Reading and studying essential for believers
Scripture references
Acts 17:10–12 (ASV)
10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. 12Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few.
Acts 18:24–28 (ASV)
24Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures. 25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John: 26and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately. 27And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace; 28for he powerfully confuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures th...
2 Timothy 2:15 (ASV)
15Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
Stories
Through dutiful study of the Holy Scriptures, Evangelist Ting Li Mei was imbued with the needed knowledge and wisdom to preach the word of God with authority. And having had his own life nurtured by the Word of God, he went about winning many souls for Jesus.
Several stories show how Chinese Christians value the written Word of God and the great lengths many are going just so they can have a Bible of their own to study.
When Olsen and Joan who were both agnostics met Rev. Reginald Matthews to discuss the Bible, they were much impressed by his depth which came from his great understanding of the scriptures.
The habit of reading and commiting scriptures to memory, which Darlene Deibler had imbibed right from childhood proved to be utterly vital during her time in prison. Even when her Bible was seized by the guards, the scriptures she has read, studied and committed to mind became her saving grace.
Not all Christians in China were lucky to escape the 1900 Boxer rebellion like the Goforths and this worried them and they asked, "How can we say it is God"s power and grace that brought us through? Why did that same power not bring others through?" Together, they began to search the scriptures for answers until at last they realized and accepted that it was God's prerogative to glorify Himself by the death or life of His children.
Though divided by tongue and social class, two believers; one a lowly Karen and the other a lordly Shan, met together for days to study the scriptures, with the lowly Karen teaching the lordly Shan. And this they did until they read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Realizing the urgent need for education among the people she hoped to share the gospel, "Ma" (Mary Slessor) set up schools where she personally taught basic literacy and arithmetic. Without discrimination, men and women, old and young, bond and free were all welcomed to come learn. Upon hearing about this good thing, many villages opened up to her to come visit.
Out a desire to know God and be sure that his faith was no myth—Daniel Wallace—spurred on by a remark from his College Professor—went out to study like a workman who did not want to be ashamed. And his findings only strengthened his faith the more!
As Michael Licona set out to work on his doctorate degree. He went about doing his work with great diligence and an objectivity that remains admirable. The result of his hardwork not only solidified his faith in God but led to the publishing of the groundbreaking work, "Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach".
When a Muslim man’s curiosity in Jesus was aroused by his reading of the Quran, he got a Bible to know more and was soon convinced by the truth he encountered. He went on to lead his wife and mother to the truth he found. Despite rejection from their relatives, the trio sought to be baptized into Christ.
The Danis resorted to searching the scriptures as the questioned whether their traditional courtship gatherings were appropriate for believers to take part in. When their search revealed God's views about fornication (a constant feature of the gatherings), they knew those gatherings were not for children of God!
