Reading the Bible is Essential to Following Jesus—Part 1

Every follower of Christ knows that he should know what is in the Bible, but most have excuses why they don’t.  They are too busy; it is too hard to understand; It just isn’t that interesting.  Of course, God doesn’t accept any of those excuses.  He gave the Bible to everyone who believes in him.  People seem to reject things they have never experienced before.  When we understand the benefits of reading the Bible, and get the right reading plan in place, the excuses seem to fade away into nothing.  Today we will look at the essential and life-changing benefits of reading the Bible.  Tomorrow we will put in place a simple reading plan that will solve almost all the problems that come up which lead to all those excuses. 

Second Timothy 3:16–17 is one of the clearest and strongest statements in the Bible about the power and purpose of Scripture. The verses say, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” In just two sentences, the apostle Paul explains where the Bible comes from, what it does, and why we need it. If we understand these verses, we will see why the Bible must have a central place in our lives.

Paul begins by saying, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” This means the Bible is not just a collection of human ideas. It is not simply wise advice written by religious people. The phrase “God-breathed” teaches that Scripture comes from God Himself. Human authors wrote the words, but God guided them so that what they wrote was exactly what He wanted. Because the Bible comes from God, it carries His authority. When we read Scripture, we are hearing the voice of God speaking through His Word.

This truth should change the way we approach the Bible. If Scripture is God-breathed, then it is trustworthy. God does not lie. He does not make mistakes. His Word is true and reliable. In a world filled with opinions and changing ideas, we need something solid to stand on. The Bible gives us that foundation. We do not have to guess what God is like or what He wants. He has spoken clearly in His Word.

Paul then explains that Scripture “is useful.” The Bible is not just inspired; it is practical. It has a purpose in our daily lives. Paul lists four specific ways it is useful: teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Each of these shows how God uses His Word to shape us.

First, Scripture is useful for teaching. It teaches us truth. It tells us who God is, who we are, and what Christ has done. It teaches us about salvation, faith, obedience, and love. Without the Bible, we would not know the gospel. We would not understand God’s plan of redemption. Teaching lays the foundation for everything else. We must know what is true before we can live rightly.

Second, Scripture is useful for rebuking. Rebuking means showing us when we are wrong. Sometimes we drift into false beliefs or sinful habits. The Bible shines a light on those areas. It exposes error and calls us back to the truth. This can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary. A loving God does not let His children continue in error without warning them. Through His Word, He corrects our thinking and our behavior.

Third, Scripture is useful for correcting. Rebuking shows us what is wrong; correcting helps set it right. The Bible does not only point out sin—it shows us the better way. It teaches us how to repent, how to forgive, and how to walk in obedience. God’s Word restores us. It picks us up when we fall and guides us back onto the right path.

Fourth, Scripture is useful for training in righteousness. Training takes time and repetition. Just as an athlete trains to build strength and skill, believers are trained by God’s Word to grow in godly character. As we read and apply Scripture day after day, we begin to think differently. Our desires change. Our actions begin to reflect Christ more and more. The Bible shapes us into people who live in a way that pleases God.

I like to think of these four things as someone driving down the road.  Teaching is basic driving.  Rebuke is letting you know you went into a ditch.  If there were no rules, you would not know you were doing something wrong.  The Bible gives us God’s rules so we can know when we get away from the plan that God has for us.  Correction tells us how to get out of that ditch.  Finally, training in righteousness is our navigator which makes sure that we are driving on the right road that will get us to our destination.  When we get these four things right, so many of our problems become smaller or disappear altogether.  I’m sure you want that!

Paul then gives the purpose for all of this: “so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God does not save us just to sit still. He saves us to serve. He has good works prepared for us to do. But we cannot do them in our own strength or wisdom. We need to be equipped. The Word of God prepares us for life and ministry. It gives us the knowledge, conviction, and courage we need to obey Him.

Notice that Paul says “thoroughly equipped.” This means fully prepared. The Bible is enough. We do not need new revelations or secret knowledge. Everything we need to live a godly life and serve faithfully is found in Scripture. That does not mean we stop learning from teachers or pastors. It means that all true teaching must be grounded in the Word of God.

These verses also remind us of our responsibility. If Scripture is God-breathed and useful, then we must read it, study it, and apply it. Owning a Bible is not enough. Hearing a sermon once a week is not enough. We need regular time in God’s Word. We need to let it teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us.

Second Timothy 3:16–17 calls us to treasure the Bible. It is not just an ancient book. It is the living Word of God. Through it, God speaks, shapes, and strengthens His people. When we open the Scriptures, we are opening a gift from God Himself. If we want to be equipped for every good work, we must stay close to His Word.

Tomorrow we will look at part 2 where we will develop a simple plan that will answer what, when, where, and how to read. 

Read part 2 here.