We give Jesus His place as the “one instructor” by setting the tone for Bible study sessions, saying something like this:
I appreciate this opportunity to look at the Bible together. Even though I’ve been reading the Bible for a while, I still have much to learn. [Compliment the other person’s interest in the Bible.] So, I’m approaching our time together as a learner with you, seeking the Bible’s answers. Proverbs 21:2 says, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.” We hear a lot of human opinions. But the One who has no opinions is God. He knows what is real, what is true. According to the Bible, He has revealed the truth we need to know. We have the questions; God has the answers. So, let’s put our questions to God’s word. Let’s see what the Bible says about our subject.
Let Jesus be the “one instructor” by giving prominence to His word, the Bible. In many cases, an early discussion should be about authority. Try to determine who, in matters of faith, should be heard and obeyed. If that question is not settled, other discussions tend to make little progress. You may show the Bible’s truth well enough. But inwardly your friend may be ignoring it. He pays more attention to his own authorities—traditions, religious leaders, relatives, personal feelings. To him, they overrule anything the Scriptures say. As Jesus charged the Jews, “[you are] making void the word of God by your tradition” (Mark 7:13).