Four Practical Bible Study Tips
You can apply these tips to your next Bible study.
Bible study can be intimidating for all of us.
I mean, there is so much information contained inside the Scriptures - where do we even start?
These four practical Bible study tips have helped me tremendously as a Bible student. I want to share them with you.
Slow down.
Bible reading plans can be helpful tools. Bible Gateway includes a long list of different reading plans that might interest you.
However, one downside of a Bible reading plan is the potential to rush through a reading. If we speed through our Bible reading just to check it off our list, then we really won’t benefit from Bible study like we should.
When you read, slow down. Maybe instead of reading two chapters, study a paragraph. For example, what if you focused on studying Psalm 119:105-112?
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end.
It’s just eight verses, but if you slowed down and spent time reading, studying, and meditating on those eight verses, you would benefit immensely from it.
Make the application to yourself first.
I admit that one of the easiest things to do in Bible study is to think, “Oh, so-and-so needs to hear this.” While “so-and-so” might need to hear it, do you need to listen to it?
There is a powerful verse about Ezra and his Bible study habits. We learn that he first applied what he learned to himself.
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. (Ezra 7:10)
Notice 1) he prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, 2) he did it, and 3) he taught it.
When we study the Bible, we need to make the application to ourselves first. We need to “get the beam” out of our eye before we help someone else with what they have in their eye (Matthew 7:1-5).
Pray about what you studied.
The Bible is God speaking to us. Paul reminded Timothy of this fact.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Scripture “given by inspiration of God” literally means God breathed it out. It comes from the mouth of God.
When we spend time studying God’s Word, it makes sense that we would talk to God about what we are reading. David did this same thing.
Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. (Psalm 119:17-18)
David expressed through a psalm his desire to obey God’s Word. He also wanted to “see wondrous things” from God’s law. David expressed to God his desire to understand what he read from God’s Word.
Share the results of your study with someone else.
The benefits we receive from God’s Word are truly remarkable. Spiritual growth is one of those benefits.
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-3)
However, the things we learn from God’s Word are not meant to be kept to ourselves. We are supposed to “go into all the world” (Mark 16:15-16) and “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Just as Paul had taught Timothy, so he needed to teach others who would, in turn, teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).
Take the time to share what you are learning in your Bible study with your husband or wife, children, parents, etc.