Bible Study Tip #1
This is the first post in my “Bible Study Tips” series. In this series, I will be providing information on different tips, resources, and materials that work best for me when I study the bible. However, remember what might work for someone else, may not work for you. This is why I have created this series, in hopes that everyone will find something that works best for them!
Let’s dive in!
BIBLE STUDY TIP #1 - Take notes!!
Taking notes has always been the best way for me to learn. Whether it’s studying my bible, or studying for school, my brain processes information best when I write it down. Down below are two different note-taking methods that are great for studying your bible.
*DISCLAIMER - I did not come up with these methods, rather I have learned and applied these methods to my own studying.
1) S.O.A.P method (Pastor Wayne Cordeiro)
The S.O.A.P (scripture, observation, application, prayer) method is great for reflecting on scripture and applying it to your own life. It does take a lot of journaling, but if you really want scripture to stick in your mind this is a great method.
- Scripture - This is where you would select a passage (whatever book, chapter, or verses you want) and read. You then select one or two verses that stuck out to you and write them in your journal.
- Observation - Now is the time to reflect on your observations on these verses. What is the scripture saying and what is revealed within this verse?
- Application - Here, you journal about how these verses apply to your life. Are these verses showing you promise? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you? Are you challenged to practice different principles? Whatever speaks to you throughout these verses, journal about it!
- Prayer - In the last step of this method, you will journal a prayer to God expressing your heart to Him. Pray that God will help you apply this scripture to your life and that you would meditate on it day and night.
(Below you will see attached resources for more information on the S.O.A.P method).
2) Color Coding
There are so many different ways you can color code information in your bible. My personal favorite comes from Good Morning Girls, and it is their Bible Coloring Chart. Each color represents a different topic in the Bible, making it easier to dissect what the Bible is saying. If you feel comfortable writing in your Bible but don’t want it to bleed through, you can use colored pencils or bible-specific highlighters. If you do not feel comfortable writing in your Bible, you could use different colored sticky notes or you could keep a journal in a separate notebook. Here is an example of what each color could represent:
- Purple - God, Jesus, Holy Spirit
- Pink - women of the Bible, family, marriage, relationships
- Red - love, mercy, compassion, peace
- Green - faith, growth, fellowship, repentance
- Yellow - worship, prayer, praise, miracles
- Blue - wisdom, teachings, commands
- Orange - prophecy, history, kings, genealogies, covenants
- Brown - sin, death, temptations, evil
These are two of my favorite note-taking strategies and I hope you like them too! Don’t forget to check out the resources down below for more information about these methods.
Much love,
Maggie <3
S.O.A.P method:
https://www.nlifefellowship.org/soap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cGpUbZ-RQ4&t=2s
Color Coding method: