In this episode, we talk about why learning to study the Bible faithfully is not optional for the Christian. Scripture is not only a gift, but it is also a command. We are called to read God’s Word and to rightly handle the Word of Truth, carefully distinguishing truth from error. This means we are not only guarding against false teaching from the outside, but also guarding our own hearts and minds from the danger of misinterpreting Scripture. We do not listen to heretics, so we ought not accidentally become one ourselves. The principles we share in this episode are just the beginning of learning how to guard against such error and handle God’s Word with care and faithfulness.We discuss several common ways the Bible is misunderstood today: ignoring what the text meant to its original audience, reading our own meaning into Scripture, approaching the Bible through emotionalism or overspiritualization, and drawing principles from passages that were never intended to teach them. In a culture that often asks, “What does this text mean to me?”, we are reminded that there is only one true meaning to any particular Scripture passage – the meaning the author intended when the text was written. There is one meaning, there may be several sound principles that can be drawn from a passage, and there are many ways those principles can be faithfully applied in different situations.Many assume careful Bible study is only for pastors or scholars, but God has given His Word to all believers. Just as we educate our children to read, analyze, and understand various types of literature, world history, and the English language, we must not neglect the most important task which is teaching ourselves and our families how to faithfully read, understand, and apply the Scriptures.Listen to our previous podcast series on The Spiritual Disciplines including the first episode on Bible Reading and Prayer >> ⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/growing-in-the-spiritual-disciplines-a-podcast-series/⁠Books Mentioned in This Episode Can Be Found in Our Recommended Resources Section on Spiritual Growth:Grasping God's Word by Duvall and Hays⁠Find this and other Bible Study Tools on our Spiritual Growth Recommended Resources page: https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/recommended-resources/spiritual-growth-resources/Products Mentioned In This Episode:⁠Gray Toad Tallow:⁠ Use Coupon Code RFF20 for 20% off your first order.Keep Up with Reformed Faith and Family in the Following Ways:Never miss an episode, article, or a new FREEBIE by joining our weekly newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/subscribe/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Build your library with our recommended resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/recommended-resources/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read the latest articles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/blog/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download your FREEBIES in our store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/educational-resources-store/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Gift Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/gift-shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Dog Bible Rebinds: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/good-dog-designs-and-rebinds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WE HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK! If you are excited about our mission at Reformed Faith and Family to guide men and women as they seek to learn more about Reformed theology and equip families as they disciple their children, then please leave our podcast a 5-star review and share it with a friend. We appreciate each one of our faithful listeners, but we also depend on you to help us get the word out. Thank you for your continued support!