8 Fantastic Bible Study Methods
Do you wonder how to study your bible? Are you stuck and feel like you can’t be consistent in God’s Word? I have good news for you! I have collected several different ways to study the bible. Not everyone is the same. We all have different personalities and learning styles. What works for me may not work for you…and vice versa. In fact, what works for me today may not be my cup of tea in two years. I have a high need for change and sometimes, frankly, I just get bored. Not with the bible, but with the method I am using to interact with it.
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)
So I have gathered some different ways to get into God’s Word and hear from Him consistently. You can find the one that sparks your interest and go crazy, folks, go crazy!
Disclaimer: These methods are in no particular order. One is not necessarily better than the others. They are just different. Just like we are all different as people. Some bible methods may be better for one particular type of outcome (what you are trying to learn) than another, but for getting into a devotional habit, all of them work!
Guess what? The bible tells us that God’s Word does not return void. Void is the same as empty. God speaks out His Word and that word echoes through us and back to Him, having accomplished something along the way. That means that when we read and study and meditate on His word, He will connect with us and change us from the inside out. It will make a difference in our lives. I know, because it happens with me.
So let’s talk about a few things that every good bible study should have.
3 Things All Good Bible Study Methods Have
1. The Bible.
I am very leery of devotional books/bible study books that never mention scripture. People, those are self-help/personal development books. There is a place for them and they can be incredible useful, but they should not take the place of the God-breathed scriptures.
2. Interaction.
Whether it is answering questions, digging into the meaning of words, synthesizing an idea to create art that relates to it, or meditating on a portion of scripture, there should be some active involvement on the part of the reader. Mindless reading of words will not create the atmosphere of receptivity to God’s whispers that interacting with God’s Word will. It just won’t. This does not take expensive tools or fancy books, but a good bible study method will have a back and forth dynamic where the reader is an active participant.
3. Application.
The bible is not just a history book. It is a manual for life. The definitive book written as a love letter from a Creator to His Creation. How we learn Who God is and who He says we are. If we don’t have an action step – something that we can take into life and DO – then we are not taking full advantage of this incredible book.
Simple, right?! Just look for those three things and find the way that draws your heart into relationship with your Creator.
So, here goes…Let’s take a look at some ways to dig into God’s Word and learn of Him.
8 Bible Study Methods:
1. Book by Book, Chapter by Chapter, or Verse by Verse
What this method is:
It is exactly what it sounds like! You read and study the bible by choosing a certain part of the bible and working in order a little at a time.
The Bible – Choose a book
The way I like to approach this is by reading through a book of the bible to see the big picture! For a lot of New Testament books (and some in the Old Testament), this is easily done in one setting. You can also check out book summaries in study guides or online. This can also give you an idea of the historical or cultural backdrop for each book. Think about who the book is written to or about. What is its purpose? What type of literature is it (history, prophecy, poetry, letter,etc) After getting an overview, it’s time to go back and take a slower approach to the book.
Interaction – Slow Down
Read a chapter or even a verse at a time and really dig into what is happening. What message was God teaching the person in the story? What can you learn from the experiences or teaching described? Look up the words you don’t understand in a bible dictionary or concordance.
Application – One Main Idea
Write down at least one main idea you can take away and apply to your life from the chapter or verse you read. This is where you get an action step and start to live out a Christ-centered life.
Step-By-Step:
1. Get an overview (by reading the whole book or reading a summary or watching a video summary)
2. Start from the beginning and read slower verse by verse and chapter by chapter
3. Write down an action step from what you read.
Tools that might help with this method:
1. Videos/Summaries – www.thebibleproject.com has overview videos for each of the books of the bible.
2. Bible Encyclopedia – a book that has articles on all significant people, places, cultural issues, historical events, and more. Online, www.biblestudytools.com has bible encyclopedias that you can access for free!
3. Bible Dictionary or Concordance to look up words that you want more clarity on. www.blueletterbible.com has these online if you don’t have one on hand.
4. Bible
Be careful!
Don’t take it for granted! If you have been a Christian a long time, it is easy to take for granted what a passage is about. We can even start to ignore some of the details while we are reading. For instance, recently in our small group we were reading through the book of John and when we got to the crucifixion, one of our small group members mentioned Matthew’s account of the Jesus’ death and what he called “zombies”. We all looked at him in shock. What?! Sure enough!
Matthew 27:50-53 says,
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
When Jesus died, graves literally opened and people came up out of them and walked around, talking to people! I had totally read right over that for decades and not thought about how crazy that would be to the people who saw it happen.
2. Topical
What this method is:
Approaching God’s Word from the idea of studying what the bible has to say about a specific topic, such as love, mercy, forgiveness, grace, missions, joy, obedience, etc.
The Bible – Topic Keyword in the Bible
Look up your topic to find where it is talked about in the bible. Depending on the version you are using, you may need to search a couple of different words. For example, love is also charity in some versions. This step can be done with a concordance or on an online searchable bible.
Interaction – Study Each Mention, Take Notes
Take each of the results of your search one at a time and read, paying attention to the context (what happens in the whole chapter or section), and taking some notes about what you learn about the topic.
Application – What about me?
How does what you learned about your topic apply to you? How can you live it out in your daily life?
Step-By-Step:
1. Choose the topic you want to study
2. Look up where it is discussed in the bible
3. Read around the verse where the topic is mentioned so you understand context
4. Take notes about what is said about the topic
Tools that might help with this method:
1. A searchable online bible, like www.biblegateway.com, which has a ton of versions of the bible from which to choose.
2. A concordance – a book that lists every word used in the bible and tells all the places the original Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic word occurs in the bible. It will also normally include the word in the original language and the definition. Strong’s Concordance is the most used concordance traditionally. Online, www.blueletterbible.com has a concordance feature.
Be careful!
Don’t take verses out of context! It is easy to read a verse with the topic keyword and not think about its setting. Who is talking? Who is the audience? What is happening and how does it apply? Take each one of the areas you find with the topic and pay attention to the big picture along with the details.
3. SOAP
What this method is:
An easy way to remember what what to do with any bible verse you want to study, this method can be used by choosing a section or verse you want to study or as a part of one of the first two methods discussed (Chapter by Chapter or Topical). SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.
The Bible – Scripture
Open to a clean sheet of paper in your notebook and actually put pen to paper and write out a verse you are studying or one that has meaning to you.
Interaction – Observation
Ask yourself some questions about this verse. What do you find interesting in this verse? What is the main idea? What do you think God is teaching you through it? Be a reporter – ask the who, where, what, when, why and how questions. Under the verse, write down some of your observations about the verse.
Application – Application and Prayer
Next up on your paper, write down how you can make some changes because of this verse. How does it apply to you? Then, pray about what you learned and ask for help with applying the scripture to your life.
Step-By-Step:
1. SCRIPTURE: Write it out
2. OBSERVATION: What is an important idea in the verse?
3. APPLICATION: How does this verse apply to me?
4. PRAYER: Talk with God about the verse and how to live out His Word.
Tools that might help with this method:
1. Bible
2. Notebook
3. Pen or pencil
Be careful!
SOAP is pretty straight forward. However, just like in the topical study, this method requires us to keep context in mind so we don’t misconstrue what we read.
4. Lectio Divina
What this method is:
From the Latin “divine reading,” Lectio Divina is a bible study method is traditionally thought of in connection with Benedictine monks, but it actually predates them. The main idea is to “unlock” the meaning of a bible verse or passage by looking at it in light of Christ Himself. Lectio Divina is a bible study method that is well-suited to combat the busy-ness and chaos of modern life.
It has four main steps (or movements): Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, and Contemplatio. Before starting the four steps, most people recommend quieting the spirit by being still in a quiet place for a few moments, praying and asking for God’s guidance and revelation.
Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
The Bible – Lectio (read)
The traditional practice dictates reading through the bible passage slowly 3-4 times, even aloud if possible. As you read, pay attention to what words or phrases jump out at you. You can underline or highlight as you read.
Interaction – Meditatio (meditate), Oratio(pray)
Many people nowadays think of meditation as only a practice of eastern religions, but the bible instructs us to meditate.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8
To meditate is to roll the passage over in your mind, to chew on it, to ponder the meaning in relation to Christ. As you meditate on the passage, ask the holy spirit to help you interpret it with Christ at the center. This leads right into Oratio (pray). Then, ask God to reveal what you should do with this new understanding of the passage.
Application – Contemplatio (contemplate)
During contemplation, you sit in silent prayer, reflecting on the love of God and feeling His presence. Think of the passage and its meaning. What will you take away from the study session?
Step-By-Step:
1. Lectio (READ the passage 3-4 times, highlighting what stands out to you)
2. Meditatio (MEDITATE on the passage in light of Christ)
3. Oratio (PRAY for guidance and revelation)
4. Contemplatio (CONTEMPLATE on God’s love and what actions should be taken)
Tools that might help with this method:
1. Quiet place
2. Bible
3. Highlighter, pen, or pencil
4. Notebook for taking notes
Be careful!
Whatever meaning and revelation you receive during Lectio Divina should be weighed against the word of God. If you think you are interpreting scripture and it contradicts the truth of God’s Word, you should rethink yourself! Our brains are full of preconceived notions and ideas that can skew our interpretation, so Lectio Divina should be soaked in prayer so God reveals Himself to us through His word.
5. Word Study
What this method is:
The word study bible study method is very similar to the Topical Study. It focuses on the meaning and locations of a word in the bible. However, where a topical study can be centered on a word or on a historic event, person, or broad or narrow topic.
Choose a word that is in the bible (it can be a focus word from a verse you like or one from a topic you want to know more about). Your word can be a concrete thing, like rock or tree. It can be an idea, like joy or peace. Or, maybe a verb, like run or rejoice.
Read some verses that include that word and study the original word and its meaning. Make sure to connect Old Testament use of the word to New Testament use of the word (this often gives the meaning depth and revelation that you don’t see when the word is only studied in one or the other).
Word Study can be especially valuable when used as a part of studying a particular passage through another method. Key words can be studied for original meaning and you can read other passages that use the same word to help interpret the scriptures that are the true focus of your study.
The Bible – Note Key Words
Read a passage and note the words that stand out to you. Look up other passages where they occur.
Interaction – Look it Up!
The bible wasn’t written in English originally. It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Sometimes the original language and its meaning has facets that don’t come across in our English translations. Look up the original word, its meaning, and cultural relevance (if applicable). Think about how that adds new meaning to the passage you are reading.
Rinse and Repeat – choose another word from the passage and do step 2 again. The more words that you have a deeper understanding of, the more you will connect with the passage and see the wisdom of God revealed in scripture.
Application – In My Life
Ask yourself, How does this passage and my deeper understanding of it apply in my life? What can I do to put Christ at the center of my day-to-day?
Step-By-Step:
1. Read a verse or passage
2. Note key words
3. Do a word study (original language, meaning, cultural relevance, other passages with it)
4. Repeat with each of the key words if necessary
5. What point stands out the most to me? What can I take into my daily life and act on?
Tools that might help with this method:
1. Bible
2. A concordance – a book that lists every word used in the bible and tells all the places the original Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic word occurs in the bible. It will also normally include the word in the original language and the definition. Strong’s Concordance is the most used concordance traditionally. Online, www.blueletterbible.com has a concordance feature.
Be careful!
It is best to perform word study in the context of a passage in order to reduce the possibility of misinterpretation or taking a verse out of context. If you are simply doing an extended topical study on a word, be sure to look at the context of the verses you find the word in.
6. Bible Art Journaling
What this method is:
A way of connecting with God and His Word through reading His word and synthesizing the ideas and expressing them through art. It takes several different forms for different people, but most bible art journalers are not just referring to taking notes in their bibles. They read a passage, find something that stands out to them and is applicable to their life. Then, they create art right on the bible page (or in a journal for those who are nervous about creating on the pages of a bible). This art helps them to spend time meditating on God’s Word while creating. It is a fun way to spend time in God’s Word and is especially helpful for those who may feel that devotional time has become a duty (like I did – read more about that HERE).
You don’t have to be an artist (although you can be) – just enjoy creativity! The art in your bible becomes a form of worship of our creator.
The Bible – Choose a passage and read
It can be part of studying through a book of the bible or a bible study on a topic or just your favorite bible story or verse – choose a passage and read it. As you read, pray that God will show you what He wants you to learn as you study the passage.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
I can read a passage of scripture at one point in my life and God will make one thing stand out, but then when I read it a few years later, I see something totally different! He makes it apply to where I am right then in life – because we serve an amazing God!
Interaction – Think, Pray, Create
Think about the passage and what God is saying to you through it. Pray as you read it and think about its meaning. Create on the bible page – art that has to do with your take-away point from the passage. This will help you meditate on it and remember it longer. The more vivid it is in your memory, the more likely you are to act on it in your daily life.
Application – Live your art
Take the point you expressed in your art and apply it to your daily life, rejoicing in God your Creator.
Step-By-Step:
1. Read a Bible passage
2. Find a main idea or focus point that resonates with you
3. Create art centered on that point
4. Live out the point of the passage
Click here for a post I wrote telling how to get started bible art journaling!
Tools that might help with this method:
1. A journaling bible with wider margins than a traditional bible.
2. Pens or pencils
3. Art supplies (This can as fancy or simple as you want. I started out with my kids Crayola watercolors and colored pencils.)
4. Optional: Clear Gesso (This can be used to prep your page so it is less likely that the art supplies will bleed through the page. Here is an example of page prep!
Be careful!
Perfectionism has no place here. Creating perfect art is not the point. The point is the journey – the process of creating in God’s Word, the time spent with Him and thinking about Him. Be careful not to get so focused on the art that you forget the purpose. (Also, there are gorgeous pages on Pinterest – fun for ideas, but a tricky comparison trap. Your art does not have to look like anyone else’s art. You do your own Jesus thing!)
7. Inductive Study Method
What this method is:
This is like the OG Bible Art Journaling. It is an intense form of study where different symbols and colors stand for different words. You study books of the bible very deliberately, marking the words and phrases with the colors and symbols, while asking yourself questions, like Who? What? Where? When? How? and Why?
When you have marked the book of the bible in this way, you start to see patterns in word use, important words really stand out because they are used over and over again. You make lists of things you see enumerated in scripture (like the fruits of the spirits or the order of a story). You interpret the scripture based on what the author’s intention was and the context of the time.
Because it is fairly complex, beginners to this method often enjoy using a guide that steps them through the process like this free download offered by Precept Ministries.
The Bible – Read
Read a book of bible, going chapter by chapter or even verse by verse
Interaction – Marking and Finding Meaning
Called “Observation” by Inductive students, the first half of this step is where you take notes in your bible. Mark the key words with symbols or colors. Ask the 5W’s and H questions. Make lists from the scripture. Mark time words. Note comparisons and contrasts. Denote the transition and conclusion words.
The second half of the step is called “Interpretation” and is the time when you draw conclusions from your observations and try to determine the author’s intended meaning.
Application – What’s this got to do with me?
Here is where you ask yourself – What does this passage mean for me? How should I live in light of it? Are there any changes I need to make in thought patterns or lifestyle?
Step-By-Step:
1. Observation – read and mark your observations
2. Interpretation – look at your observations and discern author intent and meaning
3. Application – apply the passage to your life
Tools that might help with this method:
1. An Inductive Study Bible (or a journaling/note-taker’s bible) – an inductive study bible will have instructions on the bible study method. A guide to each book with the background and key words as well as blanks included for drawing conclusions.
2. Colored pencils or bible marking pens
3. Index cards for making a key for your key word markings that can also double as a bookmark
Be careful!
Though there is nothing harmful that I can see about this method of bible study, I have met people who become very legalistic in it. They can give the impression that this is the only valid method of studying the bible. Be careful to extend grace and Christian to those who find other bible study methods work more effectively for them!
8. Writing Devotional Content
What this method is:
This is something I stumbled onto when I started this blog. As I began to write devotions to post, I realized what a good way it is to really focus on the idea of a passage and summarize what God is speaking to you through it. If you like to write, this might be a good fit for you!
The Bible – Read
Read a passage of the bible. I like to pick out a book of the bible to focus on like these [LINKS] or a topic, like the series A Time for Miracles {LINK}
Interaction – Think and Write
Think about what the passage means to you and write a story that relates to it or an explanation of it. The traditional form of a devotional is Scripture, Story/Explanation, and then Action Step or Prayer (or both!).
Application – Action Step
When you have written an action step, you know how you intend to apply it in your life! Just go out and do it!
Step-By-Step:
1. Read the passage
2. Write down the verse or verses that stand out to you the most
3. Write a summary of what it means to you (this can be a story that relates to the idea or an explanation)
4. Write an action step and pray for God’s help to accomplish it
Tools that might help with this method:
1. Bible
2. Notebook or computer
3. Online bible tools, like a concordance, encyclopedia, etc. to look up things that don’t make sense to you.
Be careful!
Beautiful, flowing, or impactful writing is less important than that you do the action step in your conclusion. Don’t get too hung up on the writing – stay focused on the word!
Sum it up!
Wow! That is a lot of information about bible study methods! Here is the best part. God wants you to reach for Him. Start with prayer – just start communicating with God. Talk to Him, listen for His still, small voice. He will reveal Himself to you as you read His word.
Do you have any other bible study methods you like to use? Share them in the comments and let me know what makes it work for you. I would love to hear about it!
Whatever method you use, enjoy digging for the truths in God’s Word and applying them to your life. He will bless you as you seek after Him.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Blessings,
