Philippians is the 11th book of the New Testament, the 50th book in the whole Bible and was written by Paul.
Philippians is a letter to a church in Philippi that was on the verge of discord and heresy.
The aim of this letter is to promote unity through faith and love, despite their different backgrounds.
Who wrote the book of Philippians?
The first verse of Philippians states clearly that Paul is the author of the book, and like the book of Colossians he names Timothy in the opening verse, indicating that Timothy played some part in the writing of the book. It is unsure whether Timothy co-wrote the book with Paul or acted as a scribe for Paul.
The apostle Paul spent time in Philippi during his second missionary journey and visited again on his third missionary journey bringing the message of the Gospel and salvation to many.
When was the book of Philippians written?
Of the four prison epistles it is believed that Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians toward the end of his first imprisonment, around 61-62AD.
The other three prison epistles, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon were written before Philippians and were delivered by Tychicus and Onesimus, whereas the letter to the Philippians was delivered by Epaphroditus.
What is the book of Philippians about?
Often Paul wrote to believers in response to a crisis or challenge they were facing, but this is not the case with Philippians.
The time that Paul spent with the church at Philippi and the joy and love he feels for them is evident in this letter. Paul opens his letter in verses 3 – 6 with these words:
“I thank my God whenever I remember you, always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy, for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
The letter was written in response to a gift that Epaphroditus had brought to Paul in prison from the church in Philippi.
Paul wrote to thank them for their gift and to encourage them to grow in their faith.
Despite difficulties Jesus’ love, goodness and grace can be a source of joy and peace.
Philippians Video Overview
The Bible Project has many videos unpacking different books of the bible. This one on Philippians is a great overview to help you understand the book better.
Bible Study on the book of Philippians
The SOAP Bible Study Method is a great way to unpack the book of Philippians more. The study below uses this method to take you through passages of scripture.
Colossians is the 12th book of the New Testament and the 51st book in the whole Bible. It has 4 chapters and it’s theme is the supremacy of Christ.
The Book of Colossians is a letter written by Paul the Apostle. He wrote it to the Christians in the city of Colossae, which was a trade center located in modern-day Turkey.
In this letter, he speaks about how Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is superior to anything else and that as believers we should put our faith in Him as our Lord and Savior.
There are so many reasons why you should read this book – it’s a very important part of the Bible, it will provide new insights on Christ, and it contains some practical life advice.
Who wrote the book of Colossians?
The author of the book of Colossians is widely attributed to the Apostle Paul, and indeed the first two verses of Colossians read, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This would indicate that Paul was the author, and that Timothy also played some part in the writing of the book, in the same way Paul mentions Timothy in the first verses of Philippians. Whether Timothy co-wrote the book with Paul, or acted as a scribe for Paul, is unsure.
There are some though who believe that Paul was not the author as the style of writing and certain phrases used were unlike Paul’s other writings.
When was the book of Colossians written?
The letter to the Colossians was written around 60–62AD while Paul was in prison in Rome and is one of four prison epistles. This was his first imprisonment and took place after his trip to Rome.
During this time Paul also wrote Ephesians and Philemon and all three letters were sent with and delivered by Tychicus who was accompanied by Onesimus.
What is the book of Colossians about?
The main theme of Colossians is the supremacy of Christ, and that Jesus Christ is Lord over everything, setting him above and apart from the other gods of the time.
He is the visible image of the invisible God.
Paul also emphasises the thought of Christ as head of the church and teaches a new and godly model for relationships and families.
The letter was intended to be an encouragement to the church, and as Paul often does, he encourages believers to live pure and godly lives.
It also comes to warn them about false teachers and false doctrines in their midst, instructing them to fight off sinful practices.
Colossians Video Overview
The Bible Project has a great video on Colossians to give you an overview of this book in the Bible.
Bible Study on the book of Colossians
The SOAP Bible Study Method is a great way to understand the scriptures better. The study below utilises this method and makes it easy to go through the book by breaking it down into sections. If you would like to dive deeper into Colossians and discover what it means for you personally then I recommend giving the Bible study a go.
Praying through Scripture is a great way to grow our prayer life.
Scripture is a wonderful resource when it comes to prayer, how to pray, and what to pray for.
God’s Word encourages us to pray according to His Will (1 John 5:14-15) and praying through Scripture is a good way to keep us in line with that.
The Psalms are particularly good for praying through and Psalm 91 is a great place to start.
What is Psalm 91?
Psalm 91 is known as a Psalm of protection for believers and it talks about God’s sovereign protection of His people.
It is not clear who wrote Psalm 91, some believe it was written by David, others believe it was written by Moses, with David incorporating it into his book of Psalms.
What is clear though is that whoever wrote it knew God, and knew that no matter what was going on around them at the time God was there, offering a safe place, and protection from the fears, threats and dangers they were faced with.
Why Pray Psalm 91?
Psalm 91 is a popular Psalm to pray through when seeking protection.
The busyness and worries of life are real and can often impact on our ability to cope with the every day things of life.
Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed, or unsafe, or anxious, or in need of God’s protection, Psalm 91 offers assurance and comfort to those who love God.
Take some time to read it through, meditate on it, and pray through it.
Psalm 91 Words
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers.
Under his wings you will take refuge.
His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
nor of the arrow that flies by day,
nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
and ten thousand at your right hand;
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes,
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made Yahweh your refuge,
and the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall happen to you,
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
For he will put his angels in charge of you,
to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and cobra.
You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble.
I will deliver him, and honor him.
I will satisfy him with long life,
and show him my salvation.”
How to Pray Psalm 91
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Thank You that You are the Lord Most High, that You are the Almighty, and that You offer me a place of rest in You. I come to You my Lord and lay myself, my cares, my fears and my worries, at Your feet. Meet with me in Your safe and sheltered place, and give me Your promised peace and rest.
I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
Thank You Lord that You are my refuge and that You offer me protection like that of a mighty fortress. Thank You that I am Your child and that I can trust in You and feel safe and secure in that trust.
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.
Thank You Lord that whatever I am going through right now I know that You are my deliverer and that You will bring me through this.
He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
Cover me Lord with Your protection, just as a mother bird protects her chicks, so Lord I seek refuge in You. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. I ask You Lord to shield me and protect me from anything that would come against me and seek to bring me harm or danger.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Help me Lord not to be afraid. I give my fears to You and I thank You that I don’t need to be afraid because You have promised to be with me always.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
Help me Lord to keep my eyes fixed on you and not on the circumstances around me, help me to trust in You, no matter what others are saying or doing.
Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
Lord, protect me from evil and its influences. Thank You Lord that nothing can touch me that You have not allowed. Be my shield and defence against the enemy I pray.
For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
Thank You Lord for your angels, thank You that they do Your Will. I ask that You would assign Your angels to me to guard and protect me throughout my day and my night.
“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
Thank You Lord for Your unconditional and never-ending love for me. Thank You that You know me intimately and personally and You call me by my name. Your love for me is amazing!
He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
Thank You Lord that You promise to be with me in trouble, and that You promise to deliver me. Thank You that You promise to answer me when I call on You. I call on You now Lord, and ask for your strength, Your protection, Your deliverance, and Your peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.”
Thank You Lord for Your gift of salvation to me. Thank You that I am Your child, and You are my Heavenly Father. Thank You that You promise to bless me and to provide for me and to protect me.
Amen
God offers His protection for us and all we have to do is ask for it.
How wonderful is that!
Praying protection for ourselves, and our families is something we should do every day.
Why not start today?
No one can give you protection the way God can give you protection!
As believers we know it is important to spend quality time with God in prayer and reading the Bible.
But knowing we need to do it doesn’t help us to understand how we should do it.
How do I get the most out of studying God’s Word?
Where do I start? What method should I use?
There are many methods that you can try, and what works for one may not work for another.
Why not try a couple of the below suggestions and find which one suits you best.
But before you do that, lets look at what Bible study is and why we should do it.
WHAT IS BIBLE STUDY
It is as it says, Bible study is studying and analysing the Bible.
It involves taking time to read and learn about the Bible, what it means, and how it applies to our lives.
The Bible has much to teach us, about history, about God, about ourselves and the more we learn about it the more we realize how much more there is to learn.
WHY DO WE STUDY THE BIBLE
There are many different reasons people have for studying the Bible.
Some approach it from a purely academic perspective, and as a record of history.
Others may be seeking to find truth, or looking for answers, or, looking to find comfort, strength and hope during difficult times.
As believers, we study the Bible, not just for the reasons already mentioned, but as a means of growing in our faith.
It is a way of getting to know God better and to enrich our relationship with Him.
Just as with any relationship, spending time with a person is key to growing a healthy connection.
Spending time with God, in His Word is essential for knowing Him better, and understanding what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
BIBLE STUDY METHODS
There are many ways to study the Bible, and many methods used by different people.
The key is to find the method that works for you.
Try a few different methods and see which one you feel the most comfortable with and which one maximises your time spent studying the Bible.
The following are a some suggested methods for you to try:
SOAP
SOAP is a simple acronym which stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.
It is an easy to remember 4 step process for studying God’s Word.
Scripture – read and write out the Scripture you are studying
Observation – meditate on what you have read and ask God to show you something from His Word
Application – ask God to show you how you can apply His truth to your life
Prayer – write out a prayer that reflects what God has shown you
The SOAP method is a very popular one, and one which I have used myself. If you would like to know more about the SOAP method click here to read more.
TOPICAL
Doing a Topical Bible study involves studying a specific topic in the Bible.
It could be studying a word or phrase, a thought or a person, anything really where you want to follow a theme or a thread throughout Scripture.
Choose your topic and start researching. Using a Bible dictionary or concordance can help you get started and many Bibles have study tools and footnotes that can also be helpful.
Make observations and ask God to show you how you can apply the truth of what you learn to your own life.
If you would like to read more about how to do a Topical Bible study click here.
CHARACTER STUDY
The Bible is full of the lives and stories of many people and there is much we can learn from them.
When doing a character study, you choose a person you want to learn more about and start researching them.
Start by writing down all the references in the Bible that refer to that person.
Using a good Bible dictionary and concordance can be helpful in your research.
Meditate on what you discover, write down your discoveries, look at what you can learn from the person, and ask yourself what lessons you can apply to your own life.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE
There are many Bible reading plans available that can lead you through God’s Word in a year, or in two or three years.
You can choose to read the Bible from cover to cover, or you can read through it chronologically, where you follow through the Bible along an historical timeline.
There are also Bible reading plans which give both an Old Testament and a New Testament passage to read each day.
Reading through the Bible in a year can give a great overview to Scripture and, especially when reading chronologically, can give an understanding of the timeline of the history of the Bible.
It’s a different way of approaching Scripture which can open up and allow us to see God’s Word in a different light.
God’s Word is so exciting, but sometimes we can get in a rut with how we approach it, especially if we do things the same way all the time.
Try mixing things up a bit, put some creativity into your Bible study, it can be a very relaxing way to spend time in God’s Word.
You can read more about creative ways to study the Bible by clicking here, but here are a few to get you started:
Listening to Scripture
Audio versions of the Bible are readily available and a convenient and easy way to soak up the Scriptures by listening to them and it can be done anywhere anytime.
Scripture Journaling involves keeping a journal where you record the Scripture you are reading along with words, truths, verses and your thoughts about the passage.
You can use colored pencils, felt pens or highlighters to color your Bible, highlighting topics and themes throughout.
Color coding is a fun and practical way to enjoy Scripture and if you would like to know more about it click here to read more.
Draw or Paint Scripture
Expressing your thoughts and feelings about Scripture with drawings and paintings is a beautiful way to engage with God’s Word and can be a very relaxing experience.
Coloring In
Coloring in is very relaxing and a lovely way to engage with Scripture as you color words or verses, allowing time for you to meditate on them as you go. I have lots of Scripture coloring in that you can download for free from my website. Click here to check out some of them.
Use Stickers
Stickers are another fun way to enhance your Bible study time. They can be used to highlight verses, passages, and truths God is showing you. The can be used on their own or you can use them along with Color Coding your Bible and Scripture Journaling.
INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY
The Inductive Bible Study method is all about making observations, interpreting those observations, and then applying them to your life.
When making observations ask yourself questions like, who is the author, when was it written, why was it written, what was the history around that time. You can write out the passage in your own words, which will help you to have a better understanding of what you are reading, and make a note of anything you may not understand or would like to follow up on. Make use of the cross references to gain further understanding as you seek to interpret the passage.
Take what you have learned and make it personal by applying the lessons to your own life and write out your application.
APPLE
The APPLE method of studying God’s Word was created by Arabah Joy and requires you to read through the passage of Scripture a number of times. The first time read through just to get an overview of what is being said. Read through the passage again a few more times and with each reading look for these:
Attributes of God on your second reading
Promises of God on your third reading
Principles for Life on your fourth reading
Lessons Learned on your fifth reading, and
Examples to Follow on your sixth reading
It is a simple way of dissecting a passage and making observations about the passage.
BY BOOK
Tackling a book of the Bible to study may seem intimidating at first, but it can be very rewarding. It is a very different approach from following a topic and can allow you to go much deeper into the Word. It will require several readings of the book to get the most out of it. It will be helpful to do some research into the background of the book and the context in which it was written.
Resources such as commentaries, Bible dictionaries and concordances can be helpful but don’t let them take the place of your own observations. As you read through the book you will want to make an outline. Often your Bible will have chapter and section headings which can assist you. Look for key words and phrases, themes and ideas and choose some key verses that stand out to you.
Write down the things you learn along the way and make an application to your life. You may even like to try committing some of your key verses to memory.
GROW
The GROW method was created by Artistic Hands of Faith and is an acronym of Greet, Read, Observe, and Write.
Greet by inviting God to be a part of your Bible study through prayer
Read through the passage of Scripture at least a couple of times, to gain an understanding of it
Observe by making observations about the things you read and anything that stood out to you
Write out the Scripture and any observations you made and then write a prayer to reflect what you have learned.
HEAR
Another acronym for studying the Bible is HEAR, created by Ladies Drawing Nigh, and it stands for His Word, Examine It, Apply It, and Respond in Prayer. This method starts with prayer, asking God that you will hear His voice.
His Word is next and requires you to read through the passage of Scripture a couple of times and then recording the verse, or verses, that spoke to you
Examine It where you observe and record two or three facts that stand out to you. For this step the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How questions can be helpful
Apply It where you personalize what you have learnt whether it’s a command to obey, a sin to confess, a promise to claim, and write it down
Respond in Prayer is where you can respond to God in prayer and talk with Him about what you have learned
REAP
REAP stands for Read, Examine, Apply, Pray and is not dissimilar to the HEAR method.
Read the passage and underline anything that stands out to you
Examine the passage by spending time reflecting on what you have read and asking yourself questions about the passage and writing down one or two key verses or points from what you have read
Apply where you can ask yourself, “What is God saying to me today”? “How will I live or act differently because of what I have learnt”? and “Is there anything in my life that I need to change as a result of what I have learnt”?
Pray to finish your time asking God to help you to live out what you have learnt
POWER
The POWER method stands for Pray, Observe, Write, Envision, Respond and was created by Kait at Love Mother Blog.
Pray before reading through the Bible passage you have chosen
Observe and ask yourself what does this teach me about God and, or, about myself
Write out a verse from the passage that has meaning to you
Envision how this can apply to your life
Respond to God in prayer, talking with Him about what you have learned
PRAISE
In this method PRAISE stands for Pray, Read, Assess, Investigate, Submit, Express.
Pray and ask God to show you what to study, ask Him to open your eyes and your heart and to enlighten you
Read the book or the passage and read it in the context of what is being said and who it is being said to
Assess and mull over the passage, the words and phrases, thinking through what they mean and how they can apply to your life
Investigate, this is where you can dig a little deeper, looking into the history, the cultures and traditions and the background of the passage, looking up words and their meanings
Submit your heart, your thoughts, your whole self to God and allow His Holy Spirit to mold you to be more Christ-like
Express and live out what you have learned so the world around you can see by your words and your life that you are a follower of Jesus
WORD
WORD stands for Write, Observe, Relevant, Declare and was created by Erika at A Symphony of Praise.
Write out the passage you are studying and then read through it a couple of times
Observe the passage and ask yourself questions about it using the 5 W’s of Who, What, Where, When and Why
Relevant is looking at how this passage relates to you, how can you make it personal, what instructions or teachings can you apply to your own life
Declare and pray God’s Word over your life, claim His promises and declare the changes you are going to make in your life from the applications you have made
FEAST
FEAST was created by Asheritah at One Thing Alone and it stands for Focus, Engage, Assess, Spark, Turn.
Focus your heart and mind on God, asking Him what He wants you to learn
Engage by reading the passage and writing it down, making observations as you do and asking yourself what it is saying
Assess the main idea of the passage and ask yourself what it meant to its original audience
Spark is asking yourself how this applies to you and asking the Holy Spirit to spark a transformation in you
Turn your heart and mind toward God and ask Him how you should respond
REST
REST stands for Read, Engage, Savor, Takeaway and was created by Kaylene Yoder.
Read a short passage of Scripture and spend time digging deeper into what it is saying. Engage with the passage by writing it out and underlining any verses that stand out to you or that you feel a connection to
Savor the passage by asking yourself questions about it, and looking into the background, history and context of it. Look up meanings and definitions of words and phrases to give you a better understanding
Takeaway is the main lesson you want to takeaway from your study time. A lesson or revelation that you want to take with you into your day to encourage yourself and to use to encourage others.
Whichever method you embrace be sure to begin with prayer.
Using resources such as Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries and Bible concordances are helpful, but try using them as a supplement after you have made your own observations and applications, don’t allow them to overshadow what God may be saying to you.
Always look to apply the Word of God, as James 1:22 encourages us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
Creative Bible study can be a fun and different way of approaching Scripture which can open up God’s Word to us and help us to see it in a different light.
God’s Word is so exciting, but sometimes we can get in a rut with how we approach it, especially if we do things the same way all the time.
By mixing things up a bit, and putting some creativity into your Bible study, you may discover a fun and very relaxing way to spend time in God’s Word.
What is bible study?
Bible study is purely and simply studying and analysing the Bible.
Reading God’s Word, researching the meaning, truth, background and history in Scripture can be an enriching, and growing experience.
As Christians, we study the Bible, not just for the intellectual knowledge, but also to enhance and grow in our relationship with God, to learn more about Him, and to grow in our faith and Christian life and experience.
When it comes to creative Bible study the purpose is the same, but the methods can be different by adding some creativity, color and fun to enhance our experience.
Why can it feel like a chore?
There are times in our lives when our faith and our Bible study is exciting, and we are growing and learning and feeling so close to God.
But, it’s not always that way. There are other times when thinking about reading our Bible can feel like a chore, something we know we should do, but we don’t feel like it.
Often, particularly for those of us who have been Christians for a while, unfortunately our Bible study and Quiet Time can easily become dry, and dare I say it, boring.
David expressed it well in Psalm 63:1 where he said, “God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.”
We all go through these dry and challenging times where we long to find that joy and anticipation in approaching God’s Word, as we have done before.
Whether we are experiencing dry times, or we just want to mix things up and try something different, adding some creativity to our Bible study can be an enriching experience.
Creative ways to study the bible
Bringing creativity into our Bible study times can be fun and it can help to shake things up for us when things are dry.
It can add another dimension to our study and help us to engage in a different way with Scripture, and with God.
Some creative ways to study the Bible are:
Listening to Scripture
There are many benefits to listening to Scripture and it’s a great medium to use if you want to get an overview of the Bible, you can choose to listen on the go, listen as you go to sleep, or listen and read at the same time to maximise the impact.
When you listen and read at the same time it maximises your ability to learn and absorb as you are engaging more of your senses. Listening to Scripture can be very relaxing and listening to Scripture as you go to sleep may help you to not only sleep better but to allow God’s Word to soak into your subconscious as you sleep. It’s also a way of maximising your time, you can listen to God’s Word while you’re driving or cooking or on your morning walk.
Bible Journaling
Bible Journaling is where you write your thoughts, lessons learned, experiences and applications directly into your Bible. It is different from Scripture Journaling where you write into a separate journal, with Bible Journaling you record everything on the pages of your Bible.
You will need a special Bible Journaling Bible which provides spaces within the Scripture for you to write. You can decorate your Bible, using colors and stickers as you creatively reflect what God is showing you.
Draw Scripture
We are all created differently, with our unique gifts, talents, and styles. Some of us enjoy our creativity through words, while others express their creativity through visual arts. But you don’t have to be an artist to study the Bible through drawing. It’s all about connecting with God’s Word, meditating on it, and expressing your thoughts, feelings and emotion through creative art.
Using colors, shapes and forms, and images you can reflect your experience of God’s Word on paper. It will not only be a great reminder of what you have learned, but also the feelings and emotions attached to your experience of God’s Word.
Paint Scripture
Painting Scripture is another way of expressing what God is showing you through His Word. As you take the time to paint what you are thinking, seeing, and feeling, you have the opportunity to meditate and think deeply on what it is you have been reading.
Your painting can be big or small, it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece that hangs on the wall, but it could be. It’s all about connecting with God and His Word.
Color in Scripture
Again, this is one for the colored pencils. Coloring in is a very popular way of slowing down your pace and relaxing. Coloring in Scripture verses not only is relaxing but it creates a space where you can focus on God’s Word, on the verse you are coloring, and how that relates to you and your life.
If you would like to try Scripture coloring I have a heap of FREE bible verse coloring pages you can download and print out, check them out here!
Use Stickers
The use of stickers is also a fun way to study and mark up your Bible. They can be used on their own or you can use them along with Color Coding your Bible, Scripture Journaling and Bible Journaling.
Stickers can be used to highlight a verse or passage you want to draw your attention to. They can also be used in a similar way to color coding, by allocating a specific image or type of sticker to a theme you will be able to easily find references to those themes as you flick through your Bible and just look for those stickers that you have allocated to the topics.
They can also be used just for fun, to decorate your Bible, or to remind you of something you read that brought you joy.
Scripture Journaling
Scripture Journaling is not the same as Bible Journaling and it’s not the same as keeping a daily journal of the events of your life. It involves reading a passage of Scripture, writing out a verse, or words, that particularly stand out to you, writing out a truth that has meaning, writing any thoughts or questions you have about the passage and then writing out a prayer and application from what you have read.
Choosing a passage of Scripture and writing it out is a great way to slow down and focus on what you are reading and writing.
With so much of our writing and our life revolving around computers we don’t really spend as much time handwriting any more. Instead of writing a card or a letter we send an email.
But there is a lot to be said about the act of writing, and in particular, writing out Scripture. It helps you to stay focussed on the words in front of you, it helps you to engage more as you think more deeply about them and engage your senses in the activity, the slower pace of it helps you to see things you may have otherwise overlooked, and it can create a space to allow you to internalize and learn more of what you are studying.
Color Coding Your Bible
Color coding your Bible is a great, fun way to engage with Scripture. You can use colored pencils, felt pens or highlighters to color your Bible.
Choose a topic, or a theme, or a person that you would like to follow in Scripture and allocate a color to it. As you come across verses that relate to whatever it is you have chosen to study you color in the verse in the allocated color.
The benefits of this are that it enables you to think more deeply about what you are reading, and also acts as a good resource later on, if you want to look something up or find something that you have previously read, you can go back and follow the color theme that you have created.
The Bible is an amazing book, and there are so many truths and promises in it that we can learn from.
But studying the Bible can be quite daunting. How do I do it? Where do I start?
The topical approach to studying can be a great way to get into God’s Word.
You choose the topic you want to study, learn what it means, whether it’s a word, or a phrase, and explore how it is weaved throughout the entire Word of God. It can be a broad way of studying a particular theme or word, as an overview, or, you can go more deeply into the subject.
For example, if you chose ‘Grace’ as your topic you would learn what God’s grace means and how God extends His grace throughout the Bible. You would be able to follow the topic through to see how God’s grace was there from the beginning, from the Garden of Eden, through the history of the Children of Israel, through to Christ’s coming, and the birth and early years of the church.
It’s always a great place to start with prayer. Firstly, to pray and ask the Lord what topic He would like to teach you, and then before each study spend a little time in prayer asking the Lord to show you His truth and what He wants to reveal to you along the way. I like to pray Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law”.
Choose a Topic
Prayerfully choose your topic. The Bible is a never ending resource and there are so many topics you can choose. The topic could be a word, or a phrase, or even a person. You may want to follow a theme that your pastor is speaking on at church, or in Bible Study, or it may be something more personal, like an issue you are struggling with, such as anxiety or fear.
Look Up References
Start looking up, and writing down, references for your topic. You can use a Bible concordance or Bible dictionary to help you. There are plenty of online references you can use also, just type your word or phrase into the search engine and see what comes up.
You will most likely have a very long list by this stage so once you have your list sort through which of the verses you want to use for your study
Read and Observe
Now you have your verses it’s time to start your study.
You don’t need to rush through the process.
You may want to complete the study in an allocated time, such as a morning or an afternoon, or, alternatively, you may want to take longer with it, working your way through one verse or one passage at a time, using a different one each day as part of your quiet time or devotional time so you can really allow God’s Word to soak into you over a period of time.
As you read make observations, ask questions, look for principles.
Ask who, what, when, where and why of the verses.
What is the main point of the passage?
What does the passage tell me about God/myself?
Are there any instructions in the passage?
Write down your answers and observations.
Conclude and Apply
James 1:22 instructs us to be doers of the Word not just hearers.
Once you have read the passage of Scripture, asked yourself questions about it, and made some observations it’s then time to make it personal.
We rob ourselves if we approach Scripture from a purely academic level and not make it personal and allow it to transform our lives.
What is God saying to you, what is He teaching you through these verses? Is there a truth about God that you have learned? Is there an action He wants you to take? Is there something He wants you to change?
This part can take a little time as you reflect, and pray, and ask God to show you the truth of what He wants to teach you.
It’s a good idea to write down your application, it helps to clarify your thoughts and any actions you wish to take, and it also serves as a prompt and a reminder as you reflect back later.
Share What You Have Learned
Not everyone is comfortable with this, but it can be a great thing to share with a friend, a partner, or even on social media, the lessons God is teaching you. It’s not only good for you, to reinforce those lessons, but it can be an encouragement to others.
Some Suggested Topics for Study
Abiding in Christ
Names of God
Obedience
Trust
Blessings of God
Peace
Commandments
Power
Praise
Prayer
Evangelism
Prayers of Jesus
Fear
Anger
Trials
Prophecies about Jesus
Forgiveness
Fruitfulness
Righteousness
Giving
Sin
Grace
Thankfulness
Holiness
The Word
Hope
Waiting on the Lord
Humility
Wealth & Possessions
Joy
Meditation
Wisdom & Foolishness
Love
Husbands
Wives
Children
Worship
It’s an exciting journey as you start delving into Scripture, and God never ceases to surprise and amaze me at what He teaches me.
Have you tried Scripture Journaling? It’s as a great way to study God’s Word and to do a Topical Bible Study.
The SOAP method is also a good one to use for Bible study and devotional times.
Hi, I'm Steph! I want to equip you with faith resources to encourage a love of Gods word in your life.
DISCLAIMER
Some of the links on this website are affiliate links of which My Printable Faith receives a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
TERMS OF USE
All our printables are for personal or free ministry use only.
If you wish to share our printables on your website, you may do so with a do-follow backlink to the blog page and credit. You may not share the files or images directly on your site.
