The cornerstone of spiritual growth must be knowing the Bible.  The Bible says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV).  If the one book that God “breathed out” or “inspired” (KJV), is the Bible, why wouldn’t it be at the center of our spiritual growth?

In 2 Timothy 2:15 God tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” One is “a worker who has no need to be ashamed” because he is “rightly handling the word of truth.”  He is a craftsman—a craftsman with the word of God.  Let me illustrate.

I grew up on an Iowa farm.  A few miles east of where we lived were the Amana Colonies which, for generations, has been home to a group of German Amish people.  I have always loved going there.  If you have ever seen their work, you know why.  They are wonderful, outstanding wood craftsmen.  They make some of the most beautiful grandfather clocks, tables, chairs, bedroom furniture and other wood products that you will ever see.  If you take a tour of one of their woodshops they will show you how the rough-sawn walnut wood that they have harvested can be transformed into a work of art.  You can watch as they saw, mill and sand each piece to perfection.  You will see each board cut precisely and each piece fitted together perfectly. When they finish, you will see a unique and beautifully handcrafted piece of furniture.  You will stand in amazement at what a true craftsman can do with a tree!

But they didn’t become craftsmen overnight.  If you watch carefully, you will notice the young men carrying the wood.  You will see them doing the rough sawing and sanding, but you will see older men who have been working at the trade for many years measuring, doing the precision cuts and fitting the pieces together.  Why?  You don’t become a wood craftsman overnight.  It takes hard work, determination, experience, starting by learning the least technical skills and finally working up to the craftsmanship level.  It takes time, small steps, starting with the basics and working diligently to reach the craftsmanship level.  By comparison, there are many who can do a fair job of carpentry, but they never became craftsmen because they didn’t do what it takes.

Becoming a craftsman with the word of God is a similar project.  There are no shortcuts.  It comes with effort and at a price!  What won’t work is to wish it will happen.  What will work is to make a plan to insure it happens and then carry out that plan.  God has given you his word so that you can be complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  He has given you the admonition to study, to do your best (2 Timothy 2:15).  Do you want to be a craftsman with the word of God?  The following lessons will guide you in that direction.

Things to Consider

• Do you know a craftsman?  Have you ever talked to that person about what it took to reach that level?
• Explain what you think the Instructor meant when he said, “The cornerstone of spiritual growth must be knowing the Bible.” 
• Have you ever considered setting a goal to Get To Know The Bible so well someone might call you a craftsman of the Word?