Preparing a Bible Study

Could you prepare a Bible study if asked to do so? What questions would you prepare ahead of time for the participants? Could you do it all by yourself, even on short notice? This handout is designed to give you some questions that you can ask yourself while preparing a Bible study. Not every question is applicable to every passage, but they should be a big help to you!

You Need to Learn How to Prepare a Study

  1. in order to lead a group study
  2. to better participate in a group study
  3. for your own personal and family study/devotions

Preparation for Preparing

  1. read the passage over a number of times
  2. pray that the Holy Spirit would open your mind
  3. read the passage slowly

Questions to Ask Yourself

  1. what does this passage teach me about the Lord Jesus Christ?
  2. what is the main thought of the passage?
  3. what is the main flow of argument?
  4. what is the overall theme/purpose of this book?
  5. what is the background to this statement (the author's and the readers)?
  6. why was this letter/passage written?
  7. what type of literature is this (doctrinal, poetic, historical, etc.)?
  8. what other verses discuss similar ideas? What do my Bible's cross references tell me?
  9. what other verse discuss contrasting ideas?
  10. what are the recipients of this letter doing right?
  11. what are the recipients of this letter doing wrong?
  12. what the the key words in this passage. What do they mean? Where else are they used? Do
    any of them have theological significance?
  13. is there a poetic or literary structure to the passage?
  14. what can I learn by comparing several translations?
  15. what is the tone of this passage?
  16. how would I paraphrase this verse?
  17. what are the verb tenses? Is it past, present or future? Is it singular or plural?
  18. how does this passage challenge my assumptions or pre-held beliefs?
  19. how can I apply this passage to my life? What similar situations do I face?

Tools for Study

  1. several Bible translations
  2. concordance
  3. set of cross references
  4. Bible dictionary
  5. pen and paper