Learn in Community
Small Group Study
Volume Overview
Why is the Bible relevant to me?
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Our upbringing often influences our view of the Bible. For some, the Bible is that oversized book that sat covered in dust on the coffee table. For others, it’s simply a book of good morals and suggestions or, even worse, outdated laws designed to keep us from having any fun. The truth is, the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God. Through it, God speaks to those who will listen, giving guidance and correction (2 Timothy 3:16–17). At times, Scripture brings us hope and encouragement. It has the power to transform us. As we explore how the Bible is relevant to our lives today, perhaps one question we need to answer is: How should the Bible be my guide?
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Engage
QUESTION Who or where do you turn to for advice?
Everyone who has ever lived has had their life strongly impacted by others. Our family and friends, the media, and culture all influence us. And everyone, regardless of their place in society or the era in which they live, must choose what the guiding basis for all their decisions will be. As Christians, the focal point of our lives is Jesus, our Lord and Savior (Acts 2:36). We should strive to build lives that are pleasing and obedient to Him. The best way to do that is to choose the Bible, His Word, as our foundation and guide.
Watch
As we watch this video, think about your answer to this question: What’s an example of good advice in the Bible that non-Christians would say is foolish?
QUESTION What’s an example of good advice in the Bible that non-Christians would say is foolish?
Consider What the Bible Says
Let’s explore the distinction Jesus made between people who are wise in building their lives and those who are foolish.
QUESTION If you could live anywhere at all, what kind of place would you choose: the mountains, a beach, in a city, or perhaps by a stream in the woods with no one nearby?
Imagine you’re moving to a new place to build a house. Plenty of inexpensive lots are available near the river. You’d be close to everything you need, and a construction team could get there easily. Lots are also available higher up in the mountains, but these lots are significantly more expensive. You’d also be further from all the conveniences, and it would be a lot harder to build a house there.
Do you know which lot you’d choose? Wait! Before you answer, there’s just one more important detail. The river has been known to flood. It happens very rarely and might not happen at all for some time to come. But when it floods, all the homes built by the river get wiped out. That information probably impacts your decision.
Let’s look at what Jesus recommends. We’re going to explore the distinction Jesus made between people who are wise in building their lives and people who are foolish. Let’s consider a few steps to take as we build our lives, day by day and choice by choice.
Commit to Follow God’s Word Read Luke 6:46–47.
Many people are glad to accept Jesus as Savior. But it’s more difficult to accept Him as Lord or Commander of our lives. We’re glad to be saved from our sins but hesitate to relinquish control of our lives.
QUESTION How would you describe the difference between Jesus as Savior and Jesus as Lord of your life?
QUESTION Why is the idea of surrendering our life to God so frightening?
God is infinitely wiser than we are. We can also trust His love for us. Because of these things, we can absolutely trust what He says and instructs us to do. And we can wholeheartedly commit ourselves to follow what God’s Word says.
Build Your Life on God’s Word Read Luke 6:48–49.
In this passage, Jesus isn’t making a distinction between good and bad people. He’s pointing out the difference between wise and foolish ones. Both builders heard what He said, but only one obeyed Him. The one who didn’t obey had his life wiped out. But the one who did obey by taking the trouble to dig deep and make a firm foundation was able to withstand the storms of life. Much more than just an old story, this illustration Jesus gives has powerful relevance to all of us today as we strive to build our lives as Christian people in a non-Christian world.
QUESTION Why might those who built their life on the easy ground have chosen to build there?
QUESTION What are some ways that choosing to build on the solid foundation of God’s Word is a challenge?
Did You Know?
Although our English translations have given Jesus the tradition of being a carpenter, the Greek word is tecton, a more general term for builder. Historically, wood was a rare commodity in the land of Israel, with most buildings using stone for construction instead. Due to the weight of stone, the job of a builder was an incredibly important and respected craft in the ancient world of the New Testament. It required significant skill in planning and problem solving in order to create a safe and sound structure. Jewish communities often considered builders to be the most prominent thinkers, as a result of their required skills. If a judge, magistrate, or religious leader was not available to dissolve a dispute of legal or religious matter, the communities historically would turn to their resident tecton.
God’s Word Gives Direction
As we allow the Bible to be the guide for our life, God will direct us in big and small ways. Like the words of Jesus in the last section, the author of this psalm makes it clear that embracing God’s message gives us the right starting point for every part of our life. Read Psalm 119:101–105.
The writer of this psalm rejoiced in obeying God’s Word. He compared God’s Word to a lamp for illuminating the path in the darkness. In Reflections on the Psalms, C. S. Lewis compared life before and after believing in Jesus to the difference between walking on an icy path and then stepping onto solid ground. The truth and firm foundation of the Bible can help us make life’s choices with steadiness and confidence. More frequent Bible reading leads to greater understanding and direction.
QUESTION Why might some people be so resistant to reading the Bible regularly?
QUESTION How does knowing the Bible better help you make life decisions? Can you think of a specific example to share?
God’s Word Gives Clarity
As we regularly read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will show us how our life aligns to what God wants for us. Read Psalm 119:9–11.
Holiness is a part of God’s character. This important expectation is laced throughout the entire Bible. Knowing and understanding what sin is and how it impacts us is important. As Christians, we’re called to be different from the rest of the world (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:14–16). A solid understanding of what the Bible says helps us live out that calling.
QUESTION What are some examples of how Christians should be different from the rest of the world—at home, in our workplace, and in our relationships?
QUESTION What are some common ways we wander away from God and His commands?
Reflect
The Bible Is My Guide
Choosing to make Jesus and His Word the center of our lives leads to some major changes in our everyday decisions. It’s easy to do what we want. Certainly living the way everyone else does is often more convenient and less challenging. Accepting the Bible as the guiding source for living is sometimes difficult and costly. But to be wise as Jesus instructed—to be able to withstand the storms of life—is worth any cost.
God cares deeply about what we know about Him and the truth. He cared so much that Jesus came as the Word—a flesh-and-blood Message from God (John 1:1, 14). He also cared enough to ensure that the words of Jesus, and many others God used to carry His message, have been captured in this amazing work called the Bible.
To read the Bible is to know Him better. To trust the Bible is to trust Jesus more. To live our life according to what the Bible teaches is to live our life as Jesus instructs. As Christians, this is a great step in truly giving the control of our life to Jesus. After all, isn’t He the most wise and qualified to lead and guide it?
Listen to God
Let’s pause and listen to what God might want to say to us about what we have read and shared. Be silent for a few moments and reflect on the following questions. Respond to the one that most resonates with what God is saying to you now. Then complete the others during Day 1 of your devotion time this week.
Personal Reflection Questions
Record your answers to the following questions in the space provided or in your personal journal.
QUESTION What are some of the reasons you hesitate to trust God with your life?
QUESTION What storm are you facing right now? How can you follow what the Bible teaches more closely in this area of your life?
QUESTION Our discussion has touched on the concept of lordship—the idea of who calls the shots in our life. How is the Holy Spirit challenging you in this area?
Activate
Learning to walk through life with the Bible as our guide requires time reading it so we know what it says. This might seem overwhelming at first, but with faithful reading and study, you can become very familiar with God’s Word.
Challenge
One helpful way to begin to memorize the Word is to write important Bible verses on index cards or sticky notes. Then put them in many places where you are likely to see them throughout the day, such as on your desk at work, on the refrigerator door, on the dashboard of your car, and on your dresser. Surrounding yourself with the truth of the Bible helps us come against the destructive lies we encounter every day.
Choose one or more Scriptures to fill your mind with the truth and solid guidance of God’s Word. Try to memorize them too. A great place to begin is by choosing verses from the sessions about the Bible that really stood out to you. Good verses to consider are 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:11, and Psalm 119:105.
Prayer Requests
Note any requests from the group and remember to pray for them during the week.
Before next time, continue to learn with the personal devotions.
What We Believe
The Bible Is Inspired The Scriptures of the entire Bible are verbally inspired of God. Not just the ideas were inspired. Even the choice of words was inspired as the original writers were moved by God to write what He wanted them to say. Therefore, we believe that the Scriptures are: 1. God’s Word and a way of revealing himself to us; 2. infallible (everything they teach is true, trustworthy, and will not fail); and 3. the divinely authoritative guide for our faith, belief, and way of living (; ; ).
The Significance of This Doctrine If we do not agree that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God () and is therefore infallible and authoritative, we have no objective standard on which to base our lives. Instead of having a guide that is fixed and reliable, everything becomes relative and uncertain. However, since God does not change (), we can be certain His truth also remains steadfast, enduring all time, generations, and cultures.
Learn on Your Own
Before you begin each devotion, pray and ask God to speak to you through His Word. Record your answers to the following questions in the space provided or in your personal journal.
Day 1: The Bible Is My Guide Read Luke 6:46–49.
Look back over Learn in Community and complete your responses to the Personal Reflection Questions. If time permits, reread the Scripture too.
QUESTION What is God saying to you about allowing the Bible to be your guide?
Learn on Your Own
Day 2: The Bible Teaches Us How to Live Read 2 Timothy 3:14–17.
We listen to so many voices throughout the week. It’s sometimes hard to cut through the noise to think clearly. The Bible shows us how to live as followers of Christ. The more we read it and meditate on it, the more we understand right and wrong, and the better our choices and decisions will be.
QUESTION What voices get most of my attention each day? Are the things I am watching, listening to, and reading bringing me closer to God and helping me to be wise in building my life?
QUESTION How can I replace things that do not bring me closer to God with things that do teach and encourage me? (Examples might include listening to worship music and Christian podcasts, reading godly books, etc.)
Learn on Your Own
Day 3: The Bible Is Alive and Powerful Read Hebrews 4:12–13.
So many books exist in the world—old, new, good, and bad. Some move us to tears, some to joy, and some make us think. But none of them comes close to the Bible. No book is actually alive like the Word of God is.
No matter how many times you read and study it, the Bible always has something new and powerful to say to every area of life. Developing a regular plan to read and think deeply on the Word of God can have real power to change our lives.
QUESTION Can you remember a time when the Word of God pierced your heart?
QUESTION How is God challenging you today to live as the wise person who heard and obeyed the Word of God ()?
Learn on Your Own
Day 4: The Bible Leads to Success in Life Read Joshua 1:6–9.
The fruit of a righteous life is inner peace and contentment. While many people often lose sleep after lying, cheating, or being unkind, no one ever lies awake at night worrying that they will be caught meditating on the goodness of God. Walking with God leads to blessing and peace. Living in obedience to the Word of God brings healing and wholeness to our lives, affecting everything we do for the good.
QUESTION What unwise decisions are causing you the most stress and discomfort at this time?
QUESTION What steps could you take to replace those poor decisions with choices that obey the Word of God?
Learn on Your Own
Day 5: The Bible Is Encouraging Read Romans 15:4, 13.
These verses are a timely reminder that the Word of God is our source of hope and encouragement. In the Bible, we read the great story of Jesus paying the price to free us from sin. Not only did He create us, but He also bought us back from the power of sin and death. This is great news! When life can so often be full of discouragement and trouble, the Word of God is filled with reminders that God is with us. He is for us!
QUESTION What are some blessings you can express gratitude to God for?
QUESTION Take a moment to reflect on these verses. What have you learned through God’s Word that has brought you new hope and encouragement?