From the beginning, God’s desire has been to reveal Himself.
And one of the main ways God reveals Himself to us is through His Word. Within the pages of God’s Word, we find out who God is and who we are. The Scriptures teach eternal truths and share ancient wisdom with all who read them. Reading and studying Scripture is an essential discipline for a follower of Jesus. Because it’s in God’s Word that He reveals Himself to us. It’s in God’s Word that we get acquainted with God’s nature. It’s in God’s Word that our minds are renewed so we can see God and hear Him more clearly.
The writer of Hebrews tells us:
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Bible is more than devotional. It’s supernatural. It speaks to the deepest parts of our souls. And not only that, it’s historical and geographical. It speaks to the past, while at the same time declares what’s to come. It’s not just one book, but a library of texts filled with wisdom for our day.
Dr. Michael Heiser sums up the importance of studying the Bible when he states in his book, Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host:
A life well lived extends from wisdom. Biblical wisdom involves not only practical, principled, decision-making skills but eternal perspective. Eternal perspective requires understanding what makes God tick. That’s only discoverable with a firm grasp of who God is, what he’s done, why he’s done it, what else he intends to do, and why he doesn’t want to do it alone. Grasping biblical theology is the means to these discoveries. And grasping biblical theology is impossible without knowing the Bible broadly and deeply.
The problem is, with today’s pace of life, it seems harder than ever to make time to study God’s Word. And even when we do make time to study the Bible, where do we start? What are the questions we need to be asking?
And what do you do with those difficult passages of Scripture? How do we process a library of ancient texts that was written for us, but not written to us? With the various cultural differences that exist across a millenia, how are we to read the Scriptures accurately?
Fortunately, because of today’s technology, you can now study the Bible and dig deeper into its ancient context in an online format. And not only that, you can study the Word of God with other students and teachers of Scripture from around the world.
These online formats allow you to dig deeper into the Word of God, conveniently and collectively. Studying alongside others creates space for questions and conversations, which are vital to effectively studying God’s Word. Learning from trusted Bible teachers and scholars, you can discover how to read the Scriptures based on their cultural context to gain a deeper understanding of God’s Word and how it applies to us today.
At AWKNG School of Theology, we have a library of online courses tailor-made for you to go deeper in your study of Scripture. Through these online courses, you will gain confidence in studying the Bible in its original context, stop avoiding passages you don’t understand, and increase your understanding of God’s supernatural realm.
But how do you know an online Bible study is right for you?
Why Should I Enroll in an Online Bible Study Course?
An online Bible study course provides you with 3 things:
1. Flexibility
2. Convenience
3. Community
Let’s take a look at each of these briefly.
Flexibility
Due to our life circumstances, family situations, and work scenarios, the ability to dig deeper into God’s Word at flexible times is invaluable. The flexibility of an online Bible study allows you to immerse yourself in the study of Scripture, at your pace and according to your time constraints. Our online Bible study courses give you the opportunity to access study materials, teachings, and resources at any time, day or night.
Convenience
Our online Bible study courses give you the ability to study God’s Word conveniently, removing the barriers often associated with studying Scripture. Because it’s online, you will have convenient access to the study materials and course content from wherever you are. And because it’s online, you can watch teaching sessions from our top scholars as often as you want.
Community
Our online Bible study courses allow you the opportunity to study the Word of God with the people of God. Together with other followers of Jesus, you can dig deeper into the Scriptures and gain valuable insights that you might not get when studying by yourself. And in our online courses, you get the opportunity to learn from world-renowned scholars and trusted teachers who have spent their lives studying the Scriptures.
Where Do I Start?
If you’d like to begin exploring the Bible in an online format with other students and teachers of Scripture from all over the world, you can sign up for Dr. Michael Heiser’s online course: History of the Bible.
In this course, you’ll discover:
- How the Scriptures came to be
- How human authorship is part of the process of Biblical interpretation
- The history of the Bible in English, and why English translations disagree at various points
- And much more!
It’s the study of God’s Word that leads us to a deeper understanding of God, His nature, and our role in His story. And now, you can take your understanding of the Bible to another level, alongside students from around the world. Through our online courses, you can become a student of God’s Word and learn how to accurately read and exposit Scripture, which will impact not only you, but every person you meet.
If you’d like to go deeper in your study of the Bible and see how an online Bible study course can benefit you, you can check out our catalog of courses here!