Turning to The Baptist Faith and Message, which partly defines the Southern Baptist belief in the Scriptures as, “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy.”

If Christian education is how a Christian becomes more like Christ, then the Bible is the roadmap. Not only is it central, but it is the only text whereby we must take instructions to live out the Christian life. “Christian educators must never allow Scripture to lose its central place in the church curriculum. The Scripture must never become neglected or just an ancillary to Christian education.”

The Bible is the living instruction manual for the disciples. It reveals to the Christian who God is, what He is like, and what He expects from His creation. In its pages, one learns that the immeasurable, magnificent, and omnipotent God brought the world, the universe, and everything seen and unseen. The Word of God is essential to the disciple.  

The Bible is the guidebook to lead the disciples to become more like Christ.  

If the Bible were to fulfill its mission completely, our minds would be so transformed—   so filled with thoughts and feelings of truth, love, joy, and humility—that our lives would become one uninterrupted series of acts of grace and moral beauty. Every moment would be a miniature reflection of life in the kingdom of God.

The Bible changes the disciple entirely from the inside out. John Ortberg informs the disciples that the Bible is needed to keep one’s mind on things that lead to their transformation.   If we want to be saved from double mindedness, we must “be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” An indispensable practice is to have our minds reformed by immersing them in Scripture. The psalmist writes of hiding God’s Word in our hearts so that we might not sin. So, how do we read the Bible in a way that will purify our hearts and help us live as Jesus would in our place?

As a new follower, one may start in a neutral position. The journey with Christ is exhilarating since everything is new and invigorating. For a new disciple, reading the Bible and praying hold great significance. However, in the face of life, one can easily overlook the time set aside for these practices. Reading the Bible is crucial to understanding the growth process and returning to loving to read the Bible and to communicate with the Father. Bible reading and prayer may become more difficult as time progresses; prioritizing these practices are crucial. Jeremiah stated, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”

As Christians consume the Word of God, they become more like Him. 

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       Kelley, Land, and Mohler, The Baptist Faith & Message, 7.

      Estep, Anthony, and Allison, 96.

    John Ortberg, The Life You Always Wanted (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 181. 

Ibid., 182. 

 Jer. 15:16.