A Student of the Bible Prov. 22:17-21 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Every pastor and teacher of God’s words, the pastor of a church, a Sunday school teacher, the teacher of a Bible study, an itinerate preacher, a missionary or an evangelist should follow these verses – they explain his relationship to the words of God and to the God that wrote the words – so that he can give the right answer to any person that inquires about the words.  This text covers how a student of the word should study and what he should believe.

How to study – v.17-18

Humbly – bow down thine ear – humble mind, believing heart

Attentively – hear the words of the wise – careful attention to the words of the Bible and when checking commentaries, make sure the men are wise (some are wise cracks)

Earnestly – apply THINE heart – must put your heart into it – you have to allow the words to make application in your life first – and you have to live by those words

Unforgettably – if thou keep them within thee – you memorize key aspects of the study so that you can keep what you have learned within you – there are ways to do this – acrostics – visual charts – chains of references (like the Romans road)

Repeatedly – fitted within the lips – so that you can handle the material clearly enough that others can get what you have learned and learn from it – until you can present the material confidently and clearly – not a last minute deal

What to believe [to get the most out of your study] – v.19-21

That God reveals the book – trust the Lord to make the things known to you – 1 Cor 2:10-16; Lk 24

That God wrote the book – Ps 68:11, Ps 12:6-7, 2 Tim 3:15-16 these are God’s words

That God’s words are certain – 2 Pet 1:19-21 – not private interpretation [sure word of prophecy] and that the doctrine is always the same and always right – men are wrong – there are absolutely no mistakes in the book

That God gives you the answer of truth [to give to those who inquire] – like Matt 10:20; Jn 16:13-14; Jn 14:26