Requirements For Bible Studying And Preaching

Requirements For Bible Studying And Preaching

These are various cross references that I have added to two main passages in my Bible study app - passages that deal with studying the Word of God, and with preaching the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The King James Bible is the only Bible version that commands us to “study” it. What spiritual requirements are needed for someone to rightly divide and understand God’s Word? Please look up all the verses listed below.

To get the most out of our Bible studying, we need to:

study and rightly divide the Word - 2 Timothy 2:15

be saved - 1 Corinthians 2:14

be ready scribes - Ezra 7:6

prepare our hearts - Ezra 7:10

be attentive to God’s Word - Nehemiah 8:2

read it clearly, distinctly - Nehemiah 8:8

humble ourselves - 1 Peter 5:5

deal with all known sin in our lives - Matthew 5:23-24; 1 John 1:8-10; Psalm 66:18

take into account all related passages - Isaiah 28:9-13

search the Scriptures daily to see whether what we are being taught lines up with it - Acts 17:11

We need God’s wisdom - James 1:5

We need to continue in God’s Word - John 8:31-32

We need to be determined to do God’s will when we learn what it is from the Bible - John 7:17

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

To preach the Word, we need to:

Know it - 1 Peter 3:15

Rightly divide it - 2 Timothy 2:15

Take into account all related passages - Isaiah 28:9-13

Clearly teach and explain it - Nehemiah 8:8

Remember that Jesus is the central figure and theme of the whole Bible - Revelation 19:10; Luke 24:25-27, 32, 44-48; Acts 10:43

September 2023
Jerry Bouey

Power For Preaching And Serving The Lord

Power For Preaching And Serving The Lord

This is an awesome promise to claim whenever we need boldness or strength to do God’s will. I have literally claimed it hundreds and hundreds of times when preaching at the Gospel Mission.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The word for fear means timidity, cowardice. God says that this kind of fear does not come from Him. If you ever have fear (or even hesitation) in doing what is right or what God has called you to do, you just need to acknowledge your fear to God - knowing it does not come from Him - and ask Him to take it away and fill you with His Holy Spirit. See also James 4:7. A good cross reference for 2 Timothy 1:7 is Romans 8:15. We are not given the spirit of fear - but the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of adoption.

The word for power is dunamis, where we get dynamite from - spiritual power. This is the spiritual power to make an impact for the Lord and it works through you to touch the lives of others.

The word love here is agape - the selfless love of God, love for God and love for man. This love is what gives us the motivation to serve the Lord faithfully, to witness to and preach to the lost. See Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 5:14; and 1 John 4:18.

A sound mind is being self-controlled and sober in your thinking, in control of your thoughts. If you are in control of your thoughts, you will also have self-control in regards to your body, your actions, your words. When you are filled (controlled or influenced by) the Holy Spirit, you are able to do God’s will and say or do what He would have you to do. See Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:6.

God’s love and power will give you the strength and ability you need to fulfill God’s will for you, will remove your fear and enable you to step out in faith to do whatever He has called you to do.

August 10th, 2023
Jerry Bouey