Misusing the Bible: Single Session Bible Study: How to avoid common pitfalls, pray rightly, and grasp the intended meaning of Scripture.

Christians will readily assert that we are people of the Bible—that God's Word gives us our perspective, worldview, and marching orders about life. We will vigorously defend the historicity, perspicuity, and relevance of Scripture, calling our friends and neighbors to come under its authority. We'll hold Bible studies (like this one), read and write books about the Bible, and write checks to get God's Word into the hands of people around the world who do not yet own a copy. And yet, when push comes to shove, according to pastor and author Eric J. Bargerhuff, too often we treat the Bible as a magic book focused solely on our own wants and needs, so that, as Christianity Today "the Bible becomes a mere handbook, and its verses a talisman." We need, Bargerhuff says, to put God and his glory first in order to properly use the Bible.