How To Study The Bible: 10 Practical Steps
A question I am often asked is: How do you study the Bible? Typically this question is also followed by: Who is your favorite Bible study or devotional author?
While there are many authors out there whom I admire and have produced excellent Bible Study resources, I am still biased toward study of the Bible itself. It is so important that we are studying the actual text of Scripture, and not simply the words of man. The best resources are those that point you to Scripture while also teaching you a practical method for faithful study and interpretation.
In my personal study of the Word, I generally take advantage of a method called the Inductive Bible Study Method. There are other methods that can be used, such as the A-E-I-O-U method, but the general principles remain the same: Observe, Interpret, Apply. Inductive Bible Study specifically asks three primary questions: What does the Bible/text say? (Observation), What Does it Mean? (Interpretation), and What Should I do? (Application). I simply answer these questions and apply the 10 steps outlined below in a journal, but you can also find Inductive Study printables online, such as the one linked at the end of this post.
STEP ONE: PRAYER
I always begin my time with the Lord in Prayer. This opening prayer is typically short and intentional as I pray that God would INCLINE my heart toward His Word and His ways (Psalm 119:36), OPEN my eyes to the wonderful truths found in His Word (Psalm 119:18), UNITE my heart to fear His name (Psalm 86:11), SATISFY me in the morning with His unfailing love (Psalm 90:14), and TURN my attention away from worthless things so that I may behold Him and His Word without distraction (Psalm 119:37).*
STEP TWO: PREPARE
If I am beginning a study in a new book of the Bible and I am unfamiliar with the context, or if I just need a little refresher, I typically spend my first day in that book studying only the first few verses. Generally, you can learn much about the author, the audience, and the context by reading the initial verses of a book. I also spend time consulting other resources that will help me better understand the context and history. I reach for my old class notes, commentaries, and study Bibles. Sometimes I also search for sermons or videos by admired pastors.
STEP THREE: SUMMARIZE
Next, I read through the full text for that day (typically, about one chapter). If the book is short, I also try to read through the book at least once in its entirety before reading chapter by chapter or verse by verse. In my recent study of Malachi, I read through the book as a whole, and then reread verses 1-5. This is because I wanted to spend extra time learning more about the context of the book provided in these initial verses. After reading through the text as I whole, I try to write a brief one to two sentence summary of the passage.
STEP FOUR: NOTE PATTERNS
After I summarize the passage as a whole, I begin looking for patterns. This means that I look for repeated words, phrases, and verses. One example of a phrase that I found frequently repeated in the book of Malachi was, “Lord of Hosts.” On day one of my study in Malachi 1:1-5, I also noted the number of times the word “loved” appeared in the text. Repetition is important because it often helps us better understand what the author was intending to communicate.
STEP FIVE: CONSIDER CROSS-REFERENCES
Next, as I read through the passage of scripture, I also note other verses that come to mind that are related to the text. These are called cross-references. I cheat just a little on this step because I use a cross-reference Bible (similar Bible linked here). I prefer using a cross-reference Bible because, as I underline and note pieces of the text that particularly stand out to me, I can look to the side of my Bible to see other passages throughout scripture that might be related or that could deepen my understanding of the text. Sometimes cross-references also point out occasions where the Bible interprets itself so that outside resources are not necessary. Its important to always study a passage of scripture in its own context, but there are times when cross references may help you see key themes that relate to other portions of the Bible as a whole.
STEP SIX: ASK QUESTIONS
Next, I ask a lot of questions and seek out the answers in the passage. One method that I use frequently when asking questions is the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW method. Ask yourself questions like, Who was this written to? Who wrote this text? What are the major events in this passage? When was this written? Where did this occur? Why did the author write this? How did this happen?
My grandmother was faithful to use this method of studying the Bible and I have journals filled with her observations. If you are looking for a practical way to draw observations from the text, just ask yourself lots of questions and then seek to find the answers in God’s Word. It’s as simple as that, friends! You can totally do it!
STEP SEVEN: INTERPRET & ASK MORE QUESTIONS
In order to best interpret the text, I aim to ask myself questions such as: What does this passage teach me about the character of God? What does this passage teach me about myself or about mankind? What does this passage teach me about Christ? What does this passage say about specific sins? Does this text reference covenants or promises of God? Does this passage reference any commands that should be obeyed? The goal is to allow the text to speak for itself. If you are struggling to understand something in the passage, don’t be afraid to reference a study Bible or commentary, or even ask your pastor or admired church leaders.
Just remember, only the Bible itself is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. Outside sources may contain error and it is important to compare non-biblical works to scripture to determine their validity.
STEP EIGHT: NOTE THE AREAS YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
If you come across verses or concepts that don’t quite make sense, write them down. Instead of stressing out about something you don’t understand in the moment, make a note and come back to it. Typically, I like to see what commentaries have to say or I ask people in my life that I respect to help me understand what I am missing. It’s ok if you don’t understand everything. We will always be students of the Word!
STEP NINE: APPLY IT
So, you’ve learned a lot from the text, but what do you do with it? How does it apply to your own life? At this point in my personal study, I tend to ask myself tough questions that will lead me to make changes in my life or hold tightly to certain promises. Application of what you have learned might lead you to confess particular sins, worship the Lord for a particular attribute of His character, share the truth with someone else who needs to hear it, forgive someone in your life, put off worldly practices and behaviors, or cry out to God in prayer.
We are called to renew our minds with the Word but it doesn’t just stop there. We are also called to be transformed by it (Romans 12:1-2) and that requires the “putting off” (Colossians 3) of old ways so that we can embrace newness of life in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3, Romans 6).
STEP TEN: PRAYER & PRAISE
Finally, I pray. I pray that God would help me, through the Holy Spirit, to faithfully apply what I have learned. I pray that God would remind me of the truths I have learned in future times when I, or others, might need them. I thank God for the beauty of His Word and for the promises He faithfully upholds. I praise God for His character and the specific ways He has reminded me or taught me about Himself. I pray for others and the requests that have been shared with me. Finally, I pray for diligence, faithfulness, and patience as I begin a new day.
You can pray however you would like at this step. I encourage you to respond to what you have learned in some way, and don’t forget to thank God for His Word too.
Click Here to download a guided printable that will help you apply the 10 steps discussed in today’s post.
* I adopted these prayers from a book by John Piper entitled, When I Don’t Desire God. You can find his book here.
** My personal study routine has been heavily influenced by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth. You can find her “How to Study the Bible” articles here and here.
