Find the Bible Study Method That Works for You

/ Eva Burkholder

There are so many tips and methods (besides the Inductive Method or Lectio Divina) to help you read and study the Bible. Try them all until you find one that works for you. If Bible study is new to you, start with the book of Mark in the New Testament. Otherwise, pick a portion you haven’t read in a long time.

Just choose a time, enter your sacred space—that special place where you meet with God—pick a method, ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding, and get started. You will be transformed.

S.P.E.C.K. 

  • See (What do I see?)
  • Mean (What does it mean?)
  • Apply (What does it mean to me?)
  • CHange (How do I need to change?)

S.M.A.CH

Is there a…

  • Sin to avoid?
  • Promise to claim?
  • Example to follow?
  • Command to obey?
  • Knowledge about God to believe?

S.O.A.P.

  • Scripture (read the passage)
  • Observation (observe what it says)
  • Application (determine how it affects me)
  • Prayer (talk to God about it)

L.I.F.E.

  • Look at the situation, story, circumstances
  • Imagine yourself in the story
  • Feel what the characters are experiencing
  • Express glory to God

S.H.O.W.D.

  • See (What do you see and hear?)
  • Happening (What is happening? Identify the problem)
  • Our (Does it happen in our lives?)
  • Why (Why does it happen?)
  • Do (What will we do about it?)

FOUR QUESTIONS

  1. What stands out to you in this text?
  2. What do you think the main point of the text is?
  3. Can you illustrate this truth with an example from your own life?
  4. What do you want to ask God for right now in order to live out this text?

TEN  QUESTIONS

  1. Is there an example to follow?
  2. A sin to avoid?
  3. A promise to claim?
  4. A prayer to repeat?
  5. A command to obey?
  6. A condition to meet?
  7. A verse to memorize?
  8. An error to correct?
  9. A truth about God to note?
  10. A challenge or prompting to face?

FOUR R’S

  1. Read the assigned text – several times out loud, slowly and carefully, until you are familiar with it.
  2. Review what it says – Briefly restate or write down what the text is saying.
  3. Reflect what it means – Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight and understanding, Think about the implications of the passage. Ask how, what, when, where, why.
  4. Respond personally – Write down one idea that is significant to you. (i.e. something to pray for yourself or others, a thought regarding the character of God or your identity in Christ.)

DISCOVERY METHOD

  1. What does the text teach me about God’s character? Who is God/Jesus?
  2. What does the text teach me about humanity? Our character or nature?
  3. What is God saying to me? What might God be asking me to do?
  4. What am I going to do about it? (“I will _______________”)

Have you tried any of these methods?

What works best for you?

Leave a comment