BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

This list is compiled using a lot of different resources. I do not take credit for the following information.

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Bible promises to claim:

1 John 2:27   “He (The Holy Spirit) will teach you, all things.”

John 14:26   “He will bring all things to your memory.”

How the Bible says it should be read:

Isaiah 28:9-10   “Line upon line, here a little there a little.”

2 Timothy 2:15   “Study to show yourself approved.”

Acts 17:11   “Search the scriptures every day.”

The Four-Step process to understanding

1) Pray: Claim the Bible promises at the top. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you understand!

2) Observation: What does the Passage say?

When you first read the Bible text; consider all the surrounding Bible verses, consider in what book of the Bible it is found, and how it relates to the entire word of God. This is called “reading it in context”.

3) Interpretation: What does the passage mean?

Who: Who wrote it? Who said it? Who are the major characters? Who are the people mentioned? To whom is the author speaking? About whom are they speaking?

What: What are the main events? What are the major ideas? What are the major teachings? What are these people like? What does he talk about the most? What is his purpose in saying that? What is the main theme?

When: When was it written? When did this event take place? When will it happen? When did he say it?

When did he do it?

Where: Wherewas this done? Where was this said? Where will it happen?

Why: Why did this need to be written? Why, in the context of the Bible passages, was this mentioned?

How: How is it done? How did it happen? How is this truth illustrated? How does it relate to other Bible verses?

4) Application: How do I apply the passage to my life?

• When you read the Bible verse in context, consider what this meant then (to the people at that time)?
• What does this mean now (to us)?

The following list will help you understand how to apply it to your life:

Is there a command to obey?

Is there a promise to claim?

Is there a sin to avoid?

Is there a lesson to learn?

Is there a new truth?

The Word of God is like a seven layer burrito. The deeper you bite, the better the flavor. No bite is just like the last. Yet, it is made from the same ingredients. The more you eat, the more you’ll get.

Tips For Bible Study

A) The Law of opposites.

 If the Bible tells you not to do something, it is implying that there is also something to be done.

Example: If the Bible says you are not to lust after the opposite sex, it is intending for you to understand that you should practice keeping your eyes from looking at things that make you lust. Also, if it tells you to do something like “honor your mother and father”, it is intending for you to understand that it means not to disobey them.

B) The Language of Love.

The basis of Bible study is not meant to be a struggle to memorize every single Bible verse, like Satan has. The true accomplishment is to understand the author (God) and the Spirit in which it is written.

C) Lots of research materials help.

• Concordance: This book relates every word in the Bible to its original language; it then gives it a definition.
• Commentaries: These books are mostly written by Bible experts and they comment on all the Bible has to say.
• Bible Encyclopedia/Dictionary: Just like a regular Encyclopedia, but all about the Bible.
• Topical Bibles: These books are just made from Bible verses, organized into groups based on topics.
• Manners and Customs: These books deal with just the way they lived during the Bible times.
• Subject Books: If you’re interested in just one thing, you can find an author who wrote a book about it.
• You can also Google the basic idea on the Internet.

D) Reword to relearn.

Try to come up with your own wording meaning the same thing, just simplified, to help you understand.

E) Let the author speak for Himself.

Always let the Bible interpret the Bible. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 + Jeremiah 17:9, we are warned against coming up with our own ideas. Always remember that the Bible never contradicts itself. If it appears to, pray and ask God to reveal to you the deeper meaning.

F) Unless otherwise stated.

Also, remember to interpret Scripture literally, unless it is a Parable (a picture story with hidden meaning), or if it is prophetic (symbols representing a particular point within the context).

G) It always happens

I can’t tell you how many times that I have been stumped by something in the Bible. And no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t bring it all together to make it understandable. Well, I’ve learned to pray about it and wait. It has never failed to work. It might take days, weeks, or months, but God always give me an answer. So, just hang in there and wait on the Lord.

A list like this could go on forever, so I’ll end it here to keep it simple. As you continue to study God’s Holy Word, you will learn a lot of new techniques and tricks to make it easier and fun. One day you will have forgotten more then you could ever remember. But this could never be said enough,

 Fall in Love with the Author of the Bible, not just the Bible.