Learn How to Study, Not Just What to Study
How to Study God’s Word
Studying Scripture is not merely an academic exercise but a spiritual discipline that connects us to the heart of God. By establishing sound study habits, we cultivate a mind that is receptive to divine truth and a heart that bears lasting fruit.
Daily Consistency
Set aside a dedicated time each day to commune with the Word.
Contextual Review
Always read the surrounding verses to understand the full narrative.
Prayer and Quiet
Begin with a prayer for clarity and a heart ready to receive.
Effective Notetaking
Journal your insights and questions to return to later.
How to Study the Word of God part 1
How to Study the Word of God part 2
Comprehension & Critical Thinking
Slow Down. Understand. Connect. Respond.
Reading the words on the page is only the beginning. When we study Scripture, we want to understand what we are reading, see how the truths connect, and know how we should respond.
Practical Questions to Ask While Reading Scripture
Go Deeper
Do not rush to application before you understand what the Scripture says.
First observe.
Then understand.
Then connect.
Then discern.
Then respond.
What Is Comprehension?
Comprehension means understanding what you are reading.
When we read Scripture, we do not want to simply read the words and move on. We want to slow down and ask questions that help us understand what God has said.
The goal is not simply to remember the words. We want to understand the truth being communicated so that we can keep it, do it, and grow by it.
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
— Proverbs 4:7 KJV
What Is Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking means slowing down and carefully examining what you are reading instead of immediately accepting the first conclusion that comes to mind.
When studying Scripture, we look carefully at the text, ask questions, make connections, and test our understanding against Scripture.
Critical thinking does not mean questioning whether God’s Word is true.
We are not testing whether God’s Word is true.
We are testing whether we have understood God’s Word correctly.
What does this actually say?
What does it mean?
Who is speaking?
Who are they speaking to?
What happened before and after this?
Are any words repeated?
Is there a command, warning, promise, contrast, cause and effect, or conclusion?
How do these verses connect?
What does this passage NOT say?
Can I explain the main point in my own words without changing its meaning?
Does my understanding agree with the rest of Scripture?
What does God want me to understand?
How should I respond to what I now understand?
OBSERVE
What does it actually say?
UNDERSTAND
What does it mean?
CONNECT & COMPOSE
How do the words, verses, ideas, contrasts, causes, and conclusions fit together?
SYNTHESIZE
Can I put the truths together and explain the larger point?
DISCERN
Can I recognize what agrees with Scripture and what does not?
APPLY
What must I do with what I now understand?
Noticing Comprehension Breakdowns Is a Learned Skill
It’s completely normal to lose track of meaning while reading deep theological texts. Learning to notice those moments of confusion is a vital skill; it gives you permission to slow down, ask better questions, and return to the text with a fresh focus.
Depend on the Holy Spirit
We Need God to Help Us Understand His Word
We should never approach Scripture as though we can understand the things of God by our own intelligence alone.
We need the Holy Spirit.
God gave us His Spirit to teach us, guide us into truth, and help us understand the things He has given us.
Before we study, we should come to God humbly and ask Him for understanding.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:26 KJV
Why Do We Need the Holy Spirit?
The Bible tells us that the things of God are spiritually understood.
We can read words with our eyes and still fail to understand the truth being communicated.
The Holy Spirit teaches, reveals, and helps us understand the things of God.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:12 KJV
We do not want to simply ask,
“What do I think this means?”
We want to ask,
“What has God actually said, and am I understanding Him correctly?”
Before You Begin Studying
A Simple Prayer Before You Study
“Father, help me understand Your Word. Give me wisdom and understanding. Help me see what You have actually said and not lean on my own understanding. Holy Spirit, teach me and guide me into truth. Show me where I am wrong, help me receive correction, and give me a willing heart to obey what You show me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Remember
The goal is not to make the Bible say what we already think.
The goal is to understand what God has said.
PRAY
Ask God for wisdom and understanding.
SLOW DOWN
Do not rush through the words.
READ CAREFULLY
Pay attention to what the Scripture actually says.
ASK QUESTIONS
If you do not understand something, stop and examine it.
DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
Do not depend upon your own understanding alone.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Make sure your conclusion agrees with the Scripture and its context.
OBEY
When God makes His Word clear, respond to what He has shown you.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 KJV
Self-Examination Checklist
✓ Identify Assumptions
Am I reading my own cultural or denominational bias into the passage?
✓ Biblical Authority
Does this teaching align with the whole counsel of God's Word?
✓ Personal Submission
What specific thought or action must I change in response to this truth?
Submitting Your Mind to God’s Word
True Bible study is more than learning information. It is an act of worship and surrender to God. When we study Scripture, we should be willing to let God’s Word correct what we already think or believe. This means putting aside our own assumptions, traditions, and opinions when they do not agree with Scripture. The goal is not simply to know more, but to understand God’s truth, obey what He teaches, and allow His Word to change the way we think and live.
How to Rightly Divide the Word
Study Scripture carefully by considering its context, who is speaking, who is being addressed, and how the passage fits with the rest of God’s Word.
Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Teachers, study tools, dictionaries, and other resources may be helpful, but they should never replace careful examination of God’s Word or become the authority by which Scripture is judged.
Context
Read the verses before and after the passage. Consider what is happening, what is being discussed, and why it is being said.
Who Is Speaking
Identify who is speaking and whose words are being recorded. Is it God speaking, a prophet, an apostle, or another person in the biblical account?
Who Is Addressed
Identify who the words were originally spoken or written to. Consider whether the passage addresses Israel, a particular church, an individual, believers generally, or another group.
Surrounding Passages
Do not isolate a verse from the chapter, book, or situation in which it appears. Read enough of the surrounding Scripture to understand the writer’s message and train of thought.
Compare Scripture With Scripture
Use other relevant passages of Scripture to help you understand the passage you are studying. Do not build a doctrine from one isolated verse. Consider the whole counsel of God’s Word and allow clearer passages to help you examine your understanding of more difficult ones.
Word Meanings
Pay attention to the meaning of important words in their biblical context. When helpful, examine the original Hebrew or Greek, but do not rely on a definition alone. Consider how the word is actually being used in the verse, chapter, and other passages of Scripture.