12 Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word

Taken from the Book: Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word

Below is information provided that will present 12 proven Bible study methods that will enable you to study the Bible on your own. They are given in the order of simplicity and use of reference tools, beginning with the easiest and moving on to the harder ones.

  1. The Devotional Method. Select a short portion of your Bible and prayerfully meditate on it till the Holy Spirit shows you a way to apply the truth to your life. Write out a personal application.
  2. The Chapter Summary Method. Read a chapter of a Bible book through at least five times; then write down a summary of the central thoughts you find in it.
  3. The Character Quality Method. Choose a character quality you would like to work on in your life and study what the Bible says about it.
  4. The Thematic Method. Select a Bible theme to study. Then think of three to five questions you’d like to have answered about the theme. Next study all the references you can find on your theme and record the answers to your questions.
  5. The Biographical Method. Select a Bible character and research all the verses about that person in order to study their life and characteristics. Make notes on their attitudes, strengths, and weaknesses. Then apply what you have learned to your own life.
  6. The Topical Method. Collect and compare all the verses you can find on a particular topic. Organize your conclusions into an outline that you can share with another person.
  7. The Word Study Method. Study the important words of the Bible. Find out how many times a word occurs in Scripture and how it is used. Find out the original meaning of the word.
  8. The Book Background Method. Study how history, geography, culture, science, and politics affected what happened in Bible times. Use Bible reference books to increase your understanding of the Word.
  9. The Book Survey Method. Survey an entire book of the Bible by reading it through several times to get a general overview of its contents. Study the background of the book and make notes on its contents.
  10. The Chapter Analysis Method. Master the contents of a chapter of a book of the Bible by taking an in-depth look at each verse in that chapter. Tear each verse apart word by word, observing every detail.
  11. The Book Synthesis Method. Summarize the contents and main themes of a book of the Bible after you have read it through several times. Make an outline of the book. This method is done after you have used a Book Survey Method and the Chapter Analysis on every chapter of that book.
  12. The Verse-by-Verse Analysis Method. Select one passage of Scripture and examine it in detail by asking questions, finding cross-references, and paraphrasing each verse. Record a possible application of each verse you study.


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