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 Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School 
http://www.geocities.com/bibleloverbillPFHL Course 103-- Importance of the Bible
(7 pgs.)
(special compilation of verses by Bill Stevenson)
Testimony:
I was raised in a beautiful-looking church, but the Bible was not emphasized or taught at all. I loveddoing a lot of free time book reading (my favorites were Science Fiction and Landmark History books), but, except for a thorough study for writing a 55-page paper on the Gospel of John, I didn’t read or studythe Bible at all until starting in October 1974. And I was a top Sunday school student! -But only “God’sWord does not come back void.” 1 Thessalonians 3:15-17 says: “And that from a child thou hast knownthe holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man (or woman) of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished untoall good works.” So I had to do some catch-work after I was unjustly fired from my first Christian schoolteaching job in 1974. The Holy Spirit had me study straight through Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and theEpistles of Paul, underlining and making 3 x 5 cards to make some Bible study tools later. I traded thesecular books reading time for time of Bible study and intercessory prayer. I did also read some Christian books, but never became addicted to do such. Now I have 59 Bible study tools which I share with others.On June 25, 2004, I shocked my German wife when I told her that I don’t read and study the Bibleeveryday for my new ministry of 
 Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School 
. Later during the sermon on Romans 5:1-5, eight ways of relating to the Bible came to my mind. So the waysone should relate to the Bible are 1.) Read, 2.) Study, 3.) Meditate, 4.) Memorize, 5.) Discuss it, 6.)Counsel with it, 7.) Prepare a Bible study tool or teach it. Frequently living it should be done everyday byChristians, but at least one of the others should be done too, preferable several.Reading and study of the Bible should never be done when an individual is not thinking as Proverbs3:5-8 says. In other words, reading just to read or just because someone else says so will usually not havelasting results. To me a key is thinking as Proverbs 3:5-8 commands, and then an individual can becomesensitive to the Holy Spirit, Who Jesus said in John 14-16 would be a believer’s convictor, comforter,teacher, and guide. The following is my translation and logical formatting of those important verses:
Trust in the Lordwith all my heart,and lean not on my own understandingor past experiences.In all my ways acknowledge(be thankful for) Him,and He (via the Holy Spirit) shall directmy thinking and doing.Do not be wise in my own eyes;fear the Lord (have awesome respect for)and depart from evil.It will be health to my flesh,and strength to my bones.
But along with the much misusing of Scripture in sermons and publications, there is a lot of falseteaching about how a Christian should relate the Bible:
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I disagree with those saying that Christians should study the Bible every day and should read allof the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. No where in the Bible is this commanded. The HolySpirit will guide each God’s truth seeker in a personal way. Most of my Bible study tools wereinterrupted in the development for good reasons and preparation for the rest. So I did not readand study the Bible every day even when I was focusing on thinking about them. But, every dayI try to do at least 3 of the first seven ways to relate to Scripture.
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Those who brag about reading the Bible one time or more times through who I have met, did notmanifest the fruit of the Spirit in compassion for others. Also, I am turned-off by those who are proud of their memorizing of Scripture and try to get everyone else in church to do likewise. None of them manifested the fruit of the Spirit in compassion for others either. I knew a pastor who had a photographic memory but he never bragged about how much Scripture he knew; hewas a humble verse-by-verse Bible teacher.I pray for the just indicated people because they are misleading others from truly personally relating tothe Bible. To me, living it means doing what it says to do in thinking and acting in relation with othersand also confessing and repenting of bad habits. I enjoy doing either of those. For over 30 years, theBible has been the most important (by far) book in my life. I am amazed how I learn new understandingsfrom even my favorite passages. I never had a dull minute with it. Below are more reasons why theBible is so important to me and definitely is Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth:
 Bible Study Suggestions:
A.First in responding to any Bible verse or Scripture passage you are orally given or assigned, skim theverse or passage and then check the verses before and after to make sure I have included all of thecontext. I could be wrong and not have included important context verses.B.For each verse, think: “Does it just tell me something I believe already or does it indicate somethingI should change in my life to be more Christ-like?” If it is the latter, copy it onto a 3 x 5 card andstate it in your own words in a commitment form.C.When copying Scripture, be very careful, and double and triple check what you have written.Capitalize the first letter of (a) a deity pronoun, (b) any title of God the Father and of Jesus Christ,(c) Earth and Heaven respectively meaning the planet we live on and where true Christians hope togo for the time before the New Earth (d) the words Bible, Scripture, and Christian, (e) the word Lawwhen the context indicates either the Ten Commandments or God’s Law [not the ordinances,religious rules, and procedures spoken/written by Moses for only the Israelites in the Old Testamenttimes], and (f) any other proper nouns.
 Directions:The following Holy Scripture references, quotes, and paraphrases can be used as“springboards” for good reasoning and important discussions. If you really believe most of the quotes in this paper, please note which ones and indicate any questions or doubts you might have about the ones you don’t. Otherwise, you could write an essay as if youhad the opportunity to try to persuade an individual to become a true Christian.
1.2 Timothy 2:8-10--“The Word of God is not bound”and testifies to the only way of resurrection and Salvation.2.Romans 10--the righteousness of God is of faith in Jesus Christ,“faith comes by hearing,and hearing by the Word of God.” (vs. 3, 6a, & 17)3.John 6:63--Jesus said to His disciples,“It is the Spirit Who gives life;the flesh profits nothing.The words that I speak unto you,they are spirit,and they are life.”4.Psalm 19:7-8--“The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
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5.Psalm 33--“For the Word of the Lord is right,and all His works are done in truth.He loves righteousness and justice....The counsel of the Lord stands forever,the thoughts of His heart to all generations.” (vs. 4-5a & 11)6.Matthew 24:35-- Jesus said,“Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”7.1 John 5:4-15--“He [or she] who believes on the Son of Godhas the witness in himself [or herself].He [or she] who believes not God has made Him a liar, because he [or she] believes not the record that God gave of His Son.And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life,and this life is in His Son.” (vs. 10-11)8.Hebrews 10:7--a prophesy of David (Psalm 40) about the Messiahwhich states that a volume of a book is about Him9.John 17:8-- The words of God through Jesus should be proof enough that God sent Him.10.John 20:30-31--“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples,which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you might believe thatJesus is the Christ, the Son of God;and that believing you might have life through His name.”11.Luke 24:25-48--“And Jesus said unto His eleven disciples,‘These are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you,that all things must be fulfilled, which were writtenin the Law of Moses,and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.’Then opened He their understanding,that they might understand the Scriptures” before preaching repentance and remission of sinsamong all nations. (vs. 44-48)12.1 Thessalonians 2:13--“When you received the Word of God which you heard of us,you received it,not as the word of men, but as it is in truth,the Word of God, which effectually works also in you who believe.”13.John 1:8-10--“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,and the truth is not in us.…If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar,and His word is not in us.” (vs. 8 & 10)14.Matthew 22:29--Jesus said,“You do err,not knowing the Scripturesnor the power of God.”
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