Preliminary Steps in Preparing A Bible Study Lesson

First step: Meditate upon the passage that you are going to teach.

• Go to a place where you will not be interrupted by people. Then ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you meditate upon God’s Word.
• Read (aloud) your passage from your Bible at least two times. Be alert to any parts of the passage that especially spoke to you. Tell God what words, phrases, or ideas captured your attention and what they meant to you.
• Listen for what the Holy Spirit might be saying to you about those words.
• Consider what the passage might invite you to do.
• Respond in prayer. Tell God what words, phrases, or ideas captured your attention, and what they meant to you. Ask God to use this reflection to change your heart and life.
• Contemplate in God’s presence.
• Establish an attitude of quietness and listening before the Lord. Be still before God and invite him to be present with you, loving you and refreshing your soul.
• Memorize at least a verse or two from your passage.

Second step: Do a personal Bible study on your passage.

Suggestion: Do this a day later.

(1) Read your passage from different versions of the Bible.

Answer the following questions by voicing your answer.

• What does this passage teach you about the character of God?
• Does this passage give a command? . If yes, is the command only for the first hearers, or for you also?
• Does this passage promise anything?
• Is this promise only for the first hearers, or for you also?
• Does this passage present to you a good example to follow or a bad example to avoid?
• Does this passage remind you of sins to confess and repent of?
• How does this passage challenge or encourage you?

(2) Identify people in your passage.

• Who are the main players in your passage?
• What are their roles and what makes them important to the passage?

(3) Identify important cross-references.

• Analyze each key cross-reference and consider its importance to your passage.
• What additional insight do the related cross-references provide for your understanding of your passage?

(4) Read Bible commentaries and review discussions  about your passage.

• What have you learned from the commentaries that you read.
• Have the consulted commentaries modified your understanding of the passage? In what way?

(5) Determine the main beliefs or teachings in your passage.

An important part of Bible study is determining what timeless principles are taught in a passage so that you can apply those principles in your own life. Before we can apply a passage, we must understand its theological principles.

• What main beliefs or teachings are communicated in your passage?
• Which main beliefs or teachings from your passage are most important? How might they be applied today?

(6) Apply the passages principles to your life.

Apply the Biblical teachings of the passage to yourself.

The final goal of our learning and study of the Scriptures should be a changed life, not merely acquiring more information. Therefore, we must include what steps we might plan to take in response to what we’ve learned. Voice one practical step that you will take.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How has this passage challenged or moved you?
• What aspects in your relationship with God would you like to apply the lesson/s that you learned?
• What spiritual struggles are addressed by this passage, either directly or indirectly?
• What one area in your relationship with others would you like to apply the lesson/s that you learned?
• What one area in your thought life would you like to apply the lesson/s that you learned?
• What concerns or problems in your church or community are addressed by this passage?
• What other areas in your life would you like to apply lessons from this passage?

Pray based on the passage. Ask God to give you the courage to apply lessons learned.

Share to others what you learned from Your Bible study.

Source: Logos Bible Study Software