102
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
February 1930
not have respect unto it? Let the life be a doing of what you learn. 5. Pass it On—Ps. 119:27. If the cow is not milked she goes dry. Spiritual truth is best retained by giving it away. How To Study Your Bible Systematically —2 Tim. 2:15. A care less reader o f the Bible is never made a close walker with God. Notice three things in this verse: Meditation—Motive —Method. Earnestly— Psa. 119:18. Not the obscur ity o f the Bible but our own blindness-— is the trouble. Bathe study in prayer. The Holy Spirit is a sure teacher.—Jno. 16:14. Anxiously— Psa. 119:27. Understand before you talk. Be anxious to under stand that you may talk. Grasp the “Sword of the Spirit.” Regularly —Psa. 1 :2, 3. Note how the godly man uses his Bible. The result-— fruit-bearing and prosperity. Carefully —-2 Tim. 3 :16, 17. Don’t mere ly go through the Bible; let it go through you. Humbly —John 7:17. Obedience is the best, commentary on the Bible. Walk humbly in the light. —Keith L. Brooks. Announcements and Offering. (Leader for _next meeting should be given oppor tunity at this point to say something in regard to his or her meeting.) Some member recite poem “The Bible Through” given under “ Side-Lights.” Leader’s Remarks. Closing Song. Benediction—Society repeat Psalm 19: 14. * * HS T reatment of T opic Leader read the words or sentences of outline as each passage is called for. This subject is one o f the most im portant of all topics selected by the topic committee. It is just as impossible to grow spirit ually by not regularly feeding upon the Word of God as it is to grow physically without regularly feeding our bodies with the proper foods. “Thy words were found and I did eat them,” said Jeremiah. The Bible is not only to be read, but, like food, is to be assimilated and di gested by careful, prayerful study. The word “study” used in 2 Tim. 2:15, means to give diligence, to' endeavor to labor. The meaning o f the word as given by Funk & Wagnall’s College Standard Dictionary is, “The act of studying; ap plication of the mind to books, to art or science, etc.; also, a particular instance or form of mental work. . . . Some thing to be studied; a branch or depart ment o f knowledge.” So as we approach the Book of all books, the Bible, how im portant it is for the child of God to search and study the Scriptures. The topic calls for ways whereby such study can be made profitable. In the Scripture' passages read this evening we have some splendid suggestions from the Word itself as to what to do with and how to study the Bible. Disraeli once remarked that he had noticed that those who had the most information generally reach the highest places. It is true in the work of
God. Study the Word, and you will know God better, know men better, and know yourself better. What most people lack is a carefully prepared plan for systematic Bible study. Here is a suggestion for your society: The Bible Institute o f Los Angeles oilers sixteen systematic Bible correspondence courses. Appoint a committee to consider organizing a Bible-study class meeting one night a week and send for the pros pectus describing these courses. Special class rates are offered. The writer of these notes is the Secretary of the Cor respondence School and will consider it a great privilege to assist any society in the selection o f a proper course. Be sure to use all the Side-Lights given for today’s lesson. * * * S ide -L ights The Bible Through I supposed I knew my Bible, Reading piecemeal, hit or miss, Now a bit of John or Matthew, Now a snatch o f Genesis, Certain chapters o f Isaiah, Certain Psalms (the twenty-third!), Twelfth of Romans, First o f Proverbs— Yes, I thought I knew the W ord! But I found that thorough reading Was a different thing to do, And the way was unfamiliar When I read the Bible through. You who like to play at Bible, Dip and dabble, here and there, Just before you kneel, aweary, And yawn through a hurried prayer, You who treat the Crown o f writings As you treat no other book— Just a paragraph disjointed, Just a crude, impatient look— Try a worthier procedure, Try a broad and steady view; You will kneel in very rapture When.you read the Bible through! —Arnos R. Wells. Not only read but eat ( assimilate ) the Word. —A monkey one day climbed a peach tree which was laden with lus cious fruit. Delighted over the discovery, he at once busily set himself to gathering it to his heart’s content. He picked one and put it under his arm; picked an other, and still another. Finally, sup posing he had enough, he started for home. To his utter amazement, however, he found that he had only one peach. How did this happen? -Each time' he stored another peach under his arm, the former one dropped to the ground. Had he eaten them as he picked them, he would not have lost any. When we read the Word of God, let us give full atten tion to it ; let its truths sink down deep into our minds and hearts; eat it, digest it, assimilate it. PI am the living bread which came down from heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (John 6:51). How Best to Acquire a Knowledge o f the Bible By R ev . J. W. C onley 1. Have a good plain-type Bible, to gether with Concordance, textbook, and if possible one good Commentary and
Bible History. A revised Version should also be at hand. 2. Read- the Bible consecutively, exten sively and regularly, seeking to become thoroughly familiar with the Book as a whole.' 3. Mark the passages which impress you, and in a notebook jot down matters for special study, also such thoughts as may seem valuable. 4. _Become thoroughly familiar with the historic and geographic setting o f the Biblical narrative. 5. Make a special study o f separate books, noting particularly the occasion, the purpose, the characteristics and doc trines of the book. 6. Study topics, comparing Scripture with Scripture. Read also what the best writers have given upon the' subjects. 7. Commit to memory very, much of God’s Word. No habit will more thor oughly enrich the mind. 8. Seek the truth in order to use it. Make it the rule and support of your own life, and the means of leading others to the blessings o f salvation. 9. Beware o f irreverence in the treat ment of God’s Book. Scripture should not be the object or vehicle o f jest, nor treated with a familiarity which breeds contempt. 10. Cultivate independence in investi gation ; not, however, despising th e thoughts o f others, nor forgetting that true independence is constant dependence upon God. —o— February 16, 1930 Lessons from John’s First Epistle 1 John 1:7-10; 3:1-3 S uggestive O rder of S ervice Opening Songs: “ There is Power in the Blood,” “The Touch of His Hand on Mine.” Scripture Reading by leader, or re sponsive—1 John 1:1-2:2. Prayer by leader. Announcements and Offering. Special Musical Number. Leader’s Remarks. Testimonies from members. Closing Song: “Draw Me Nearer.” Benediction—Leader repeat Jude 24:25. * * * T reatment of T opic The First Epistle of John was written to believers by the Apostle John, the pur pose o f this letter being, “that ye may have fellowship.” The following brief outline by Dr. W. P. White,, in his correspondence course “Thinking Through the Scriptures,” will serve to show the outstanding lessons of this book; 1. Fellowship with God involves a right attitude toward sin. 1:1-2:2. 2. Fellowship with God involves a right attitude toward the brethren. 2:L; 3:11, 14, 23; 4:11, 12, 20, 21. 3. Fellowship with God involves a right attitude toward the world. 2:15-17: 3 :2, 13; 5:5, 19. 4. Fellowship with God involves a clean life in anticipation of the coming of the Lord. 3 :l-4.
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