Don't take my word for it, check the word of God for yourself!

When I met him at Bible study three years ago he was very eager to talk about the Lord but some of his ideas seemed to be well, out there... "So where did you learn that?" I would ask. "It's what they teach at the church I visit." He responded.
"How would you like to meet up just the two of us later on and spend some time in the word of God together?" I asked. "That would be great!" He said.
So from that point on once, twice, sometimes even three times a week I would meet with him. It wasn't always easy and it took time but he began to grow! I encouraged him to read the Bible for himself rather than going for a second hand opinion, and he did! About six months ago he said to me, "You know Jim, I used to believe anything I heard about God but now that I've been reading the scriptures for myself God has been opening my eyes more and more to his reality and my relationship with Jesus Christ has come more alive than ever!"


But not only this he is also now himself helping others to get into the word of God!

For those of you who have a good Bible reading plan and are already grounded in the scriptures you understand the depth and the value of having the knowledge of Gods word in your heart. For those of you who don't I want to give you a sobering thought to think about. I personally have enough knowledge of the Bible that if I were to take all the right verses, put them in just the right order and maybe take a few here and there out of context I could make you think the Bible says whatever I want! How would you ever know either? Unless of course you see for yourself what God has to say. Does that scare you a little? I hope so because this sort of thing really happens.
Now of course it's not my intention to mislead you, BUT even then I'm still human and make mistakes. Don't just take my word for for I have to say about God buts check it with the Bible. That goes for anyone weather they may be a Pastor, priest, pope, parent, or someone you just met on the streets. "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins." -Ecclesiastes 7:20

Now lets think about helping other people get into the Bible for themselves such as my friend I mentioned at the beginning.

In Acts chapter 8 we have an amazing account where Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading the scriptures. He asks him if he understands what he is reading and the eunuch's response is... "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:31)
Next Philip beginning from the scripture the eunuch was reading preached Jesus to him(Acts 8:35)! And because of this the eunuch believed that Jesus was the son of God!

One thing we can see from this passage in Acts is that just because someone has a Bible and maybe even opens it once in a while dose not mean they understand it or know where to look in the scriptures. So why not help them? (Never just assume someone is mature in Christ simply because they may appear that way.) Show them all through out the Bible the things of Christ such as Phillip did and Jesus also did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27.) Show them in the Bible how to know God and walk with him. Show them the promises in scripture God makes to all who believe in the name of Jesus. Set them up on a personal reading plan and keep them accountable!

Do this and stick with it! You'll find you yourself will also grow and be blessed!