How to Study the Bible | Bible Study & Discipleship Guide
How to Study the Bible
The Bible was not given simply to provide us with information. God has given us His Word so that we may know Him, understand His truth and learn to walk faithfully before Him. Yet for many Christians, opening the Bible and knowing where to begin can sometimes feel overwhelming. This five-part series offers a practical introduction to studying Scripture carefully, prayerfully and with Christ at the centre.
Beginning with Psalm 119, we will consider why Bible study matters before looking at Logos and Rhema, exegesis and eisegesis, cross-references, concordances and other useful study tools. Finally, we consider the place of faithful teachers and our dependence upon the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding. An additional Harmony of the Gospels resource is also included below to help you compare the Gospel accounts as you continue your own study.
Begin with Part 1Why Study the Bible?
Begin in Psalm 119 and discover what God's Word can do in the life of someone who receives it, believes it and begins to live by it. Scripture brings wisdom, strength, hope, direction and truth, shaping both our hearts and the way we walk before God.
Watch/Listen to This StudyLogos and Rhema - Understanding the Word of God
Look more closely at the Greek words Logos and Rhema and how they are used throughout the New Testament. Most importantly, discover how Scripture directs us beyond words on a page to Jesus Christ Himself, the eternal Word who became flesh.
Watch/Listen to This StudyExegesis vs Eisegesis
Learn why context matters and why we should allow Scripture to explain Scripture rather than forcing our own ideas into a passage. Using Uzziah and Jotham as a practical example, this study demonstrates how careful reading can completely change our understanding.
Watch/Listen to This StudyStudy Tools, Cross-References and Concordances
Learn how to follow cross-references and use practical resources such as a Harmony of the Gospels, cultural study notes, interlinear Bibles and Strong's Concordance. These tools can help us ask better questions and see how Scripture illuminates Scripture.
Watch/Listen to This StudyThe Holy Spirit and Learning from Others
Should we learn Scripture from faithful teachers or depend upon the Holy Spirit? Scripture shows us that we need both. The series concludes with a call to discernment, prayer and careful study while keeping Jesus Christ at the centre of God's Word.
Watch/Listen to This StudyA Helpful Study Resource: A Harmony of the Gospels
A Harmony of the Gospels places the events recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John alongside one another, helping us compare parallel passages and follow the life and ministry of Jesus more carefully. Used alongside Scripture, it can be a valuable addition to your study.
View This ResourceHandling the Word
This eight-session pathway is designed to help you become more confident opening the Bible, reading it carefully, understanding what it says and responding faithfully to God through His Word. It begins with why we study Scripture, then works through heart attitude, observation, context, interpretation, genre and application before bringing everything together into a simple and repeatable approach to Bible study.
This is not about becoming a scholar, winning arguments or knowing every answer. The goal is simply to learn how to approach Scripture prayerfully, carefully and with a willingness to hear and obey what God has said. The goal is not perfection. The goal is growth, one step at a time.
A personal note: These resources began as my own notes for one-to-one mentoring and discipleship. They are not intended to be a professionally produced or perfect Bible course, and I do not present them as complete in every detail. They are simply a practical guide I have prepared and used to help someone become more comfortable opening Scripture, asking good questions and learning to handle the Word faithfully. I am sharing them here in the hope that they may also be useful to others.
Why Study the Bible?
Begin by looking at what the Bible says about itself. Why has God given us Scripture, what is it for, and how does it reveal His truth and His redemptive plan through Christ?
The Right Heart: Prayer, Humility and Obedience
Before learning methods, we consider the heart with which we approach Scripture. We come humbly, prayerfully and with a willingness to obey what God shows us.
Observation: What Does the Text Say?
Learn to slow down and notice what is actually written. Who is speaking? What is happening? What words are repeated? What commands, promises, warnings or truths are present?
Context: Never Read a Verse Alone
Learn why context matters. Every verse belongs within a sentence, paragraph, chapter, book and ultimately within the larger story and message of Scripture.
Interpretation: What Does It Mean?
Learn to ask what a passage meant when God first gave it, rather than imposing our own ideas, assumptions or culture onto the text.
Genre: Reading Each Part of the Bible Properly
Scripture contains different kinds of writing including history, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, Gospel and letters. This session considers how each should be read carefully and appropriately.
Application: What Must I Do With This?
Bible study is incomplete until we respond. Learn to ask whether there is something to believe, obey, confess, trust, pray about or give thanks for.
Putting It All Together
Bring the previous sessions together into a simple, repeatable approach to Scripture that can continue to develop as you grow in confidence and understanding.
Leader Guides
The pathway was originally developed for one-to-one mentoring, so I have also made my accompanying leader notes available for those who may wish to walk through the material with someone else.
Please keep these in perspective: these are my own practical mentoring notes, not a formal teacher's manual. They contain prompts, questions, suggested directions and reminders that I prepared to help guide a conversation. Use what is helpful, adapt them to the person you are discipling, and always allow Scripture itself to remain the authority.
