Bible Study Methods

Scripture

Write down the verse or passage that stood out to you.

Observation

What stood out? What words caught your attention? What is God saying here?

Application

How does this apply to my life? What is one way you can put it into practice?

Prayer

Pray, asking God to help you apply what stood out to you.

Read

Read the passage out loud.

Retell

Retell the passage from memory.

Ask

What do you see? What does this say about God? What does this say about us?

Apply

What is God saying to you? What are you going to do?

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage slowly, a couple of times.

Meditatio (Reflecting)

What is the author trying to say? What words or phrases leap out at you?

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again. Spend time listening to God. What do you sense God is saying to you?

Contemplatio (Remaining)

Be still. Pray, and write how God has spoken to you in this passage, and your response to him.

Picture it

Visualise the scene in your mind.

Pronounce it

Say the verse aloud, emphasising a different word each time.

Paraphrase it

Rewrite the verse in your own words.

Personalise it

Replace the pronouns or people in the verse with your own name.

Pray it

Turn the verse into a prayer and say it back to God.

Probe it

Ask yourself: is there a promise to keep, an attitude to change, a command to keep, an example to follow, a truth to believe, or something to thank God for?