The document discusses why people value and risk so much to own a Bible, and why the Bible has power to change lives. It notes that while written by many authors over centuries, the Bible contains a complete integrated message from God. Several Bible passages are presented that testify to the authority and reliability of Scripture. The document argues that the Bible should be read because it is God's Word that can teach truth, correct mistakes, make lives whole, and train people to do what is right. Reading the Bible with an open mindset will help one understand God and his ways.

1. Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
Bible readings:Acts 17:1-15 (Page 785)
Matthew 7:24-29 (Page 686)
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2. Why Read
the Bible?
• Why do so many value
the Bible so highly?
• Why do so many risk
so much to own a
copy?
• Why is the Bible such
a dangerous book?
• Why does the Bible
have power to change
lives?
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3. Why Read
the Bible?
• God is the ultimate
author of all that
recorded in the Bible.
• Written by 40 men
over more than 1,500
years yet a complete
integrated message
system.
• How can we be
certain?
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4. The Testimony
of the Bible
• “Don’t misunderstand why I
have come. I did not come
to abolish the Law of Moses
or the writings of the
prophets. No, I came to
accomplish their purpose. I
tell you the truth, until
heaven and earth disappear,
not even the smallest detail
of God’s law will disappear
until its purpose is
achieved.” (Matthew 5:17–
18, NLT)
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5. The Testimony
of the Bible
• “May God receive glory. He is
able to strengthen your faith
because of the good news I
preach. It is the message
about Jesus Christ. It is in
keeping with the mystery that
was hidden for a very long
time. The mystery has now
been made known through
the writings of the prophets.
The eternal God commanded
that it be made known. He
wanted all nations to believe
and obey him.” (Romans
16:25–26, NIrV)
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6. The Testimony
of the Bible
• “We never stop thanking
God for the way you
received His word. You
heard it from us. But
you didn’t accept it as a
human word. You
accepted it for what it
really is. It is God’s
word. It is at work in
you who believe.” (1
Thessalonians 2:13,
NIrV)
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7. The Testimony
of the Bible
• “You have known the Holy
Scriptures ever since you
were a little child. They are
able to teach you how to be
saved by believing in Christ
Jesus. God has breathed life
into all of Scripture. It is
useful for teaching us what is
true. It is useful for
correcting our mistakes. It is
useful for making our lives
whole again. It is useful for
training us to do what is
right.” (2 Timothy 3:15–16,
NIrV)
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8. The Test of
Prophecy
• If a book predicts something
is going to happen and it
doesn't you can not trust the
author or the authority he
claims.
• Jesus applied this test to
explain to the disciples the
meaning and the purpose of
His death and resurrection:
“And beginning with Moses
and all the Prophets, he
explained to them what was
said in all the Scriptures
concerning himself.” (Luke
24:27, NIV84)
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9. The Test of
Prophecy
• There are more than 48
direct prophecies
concerning Christ in the
OT.
• The chances of one man
fulfilling just 8 of these
prophecies by coincidence
is 1 chance in
100,000,000,000,000,000.
(Peter Stoner - Mathematician)
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10. The Test of Personal
Experience
• Try living for the
next 6 weeks as
if every word of
the Bible were
true.
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11. The Question
of Authority
• What authority does the bible have over me?
• Either man is over the Bible or the Bible is over man.
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12. The Question
of Authority
• What authority does the bible have over me?
• Either man is over the Bible or the Bible is over man.
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I decide
what I will
accept.
The Word of God
Lord
help me to
understand
and apply.
The Word of God
or
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13. The Question
of Authority
• Jesus accepted the
absolute authority of the
written word over His
life.
• His whole life was
shaped by what God had
caused to be written
before he was born.
• Since this is how Jesus
treated the Bible, how
can we do less?
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14. Why I should
Read the Bible
• The reason we read the Bible
and seek to understand it is
because it has God's authority
and power behind it.
• By reading it and seeking to
understand and apply it, His
presence and power can flow
into our lives.
• Unless you read and seek to
understand the Bible you will
not learn the ways and mind
of the Lord who loves you and
died for you.
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15. Why I should
Read the Bible
• [The Scriptures are]
“useful for teaching us
what is true.
• It is useful for correcting
our mistakes.
• It is useful for making
our lives whole again.
• It is useful for training us
to do what is right.”
(2 Timothy 3:15–16, NIrV)
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16. Why I should
Read the Bible
• To start reading the Bible give
yourself a modest, achievable
goal.
• “So Jesus said to the Jews who had
believed him, “If you abide in my
word, you are truly my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free.”” (John
8:31–32, ESV)
• “Jesus said to the people who
believed in him, “You are truly my
disciples if you remain faithful to
my teachings. And you will know
the truth, and the truth will set
you free.” (John 8:31–32, NLT)
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