2. Growing in Grace Through The Knowledge of God’s Word The Bible is how God chose to express Himself to us, and how to instruct us in His ways.

3. 2 Peter 1:1-4 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

4. Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

5. We Get from God’s Word... Appreciation Isaiah 55:10-11 Appreciation Isaiah 55:10-11

6. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

7. We Get from God’s Word... Appreciation Isaiah 55:10-11 Profitable Instructions 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Appreciation Isaiah 55:10-11 Profitable Instructions 2 Timothy 3:16-17

8. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

9. We Get from God’s Word... Appreciation Isaiah 55:10-11 Profitable Instructions 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Understanding 2 Peter 1:19-21 Appreciation Isaiah 55:10-11 Profitable Instructions 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Understanding 2 Peter 1:19-21

10. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

11. Bible Facts The Bible has one author – God About 40 men recorded the words of inspiration 66 Books in the Bible (39/27) The Bible has one author – God About 40 men recorded the words of inspiration 66 Books in the Bible (39/27) God wrote the 10 command- ments with His own finger Bible written over about 1,600 years God’s word protected by Providence

12. Jeremiah 36:23-25 And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe's knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. 25 Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them.

13. Jeremiah 36:31-32 “I will punish him, his family, and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the doom that I have pronounced against them; but they did not heed.” 32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And besides, there were added to them many similar words.

14. Psalm 119:1-8 Walk in the Law of the Lord Observe God’s testimonies Diligently keep God’s precepts (teachings) Establish your habit to keep God’s statutes Be Thankful for God’s commandments Keep God’s statutes because His judgments are righteous Walk in the Law of the Lord Observe God’s testimonies Diligently keep God’s precepts (teachings) Establish your habit to keep God’s statutes Be Thankful for God’s commandments Keep God’s statutes because His judgments are righteous

15. Get A Plan (Just Do It!) Read books. (Caution: Choose sound books. Do not depend upon them more than the Bible). Daily Bible Reading (Schedule on bulletin board) Read books. (Caution: Choose sound books. Do not depend upon them more than the Bible). Daily Bible Reading (Schedule on bulletin board) Chapter-a-day from Proverbs (31 chapters) Psalm-a-day for 5 months (150 psalms) Read the whole Bible (not overwhelming, easy to do in a year).

16. Our Desire to Know God David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11 David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11

17. (4), One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. (8), When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (11), Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. (4), One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. (8), When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (11), Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

18. Our Desire to Know God David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11 David’s Three Requests Psalm 119:33-35 David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11 David’s Three Requests Psalm 119:33-35

19. Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.

20. Our Desire to Know God David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11 David’s Three Requests Psalm 119:33-35 The Berean’s Daily Search Acts 17:10-12 David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11 David’s Three Requests Psalm 119:33-35 The Berean’s Daily Search Acts 17:10-12

21. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

22. Our Desire to Know God David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11 David’s Three Requests Psalm 119:33-35 The Berean’s Daily Search Acts 17:10-12 A Baby’s Desire 1 Peter 2:1-3 David’s Desire to “Inquire” Psalm 27:4, 8, 11 David’s Three Requests Psalm 119:33-35 The Berean’s Daily Search Acts 17:10-12 A Baby’s Desire 1 Peter 2:1-3

23. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

24. “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 (Discipline needed) Consider When Get up early… Turn off TV sooner Consider What Remember our suggestions for Bible study Consider Where No distractions… Hard to read in bed. Consider How Begin with prayer… keep a journal… establish a routine for success! Consider When Get up early… Turn off TV sooner Consider What Remember our suggestions for Bible study Consider Where No distractions… Hard to read in bed. Consider How Begin with prayer… keep a journal… establish a routine for success!

25. Conclusion Live the Word! Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. Psalms 143:8