How to Study the Bible and Grow Closer to God: 5 Powerful Ways
Learning how to study the Bible is a personal journey that changes your life.
Grasping this powerful truth makes reading the bible an extraordinary encounter with God.
I have found peace studying the Bible and relish its words and deep impact on my soul.
Before discussing how to study the Bible, let’s review What the Bible is and Who it represents.
“In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God and the Word was God.”
John 1:1
The apostle John opens his letter with this astounding truth.
The Bible is God’s Word and always existed. That presents a different backdrop when discussing how to study the Bible.
We are discussing How to Study God, not just words in a book.
The Bible is the physical representation of our Holy God. It is a gift we hold in our hands and read to help us grow closer to God.
That is exciting!
“God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 TPT
How to Study the Bible Effectively
When I study the Bible, I like to be in a quiet space.
We can read the Bible wherever we are, but studying the Bible is different from reading the Bible.
Studying takes undivided attention and focus. Spending time in God’s presence.
If you want to learn how to study the Bible effectively, pray and ask God to reveal himself through His word.
Ask people whose lives are fruitful how they study the Bible; people whose lives display the fruits of the spirit– joy, patience, peace, and kindness.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
What matters most when we study the Bible is that our hearts and actions align with Jesus’s teachings.
How to Study the Bible for Beginners
If you are a beginner, my best advice is to start reading the Bible.
Sometimes, we place so many restrictions before we start something that we never get going. We lose sight of our purpose.
Tips for how to study the bible for beginners
-Read the Book of John
A compelling, intimate narrative of the life of Christ and the people He interacted with.
-Read the Psalms and Proverbs
Both books feature songs and poems that remind you of God’s love and His faithfulness.
-Start reading at the beginning: Genesis 1
A comprehensive way to read the life-changing story of the prophets, regular people, the disciples, and Jesus.
Remember, habits we do for three weeks usually stick.
Commit to Bible study for a few weeks and watch your life change.
Start with a few minutes and increase your time as you learn and cannot get enough of God’s words.
How to Study the Bible for Yourself
Jesus knew the Old Testament so well He could recite it. That reveals His deep love and devotion to scripture.
When deciding how to study the Bible for yourself, think about how you learn. What is the best method for you to retain the words of God as you study the Bible for yourself.
I am a visual learner, so listening to the Bible on audio is comforting but a difficult method to study the Bible. The best method for me is reading the Bible and study guides.
Visual learners– learn by reading or seeing words and images. You remember things by sight. You picture what you are learning in your head,
Audio learners- learn by listening. You understand and retain information better when it is spoken out loud.
How to Study the Bible: 5 Ways
These five ways to study the Bible are powerful and beneficial.
You may try several methods simultaneously or individually, and your approach may change based on your season of life, spiritual growth, or struggles.
#1 Use Different Bible Study Styles
A. Topical
Topical studies are related to a topic, issue, or area of interest. For example, faith over fear, overcoming disappointment, spiritual gifts, marriage, or studying Bible characters.
B. Devotional
Devotional studies cover a variety of styles, including reading plans, meditations, a selection of verses, and interpretive essays or short stories.
C. Expository
Expository studies are deep dives into scripture. You carefully study the words in the Bible and historical and cultural background.
You pour into understanding God and a verse-by-verse application for your life.
#2 Use Bible Study Apps
A. ‘You Version’ is a valuable resource with many applications.
“YouVersion creates biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God daily.
It’s through these experiences we create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately.”
B. ‘Bible Gateway’ is a huge resource where among one of its many benefits you compare multiple versions.
“Bible Gateway is a searchable online Bible tool hosting more than 200 versions of the Bible in over 70 languages that you can freely read, research, and reference anywhere.
Including a library of audio Bibles, mobile apps, devotionals, email newsletters, and other free resources, Bible Gateway equips you not only to read the Bible but to understand it.”
C. ‘Through the Word’ will help you study the Bible verse by verse and learn the context.
“We provide simple yet powerful tools via the web and mobile apps that lead users on a journey to understand the entire Bible, one chapter at a time.”
#3 Read a Bible Study in a Year
Bible study in a year is a great way to read the entire Bible. But we can fall into the trap of checking a box.
I have done this exercise, and it helped me understand the stories, characters, and God.
It’s important to focus on relating to God and not accomplishing a task.
Reading the Bible in a year helps you focus on learning Who God is and connecting with Him through the assigned verses without worrying too much about keeping up.
You can use a Bible in a year paper chart to take a break from your phone.
There are also many phone apps available for reading the Bible in a year.
#4 Immerse Yourself in Personal Bible Study
Reading the Bible on your own is where you connect intimately with Jesus.
It is the time to worship, pray, surrender, and learn all wrapped up in one.
The time of day or method doesn’t matter; just study the Bible and sense God’s presence.
#5 Join a Group Bible Study
I love studying the Bible in a group. We uncover the meaning behind scripture and grow in our faith together.
Studying the Bible and praying together builds unbreakable connections with friends.
Ask God to meet you where you are in your spiritual journey.
Remember, our faith walk is a journey but not a competition!
I hope this article has provided valuable insight into how to study the Bible.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
Romans 12:1 NLT
Author
Mary Rooney Armand
Mary is the creator and writer of the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her writing is featured on multiple websites. She is also the author of Understanding Your Identity in Christ and Life-Changing Stories, both of which are available on Amazon.
