A police officer stopped a car full of nuns for driving hazardously slow. After approaching the left side of the car, he said to the driver, “Sister, the speed limit here is 55MPH, why were you driving so slowly?” She replied, “I’m sorry officer, but the sign said 41 not 55.” The officer said, “Sister that is the number of the highway on which you were driving.” The nun said, “Sorry officer, I’ll do better next time.” The officer did not cite her but as was leaving, he noticed that the other nuns in the back seat were shaking and looked terrified. He asked the driver, “Excuse me sister, but what is the matter with your friends?” To which the driver said, “Oh, we just got off of highway 101.”

We focus so much on the details of Scripture that we sidetrack ourselves from its actual significance. Some folks get hung up on the detail of eschatology (the study of end times), while others focus on Pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit and how He works in the church). Yet again, others focus on spiritual gifts or other details of God’s Word.

Now these are important details and there is nothing wrong with studying details like eschatology, Pneumatology, spiritual gifts, or any number of details in the Bible, but if they sidetrack us from the significance of what the Bible is really about, then they are wrong.

Acts 2:42 gives us a quick study guide as to how we should go about studying Scripture.

v42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers [Acts 2:42 KJV].

The Apostles Doctrine is nothing more than the Old Testament as understood and interpreted in light of Christ. This includes the stories concerning His life, death, resurrection, and ascension – or simply put, the New Testament. That’s it. What do we think Jesus taught the Apostles? He taught the Apostles the Old Testament Scriptures and how to interpret them.

We can sum up the message of the Old Testament in two verses.

v44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
v46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. . .[Luke 24:44, 46 KJV].

The Old Testament looks forward to Christ and the New Testament looks back to Christ. The Bible is all about Jesus. It is about Christ and Him crucified and rising from the dead. Focusing on Christ is how we read the Bible and who we focus on while reading the Scriptures. Of course there are many details along the journey of reading God’s Word, and we should study the details because they are important. However, we should focus on Christ because it all points to Him.

Jesus Christ is coming back to make things right and we will spend eternity with Him as His Bride. This should encourage us and edify us. If we do nothing else we are to . . .love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: and. . .love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30, 31). So focus on Christ and don’t get sidetracked by all the details of the Word. The next time you read Scripture, just think of how it pertains to Christ. Where is Christ in this?

Like the Apostles, we should fellowship with one another. We should not forsake the assembling of one another. We should take communion frequently by the breaking of bread. A prayer life always increases God’s grace and life for our own souls. In these days it behooves us to sell out to Christ 100%