The Best Bible Study You Ever Taught

Is the one you have taught to yourself. If you want to be a good teacher, and I mean really good, it starts with you teaching yourself. Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in what he had learned and believed from his youth, particularly the Word of God that explains salvation through faith in Christ in 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Paul explains how scripture is the key to his growth saying in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

And most Bible teachers know that God’s Word is the key to Christian growth. In fact, most of the people you teach know that to be the case. But here is the difference. As a teacher, have you learned what you are teaching? To say it another way, are you putting into practice what you have learned from the Word?

James reminds us of the dynamic of being doers of the Word in James 1:21-27 saying “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James goes on to give an illustration of a man who looks into the mirror and forgets what he looks like, being like someone who learns from the word and doesn’t apply it to himself. Finally in James 1:26-27 James gives examples of what it means to really have a religion of value and it is practically doing what God was revealed in his Word. This same sentiment can be seen in Luke 8:21, Matthew 7:21, John 13:17, and Romans 2:13.

What a difference it makes if you come to your Bible study or step into the pulpit having already let the Word of God change your heart, striving to put into practice the truths that you have mined from God’s Word. If you have let your Biblical knowledge translate into life practice you become a powerful teacher for the Gospel. Then when you speak, you can speak as if you are speaking the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11) because you are doing it in the strength of God that you have experienced as you have put God’s Word into practice.

If you have ever wondered how that Christian sage in your church is able to rattle off the best devotion at the drop of hat it is because he has already lived out and is living out what he is teaching. He has found the key to growing in Christ is regularly listening and studying God’s Word and then putting it into practice. The formula is easy: study the Word-put into practice what you learn-teach others.

If you will approach the Word of God as a humble learner willing to do what God reveals to you in his Word and put it in practice, you will be preparing yourself to deliver the best Bible study ever.




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