10 REASONS TO READ THE

BIBLE

TO FIND THE WAY TO GODAll religions are humans searching for God by their own efforts. In the Bible God is searching for us and showing us why we are out of touch with him and how to find him again.

We need God's words, not human wisdom:

Paul wrote to Timothy "From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

TO FIND THE ANSWER TO DEATH

Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."

So physical death is not the end: it is the gateway to eternal joy for those who trust in Jesus.

And if we are scared of dying, we can hold on to King David's words "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me."

TO FIND FIRM FOUNDATIONS IN LIFE

Jesus told a story about two people who built houses: one had good foundations, while the other was built on sand and soon collapsed.

"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." There is the point of thestory: we are unwise if we pay no attention to Jesus' words, for then we have no foundations.

TO FIND GENUINE HAPPINESS!

The writer of Ecclesiastes (King Solomon?)wrote "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. What does man gain from allhis labour at which he toils under the sun?"

He found that all life's pleasures, like study or laughter or wine or great building projects, were ultimately dissatisfying. Only in God can we find true satisfaction; and we find God through his word, the Bible.

TO FIND THE EXPLANATION FOR HUMAN WICKEDNESS

Why is there so much war, greed, crime and violence in the world? Some people claim that mankind is gradually getting better; but the Bible gives a more realistic diagnosis.

"Men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." Whether we read Old Testament history, or the Prophets, or the Gospels, we find the same answer: it is all due to human selfishness.

TO FIND ANSWERS TO DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

What is God like? How can God be three persons and yet one?

What exactly is the Gospel message? What about the Devil?

What is heaven like? What happens to those who have never heard of Jesus?

We can make guesses using our own human wisdom; but it is much better to go to the source book and find the true answers. Clearly the Psalmist studied God's word: he wrote "I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes".

TO HELP OTHERS FIND FAITH

Peter wrote: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give thereason for the hope you have";

The book of Proverbs says: "The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer".

In the Bible we discover what we need to say, and as it is inspired by God, it is more powerful than our own words in explaining sin, the cross and repentance.

TO FIND GUIDANCE IN LIFEWe can find general principles (like "Good sense makes a man slow to anger“, or "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you").

But we sometimes need directions now (Which subjects should I study? What career should I follow?Should I take on that leadership role?).

It is surprising how, when we ask God for guidance, a verse can leap off the page and be his answer.

TO FIND COMFORT IN TIMES OF PAIN, SORROW OR ILLNESS

Instead of asking ‘why did it happen to me’, read the Psalms (like Psalm 23), or see how people in the Bible faced suffering.

King Hezekiah came to see beyond his immediate illness: "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction". And Paul three times pleaded with God to take away his thorn in the flesh (we don't know exactly what it was) but God replied "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".

TO FIND GOD’S AGENDA FOR LOCAL CHURCHES

The church in Antioch was called to send out Paul and Barnabas on a special missionary journey.

Every group of believers is unique and faces different situations. What is God calling us to do here in our city/town/village? Do we need to pray together more, or start a lunch club for the elderly, or welcome refugees, or run meetings for businessmen. As we pray and study the Bible, God will speak about our particular situation.

FIND OUT MORE

Building the foundations of Bible understanding

This new book by Andrew Killick has been written for those who would like to get to know the Bible better.

We need foundations in life – especially when things like health, job and relationships go wrong. But how often do we simply avoid the Bible because we don’t know where to look or how it all fits together?

His book gives 12 chapters on Old Testament books

and 12 on the New Testament, plus helpful hints, summaries of each book and sections on what the Bible is and why we should study it.