The document discusses the state of biblical literacy in America, highlighting that many Christians lack knowledge of the Bible and its teachings despite a general reverence for it. Research indicates a significant number of adults cannot identify basic biblical concepts, leading to widespread misconceptions. It emphasizes the importance of studying scripture to become proficient and equipped for faith and conduct, as highlighted in 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

1. Equipped
2 Timothy 3:14–17
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2. 2 Timothy 3:14–17
You, however, continue in the things you have learned
and become convinced of, knowing from whom you
have learned them, and that from childhood you have
known the sacred writings which are able to give you
the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness; so that the man of God may
be adequate, equipped for every good work.

3. Equipped
2 Timothy 3:14–17
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4. Barna Research
17% of Christians have a biblical worldview.
61% agree with ideas rooted in New Spirituality.
54% resonate with postmodernist views. (subjective)
29% believe ideas based on secularism.

5. Shocking
Researchers George Gallup and Jim Castelli put the problem squarely: “Americans revere the Bible—but, by and large,
they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.” How bad is it?
Researchers tell us that it’s worse than most could imagine.
Fewer than half of all adults can name the four Gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of
the disciples. According to data from the Barna Research Group, 60 percent of Americans can’t name even five of the
Ten Commandments. “No wonder people break the Ten Commandments all the time. They don’t know what they
are,” said George Barna, president of the firm. The bottom line? “Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.”
Multiple surveys reveal the problem in stark terms. According to 82 percent of Americans, “God helps those who help
themselves,” is a Bible verse. Those identified as born-again Christians did better—by one percent. A majority of
adults think the Bible teaches that the most important purpose in life is taking care of one’s family.
Some of the statistics are enough to perplex even those aware of the problem. A Barna poll indicated that at least 12
percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed
that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. A considerable number of
respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham.
LESS THAN ½ OF CHRISTIANS READ THE BIBLE DAILY

7. An ongoing process
…continue in the things you have learned and become
convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned
them, and that from childhood you have known the
sacred writings…

8. Studying
Continue in what you have learned
Convinced-sure about because of it’s reliability
Study the word from childhood

9. Foundational Truth
2 Timothy 3:16…All Scripture is inspired by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness;
Notice the source…
Notice what it is used for…

10. By God
God breathed-living word
At creation God breathed and
man became a living being

11. Our
Fundamental
Belief
The Scriptures, both the Old and
New Testaments, are verbally
inspired of God and are the
revelation of God to man, the
infallible, authoritative rule of
faith and conduct.

12. The Outcome
2 Timothy 3:17…so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.
Adequate-qualified or proficient
In matters of faith and conduct

13. God equips us
Hebrews 13:20–21…Now
the God of peace…equip
you in every good thing to
do His will, working in us
that which is pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ…

14. This is how you get there
2 Timothy 2:15…Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God as a workman who does not need to
be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Diligent-to do something with intense effort and
motivation

15. Your Textbook
Hebrews 4:12…For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as
far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and
marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions
of the heart.
This is what we become proficient with

16. Old and New
Romans 15:4…For
whatever was written
in earlier times was
written for our
instruction, so that
through perseverance
and the
encouragement of the
Scriptures we might
have hope.

17. A must have on
the journey of life
Psalm 119:105…Your word
is a lamp to my feet And a
light to my path.

18. Your Teacher
John 14:26…But the Helper, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in My name, He will
teach you all things, and bring
to your remembrance all that I
said to you.

19. Your Teacher
1 Corinthians 2:13…which
things we also speak, not in
words taught by human
wisdom, but in those taught
by the Spirit, combining
spiritual thoughts with
spiritual words.

20. Your Teacher
1 John 2:27…As for you, the anointing which you
received from Him abides in you, and you have no need
for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches
you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just
as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

21. Commercial
Faith Comes By Hearing
• Free
• Native Language
• Multiple Versions

22. Study to show yourself
approved
Bible
Pen and paper

23. How to start
Pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead

24. Ask Questions
Who
What
Where
When
Why
How

25. Who
Who wrote it? While all Scripture is God-
breathed, God used humans to
accomplish the task of writing the
books of the Bible. Each writer
brings his own personality and
writing style to the text, which
makes it fun to switch from Paul’s
logic and sarcasm to John’s more
love-filled letters. It also helps
explain things like how similar
James’ letter is to the Sermon on
the Mount, considering James was
Jesus’ half-brother.

26. What
What genre is it?
1. Law
2. History
3. Poetry
4. Prophesy
5. Gospel
6. Epistle
Each book of the Bible is written in
one or more genres. Knowing the
genre of a passage helps us choose
which interpretative tools to use with
each text.
Just like you read the Sunday comics
differently than you read Shakespeare,
so you’ll read Proverbs differently than
the Sermon on the Mount

27. Where
Where did it go? Simply put, the Bible is written FOR us
but it wasn’t written TO us. And you
get into tricky territory if you try to
take some of the words of Scripture as
if they were written for you. Now this
isn’t to say we can’t learn from these
books. They’re part of the Bible for a
reason. But we must begin by asking,
“Where did the writer send this book
after he finished writing it? Who read
it? What did their lives look like? How
would they have understood it?” Then
we’ll begin getting a better picture of
what the writer’s intent was.

28. When
3. When was it written? Did you know the books of the
Bible are not presented in
chronological order? They’re
grouped by genres instead . So
it’s fascinating to discover that
the book of Job (which comes
right before Psalms) was
written sometime just after
the Flood. perspective-shift.
Answering “when” also tells us
a lot about the culture of the
time and place

29. Why
Why was it written? writers write with a specific purpose in
mind. So it is with the writers of
Scripture. Moses wrote the first five
books to instruct the Israelites and
remind them what God had done for
them. Paul wrote Galatians to confront
those who said circumcision was
necessary for salvation. Others wrote to
admonish, inspire, warn, and encourage.
We can tell why a book was written by
identifying major themes and repeated
ideas. Look at these in light of the Big
Story, the cultural and historical context,
and you’ll soon get a better
understanding of why the book was
written in the first place.

30. How
How should I respond?
How do I do this?
How do I share this?