4 Steps for Intentional Bible Study

Studying the Bible is a challenging commitment. Our human nature does not make it easy to read God’s Word; It is much easier to make excuses to put off reading the Bible for another task. It becomes something that we only read for a quick minute, on Sunday morning, or a social media post. 

We know that the Bible should be something that we read daily, but it’s so hard to have the motivation and commitment. If you are anything like me, then you can relate to this struggle. The struggle is real! Keep reading to discover 4 steps for intentional Bible study. This just might be the motivation that you need to start an intentional Bible study—and keep it.

Why Study the Bible?

Yes, you know that the Bible is God’s Word—breathed on and inspired by God. That’s why you want to be more intentional with your Bible study. Instead of thinking of the Bible as a task, think of it as the privilege that it is. Pray for the desire and motivation to read God’s Word.

Our sinful nature wants nothing to do with God and His Truth because it is God’s Word that sets us free from our sin. It is never a waste of time to read the Bible. God’s Word leads to a transformed life. The more you read about who God is, the more you will desire to shine the image of Christ in your life.

As God’s children, He gave us the Bible to come to know Him more and have a genuine relationship with Him. The Word of God changes our hearts, gives us discernment, and leads us in a relationship with God. It brings freedom, joy, and peace to our life. Studying the Bible is a powerful Christian discipline!

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12, ESV

4 Steps for Intentional Bible Study:

1. Prayer

Before you even pick up your Bible, begin with a prayer. It can be a simple prayer asking God to speak to you through the Scriptures. Ask for insight and understanding while you read His Word. Beginning in prayer helps to put your focus on God and eliminate potential distractions.

Slowing down to read God’s Word can be difficult, especially if you have some life situations that are making you worried or stressed. Talk to God about those anxieties before you read the Bible and ask that He would help you concentrate while you study. 

Philippians 4:6 (ESV) says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Remember, this step doesn’t have to take a long time; it can be short and sweet or as long as you need. You can pray throughout your Bible study and end your study with prayer too. God likes to speak to His Children, so He may even speak to your spirit during your study. 

2. Study 

When it’s time to start reading, there are a few additional things you can do while you read. If you love to journal, you can write Scriptures and your thoughts in your journal as you read. Also, highlighting in your Bible is a great way to help you find or reference a particular verse. 

Take time to meditate on God’s Word while you read. If there is particular Scripture that relates to your current situation or circumstance, maybe you could write it on an index card to post somewhere you will see often. This helps you take the verse to heart and apply it to your life. It’s a good tip for Bible memorization too.

To assist in Bible interpretation, here are some questions ask while you read through a passage:

• What is the main subject of the passage? 
• Who was the passage written to and why?
• When was the passage written?
• How does the passage point to Jesus?
• What are the main themes, keywords, or transition words in the passage?

If you are interested in learning how to dig deeper into God’s Word, check out our article about the Inductive Bible Study Method.

3. Praise 

After you have observed and interpreted what you have read, go through the passage again to identify what the passage has revealed about who God is. Is there any character or attribute of God that you noticed in the passage? The Bible is FULL of God’s character and attributes! 

Ask yourself these questions about the passage:

• Does the passage reveal a specific character of God? 
• What does God’s action in the passage reveal about His character?
• Has God personally shown any of these attributes in your life?

Take time to praise God for His character. Let the attributes of God fill you with admiration and reverence for Him. Adore God for the attributes that the passage revealed. You can write a list of the attributes that you recognize. Write a prayer of praise in your journal or pray and worship God to glorify His Name. 

We read God’s Word to learn more about Him, and when we pause to recognize God’s character then we can take those Truths to heart. God, we praise You for Your AWEsome attributes!

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Romans 1:20, ESV

4. Apply

The Bible reveals God’s character, but it also “is profitable for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness” to equip us for every good work. (Quote found in 2 Timothy 3:16.) God’s Word guides us. That is why when we study the Bible, it should be followed by applying what we have learned. Like James says in James 1:22 (ESV), “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

The Word of God is meant to transform us. The transformation can be distinguishing evil from good, God’s character changing our life, training in righteousness, walking in freedom, etc. So, the last step for intentional Bible study is applying the Scripture to your life.

To help you apply Scripture to your life, consider these questions about the passage you are studying:

• How does what you learned about God change your heart about your circumstances?
• Is there an attitude or outlook that you need to apply to your life?
• Does the passage have a command?
• Does the passage bring light to a sin that you need to confess and turn from?
• Is there a truth about God that you need to take to heart?
• Is God putting something on your heart?
• What has God spoken to you through His Word?

For intentional Bible study, it is valuable to include these 4 steps: Prayer, Study, Praise, and Apply. Of course, this is not a routine way that Bible study must be, rather, it is to help you be intentional. You can choose to accomplish your Bible study with whatever approach you prefer. 

Bible Study

A good way to apply these steps is to start a Bible Study that requires you read a daily passage of Scripture. You could choose a Bible Study on a book of the Bible or a specific topic. The Daily Grace Co. has an incredible selection of studies to choose from. Their Book of the Bible Studies are great to guide you along while you read through a book. You can browse though their Bible Studies here.

If you are interesting in reading chronologically through the Bible in a year, they have an amazing 4-volume study coming soon that you follow along with to help you accomplish your goal. Wow, what an accomplishment it would be to read through the whole Bible! This 365-day study gives you better understanding and insight to the storyline of the Bible. You can find it here.

May these 4 steps help you have an intentional Bible study! Enjoy your time in God’s Word and have fun observing, interpreting, and applying the Bible to your life!