This study was taught at our Sunday evening service by Sim Forder, our assistant pastor, on the 29th September 2019. You can listen to the audio on this web page or save it for later listening.

This week we looked at Acts 2:42 which records the foundations upon which the early church was built, and we began by taking a look at how our doctrine (the things we believe, that in turn determine how we act) must be rooted in the Bible.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42

Below is a brief outline of the study, which contrasted our need for physical food with the need for the Bible as our spiritual food:

5 things to know about the Bible:

• The Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16)
• The Bible is powerful (Hebrews 4:12)
• The Bible is foundational (Psalm 119:11)
• The Bible is reliable (2 Peter 1:16)
• All of it is important (2 Timothy 3:16)

Do not ask God to show you His will and then open your Bible at random and put your finger upon some text and take it out its connection without any relation to its real meaning and decide the will of God in that way. This is an irreverent and improper use of Scripture.

R A Torrey

Nutrition guidelines that we can apply to the Bible as our spiritual food:

• Feed yourself (Hebrews 5:12-14)
• Eat regularly (Exodus 16:4)
• Eat a balanced diet (1 Timothy 1:3-5)
• Avoid food that is bad for you (Acts 17:11)
• Eat enough (1 Peter 2:1-2)

We live in a day in which false doctrine abounds on every hand and the only Christian who is safe from being led into error is the one who studies his Bible for himself daily.

R A Torrey

3 helpful habits to adopt:

• Avoid distractions when reading
• Make it part of family life
• Doctrine should lead to action

Footnotes: When it comes to reliability, the Bible has no equal – during our study we briefly looked at one way in which the Bible exceeds other ancient texts in measures of it’s reliability: