OceanSide church of Christ
 Previous |
Return to list of sermons |
Next  |
 |
HINDRANCES TO BIBLE
STUDY (2)
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Most Christians would
admit that they would like to know more Bible.
B.
They also understand
that this knowledge can only come by a diligent study of God’s Word (Ps.
119:130).
The
entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the
simple.
C.
However, Bible study
is not a high priority for many Christians. There are things that seem to hinder
Christians in their Bible study.
1.
Last week we examined
three hindrances:
a.
Lack of desire
b.
Being too busy
c.
Practical/moral atheism
2.
Let’s look at some other hindrances in tonight’s
lesson.
I.
THE PRACTICE OF FAILURE
A.
Proverbs
1:20-21
Wisdom
crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: she crieth in the chief place of
concourse, in the opening of the gates:
in the city she uttereth her words, saying…
1.
Divine wisdom is
available.
2.
Wisdom is crying aloud
in many, many places: the streets,
the chief place of concourse, the opening of the gates, and the
city.
B.
It is the “practice of
failure” that keeps some from obtaining this wisdom.
1.
The failure to show
up: Bible study, worship, one’s
study desk
2.
The failure to keep
important information
3.
The failure to
memorize important information
II.
THE PRESENCE OF WRONG ATTITUDES
A.
It is not possible to
understand the Bible.
1.
The divine proof that
we can understand (Eph. 3:3-4).
How that
by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ).
2.
The practical proof
that we can understand the Bible (Luke 2:1-4).
And it
came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus,
that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of
a.
Who made a decree? Caesar
Augustus
b.
What was the decree? All the
world should be taxed
c.
When was the taxing first made?
When Cyrenius was governor of
d.
Who went to be taxed?
All
e.
Where did they go? Into his
own city
f.
Who went up from Galiee?
Joseph
g.
Where did he go?
h.
Why did he go to
B.
The Bible is outdated
and irrelevant for our lives today.
1.
Two
passages:
a.
The Word of the Lord will endure forever (I Peter
1:24-25a).
For all
flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower
thereof falleth away: but the word
of the Lord endureth forever.
b.
The Word of God is living and powerful (Heb. 4:12).
For the
word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
2.
A most applicable
passage for man today (James 3:8-10).
But the
tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father;
and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and cursing. My brethren,
these things ought not so to be.
C.
Bible study is too
difficult and time-consuming to be of great profit.
1.
Bible study does
present its difficulties.
a.
It wearies the flesh (Eccl. 12:12).
And
further, by these, my son, be admonished:
of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of
the flesh.
b.
There are also difficult texts found in the Bible (II Peter
3:16).
As also in
all his epistles speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard
to be understood…
2.
Try to tell others
that there is no profit in the Word of God:
a.
The person who stands at the grave.
b.
The person who is plagued with temptation.
c.
The person whose enemies seem to be prevailing against
him.
d.
The person whose faith rests in the promises of
God.
e.
The person who seeks boldness to teach the truth.
D.
Some people need to
get an “attitude adjustment” when it comes to studying the Word of God. They need to bring their attitudes in
line with some of the characters of the Bible.
1.
Ezra (Ezra
7:10)
For Ezra
had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach
in
2.
The psalmist (Ps.
119:16)
I will
delight myself in thy statutes: I
will not forget thy word.
3.
Mary (Luke
10:39).
And she
had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his
word.
4.
The Bereans (Acts
17:11)
These were
more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so.
5.
The Thessalonians (I
Thess. 2:13)
For this
cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of
God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that
believe.
III.
PARTICIPATING IN SIN
A.
Sin in the
transgression of God’s Word (I John 3:4).
Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.
1.
When we transgress the
law, we set ourselves against the law of God.
2.
This sin will soon
dull our hearing and callous our hearts to God’s will.
B.
The children of
Wherefore
I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart;
and they have not known my ways. So
I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in
any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it
is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitful-ness of
sin.
CONCLUSION
A.
Just talking openly
about them, one might think these hindrances are simple to overcome. They, however, are major obstacles in
the way of some.
B.
To become God-pleasing
Bible students, we must remove these obstacles.
C.
We must be able to say
as did the psalmist: I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy
ways (Ps. 119:15).
HINDRANCES TO BIBLE
STUDY (2)
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Most Christians would admit that they would like to know more
Bible.
B.
They also understand that this knowledge can only come by a diligent
study of God’s Word (Ps. 119:130).
C.
However, Bible study is not a high priority for many Christians. There are things that seem to hinder
Christians in their Bible study.
I.
THE PRACTICE OF FAILURE
A.
Proverbs 1:20-21
1.
Divine wisdom is available.
2.
Wisdom is crying aloud in many, many places: the streets, the chief place of
concourse, the opening of the gates, and the city.
C.
It is the “practice of failure” that keeps some from obtaining this
wisdom.
1.
The failure to show up:
Bible study, worship, one’s study desk
2.
The failure to keep important information
3.
The failure to memorize important information
II.
THE PRESENCE OF WRONG ATTITUDES
A.
It is not possible to understand the Bible.
1.
The divine proof that we can understand (Eph.
3:3-4).
2.
The practical proof that we can understand the Bible (Luke
2:1-4).
a.
Who made a decree? Caesar
Augustus
b.
What was the decree? All the
world should be taxed
c.
When was the taxing first made?
When Cyrenius was governor of
d.
Who went to be taxed?
All
e.
Where did they go? Into his
own city
f.
Who went up from Galiee?
Joseph
g.
Where did he go?
h.
Why did he go to
B.
The Bible is outdated and irrelevant for our lives
today.
1.
Two passages:
a.
The Word of the Lord will endure forever (I Peter
1:24-25a).
b.
The Word of God is living and powerful (Heb. 4:12).
2.
A most applicable passage for man today (James
3:8-10).
C.
Bible study is too difficult and time-consuming to be of great
profit.
1.
Bible study does present its difficulties.
a.
It wearies the flesh (Eccl. 12:12).
b.
There are also difficult texts found in the Bible (II Peter
3:16)l
2.
Try to tell others that there is no profit in the Word of
God:
a.
The person who stands at the grave.
b.
The person who is plagued with temptation.
c.
The person whose enemies seem to be prevailing against
him.
d.
The person whose faith rests in the promises of
God.
e.
The person who seeks boldness to teach the truth.
D.
Some people need to get an “attitude adjustment” when it comes to
studying the Word of God. They need
to bring their attitudes in line with some of the characters of the Bible: 1) Ezra (Ezra 7:10); 2) The psalmist
(Ps. 119:16); 3) Mary (Luke 10:39); 4) The Bereans (Acts 17:11); 4) The
Thessalonians (I Thess. 2:13)
III.
PARTICIPATING IN SIN
A.
Sin in the transgression of God’s Word (I John
3:4).
1.
When we transgress the
law, we set ourselves against the law of God.
2.
This sin will soon
dull our hearing and callous our hearts to God’s will.
B.
The children of
CONCLUSION
A.
Just talking openly about them, one might think these hindrances are
simple to overcome. They, however,
are major obstacles in the way of some.
B.
To become God-pleasing Bible students, we must remove these
obstacles.
C.
We must be able to say as did the psalmist:
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways (Ps.
119:15).
HINDRANCES TO BIBLE
STUDY (2)
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
Most Christians would
___________ that they would like to know more Bible.
B.
They also understand
that this knowledge can only come by a diligent _______ of God’s Word (Ps.
119:130).
C.
However, Bible study
is not a high ______________ for many Christians. There are things that seem to hinder
Christians in their Bible study.
I.
THE PRACTICE OF __________________
A.
Proverbs 1:20-21
1.
Divine wisdom is __________________.
2.
Wisdom is crying aloud in many, many places: the streets, the chief place of
concourse, the opening of the gates, and the city.
B.
It is the “practice of failure” that keeps some from obtaining this
wisdom.
1.
The failure to ___________
_______: Bible study,
worship, one’s study desk
2.
The failure to _____________ important information
3.
The failure to __________________ important
information
II.
THE PRESENCE OF WRONG ____________________
A.
It is not possible to _____________________ the
Bible.
1.
The divine proof that we can understand (Eph.
3:3-4).
2.
The practical proof that we can understand the Bible (Luke
2:1-4).
a.
Who made a decree? Caesar
Augustus
b.
What was the decree? All the
world should be taxed
c.
When was the taxing first made?
When Cyrenius was governor of
d.
Who went to be taxed?
All
e.
Where did they go? Into his
own city
f.
Who went up from Galiee?
Joseph
g.
Where did he go?
h.
Why did he go to
B.
The Bible is ________________ and ___________________ for our lives
today.
1.
Two passages:
a.
The Word of the Lord will _______________ forever (I Peter
1:24-25a).
b.
The Word of God is ________________ and powerful (Heb.
4:12).
2.
A most applicable passage for man today (James
3:8-10).
C.
Bible study is too ___________________ and time-consuming to be of great
profit.
1.
Bible study does present its difficulties.
a.
It ____________________ the flesh (Eccl. 12:12).
b.
There are also difficult __________ found in the Bible (II Peter
3:16).
2.
Try to tell others that there is no profit in the Word of
God:
a.
The person who stands at the _______________.
b.
The person who is plagued with temptation.
c.
The person whose _________________ seem to be prevailing against
him.
d.
The person whose faith rests in the promises of
God.
e.
The person who seeks __________________ to teach the
truth.
D.
Some people need to get an “attitude adjustment” when it comes to
studying the Word of God. They need
to bring their attitudes in line with some of the characters of the Bible: 1) Ezra (Ezra 7:10); 2) The psalmist
(Ps. 119:16); 3) __________ (Luke 10:39); 4) The _______________ (Acts 17:11);
4) The Thessalonians (I Thess. 2:13)
III.
PARTICIPATING IN SIN
A.
Sin in the ________________________ of God’s Word (I John
3:4).
1.
When we transgress the
law, we set ourselves against the law of God.
2.
This sin will soon
_________ our hearing and callous our _____________ to God’s
will.
B.
The children of
C.
We need to repent of our sins, and come back to God for healing and
restoration (Luke 13:3, 5).
CONCLUSION
A.
Just talking openly about them, one might think these hindrances are
simple to overcome. They, however,
are major obstacles in the way of some.
B.
To become God-pleasing Bible students, we must ________________ these
obstacles.
C.
We must be able to say as did the psalmist:
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways (Ps.
119:15).
