THE BIBLE MEETS LIFEI am not mechanically inclined. I once bought an assemble-it-yourself bedside table. As I began the assembly process, I discovered the back panel was too small. Frustrated, I returned it to the store and exchanged it for another. I started the assembly process again, and to my dismay, the second table also had a back panel that was too small. My frustration morphed into anger. I was cramming everything back into the box and rehearsing the speech I was going to give customer service about their product when it dawned on me that maybe I should glance at the instructions. Lo and behold, the back panel had to be unfolded. It was bent in two for shipping. When I unfolded it, the panel fit perfectly! Oh the grief I could have saved myself if only I had read the instructions.

The Bible is life’s operating manual. It teaches us how to live in every major issue we face in life. It provides a sure guide to success and joy. Unfortunately, too many people fail to read the instructions! The first step to knowing God’s will is to read the owner’s manual: His Word.

2 | God’s Will and the Bible

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GROUP TIME

THE POINT: God gives us ___________ through His __________ .

Throughout this six-week study, we will see a variety of ways God communicates His will, but the most common way is through the Bible . The key is to regularly read throughout the entirety of the Bible to glean God’s will for every area of life . The pages of Scripture are God’s revelation to us about Himself, who we are, and how we’re to live in relation to Him .

Psalm 19:7-10 7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.

God’s Word can be fully ___________ to reveal God’s will. Psalm 19:7-9 mentions six aspects of God’s Word that provide everything needed for us to know how to live life to its fullest . These descriptions reveal the breadth and depth of God’s Word .

“The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life” (v. 7). The instruction found in the Bible doesn’t grow out of date, nor is it any less effective from one generation or culture to another . It continues to have the ability to renew our lives, restore us when we’ve failed, and empower us to face difficulties .

“The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise” (v. 7). Heeding God’s instruction makes us wise . God offers wise counsel for every major challenge and responsibility of life .

“The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad” (v. 8). Rather than being a burden, God’s Word brings joy, for it protects us from sin, failure, and guilt . Righteous living leads to joy, not legalism .

“The command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up” (v. 8). The world often tempts people to act self-centered, feel ashamed, or view themselves as inadequate . Scripture makes us God-centered . The world encourages us to compares ourselves to

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others, leaving us envious . Scripture compares us to Jesus and gives us hope that we can be like Him . Incorporating Scripture into our life makes us come alive .

“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever” (v. 9). When we approach God’s Word, we come face-to-face with His unadulterated truth that doesn’t change . When we read it with reverential awe, we’re in a perfect posture to receive its instruction .

“The ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous” (v. 9). You can stake your life on the Bible . It’s righteous, so it will never lead you astray .

GOD SPEAKSPsalm 19:7-10 offers several poetic expressions of the ways we can benefit from God’s Word . In the space below, record one or two lines expressing how you’ve benefited from Scripture as well .

Psalm 19:11-14 11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward. 12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. 13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Obedience to God’s Word leads to ___________ living. David noted in verses 12-13 two kinds of sins .

Unintentional sins. We might not be aware that what we’re doing is wrong . In such cases, Scripture will highlight those areas of our life and show us the right way .

Willful sins. We know full well we’re sinning and we stubbornly choose to do so anyway . This reflects a rebellious heart that needs to be transformed .

When we live our lives by Scripture’s guidance, we can avoid committing either type of transgression . As a result, we can live a life that is blameless . Being blameless produces a life that is free from guilt, shame, and regret . It represents the path to freedom and joy .

BIBLE STUDIES FOR L IFE 65© 2019 LifeWay Christian Resources

How is God seeking to guide you through His Word this week? Consider the following suggestions.

Read. Make Bible reading a daily habit. If this is a new discipline for you, start with five minutes. As you read a passage, pray for God to help you understand and apply its truth to your life.

Meditate. Reflect deeply on what you read daily. It may just be one verse that grabs you, but mediate on its truth. Journal and write down your thoughts, reactions, and plans based on what God has said in His Word.

Confess. Admit to God any sins you’ve committed and repent of these. As you read God’s Word, allow it to show you how seriously God takes sin. Ask Him to help you see where sin is present in your life.

LIVE IT OUT

Want to go a step further? Gather with two or three Christ-followers of the same gender. Read Psalm 19:7-14, then use the following summary and questions for a deeper discussion.

Bookstore shelves are full of books claiming to guide us and show us what to do. Pick a subject and someone is ready to give you direction on the matter. This is nothing new. Solomon said, “There is no end to the making of many books” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). The ultimate guidance we need comes from God, and one of the ways He has revealed His will is through the pages of Scripture.

What do the terms and adjectives used for God’s Word in these verses reveal about God?

What methods have been the most helpful to you in learning and understanding God’s Word?

What do you find encouraging in this passage?

TALK IT OUT

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THE POINT | God gives us direction through His Word.

© 2019 LifeWay Christian Resources

DAY 1: Creation reveals God’s glory.Read Psalm 19:1-6.

Have you ever watched a sunrise, gazed across the Grand Canyon, watched the waves rolling in from the ocean, or stared at the stars in the night sky and declared, “What further evidence is needed to believe in God’s existence?” God’s fingerprints are all over creation! David surely felt that way when he wrote: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1) .

In the opening verses of Psalm 19, the psalmist David poetically describe creation’s witness . By observing creation, we can learn about the One who designed it all: God . “Day after day they pour out their speech; night after night they communicate knowledge . There is no speech, there are no words; their voice is not heard” (vv . 2-3) .

Though creation delivers a message about the Creator, it doesn’t speak in detail about what the Creator is like or what He expects of His creatures . For that, additional revelation is required . Thankfully, God has given us that revelation about Himself in His Word . The pages of Scripture tell us all we need to know about God and His ways .

Get outside for a few minutes this evening and pause to fully appreciate all that you see. Spend time praising God for the creative ways His glory is declared.

“The heavens declare the glory of God,and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.”

P S A L M 1 9 : 1

DAILY STUDY

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DAY 2: God’s Word gives us flawless instruction.Read Psalm 19:7-10.

Scripture has been guiding people to have successful, joyful, meaningful lives for over two thousand years . Medical books, encyclopedias, and even weight-loss books have value for a season, but they rapidly become obsolete and soon can’t even be sold at garage sales! Yet Scripture has been thoroughly effective in helping people live effective and fruitful lives for centuries, whether it was Rome in 300 AD or New York City in 2019 AD .

Consider how complete and perfect God’s instruction is: It can guide a man to be a nurturing father to his children in Tokyo or a church to effectively minister to its community in São Paulo, Brazil . The Bible’s guidance provides perfect instruction for a single businessperson working on Wall Street or a married school teacher balancing work and family . God’s Word is holy, perfect, and unchanging . It’s for everyone at every stage of life .

How would you summarize your belief about the Bible? Is it just information? Good advice? A habit? Or something more? Write your response below.

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THE POINT | God gives us direction through His Word.

© 2019 LifeWay Christian Resources

DAY 3: God’s Word provides wise guidance for our lives.Read Psalm 19:11a.

Most people have regrets . There are things we wish we had said—or not said . There are actions we regret taking—or not taking . There may be sins from our past that oppress us with guilt and shame . The psalmist David certainly had regrets . Yet his most grievous mistakes were not the result of ignorance, but because he ignored God’s clear instruction . Had David always followed God’s directives, he would have avoided most of the mistakes that plagued his life . David observed that God’s Word warned people of danger and offered wise guidance .

We can easily recognize this truth in today’s culture . For example, Proverbs 16:18 cautions, “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall .” Let’s say you read this one morning and the Holy Spirit reminds you that this verse applies to you . Perhaps you were recently promoted at work and you’ve been letting it go to your head . You haven’t treated people under your supervision with the respect and Christian love that you ought . Now you sense the Holy Spirit is cautioning that you’re heading down a perilous path that could lead to trouble for you and dishonor for your Lord . If you’re sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, He will speak to you through Scripture by guiding you to specifically apply relevant verses to your life .

Initiate a conversation about the Bible. Ask a trusted Christian friend what he or she has learned about the challenges and benefits of obeying God’s Word.

DAY 4: Following God’s Word leads to blessings. Read Psalm 19:11b.

There are rewards that come to those who heed God’s Word . Beyond the obvious rewards of knowing God’s ways and learning His commands, regular study of God’s Word leads us to make godly choices that He rewards .

Perhaps you were offered a new job opportunity . It pays more money than you currently make and you’re eager to accept it . But the next morning you read Proverbs 11:14, “Without guidance, a people fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance .” You feel convicted that you haven’t sought counsel from anyone before you make this major decision . So you call upon three mature Christian friends and ask their advice . They all point out problems with the job and how it could adversely affect your family . You heed their counsel and decline the job . Soon after, you receive an unexpected promotion at work . You realize it would have been disastrous to accept the earlier offer . Your family is blessed because you heeded God’s Word .

When has your own obedience to God’s Word led to a blessing? Be ready to share this testimony with someone today who needs to hear that God’s Word is reliable.

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DAY 5: Reading God’s Word is transformational.Read Psalm 19:12-14.

The psalmist prayed that his words and thoughts would be acceptable to God . It’s one thing to guard our words; it’s quite another to guard our thoughts! Our thoughts are generally far more evil and uncontrolled than our actions . Yet God’s Word can do far more than merely police our actions; it can go deep into our minds, hearts, and souls, to change the way we think . God’s Word “is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12b) . God intends for us to be holy, on the inside and outside .

How then should you use God’s Word? As you read it, place your life up against it . Anywhere your life falls short of God’s standard, repent and ask God to cleanse and change you . Meditate upon God’s Word . Let its truths soak deep into the depths of your soul so it conforms you into the image of Christ . Don’t merely let Scripture change you on the outside; let it also transform your thoughts, values, and passions within you . Trust that as you read Scripture, the Holy Spirit will highlight anything that needs to be adjusted in your life . God wants to guide you daily as He systematically makes you like Jesus . Keep your Bible close at hand!

In the space below, re-write Psalm 19:12-14 in your own words. Make this your prayer today.

“The Bible is a gold mine, waiting for someone to take out its riches.”

L E E R O B E R S O N

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THE POINT | God gives us direction through His Word.

© 2019 LifeWay Christian Resources