The study of the Word of God is essential for spiritual growth and maturity; no Christian would dare deny that. However, Bible study in formal settings can be a negative and not an advantageous thing if it is used primarily for an occasion of socializing. When the attitude of a Bible study is thus: “Let’s get the Bible study over so that we can break out the coffee and cake, and talk about more important matters-about things more important,” then it is wrong.
The purpose of the study of the Scriptures is there to teach us truth, not for a social occasion.