Hello again and welcome to the program. We're here with a little strength for today. We're in a little series on how to study the Bible. Stay tuned. The first thing we need to understand when it comes to studying the Bible is that it requires time and it requires work. Ephesians 5 16 says redeeming the time because the days are evil. Psalm 90 verse 12 says so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. James 4.14, for what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. If we're going to study the Bible, we need to set aside some time to do it and consistently get at it at that time. Also, it is work. 1 Corinthians 16.14 says, therefore, my beloved brethren, Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. 2 Timothy 2.15 says, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. That word workmen has been translated laborers in Matthew 9 37. It's the same Greek word where Jesus said the laborers are few. Studying the Bible takes time and it's work. Ecclesiastes 12 12 says much study is a weariness of the flesh. Now concerning the flesh Paul said in Romans 7 For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." So we have these two natures. That old nature says you don't want to study the Bible. That new nature says you do. And whichever nature we listen to is the one we're going to be busy with doing what that nature wants us to do. Our purpose in studying the Bible should not be just to gain more knowledge about the Bible. But 1 Corinthians 10.31 says, whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. It not only glorifies God that we would study the Bible, but if we study the Bible, we can learn how to glorify God in every other aspect of life. Psalm 119.9 says, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119, 11, thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. When I study a portion of the scripture, I try to figure out these seven things. Number one, who is the author? Number two, who was it written to? Number three, what were the circumstances of the one who was writing? And number four, what were the circumstances of the one or ones that were receiving this letter? When was it written, number five? Number six, where was the author when he wrote it? And most important of all, why was this written? In our future programs, we're going to be looking at a portion of scripture and these seven questions. Not only that, we need to read it just for observation. Start with a careful observation of the passage we're looking at. Reading of scriptures, then, related to that passage that needs to be studied, we'll talk about that in the future. determining the who, what, when, where, and why of that particular passage, understanding the context of the scripture which is being studied, determine the meaning of the words, and most important of all, determine the context in which it is written. So first of all, we have observation, and then we have interpretation, understanding the meaning of the passage. Is it literal? Someone has said, when the plain sense of scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense or it'll become nonsense. Most of the Bible is literal. Some of the scriptures are figurative, such as Psalm 95 verse 8 that says, harden not your heart. And when Jesus said in Matthew 8, 22, let the dead bury the dead. Those things are figurative. Then some areas are symbolic. Symbolic language like the description of Daniel's wild beasts or Christ in the center of the seven candlesticks. Symbolic language is explained in the same chapter or somewhere else in the scripture. And then finally, application. First Corinthians 10 11 says not all these things happen unto them, for examples, but it goes on to say they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. They're not just stories for us to tell in Sunday school. They are written for our admonition upon whom the end of the world are come. We'll look at it a little deeper in our future program. Be sure to be with us.