HOW TO STUDY THE

BIBLE

A simple introduction
 Five ideas to help you
start studying your Bible.

2
3
3
1. GOOD BIBLE STUDY
NEEDS US TO KNOW
HOW TO ASK THE
RIGHT QUESTIONS
 All the methods of Bible
study we will learn require
you to ask questions about
the text—the difference is in
the type of questions you will
ask.

5
 Asking questions is a skill that you will develop
—you will become better at it as your use the
methods we learn.
Many people don’t ask any questions of the
Bible and so never develop deeper
understanding!

6
2. BIBLE STUDY NEEDS
YOU TO WRITE DOWN
WHAT YOU HAVE
OBSERVED AND
DISCOVERED
 The best way to think
through a Bible text
is to write down your
thoughts.

8
 “You read the Bible without writing
something down. That is the difference
between Bible reading and Bible study…
in studying you take a lot of notes”

8
 Thoughts are often
clearer when
written down.

9
 This is why using a journal is
very helpful in your spiritual
Thoughts are often
growth—in it you should try to
clearer when
write down what you think
written down.
God is saying to you as well as
what you are learning.

9
 This is why using a journal is
very helpful in your spiritual
growth—in it you should try to
write down what you think
God is saying to you as well as
what you are learning.

9
3. THE GOAL OF BIBLE
STUDY IS APPLICATION
—“WHAT DO I DO”
 DL Moody said,
“The Bible was not given to increase
our knowledge, but to change our
lives”

11
 Studying the Bible should change our character
so we become more like our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 1:22 says this,
_________________________________
_________________________________

12
 NLT: But don’t just listen to God’s word. You
must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only
fooling yourselves.
ESV: But be doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving yourselves.

12
 Some questions you could ask
yourself in your Bible study are:
What attitude do I need to
change as a result of this
study?
What do I need to start doing
or stop doing?
13
 What things do I need to believe
or stop believing?
What relationships do I need to
work on?
What ministry should I be
having with others?
13
 Bible study makes you think,
speak, act and value the same
things that Jesus did.
… it shows more of God’s purpose
for your life and gives you real,
deep, joy in his presence and will.
14
 When you study focus on Jesus.
Don’t study to try to find
something that will impress
other people.
Find what God wants to say to you,
and then do what he has said.
15
 4. BIBLE STUDY
SHOULD STUDY GOD’S
WORD
SYSTEMATICALLY.
 Systematically
according to a plan or
system;
using a method.

17
 This means using a plan
or method;
using a system.

18
 2 Tim 3:16 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is
useful to teach us what is true and to make
us realize what is wrong in our lives. It
corrects us when we are wrong and teaches
us to do what is right.
18
 This means the whole of the
Bible, not just your favourite
parts!
We need a plan that helps us to
treat all of the Bible as the
Word of God.
19
 A good Bible Detective…
Studying the Bible is like being a
good detective, you follow the
same procedure…

20
 The first thing a detective does
is to go out and look for
clues…he looks at all the details.
He sees things that other people
might miss, because he is trained
in observation.

20
 Second, he begins asking
questions on the basis of what he
has seen

20
 Third, after looking carefully
and questioning, he starts
putting the evidence together
and interpreting what he has.

21
Fourth, he compares and brings
it together, to see how each fact
relates to the others.

21
 Finally, he draws a conclusion
and makes a decision on the
basis of what he believes actually
occurred and who was involved.

21
 A real Bible student will
follow these steps when
studying the Bible:
1. Observe—see the facts
that are in the text.

22
 2. Ask Questions—these
reveal facts, help our in-
depth observation.
3. Interpret—analyse what
you have discovered.

22
 4. Bring together what you
have discovered with other
biblical truths that you know.
Use cross references to compare
Scripture with Scripture.

23
 5. Apply the Word—you draw a
conclusion and decide what to do
based upon that conclusion.

23
 5. GOOD BIBLE STUDY
MEANS YOU NEVER COME
TO AN END WHAT CAN BE
DISCOVERED IN A
PASSAGE.
 Ps 119:96 (NIV),
“I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.”
NLT, “Even perfection has its limits,
    but your commands have no limit.”

25
 We are commanded, Prov. 2:1-5,
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;

26
 3  yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
4  if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5  then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
26
 There is no end to all we can
search out from the treasures of
God. Study something and get
much out of it, yet when you come
back you will find there is still
more that you had missed!

27
HOW SHOULD I
GET READY TO
STUDY?
1. SCHEDULE YOUR
BIBLE STUDY TIME
 Decide how much time you
will spend in Bible study
each week—be realistic. This
time is an appointment.

30
 You should have a quiet
time each day—a time to
fellowship with the Lord
Jesus Christ. That time is not
as Bible study.

30
 It is better to have one
long period e.g. 60
minutes, than 6 x 10
minutes.

31
 Make sure you are in good
shape intellectually, physically,
mentally and emotionally when
you study your Bible—when are
you most alert, when do you
work best?

31
2. KEEP A NOTEBOOK
 A book that you want
to write in, has enough
space etc.

33
33
3. GET THE RIGHT
TOOLS
3. GET THE RIGHT
TOOLS
 For each method of study
tools will be suggested.
Some study methods need no
tools.
The more you know of your
Bible the more you can study
with or without tools.
35
 Many good tools are available
online.
To buy your own copy might
be expensive but can last you
for the rest of your life.

36
 https://www.biblegateway.com/
https://faithlife.com/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/
http://www.bible.is/
https://biblehub.com/
https://www.idisciple.org/feed
http://www.intothyword.org/
https://www.blueletterbible.org/
https://www.preceptaustin.org/
https://bible.org/
https://www.studylight.org/

37
 4. SPEND A FEW
MOMENTS IN PRAYER
BEFORE YOU STUDY
 Deal with your sin.
Ask the Holy Spirit to
guide you in your
study.

39
 Memorise Psalm 119:18 and pray it before
each study,
Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
NIV, Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
40
 USE GOOD TOOLS
WHY USE REFERENCE
TOOLS?
 Not using reference works
is like a builder who tries
to build a house without
using bricks and cement.

42
 Good tools are not meant to
replace the Bible—but to
help us to study the Bible
in a better way.

42
SUGGESTED TOOLS
 1. A study Bible
2. Different translations of the Bible
3. An exhaustive concordance—an index of the
words contained in your Bible
4. A Bible dictionary or encyclopaedia

44
 5. A topical Bible—this categorises the words of
the Bible by topic
6. A Bible handbook—gives background notes /
commentary in short form.
7. Books of word studies
8. Commentaries—a collection of notes and
interpretations of the text
44
 This looks like a lot of books, and it is! But these
are books that you will use many times in the
course of your years studying the Bible, they
will be a long term investment. Save money as
you can and gradually build up your library.

45
46