Abundant LIFE Lessons
Abundant LIFE Lessons
Track 1 – Essentials to Christian Living
Lesson #1 – The Bible: Life’s Instruction Manual
Objective – This lesson is designed to give a basic understanding of the reliability and importance of the Bible in the everyday life of a Christian.
Format – The format is an individual daily exercise of reading and answering questions concluding with a weekly discussion in a LIFEgroup setting. (There is no reading or questions for Sunday.) The LIFEgroup leader will take role and keep track of the disciple’s progress and faithfulness. Each disciple must recite the scripture memory to the LIFEgroup leader at the LIFEgroup meeting. Those who complete each track will receive a Certificate of Completion at an awards ceremony on a weekend service.
Note – It may be a wise investment to holepunch the left hand side of the lessons and organize them in a three-ring binder. Write questions in the margins during your devotional time to ask at LIFEgroup. Take notes during discussions for future reference so you can use them when you disciple another new believer in the future.
Scripture Memory
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ” (2 Timothy 3:15–17)
Day #1 Reading
It is the general consensus of our society that human knowledge has two distinct sources—reason and experience. Reason tells us, for instance, that if fire will burn fuels such as paper, wood and gasoline, it will probably burn me, too. Experience is gained after I put my hand in the fire and I’m nursing a wound. Although, each of us possesses these very practical sources of knowledge, these same sources fail to answer some of our most important and challenging questions, like: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?”
There is another source of knowledge we must turn to in order to answer these more challenging questions. This source is called revelation. There are two types of revelation. These are general revelation and specific or sometimes called special revelation. General revelation has been given to all people, regardless of their beliefs or religious background. General revelation is given in the form of Creation. Look up and read Psalms 19:1-6 in your Bible and mark it for future reference. Creation alone is enough evidence of God’s existence that we are all without excuse. Because of the declaration of Creation, no one will be able to stand before God and claim ignorance on the Day of Judgment. Look up and read Romans 1:18-20 and mark it for future reference. The second type of revelation is called specific or special revelation. This type involves a more direct communication or revealing of truth to man. In times past, special revelation has been given by angels, through dreams and visions and through Jesus Christ when he was here on earth. However, we have the completed revelation from God to man in the Bible. The Bible is inspired by God. It is from God’s Word that we get our instructions for life. Look up and read 2 Timothy 3:15-17 in your Bible and mark this passage.
Day #1 Questions
1. What are the two generally accepted sources of human knowledge?
2. What are the three most important questions in life these sources fail to answer?
3. What is the only source that will answer these questions?
4. What are the two types of revelation?
5. How do they differ from each other?
Write out your Scripture Memory
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Day #2 Reading
It is the Bible that shows mankind his need of a Savior. It reveals to us what our relationship with God is like before salvation and how to receive the gift of eternal life. It is the Bible that teaches us what Heaven is like, what Hell is like and how to live so as to please God and be successful in this life. Apart from the Bible we can never truly know the heart and will of God. What we believe about the Bible will ultimately determine what we believe about everything else in life.
Everyone has a final authority. Some people choose to make their parents or their feelings or what a particular religious institution has taught them the final authority. Since the Bible is inspired (God-breathed), it is the foundation for our lives—our final authority for matters of faith and life. Recall this week’s memory verse.
God’s word warns us against human philosophy and tradition. Look up and read Colossians 2:8. Mark it for future reference. The word spoil in that verse comes from a military analogy that means to take the loot from the enemy after a victory in battle. Perhaps you’re familiar with the expression, “the spoils of war.” Men will try and steal from you through philosophy and tradition.
Solomon, Israel’s wisest king told his son to make his law the apple of his eye; in other words, the center of his life, and it would bring him life. “Keep my commandments, and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye. ” (Proverbs 7:2) We would be wise to do the same with God’s word, the Bible. It is important that each of us hide God’s word in our heart and never let a day pass without spending time in it. Look up and read Psalm 119:9-11. Mark it for future reference. A wise person once said concerning the Bible, “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the book.”
Day #2 Questions
1. What can we discover about our relationship with God by reading the Bible?
2. What can we discover about God by reading the Bible?
3. What, for you, is the final authority for matters of faith and life?
4. What does God warn us to beware of in Colossians 2:8?
5. What does it mean to make God’s Word the Apple of your eye?
Write out your Scripture Memory
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Day #3 Reading
The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents. Author unknown
It is important to make the Bible an every day part of our lives. Without it, we will drift back into carnal thinking patterns, fulfill the lusts of the flesh, ruin our testimony, make bad decisions and even bring a reproach on our Savior’s name. In other words, we will not be as successful in life as God intends for us to be if we fail to read and study the Bible. Look up and read Joshua 1:8. Mark if for future reference. Consistency in God’s word renews our minds. Look up and read Romans 12:1-2. Mark it for future reference. The following are a few quotes about the Bible from some of our founding fathers and other influential men from our country’s history.
George Washington: “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
Andrew Jackson: “That book, sir, is the rock on which our republic rests.”
Abraham Lincoln: “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.”
Horace Greeley: “It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.
Day #3 Questions
1. What do you believe George Washington meant by his statement?
2. What is the catalyst for the renewing of our minds?
3. What causes success according to the Bible?
Write out your Scripture Memory
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Day #4 Reading
The Bible is a unique book for many reasons. For one thing it is unique in the way it was compiled. It is comprised of 66 books divided into two sections. Thirty-nine of the books are part of the Old Testament. The other 27 make up the New Testament. It was penned by 40 different men over a period of approximately 1500 years without a single contradiction in its theme or purpose. These men penned the very words of God exactly as they were given to them. This is called inspiration. We say the Bible was inspired, or God-breathed. Look up and read 2 Peter 1:19-21. Mark it for future reference. The following are some passages that deal with the accuracy of the Bible.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. ” (Psalm 19:7)
“Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. ” (Psalm 119:160)
“Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. ” (Proverbs 30:5)
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever. ” (Isaiah 40:8)
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. ” (Matthew 24:35)
Day #4 Questions
1. How many books are in the Bible?
2. How many of them are Old Testament?
3. Over how many years were the Scriptures penned?
4. How many penmen participated?
5. What does the word inspiration mean?
Write out your Scripture Memory
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Day #5 Reading
The Bible is not only unique in the way it was compiled, but also unique in the way it has been kept. We call this preservation. God’s word is inspired and it is preserved. Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven. ” Recall Matthew 24:35 from yesterday’s reading. Also, look up and read 1 Peter 1:23-25. Mark it for future reference. Within the first century, all of the books we have in the Bible today were in existence and were being circulated, copied and distributed among the Christian churches. These faithful men and women risked their lives—and many gave their lives—for the publication and distribution of the Bible.
Many people are confused and have believed false conjectures that the Bible has lost its accuracy over the years because of the repeated copying and the potential for mistakes. But, this is actually quite contrary. Because of the enormous scope and range of its distribution, the number of manuscripts available today allows for accurate assessment of the manuscripts and any scribal errors are fairly easily recognized.
To illustrate, look at your hands. You can recognize what a hand should look like because you have seen yours so many times, you would know if any scars or deformities were to develop. Further, you have seen so many hands in your lifetime, that although they all may be slightly different in size, color and aesthetics, you can tell when a hand has a deformity when you see it. This is what linguists and literary scientists call textual criticism. It is the study and comparison of Bible manuscripts based on the vast amount of texts and manuscripts available. The enormous distribution rate—even before the printing press—is how God used history to preserve his word.
Day #5 Questions
1. Will we ever lose the Word of God?
2. Where is the Word settled?
3. What is the process of manuscript evaluation called?
4. The Bible has been inspired by God, but it has also been what?
5. What illustration was used to demonstrate textual criticism?
Write out your Scripture Memory
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Day #6 Reading
The Bible is not only inspired and preserved, but it is also inerrant. This means that it is completely accurate in what it teaches and declares. While people are still arguing about their origin, Christians are secure in the fact that God is the Creator, because the Bible declares it. How do we know we can trust the Bible about Creation? Everything from science to archeological discoveries has only confirmed the Bible’s declarations. For example, in 1799 doctors bled George Washington to death trying to cure him. Had they read the Bible sitting on his nightstand near the bed where he died, they would have learned from Leviticus 17:11 that the life of the flesh is in the blood. Another example is that of Christopher Columbus. In 1492, he sailed the ocean blue. He wasn’t afraid to fall off the earth as the common people believed he would because the Bible claimed the earth was round and hung on nothing and he believed the Bible. The book of Daniel foretells the rise and fall of specific world empires with stunning accuracy 400 years before they happen. Stories like these as well as the fact that archeological and scientific discoveries have consistently confirmed the Bible’s declarations demonstrate its inerrancy.
Day #6 Questions
1. The Bible is inspired, preserved and completely what?
2. In what book of the Bible is world history outlined before it happens?
3. According to our memory verse what are the four things the Bible is good for?
4. Did Christopher Columbus believe he would fall of the earth? Why?
Write out your Scripture Memory
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