How to Find the Best Bible Study for You
Tips for beginners, Bible study, mature Christians & Bible Study Leaders
Choosing a new Bible study for yourself, your small group or your women’s ministry can feel a bit daunting, but these tips will help you navigate the sea of studies out there. One mistake that many people make when looking for a new Bible study for themselves or for their small group is not considering their goals upfront. Asking yourself (and your group) what you’re hoping to get out of a study is a great place to start.
A few questions to help you discover your goals would be:
Do I want to have a better understanding of a certain book of the Bible?
Do I want to grow spiritually and want a study that will lead me in real-life application?
Do I want to get to know some Christian women better and want to be in a group for the fellowship as much as the learning?
Do I want something different than the format of past studies I’ve done?
Do I want to be discipled, but in a way that moves my heart and not just giving me more head knowledge?
I encourage you to take the time to evaluate what you most hope to get out of the study you are thinking about starting.
Pray for guidance when looking for a new Bible study for yourself or your group.
When I am in the process of choosing a new Bible study for myself or for a small group that I’m leading, I personally take the following steps:
1) I pray. I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me to options that will meet me or my group where He wants to meet us.
2) I’ll ask Him if there’s a certain book of the Bible that He wants to teach me from or topics that He knows that I (or my small group) need(s) to grow in.
3) For me, finding a theologically sound Bible study author really matters, so if I get a recommendation or I come across a book that looks interesting, I always try to get to know as much about the author as I can. This means I’ll find their bio (mine is here) and I’ll read blurbs and sample of the book I’m thinking about, as well as reading portions of other books they’ve written. I look at their affiliations, and I try to determine what type of biblical training or even denominational background they might be coming from.
4) There are certain publishers that I tend to trust as well, but that isn’t to say that a newer author or an indie author is ruled out. If an author has a great testimony, background, heart and theological foundation then I’m not going to ban him or her from my possibility list just because they didn’t take the traditional path to publishing.
Taking the time to do your homework will give you a much better idea of what to expect from the study, so you’re not disappointed. I’ve found that choosing wisely beforehand has increased my satisfaction in my study time and has helped move me and my group closer to God week by week.
Another thing to keep in mind as you step into choosing a study and getting started in it is that there will be a spiritual battle that tries to keep you from growing in Christ! Being intentional, being in a small group who will help hold you accountable and planning ahead to make time to do the study will all help you succeed. I’ve led groups where several of the women did not take the time to write in their book or notebook at all. Everything was just blank. For whatever reason, they didn’t do any of the homework. Of course, I was always still super glad they attended when our group met; it’s just that I could tell that they were not getting nearly as much out of the study as they would have had they put the effort in. They often didn’t have much to say in the discussions and so they weren’t able to build their sisters-in-Christ up nearly as much as the women who were putting in the time behind the scenes. Unfortunately, several of the women who didn’t make the time to actually study the Bible, also were very sporadic in their church attendance and seemed to stop attending church altogether after a few months. They had not prioritized their Bible study time, and it limited the depth of the work that God was able to do in their lives. The busyness of the world choked out the growth that could have produced such a great harvest in their lives. These examples show why when making your Bible study choice, it is important to assess how much commitment you (and your group members) are willing to make or can make in your present season of life.
Before beginning a new study, it would be good for each of you to ask yourselves how you will make time in your life to get the most out each week’s Bible study lessons. Thinking through questions like the following (with your planner in front of you) can help:
What time of day would work best for me to work on the Bible study homework?
What time of day would I be able to be most consistent with?
Is getting up 20 to 30 minutes earlier each morning (and perhaps going to bed the night before a little earlier) a practical way to make this happen?
Would committing to picking up my Bible study in the evening after work before picking up my phone to scroll be a really good idea?
If I kept it in a bag with me and worked on it when I was waiting for an appointment or for my kids, would I make progress?
Could I clear my Saturday mornings to work through the lessons I didn’t complete?
What benefits would taking extra time with God bring to my life?
How much time and emotional energy would I save in the long run if I make time for God and the study He’s led me to each day?
There are so many ways that you can find to dig into your Bible study, if you’ll take some time now to make a plan. If you’re still not seeing it, then pray. God will help you see where you can focus your time on Him that you may have been spending on lesser things. I also encourage you to step out in faith and remember that God can make a way where there seems to be no way. He’s for you in this for sure! Also, God is a God of grace and being in a study isn’t about perfection! Your work won’t be graded! If you don’t complete every day’s lesson or every lesson each week, whatever you take time to do will matter. It will get you closer to God than not doing it at all. So, take heart, be willing to step out in faith, and get into God’s word!
Another consideration when choosing a study is to think about your level of spiritual maturity in relation to the type of study you are looking at purchasing. If you are a new Christian, then doing a study that helps you learn the basics of your new faith and how to walk faithfully with the Lord will do you more good than perhaps a theological study on a less relevant doctrinal perspective. Finding a study that teaches you about prayer, community, the Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit), how to overcome sin, how to study the Bible and about God’s Character and Nature would be good choices. If you’re a more seasoned Christian, then maybe finding a study that will help you understand a book of the Bible on a deeper level would challenge you and give you deeper insight into God’s nature and how to live for Him more faithfully. Your season of life will also help you decide what type of study to dive into. If you’re in the thick of parenting and struggling then a study on God’s faithfulness, parenting with grace or the Armor of God. If you’re battling a disease or struggling in your relationship with your spouse, then finding a study that will help you see how big our God is and how trustworthy He is, or one that will encourage you and show you His faithful comfort as you surrender your will to His may be the kind of study He leads you to.
Every study has a different approach, and every author has their own unique way of leading you through Scripture. When I wrote my Bible study, EARLY RAINS, I chose a topical format that would be discipleship-oriented in a way that would lead women into a more honest and heart-felt relationship with God. I wanted to create a guide that would be conducive to fellowship, as well as having the depth to help women understand God’s Word. I also focused on life application along with sound doctrine. I geared it toward women who are new to following Christ and toward more seasoned believers—but the main denominator that I had in mind was someone who truly desires to grow spiritually and let the Lord do His transforming work in their lives. There are so many great studies out there; taking time to understand your goals, set aside time to commit to do the lessons, prayer, and finding another person or small group to meet with you weekly will help you not only decide what your best next study is, but will help you truly get the most out of it and grow in your love for God and obedience to Him. May God bless you as you take these important steps toward Bible study and spiritual growth in your relationship with Jesus.
*****
If you found this article helpful, please let me know in the comment section below. If you think it would benefit someone you know, please easily share it using the social buttons at the bottom of this post.
Thanks so much!
*****
Photo Credit: Hands on Bible with bookmark - Photo by: Kelly Sikkema (@kellysikkema) | Unsplash Photo Community
Photo Credit: Prayer - Photo by Olivia Snow https://unsplash.com/@olivia_snow
Photo Credit: Calendar - Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya
Towfiqu barbhuiya (@towfiqu999999) | Unsplash Photo Community
*****
