Lesson 4 The Role of the Bible

                                          Lesson 4 The Role of the Bible

              (Psalms 19, Proverbs 30, Matthew 7)

Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D.  Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

Introduction: When I was a student at Andrews University, I was a member of the Student Senate. I had a friend in the Senate whose views were similar to mine. I would call us both “rebels.” He went on to have a great career in the U.S. State Department and I’ve always worked with Christians and conservatives. State Department employees have a reputation for being politically liberal. These days my friend’s political views are radically different from mine. How did that happen to two boys who started out with the same views? The obvious explanation is that through time we were influenced by those around us. This is one of the great truths of life: we are changed by what we behold. See 2 Corinthians 3:18. How much time do you spend watching television compared to reading the Bible? Do you need to be changed? Let’s plunge into our study of the role of the Bible in shaping our lives!

1.    The Lamp

1. 1.    Read Psalm 119:104-105. This is obviously symbolic. What do you think it means?

1. 1. 1.    Let’s start with “my path.” What is that? (Our path is the direction of our life.)

1. 1. 2.    What is meant by “my feet?” (This word picture shows you moving down the path of life.)

1. 1. 3.    What role does the Bible play in the unfolding of your life? (The Bible gives you understanding of what course to take in life.)

1. 2.    Read Psalm 19:7-9. Where can you find God’s law, His testimony, His commandments, and precepts? (This describes the Bible.)

1. 1. 1.    What can the Bible do for your brain power? (It makes the simple wise.)

1. 1. 2.    What can the Bible do for your understanding? (It “enlightens” your eyes, meaning your view of the world.)

1. 3.    Read Psalm 19:10. What is the value of this improvement in your thinking and understanding? (It has the highest value. It is the gold standard.)

1. 1. 1.    What is the point of saying that the Bible is sweet like honey? (This is not a food recipe, but a statement that your life will be “sweet,” it will be pleasant.)

1. 4.    Read Psalm 19:11-12. Some Christians claim that because they are faithful, they are repeatedly under attack by demons. What do these verses say that supports the idea that a life lived in accord with the Bible is “sweet?” (Studying the Bible gives us a warning about problems. We are able to discern our errors and mistakes and correct them. A reasonable conclusion is that more problems arise in life because of our own poor decisions, than arise due to demon attacks.)

1. 1. 1.    How difficult is it to see our own faults and errors? (This text indicates that it is hard to see our own faults. They are “hidden” from us.)

1. 1. 1. 1.    Why is Bible study a solution to these hidden problems? (In my experience, when we read the Bible the Holy Spirit alerts us to the conflict between what we are studying and our lifestyle.)

2.   Accepting the Light

1. 1.    Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. How authoritative is the Bible? (It is “breathed out by God.”)

1. 1. 1.    What does that mean? When people instruct me, I prefer to have the instructions written or spoken, not “breathed.” (This phrase, “breathed out,” reminds us of the work of the Holy Spirit. It also tells us that God did not provide a written transcript of what the Bible writer should write.)

1. 1. 2.    What is the end result when a Christian studies the Bible? (Completeness. Being equipped for every good work.)

1. 1. 3.    We recently studied that sin began on earth because Eve distrusted God. How many people do you know who rely on their own opinion, rather than the teachings of the Bible?

1. 1. 1. 1.    Does that describe you? (These verses suggest that we will not be “complete” or properly “equipped” if we distrust God by relying on our own sense of things.)

1. 2.    Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13. What might explain the willingness of some to substitute their own ideas for the teachings of the Bible? (A lack of conviction that these are the words of God.)

1. 3.    Read Hebrews 4:12-13. Do you want to be “pierced?” (No one wants to be stabbed.)

1. 1. 1.    What is the Bible describing here? Is it good or bad? (One reason logic is so great, and so despised by evil-doers, is that it leads to truth. The writer of Hebrews tells us that when we understand the truth of the Bible that cuts away the self-deception.)

1. 1. 1. 1.    Have you ever experienced that? The words of the Bible, powered by the Holy Spirit, cut into your heart and you surrender to the truth?

1. 4.    Read Proverbs 30:2-3. These words were written by Agur. What does Agur think is wrong in his life? (He feels stupid. Obviously, life is not going well for him.)

1. 1. 1.    What is Agur missing? (The wisdom and knowledge of God.)

1. 5.    Read Proverbs 30:4. Why does Agur think the knowledge of God is so important? (He looks at the creation and says God has something to teach him.)

1. 6.    Read Proverbs 30:5. If you read, understand, and obey what is in the Bible, what is the result? (You are shielded from the bad things in life.)

1. 7.    Read Proverbs 30:6. I generally cite Deuteronomy 4:2 for this principle, but it is found several places in the Bible. When you hear Bible teaching, how many times are you warned against adding to what the Bible says as opposed to being warned against disobedience?

1. 1. 1.    I recall being at a church camp and eating with a famous evangelist. A church member came over to complain that one of the camp condiments contained something she thought we should not be eating. After she left, the evangelist confided, “We have too many nuts in our church.” What does the Bible warn is the danger of adding to the Bible? (We will look like liars. God might rebuke us. We will certainly not have the kind of witness that causes the world to think, “I want that.”)

3.      The Rock

1. 1.    Read Matthew 7:24-25. Is Jesus talking about home construction?  If not, what is our “house?” (Jesus is talking about our life.)

1. 1. 1.    How is your house? Is life going well for you?

1. 2.    Look again at Matthew 7:25. Does it seem that things are going well for the house Jesus is describing? (Just the opposite. It is under attack by wind, rain, and flood.)

1. 3.    Read Matthew 7:26-27. What point is Jesus making? (That if you build your life on the teachings of Jesus, you will come out intact when you are under attack. But if you fail to build your life on Jesus’ teachings, your life will collapse.)

1. 1. 1.    When verse 27 tells us “great was the fall of it,” what do you understand that to mean? (This person’s life ended up in a total disaster.)

1. 4.    Read Joshua 1:7-8. What kind of time should we be spending with the Bible to have “good success wherever you go?” (Meditating “day and night” is quite the assignment.)

1. 1. 1.    The introduction to this lesson gives the example of how we are influenced and changed by our associations.  How much time do you spend “meditating” on things that contradict the Bible? (If we spend more time on things that contradict the Bible than we spend with the Bible, the outcome is predictable.)

1. 1. 2.    Are there any other considerations here? Are there any other factors that we need to take into account regarding the things that influence us? (The Holy Spirit is a significant factor. Satan is not omnipresent. Television is not omnipresent. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent if we ask Him into our lives.)

1. 5.    Friend, the Bible is the guide to a better life.  It is a guide to the life to come. Why not immerse yourself in God’s guide for your life? Why not make that commitment right now?

4.   Next week: How to Study the Bible.