TEACHING ON BIBLE STUDY

2 Timothy 2:15
King James Version

15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.

The word of God makes you wise for salvation and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness.

2nd Timothy 3:14-16

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because
you know those from whom you learned it,
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness,
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The word of God has the capacity to build you up and give you an inheritance among they
that are sanctified.

Acts 20:32
King James Version
32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to
build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

The truth which is the word of God is able to set you free

The truth you know and not that which you don’t know will set you free. Your freedom is
to the degree of the knowledge of the word of God.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The word of God is spirit and life

John 6:63

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you they are full
of the Spirit and life.

Proverbs 4:20-22

Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have
to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as
you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of
your being.
Some of the tools that will help you while studying the bible

 Study Bible – a good translation such as KJV, NIV

 journal or notebook
 pen or pencil
 highlighter

For those who prefer to study using a computer or tablet, digital versions of the Bible and
resources make in-depth study extremely easy.

METHODS OF BIBLE STUDY

We are going to see few methods you can use in studying the bible. In any method you choose
start with prayer, asking God to give you wisdom and new insights and to open your mind
to understand the scriptures.

Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures

S.O.A.P Study of the Bible method

This devotional style study method is a simple approach to go with your daily Bible reading.
SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

1. Scripture: Write the verse in your journal or notebook

2. Observation: Write down observations about the Scripture.
3. Application: How can you apply what you observed in the scripture in your life?
4. Prayer: Write out and make a prayer to God based on what you just learned and ask Him
to give you opportunities to live out this truth.

Study a Book of the Bible method

In this method you select a book of the Bible to read through. Each day read through a passage
or entire chapter. Then read through a second time and underline keywords and phrases.

1. Write down what God is saying in this chapter and identify a theme.
2. Take a few minutes to identify the spiritual truth or principles in this chapter that are
applicable to your life.
3. Finally, write down how you will act on the lessons learned in this passage.
4. As you work through the book of the Bible, create an outline in your notebook.

Topical method

When you want to know what the Bible says about a certain topic, use a concordance (A
concordance contains an alphabetical index of words used in the Bible and the main Bible
references where the word occurs) to search what the Bible says about it. For example, when
you look up the word courage in your concordance, you’ll find several references. Example is
the strong’s concordance

1. Select a topic and look it up in a concordance.

2. Choose 10-20 verses on the subject.
3. Read the verses.
4. Write down observations.
5. Make conclusions and identify how you can apply something you’ve read to your own
life and also share with others.

Biographical method

Did you know that there are more than 3,000 people mentioned in the Bible? The Book of
Genesis tells the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
There are epic tales filled with challenges, heartbreak, and family drama. But that is not the end
of the story. Each of their stories illustrates how God met these people and tells of promises He
made and fulfilled.

For this method, select a person from the Bible to study. Look at their strengths and weaknesses
and consider what could be applicable to your own life. What about them encourages you?
Inspires you? A few potential characters to study include Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses,
Aaron, Ruth, Rahab, Jesus, Mary, Elizabeth, and Paul.

Here are the basic steps.

1. Select a character. Start with someone with a few references you can easily study. Save
characters like David and Paul for later.
2. Read the passages of their story and create a timeline.
3. Note their background, key events, relationships, and the challenges they faced.
4. Identify their strengths and weaknesses. Try to imagine what it might have been like to be
in their shoes,
5. What Biblical truths do you discover while researching this person’s life?
6. Write out a personal application for your own life.

As you conclude, ask yourself if you see any of yourself in this person’s story. How might God
be leading you to make a change or take the next step? What impressed you about their story and
how does it challenge you and your choices?

Inductive method

If you want to take a deep dive into Scripture, along with its historical and cultural context, the
inductive method might be the best method to apply. This method examines a passage and its
context to determine what it says, what it meant to the original audience, and what it means
to us today.
 1. Start with observation. Approach the passage like a journalist asking the five “W” and
“H” questions (what, who, where, when and how). As you continue along, note key
words, contrasts, and comparisons. Keywords are words that point to biblical truth and
are often repeated for emphasis. If there are time and geographical references, write them
down.
2. Next, look to interpret the passage to understand the deeper meaning. Ask questions
like:

What is the cultural and/or historical context of this passage?

What else do I know about the book, author, and broader context of the passage?

What other Scripture passages might help me better interpret this one?

Is there anything you have overlooked, and have you made any underlying assumptions
that filter your interpretation?

Summarize what you see as the clearest meaning of the text based on your research.

1. Finally, you’ll want to apply what you have learned. Ask yourself what the biblical
truths you have discovered mean to your life, your priorities, and your relationships. This
application step can be uncomfortable, for it is where truth and life might conflict. Don’t
stop; it is important, and it is worth it.

Cultivate the discipline of reading the word of God consistently and do not give up the discipline
because in due time you will reap the benefits.

Hebrews 12:11 NIV

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of
righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Teaching by: Simon Maina 0740450112