The philosopher and teacher C. S. Lewis said, “If you give me 10 minutes to chop down a tree, I will spend my first two minutes sharpening my axe.”

You don’t have to be brilliant or significantly creative to know the Bible, but you do have to spend time preparing, studying, praying, and focusing your time and attention on the text of Scripture. Preparation is essential. It is virtually impossible to overemphasize the value of personal study if you hope to know and apply and teach God’s Word. It’s hard work. God has written His will in His Word, and the keener you are in the study and preparation of His Word, the better you will be to teach it to others.