion?

Applying what we have learned n 1. Define these words: exhorting, contend, earnestly and the faith. n 2. Who wrote the book of Jude and what was the occasion? n 3. What tools would you likely use in these tasks and why?