Renewing Your Mind Podcast Summary

Title: How to Study the Bible
Host/Author: Ligonier Ministries
Episode Release Date: March 1, 2025
Podcast Series: Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow

Introduction

In the episode titled "How to Study the Bible," R.C. Sproul delves into the vital practice of Bible study, emphasizing its importance for Christian growth and spiritual maturity. Drawing from Paul's second letter to Timothy, Sproul outlines effective strategies for engaging with Scripture to guard against deception and to solidify one's faith.

1. The Supreme Source of Scripture

Sproul begins by asserting the divine origin of Scripture:

"The Supreme Source for the content of Scripture is not some person who's spinning out yarns and myths from his own perspective, but the claim that the apostle is making here... is that the source of Scripture is God himself, that God breathes it out."
[00:13]

He emphasizes that understanding Scripture requires recognizing it as God's word, not merely human opinion or mythology.

2. Paul's Exhortation to Timothy

Sproul examines Paul's second letter to Timothy, particularly focusing on the challenges Christians face:

"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, but evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."
[00:38]

He discusses the context of Paul's writing—imminent persecution under Emperor Nero—and the timeless relevance of Paul's advice to remain rooted in truth to resist false teachings.

3. Distinguishing Wisdom from Knowledge

Addressing the Jewish understanding of wisdom, Sproul differentiates between knowledge and wisdom:

"You can have knowledge without wisdom, but you cannot have wisdom without knowledge."
[Various timestamps]

He underscores that true wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord and that Scripture provides the essential knowledge necessary for acquiring such wisdom.

4. The Doctrine of Inspiration

Sproul delves into the biblical claim of divine inspiration:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."
[Various timestamps]

He explains that "inspiration" means God "breathing out" His word through human authors, ensuring that Scripture accurately reflects God's mind and intentions without human distortion.

5. Practical Steps for Bible Study

a. Structured Reading Plans

Sproul advocates for a systematic approach to reading both the Old and New Testaments to build a solid framework of biblical knowledge.

• Old Testament: Begin with Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and Ezra & Nehemiah to establish a historical overview before delving into other books.

  "Start reading at Genesis, read Exodus, then move to Joshua, to Judges, to first and Second Samuel, to Ezra and Nehemiah."
  [Various timestamps]

• New Testament: Initiate with the Gospel of Luke, followed by Acts, Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy, Hebrews, and Romans to understand the life of Christ and early church teachings.

  "Read first of all the Gospel of Luke... then the Book of Acts... Ephesians, 1 Corinthians... Hebrews and Romans."
  [Various timestamps]

b. Utilizing Study Aids

Sproul recommends incorporating tools such as commentaries and concordances to enhance understanding:

"Every student of the Bible should have a concordance on their desk... A concordance will list every time a single word in the text appears anywhere in scripture."
[Various timestamps]

He also suggests using highlighters and writing notes directly in the Bible to engage actively with the text.

c. Engaging with the Text Existentially

Emphasizing personal involvement, Sproul encourages readers to connect deeply with Scripture:

"Read the Bible existentially... get in the shoes of Abraham... ask yourself, how does Jacob feel when he encounters God?"
[Various timestamps]

This approach fosters a transformative experience, allowing the Bible to penetrate and influence one's daily life.

6. Overcoming Challenges in Bible Study

Sproul addresses common obstacles, such as the difficulty in progressing past books like Leviticus and Numbers due to their legalistic content. He advises maintaining perseverance and utilizing structured reading plans to navigate these challenging sections.

"Most people endeavor to read the Bible initially from COVID to cover, and they start with good intentions... but then ...Leviticus goes over and over these minute laws... people become discouraged and they sort of drop out."
[Various timestamps]

He draws parallels from his own academic experiences to illustrate the importance of having a foundational framework to absorb and integrate detailed knowledge effectively.

7. The Importance of Regular Bible Reading

Highlighting statistics from his audience, Sproul notes that even dedicated Christians often have not completed reading the entire Bible.

"Only 50% of this group have completed the entire text of Sacred Scripture... the biggest reason many of us fail to complete the reading of the entire Scriptures is how we go about it."
[Various timestamps]

He reinforces the necessity of regular and disciplined Bible study as essential for comprehensive spiritual growth.

Conclusion: Growing to Maturity Through Scripture

Sproul concludes by likening Christian growth to moving from "milk to meat," advocating for a mature engagement with Scripture to become "thoroughly equipped for every good work."

"The author of Hebrews... exhorts us not to be satisfied with milk, not to be content with being eaten infants in the faith, but to grow to maturity on the meat of the Word of God."
[37:56]

He underscores that diligent and disciplined Bible study is indispensable for achieving spiritual maturity and effectiveness in one's Christian walk.

Notable Quotes

• On Divine Inspiration:
  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God."
  [Various timestamps]

• On Wisdom vs. Knowledge:
  "You can have knowledge without wisdom, but you cannot have wisdom without knowledge."
  [Various timestamps]

• On Engaging with Scripture:
  "Read the Bible existentially... get in the shoes of Abraham."
  [Various timestamps]

Final Thoughts

R.C. Sproul's episode on "How to Study the Bible" offers a comprehensive guide for Christians seeking to deepen their understanding of Scripture. By advocating for structured reading plans, the use of study aids, and an existential engagement with the text, Sproul provides practical tools to overcome common challenges in Bible study. His emphasis on the divine inspiration of Scripture and the pursuit of wisdom over mere knowledge serves as a foundational principle for effective and meaningful engagement with the Bible.

For more insights and resources, consider registering for Ligonier's 2025 National Conference or exploring additional materials at ligonier.org.