Build Your Own Bible Study:
How to Study the Bible for Yourself and for a Small Group
www.toolsformentoring.com
From Tools for Mentoring, Bible Section, pages 16-20.
The inductive method is an effective and straight-forward method of studying the Bible. An inductive Bible study takes a portion of Scripture and asks specific questions of the passage. The questions are of three basic types:
- Observation – What is this passage about? What does it say?
- Interpretation – What does it mean? What principle does it show?
- Application – How can I apply it to my life?
Inductive Bible Study Questions*
The following inductive Bible study questions can assist you as you read the Bible. Use them to create Bible studies for your small group, as well.
Your two goals are:
- to have a good understanding of what the text is saying,
- to have the Holy Spirit show you how to align your life with what it says.
Choose a few questions from each of the following three types.
Observation Questions: What does it say?
- What is this section all about?
- How would you outline this passage?
- What are the key phrases?
- What is the central thought expressed?
- What words keep recurring throughout the passage?
- What is the main theme of this passage?
- How would you title this section?
- What principal characters are mentioned?
- How does this section relate to the context (the surrounding text)?
|
|
Interpretation Questions: What does it mean? What is the principle involved?
- What did it mean when it was written?
Describe the historical setting.
- What does it mean today?
- What was the author’s intent or purpose in writing?
- What circumstances were present at that time -- social, cultural, and the church situation?
- Why does the author say what he says?
Why does he say it this way?
- What did it mean to the original people to whom it was addressed?
- What is noticeable, special, or unusual about how the words, phrases, and sentences are put together?
What words are not clear as to their meaning?
- What is the significance of quotations? Illustrations?
- What does this passage teach about Christ?
God’s nature? People?
- What does this tell you about life?
The contemporary world situation?
- What eternal truths are expressed by the passage?
- What principles for living can you gather from this Scripture?
|
|
Application Questions: How does this apply to your life?
- How does this relate to what is happening in your life today?
- What is the significance, or importance, of this in your life?
- Is there some need in your life to which this passage is pertinent?
- How will this Scripture be a solution to a need, situation, or problem in your life or in the lives of those you love?
- What is a specific course of action for you to take based on this Scripture? What will you do?
When will you do it? With (for) whom will you do it?
- What can you ask God to help you do based on your study of this section?
- What prayer can you pray as a response to this section?
Is there a verse you can make into a prayer?
- Is there a specific action your small group can take together to live out what you’ve learned from this Bible study?
|
Tools for Mentoring can help you in further exploration and study of the Bible.
* Adapted from Kevin M. Thompson, Equipping the Saints: a Manual for Small Group Ministry, Christians in Action Campus Ministry, 525 Ontario Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414, 1980.