Is Bible Study Important

By Dan C. Bailey

There are about seven billion souls in the world today. Most do not read the Bible, study the Bible, or obey the Bible. The Book is of little or of no significance to them. However, the Christian loves the Bible, believes that the Bible is the revelation of God's Word, and believes that the Bible is true. Since the Christian believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the Christian is interested in understanding the Bible. How could one be a Christian and not love the Word of God? How could one be a Christian, and not have a great desire to understand the only inspired Book that we have from our heavenly Father? No doubt, there are those who become children of God and who for a while live as Christians live, and then they abandon God and His Word for the world.     We read in II Timothy 4:10, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia." We read about others who did the same thing, that is, they forsook God and the Christian life. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6).     However, the true Christian who lives like Christ wants him to live, is interested in understanding the Bible. Our classes on Sunday, or the first day of the week, are designed to instruct us, exhort us, warn us, correct us, and edify us in the Word of the living God. Why wouldn't a Christian be interested in attending the Bible studies on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, as well as our worship on Sunday evening? Do we study the Bible so much during the week that it is not profitable to engage in it at these times?     The truth is, we all need to study the Word of God more carefully. The sermons and the classes help us to walk by faith, please God, and thereby live the Christian life. If you are able to attend our Bible studies, why not come and grow spiritually. We are commanded, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen" (II Peter 3:18). How can we grow   - Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home