Starter Questions

• What are things you choose to spend your time doing, consistently?
• What are "priorities" and what would those close to you say are your priorities?
• How often do you read the Bible and why do you read it?
• What does it mean to trust something and what are things you place your trust?
• What causes you to question whether the Bible is trustworthy?

We would like to spend the remaining time considering this question: Why should we daily study the Scriptures and allow the Scriptures to guide and correct our lives?

1. What are some Logical Reasons to trust the Bible? (GIVE ONE AND THEN ALLOW OTHERS TO BE BROUGHT UP)
   1. Because the Bible is a collection of 66 books, written by 40 fallible men from various walks of life, over 1500 years, in three different languages, you would expect to find errors, contradictions and historical inaccuracies since it deals with very controversial topics. However you find just the opposite. To have such diversity yet so clear a harmony that you can logically assume that the books had one supernatural author who over saw the writings and the people were merely the instruments. It could be seen as the authors being like musical instruments playing the same tune, conducted by one person.
   2. The Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1948 reveal the accuracy of passing the Scriptures down through the centuries.
   3. The number of New Testament copies (over 24000) being in such agreement would indicate that we know what the original said. Imagine the "telephone game" and 24000 + had the same message. Would you not have great confidence that the original message was what the 24000+ said?
   4. The number of clear prophesies that have come true number into the thousands. What are some specific prophesies that have come true?
   5. The medical and science information recorded contradicted culture. Such as the Bible saying that the earth was round or that there were "paths" in the sea. These and other "tips" were revealed years before they were actually discovered by man.
   6. Explain the difference between a contradiction, a paradox and a mystery. (Explained in Tom Short's book, "5 Crucial Questions)
   
   
2. How to approach the Bible
   1. Approach the Bible humbly, willing to talk to God about what it says.
   2. Discover what it actually says before you try to "read" something into it.
   3. Write down what it does say before deciding what it means. When Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven. That is what he said, we do not have to spend all this time trying to figure out what he means until we humbly accept what he actually said.
   4. Talk with other people who are approaching the Bible in a similar manner and learn from one another what the main point the original speaker was trying to tell the original audience then.
   5. Learn from one another how the principles, promises, examples and commands for them relate to us today.
   
   
3. Discover the Scriptural reasons to trust the Bible? Look carefully at Matthew 6:33, what are possible worries you have that would keep you from putting God and His word first like Job 23:12? Practice the "approach to the Scriptures" with one of these verses and then give the others as "homework".
   1. Joshua 1:8 - to have success
   2. Romans 12:1-2 - so as to not be squeezed into the world's mold.
   3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - to be trained in every good work
   4. Matthew 4:1-11 - so as to not be deceived
   5. Hebrews 4:12 - It is able to discern my soul and spirit
   6. Psalm 19:12-14 - It is able to free me from sin
   7. Proverbs 22:17-19 - so that my trust is truly in the Lord

Second week - go over the same opening questions. Then go over How to have a meaningful devotional

1. What attitudes do these verses reveal we should have in pursuing the Scriptures
   1. Teachable - Matthew 11:28-30
   2. Love - 1 Timothy 1:5
   3. Willing to obey - John 7:17
   4. Reverent - 2 Peter 1:20-21
   5. Eager - Job 23:10
   
   
2. Actions to take with the Scriptures
   1. Psalm 119:147 - As early as possible
   2. 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Confess and forsake any trouble in your heart
   3. Joshua 1:8 - Meditate (Think about to do)
   4. 2 Timothy 2:2 - tell it to someone
   5. Deuteronomy 17: 18 - 20 - Write it down in a note book
   What are the benefits or promises for the king doing this? Because of Jesus Christ, are you not now noble in God's eyes?
   
3. What desires and plans will I set this week when it comes to preparing my soul to hear from God's Word and love Him enough to obey Him?

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