"And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He [Christ] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
Why did Jesus employ the Scriptures (only), when He was teaching His disciples all things concerning Himself? Why didn't He use tradition, councils, and the opinions of ancient church leaders? Because those sources were not inspired of God--they had no authority over His conscience.
Be sure to garner what you are going to know about God from the Word of God itself. This will require the ministry of the church, to be sure--but your ministers, if they are faithful, will be looking only to the Scripture for their final authority.
[Puritan quote of the day: "None can better discover Satan's sleights and policies, than those who have been long in the fencing-school of temptation." --Thomas Watson, in "All Things for Good"]
