It’s time to begin our next Bible study. This year is part 2 of People of the Promised Land – Kingdom Divided. I won’t be the first to say that this study is hard and at times very confusing. There are so many kings and prophets that it’s hard to keep them all straight. I will try to do my best, but please don’t be too hard on me if I get some things discombobulated.
Why study the Bible?
The Bible is God-breathed. When we read it, God is speaking to us. It is reliable because God is perfect and always speaks the truth. He is incapable of telling a lie. Through the Bible God instructs us how to live and helps us know how to walk with Him in this life.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
God is our Sovereign Creator. He is holy. He is faithful and true. He knows everything, understands everything, and works flawlessly to accomplish His perfect plan. He is the supreme authority with the right to say what is right and wrong, what is truth, and what are lies. As we study the Scriptures, we see the sovereign hand of God.
The Bible is broken down into 2 sections – the Old Testament and the New Testament. The OT covers God’s creation and the beginnings of the world. God set up the nation of Israel to carry His message to the world. The OT points to the coming of the God’s son, Messiah Jesus our Redeemer. The NT fulfills the promises found in the OT. It gives details of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. All through the Bible we see that God provided a way for sinful people to be redeemed and mend their relationship with Him. The OT helps us understand God and His ways as it offers hope.
The Bible is a collection of 66 books that is composed by more than 40 authors both Jewish and Gentile. These authors were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is God’s-breathed.
This year we will study several books in the OT.
We will study about a time of division, hostility, idolatry, and hope. Israel rejected God, but He longs to restore what sin has destroyed. There is value in studying the OT. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” – Romans 15:4.
While studying these lessons, listen for God to speak to you. Studying all these different kings can be confusing, but hang in there and we will get through it and you may learn something. While we don’t have all the answers, we can listen as He speaks to us. He knows you more than you know yourself. He knows what you think and what you need.
Do you expect God to speak to you through His Word?
Principle: The Bible is God-breathed; it instructs us how to live and walk with God in this life.
Next week we will start our first study of Kingdom Divided. Hope to see you here. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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As you know I always follow along the BSF (Bible Schedule Fellowship) schedule. You can find weekly lessons to be printed on mybsf.org. You can also find a BSF class near you by going to www.bsfinternational.org. The same lessons are studied around the world, so classes start at different times. In my area we start mid-September, follow the school calendar, and end in mid-May.
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I loved reading this, and I always enjoy your postings as you minister thru your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement. Glad you enjoy my posts.
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