6 Steps to Help You Study Your Bible

Bible study can be a hard thing to get into. Even though we know we need to study the bible (2 Timothy 3:16), actually making it a habit can be hard. See why you should read your bible every day. Why is it so hard? Maybe you don’t know how to start? If so, then this post is for you.

When I started reading my bible, it was hard for me to find study method that worked for me to stick to. I was consistently inconsistent for years. Then, when I got to college, I had a friend teach me a method that was a great way to kick start my bible studies, and that is what I am going to teach you today. In 6 steps, you will learn how to start your bible study effectively and learn something from God. The method is call PROAPT. It stands for PRAY, READ, OBSERVE, APPLY, PRAY, TELL.

Let’s learn a simple way to study the bible together.

WHAT DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU START STUDYING?

Really all you NEED is a bible. Get this one like I have. It is a journal bible that you can draw in and write notes in. It’s really great. ( A picture of mine is below) However, if you are like me, you learn better by seeing, hearing, and (especially) writing! So, I suggest having a notebook (I like to have a cute one just because. Check these out; they come in several cute designs! And some easy writing pens. I’ve had these Zebra Bible Marking pens for years! I still love and use them. And lastly, I use highlighters, like these Zebra Midliner Highlighters. These are just great for everything!

HOW CAN I USE THE PROAPT METHOD?

Using the PROAPT method is easy: It is just a list of steps that you need to follow. I will be using a story that Jesus tells to demonstrate an example and will be italicized throughout the rest of the post. The passage is Luke 15:1-7. Also, read How to Find, Fight For, and Feed God’s Lost Lambs.

Pray

Begin your study by talking to God. Talk to him about how your day is going. Ask him for guidance and direction through the words you will be reading today. Ask him for anything that may be on your mind that needs to be healed or worked on. Just spend time talking to him!

I usually start by asking God to clear my mind of all the things in life so that I can focus on what he is about to tell me through reading.

Another great thing to do at this time is to take a few minutes just to sit in silence with God before reading and listen for him. For example you may want to start like:

“Lord, thank you for waking me up this morning and putting breath into my lungs. Thank you for always listening and I pray that as I read through your words that you will clear my mind and that I will be able to focus on what you are saying to me. I love you, Lord.”

Read

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Pick a passage and begin reading. Begin with at least 5 verses.

I like to read through the passage once all the way through, just to get a general understanding. Then I go back and read it again while I work on the next step.

The story in Luke 15 is the parable of the lost sheep.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So, he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

And don’t try to have too large of a section to read when you are first starting out. Do what you feel will be the most productive and will teach you the most. Ask God to guide you on how much to read. When I started using this method, I would read 1 chapter a day. Now, I try to do 1 chapter in depth with a commentary to help me understand. I have friends who recommended the Enduring Word commentary. It’s free online and in the app store.

This is a learning and growing process. You won’t be able to do the most all of the time… work your way up!

Observe

This step is where you start to get more in depth with the study. Start by asking easy, general questions that you can answer by simply reading through the verse again. Then, as you learn about the passage, write down any new questions that come to mind.

Sometimes these questions may be a continuation of what was said somewhere else in the bible or something that takes more thought, prayer, and study. Do not be discouraged. Write them down. Come back to them. God will reveal!

I like to ask myself questions about how the people in the story would have felt because these were real people too. What would they have done in this situation? What would you do in that situation? Putting yourself in their shoes will give you a new perspective on what is being said.

What did I observe in this passage?

Who is Jesus speaking to in this story?
Why did these people grumble about what he was saying?
What is a parable?
How many sheep did the shepherd have? How did he lose?
Why would the shepherd go find the one sheep he has lost?
What does Jesus compare this story to in real life?
Who is the lost sheep Jesus is talking about?

Also, I encourage you to find a method for doing this that works for you. Maybe it’s reading through then answering questions. Maybe it’s reading through then going back to read again and answer questions. Maybe it’s skimming to find questions then reading. This is going to be a little different for all of us and we all have to find what works best for us.

So, with these questions in mind, we move on to the fourth step.

Apply

The questions you ask yourself in this step should bring things back home. Look inside. Ask yourself questions that make yourself think hard about the answers in your life. What does this passage tell you about Jesus and becoming more like him?

One of the big things we say in Chi Alpha is “Why do you do the things you do and who do you do them for?” This is a great question to ask yourself; not only for life in general, but also as you read about different topics addressed in the bible.

This step is where conviction will come in. Open your heart to God. Be willing to let him work on you as you realize the things he begins to show you. Conviction happens to all of us. Embrace it, it because it will lead you closer to God when you overcome it!

How can I apply this to my life?

If I was lost, would God/Jesus come find me?
Am I the lost sheep? Why am I the lost sheep? Who of my friends are the lost sheep?
As a Christian, how do I rejoice for the returning lost sheep? Do I do this?

Pray

Talk to him again. Thank him for what he has revealed or, if you are confused from the questions you asked yourself, ask him what he is trying to tell you. Ask him to guidance again on how to live out what you learned. Ask him for opportunities to teach this lesson to others so that in the next step, he will set you up. Maybe you could pray something like this:

“Lord, lead me to live out what you have taught me today. Give me opportunities to grow closer to you and to teach others about your love for all of your sheep. And help me to choose your way in those opportunities and not to walk away from them”

Tell

This last step brings in the great commission and discipleship. (Matthew 28:19 & 20) (2 Timothy 2:2) Go out and tell someone what you learned. It may be someone who you already know. It may be someone who needs encouragement in their faith. It may be someone new in their faith. Or even someone who doesn’t know God at all. Go out and tell someone! Ask God to reveal those opportunities to you.

You’re at lunch with a friend. Your friend is talking about how they feel alone and unloved. You remember what you read in your bible today and you say, “You have someone who loves you and will find you no matter what happens to you! The Jesus I know will find you no matter where you are because he is always there for you, all you have to do is talk to him. So, let’s do that, can I pray with you?”

As you can see, the PROAPT method is a super easy way to get started reading your bible. When you start, you may experience a time when it is hard to hear from God using this method. I encourage you to keep going, this happens for so many. Stay fervent in prayer, keep reading, and try to find a little bit of God in everything. Visit my post, 10 ways to Abide in Jesus (Other than Just Reading the Bible) [insert supplemental post] for some of those ways to spend time with God other than just in bible study.

Once you get your supplies (bible, notebook, and pens [insert affiliate offers on all of these]) then you are all set!