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How to Study the Bible

1)      Prepare to study:

a.      Schedule your Bible study time

b.      Get the right tools (Bible, computer, notebook, Reference books, etc.)

c.      Prepare your heart by praying to God for the right attitude and the Holy Spirit to help you understand

2)      Read the passage carefully & & ask broad context questions

a.      Who wrote this? When?  For whom?  Why?

b.      What format/genre is this passage? (ex: poem? Song? Letter? History?)

c.      What historical background do I need to know? (ex: Wedding customs, traditions, cultural meaning, etc.)

d.      What is the literary context? (i.e.: What is the author writing about right before and after?)

3)      Use good tools to answer these questions

a.      A good study Bible

b.      Bible dictionary

c.      http://www.blueletterbible.org/study

4)      Re-read the passage & ask specific questions (tips on how to find the answers in parenthesis)

a.      How does God interact with each of the characters?  (read the story from each point of view)

b.      Feel the story from each person’s perspective (imagine the sounds, smells, sights, touch, taste)

c.      Is there anything in the passage that is unusual or interesting? (pay attention to what is said as well as what is not said that you’d normally expect – look at each word carefully; read the verse several times & emphasize a different word each time you read it )

d.      Is there any other story in the Bible that reminds me of this passage? (look for repeated words or phrases, themes, motifs, plots, characters, etc. and then compare & contrast)

5)      Use good tools to find additional insights:

a.      www.biblegateway.com(you can search how the word is used elsewhere in the Bible)

b.      www.blueletterbible.org(for meaning of words, customs, phrases)

c.      http://www.ellengwhite.org(for commentary on the Bible passage)

d.      http://www.bibleinfo.com(answers to common Bible questions)

6)      Get the main idea/principle

a.      What does this passage tell me about God?

b.      What does this passage tell me about humans and God?

c.      What does this passage tell me about ME and God?

7)      Apply it to your life

a.      Ask, “How can I apply this idea to my life TODAY?”

b.      Make sure the application is personal, achievable, & measurable.

c.      Journal and reflect throughout the day – come back to it and see if you achieved it.

8)      Pray & praise

a.      Pray & thank God for what He has done for you through your study

b.      Ask for His continued help in obeying what He has revealed

c.      Ask for His help remembering it in times of need

d.      Ask for an opportunity to share with someone else

9)      Share with someone else

a.      Share with your accountability partner

b.      Share with someone who has the same need you had

Claim These Promises in Prayer:

·        God’s Word gives us life & salvation

o   Philippians 2:16

o   2 Timothy 3:15-17

·        God’s Word produces growth.

o   Isaiah 55:10,11

o   1 Peter 2:2

·        God’s Word sanctifies us.

o   John 17:7

o   Jeremiah 23:29

·        God’s Word gives us wisdom.

o   Psalm 119:98

·        God’s Word shows us the way

o   Psalm 119:105

·        God’s Word helps us resist temptation

o   Psalm 119:9,10

·        God’s Word brings health & healing

o   Proverbs 4:20-22

In a passage, try also looking for ESCAPE:

·        Example to follow

·        Sin to avoid

·        Command to keep

·        Advice to heed

·        Promise to claim

·        Expression to have

In prayer, try ACTS:

·        Adoration – tell God why He’s so wonderful (He is patient; He is merciful; etc.)

·        Confession – confess your sins to God and claim His promise of 1 John 1:9

·        Thanksgiving – thank God for specific things

·        Supplication – ask God for your needs as well as for others’

Remember:

·        If you’re starting out for the first time, start in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John)

·        It’s ok to SKIP certain books & chapters – but make sure you come back some day!

·        It’s OK not to read in chronological order! (the Bible is actually not in chronological order)

·        It’s OK to read just a short passage – and you can read the same story over and over again for a week! (it’s not a race to see how fast you can read – it’s to see how deep you can go; but it is good to have read the whole Bible at least once)

·        The more research you do, the deeper you go, the more you pay attention, the MORE TREASURE you will find (archeological excavations aren’t found by accident) – it’s important to know the TIME/PLACE to understand the treasure you find.

·        Memorizing verses help a lot when you’re facing temptations, need to minister to a friend, or when studying passages in the Bible!

·        Ways to study: by themes, biographies, topical, word studies