I daresay that it is far more than likely, that just about every congregation of the Lord’s church whose leadership has decided to give their members the opportunity to get together and study the Bible either before or after their Sunday worship assembly, encounters virtually the same phenomenon every Lord’s Day: Bible class attendance numbers that are markedly less than that same Sunday’s worship assembly attendance numbers. Why is that? (Now, obviously I am not talking here about those few folks in each congregation whose physical health limitations prevent them from being there and sitting through both – Matt. 26:41b.)

Is it perhaps because some have come to the conclusion that worship assembly attendance is a requirement in order to get to heaven (which it is – Heb. 10:23-31), but that taking advantage of every opportunity possible to study God’s word and steadily grow in their faith after conversion, somehow isn’t all that important? Does not the Bible itself show that being in a constant and consistent state of Bible study, whenever possible and wherever the opportunity is presented, will provide both incredible earthly as well as eternal blessings to those who do so – including helping to guarantee their entrance into heaven? It certainly does (2 Pet. 1:2-11). What else does the Bible say about the importance of taking consistent advantage of every opportunity one possibly can to study it?

• God’s O.T. people were commanded to do so constantly (Deut. 6:4-9).

• God promised prosperity/success to those who did so (Josh. 1:8-9).

• God’s word is worth far more than anything else on earth (Ps. 19:7-11); therefore, isn’t spending time within it, far more beneficial than time spent doing anything else in the world (Psa. 119; 1 John 2:15-17)?

• God’s O.T. people were destroyed because of their lack of Biblical knowledge (Hos. 4:6-10; Matt. 13:14-15, 22:29) – and the Bible teaches that such destruction will not be limited to them alone (Matt. 7:21-27; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 10:1-3).

• In order to truly be His disciple, Jesus said one must “abide” (“take up residence,” “live”) in His word, and thus know the truth (Jn. 8:31-32).

• Bible study is how we show we are approved of God (2 Tim. 2:15).

Yes, for all of these God-given reasons and more, it is easily seen that taking constant and continual advantage of every opportunity we possibly can to grow our faith through the study of God’s word (Rom. 10:17) is vital to our eternal life.  Please consider coming and growing in your faith as we study God’s word together each Sunday and Wednesday as if your eternal life depended on it...because it does (2 Pet. 3:14-18).