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Build Your Own Bible Study:
How to Study the Bible for Yourself and for a Small Group

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.

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* 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.