How We Can Truly Understand God’s Words

THE JESUS BOOK

“I can’t remember a time in my life when the Bible was not with me,” shares Jack. As a young boy, he recalls climbing into his grandfather’s lap who would read the Bible aloud to him almost every night before bed. He loved hearing the Bible’s stories and learning about the characters. He eventually came to refer to the Bible as “the Jesus book.” As his love for the Bible grew through the years, Jack began to see everything in life through the lens of scripture. Now in his seventies, Jack says, “The Jesus book (Bible) has transformed my life, and my greatest privilege is to spend my day sharing His message of redemption.”

INTIMIDATED BY THE WORD

“If you are reading the Bible and it doesn’t make sense to you, start with Christ and your relationship with Him. If you don’t desire to read God’s word, check your heart. If you want to know God, you will hunger for His word. Your quest for righteousness is satisfied with the Word of God. Your life will change if you read God’s Word, listen to it and live it out,” shares Jack. The Bible is how God communicates with you. Although it was written by more than forty authors over a millennium and a half ago, it still reflects a single theme, and His words still carry a divine purpose. Jack recommends the following steps when reading the Bible:

• Submit yourself to the Bible without reservation – the Bible is authoritative.
• Ask God to show you what He would like for you to learn from the passage you’re reading – the Bible is authentic. The purpose of scripture is to present the person of the Savior. His word is inspired. It is infallible (wholly true) and inerrant (without any errors).
• The Bible can withstand your scrutiny – the Bible is accurate. If you come across something you don’t understand or can’t resolve, seek help from your pastor or from a good Bible study resource.

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WORD

The best way to know God’s Word is to spend time in it regularly and allow the Holy Spirit to teach and train you in godly living. Jack reveals, “I’ve come to believe that the Bible is quite understandable when interpreted and illuminated by the Holy Spirit.” Some ways that Jack suggests include:

• Keep it simple – You can start reading in the New Testament or Old Testament, there is no wrong place to start. Read it and reflect on it. 
• Make reading God’s Word a habit in your life. Read and reread it. Consider using different translations. Your time with God is the most important time you will spend. Jack shares, “I start virtually every day of my life with God’s Word, which prepares me for my daily responsibilities and opportunities and sets my mind on what’s really important. But more important, it helps me get my will aligned with the will of God. God works purposefully and providentially in our lives through our circumstances and the choices we make.” As a high school student, Jack wanted to play baseball at the professional level. As a senior in high school Baylor University invited him to come play, but he hadn’t received an official letter from the head coach. Meanwhile, his pastor connected him to his alma mater, Hardin-Simmons University. They too offered him a spot on their team. The next day he heard back from Baylor with the offer he had been waiting on. He prayed and asked God to lead him. Jack accepted the offer with Hardin-Simmons University where he not only played baseball but began speaking and teaching throughout West Texas. He also met his future wife, Deb.
• Find the right Bible for you. Jack says, “The best Bible for you is the one you will actually read.” For more advice, you can talk with your pastor or a spiritual leader before investing in a Bible of your own. Although digital editions are very popular, Jack suggests getting a printed copy of God’s Word too so you can carry it with you and always have access to it. 
• Be ready for the Word of God to speak to you. Welcome the truth of the Bible into your life so it can transform you. During the mid 1990s, Jack had been pastor of Prestonwood for three years. The church was growing and needed to expand. They tried to expand at the location where the church was founded, but they needed more space for a growing congregation. One morning as he was running, he heard the Lord say, “Jack you’re limiting what I want to do with Prestonwood.” Instantly, Jack knew God’s plans for the church were bigger and better than what they (church leadership) were planning.  Together with leaders from the church, they prayed and asked God for guidance. God led them to relocate the church, moving their entire congregation of over 12,000 members to a new site. As a result of their obedience, the massive expansion of Prestonwood began to take shape. 
• Obey what God is asking you to do. Share His Word with others so that it can fulfill His purpose.

ABOUT JACK     

Dr. Jack Graham is the Senior Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, a Dallas area church with more than 60,000 members. He came to Prestonwood in 1989 when there were 8,000 members in the congregation. 
In 2006, the church launched a second location, the North Campus, which has a Spanish-language ministry, Prestonwood en Español, which includes members from more than 20 nations. The church also has an on-line community, Prestonwood. Live, which draws worshippers from all over the world.
His passionate, biblical teaching is also seen and heard across the country and throughout the world on PowerPoint Ministries. In October 2022, the Bible in a Year with Jack Graham podcast was launched in partnership with iHeartPodcasts and Pray.com, with a cinematic feel that brings the Bible to life. Within the first week of its release, the podcast reached the top spot on the Spotify religion list, and it has now surpassed 60 million downloads. Jack has served as Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer and has helped lead various national prayer initiatives. He served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country with more than 14 million members. 

For more information on Jack Graham click www.JackGraham.org

CREDITS

Author, The Jesus Book, (Bethany House, 2024); Senior Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church a Dallas area church with more than 60,000 members; His biblical teaching can be heard around the world on PowerPoint Ministries; The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham podcast, in partnership with Pray.com has more than 50 million downloads; Married to Deb, three grown children, eight grandchildren