We can never gain an adequate knowledge of the Bible from going to church or just listening to sermons. We must study the Bible on our own. The Bible reveals the will of God so as to lead man into it. Each book has a direct teaching. Find out what it is and conform to it.

The Bible is a library, but it is also “The Book.” It is a story, a grand story, that moves on from beginning to end. Here is something that is phenomenal in literature. Suppose you were to cover the great fields of knowledge; law, history, philosophy, ethics, and prophecy. If you brought them all together and bound them into one book, what would you call it? What unity would you expect to find in such a jumble of subjects? An infinite number and variety of themes and styles are found in the Bible.

The Bible was brought together across centuries. The likelihood of unity in such a work is so small, yet this is the story of the Bible. It has numerous authors and themes but is unified under one great theme: God’s relationship to man and His plan for our lives and the world.

There is no royal road to a knowledge of the  Bible. To be sure, the Spirit of God will lead us into all truth, but God’s command is that we study to be approved, workmen unashamed.  (II Timothy 2:15)  We must give the Bible attention with intention.  Intention will stimulate attention.  Perhaps there is so little attention in Bible reading today because there is so little intention.

We must come to the Bible with a purpose. Many say, “The Bible is so great I don’t know how to begin.”  People say this correctly and sincerely. And it is true that we must have a method, or we will get little result.

The Bible can be read from Genesis to Revelation at pulpit rate in about 72 hours.  Do you want to read the Bible through?  Leave 80 hours for it. Plot out that time. How much time can you give each day?  How many days a week? Everybody is busy, but we must make time for God’s word. If we are going to get to know the Bible, we must arrange time for it. We must adjust our lives to make room for Bible study.