Sunday School Lesson Dr.

Jack Schaap, Pastor

First Baptist Church
Hammond, Indiana
=PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING=
Lesson 2
The Bible

POINT OF CONTACT: Have the class sing, “Get the New Look from the Old Book.” Then ask the class
members where they each got the Bibles that they have with them. In other words, was it a Christmas present?
Did their Sunday school teacher give it to them? Did they win it as a prize for attendance? Was it a birthday gift?
Was it purchased in our church bookstore?

I. INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE. The word “inspire” means “to breathe upon.” This means the Bible is
our God-breathed book. It was given by God to holy men of old who put it down word for word as God
gave it to them. This means that God did not give them the thoughts for them to put in their own words,
but rather, God gave them the actual words. This does not mean that God approves of each statement in
the Bible; it simply means that God told the holy men to write down all the statements. For example, in
the Bible, Pharaoh says some words; also, other wicked men speak. God does not mean that everything
they say is good, but God did inspire the writer to write down what they said, and God told the writers
word for word what to say.

Paul said in II Timothy 3:16a, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Peter said in II Peter 1:21,
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost.” The writers of the Old Testament were confident they were recording the
Word of God. The phrase, “Thus saith the LORD,” or its equivalent occurs over two thousand times in the
Old Testament.

The prophets believed that God spoke through their words. In II Samuel 23:2, David said, “The Spirit of
the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” See also Isaiah 8:1, 11. In Jeremiah 1:9,
Jeremiah said, “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me,
Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” See also Jeremiah 5:14; 7:27; 13:12. In Ezekiel 3:4, Ezekiel
was told by the Lord, “Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto
them.” Also notice Ezekiel 3:10, 11. Micah realized that his word was from God. See Micah 3:8.
Habakkuk heard God speaking. See Habakkuk 2:2.

Then the writers of the New Testament frequently assert that the Old Testament authors were inspired.
Notice Matthew 1:22; 2:15; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Hebrews 1:1. These Scriptures bear out this truth.

Let us simply impress upon the pupils the fact that the Bible is word for word inspired by God. Some
errors we ought to combat are as follows:
1. The Bible only contains the Word of God.
2. Only the words of Jesus are the Word of God.
3. Only parts of the Bible are inspired by God.
4. The thoughts were given by God but not the words.
Let us emphasize that these statements are not true; stress that the Bible is inspired by God!

II. WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

1. We should hear the Bible because hearing the Bible is the source of faith. Romans 10:17, “So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If our faith is increased, we must hear
the Bible!
2. The Bible is our weapon. Ephesians 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.” If we are going to fight the battle for the Word of God, win souls,
and be successful in God’s service, we must use the Word of God.
3. The knowledge of God’s Word makes possible holy living. Psalm 1l9:11, “Thy word have I hid in
mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
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4. The Word of God reveals God’s will to us. If we would know God’s will, we must stay in the
Word. Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
5. The Word of God keeps us from having our feelings hurt and being offended. Psalm 119:165,
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
6. The Word of God can keep us from error. Read II Timothy 3:16, 17.

III. WHAT THE BIBLE WILL DO FOR US.

1. Cleanse our ways. Psalm 119:9.
2. Keep us from sin. Psalm 119:11.
3. Revive us. Psalm 119:25.
4. Strengthen us. Psalm 119:28.
5. Comfort us. Psalm 119:52.
6. Help us to sing. Psalm 119:54.
7. Teach us good judgment. Psalm 119:66.
8. Make us happy and delight us. Psalm 119:77.
9. Give us understanding. Psalm 119:99.
10. Show us the will of God. Psalm 119:105.
11. Give us light and understanding. Psalm 119:130.

IV. WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THE WORD OF GOD.

1. We should walk in it. Psalm 119:1.
2. We should keep it. Psalm 119:2.
3. We should respect it. Psalm 119:6.
4. We should learn it. Psalm 119:7.
5. We should not wander from it. Psalm 119:10.
6. We should declare it. Psalm 119:13.
7. We should rejoice in it. Psalm 119:14.
8. We should meditate on it. Psalm 119:15.
9. We should delight ourselves in it. Psalm 119:16a.
10. We should not forget it. Psalm 119:16b.
11. We should understand it. Psalm 119:27a.
12. We should talk of it. Psalm 119:27b.
13. We should choose its way. Psalm 119:30.
14. We should stick to it. Psalm 119:31.
15. We should observe it. Psalm 119:34.
16. We should go in its path. Psalm 119:35.
17. We should incline our heart to it. Psalm 119:36.
18. We should long after it. Psalm 119:40.
19. We should trust in it. Psalm 119:42.
20. We should hope in it. Psalm 119:43.
21. We should seek it. Psalm 119:45.
22. We should speak of it. Psalm 119:46.
23. We should remember it. Psalm 119:49.

V. HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE.

1. Take a portion of Scripture and read it for content. Someone has said, “Read any portion of
Scripture ten times, and you will understand it very well.” The most important thing about the Bible
is what it says.
2. Read it looking for pictures of Jesus Christ. By that, we mean, be on the look-out for things that
remind you of Jesus. For example, in Genesis 1:1, the word “beginning” reminds you of Jesus, for
Revelation 22:13 says He is the “beginning and the end.” Also in Genesis 1:1, the word “God” is
Jesus, for Isaiah 9:6 says He is “The mighty God.” Then again, in Genesis 1:1, the word “created”
reminds us of Jesus, for John 1:3 says that He made everything. As you read the Bible, look for
Jesus.
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3. Look for any proper names. When you come to a proper name, look it up. It may have a special
significance. Sometimes names in the Bible have such.
4. Look for numbers. Numbers are very important in the Bible. Oftentimes they have a meaning. One
usually stands for unity; two, for separation; three, for Deity or the Trinity; four, for the earth; five,
for grace; six, for man; seven, for God; eight, a new beginning; ten, testing; twelve, Israel.
5. Look for symbols in the Scriptures. Oftentimes certain things have symbolic meanings in the
Scriptures. For example, gold oftentimes means Deity; brass, judgment; oil, the Holy Spirit; wine,
the blessings of God; silver, redemption. Colors even have a symbolic meaning sometimes. Blue is
the heavenly color; red, man’s color; purple, the color of Jesus Christ, the God-man, or royalty. A
ring in the Bible stands for assurance. A coat stands for salvation or righteousness. Shoes stand for
the spreading of the Gospel and soul winning. It is important to look for symbols when studying the
Word of God.