How to Prepare a Bible Study Lesson

Leading a Bible study can be harder than it sounds and sometimes pretty intimidating.  The goal here is to give a basic approach to leading others through a passage of Scripture in a way that is fruitful for all involved.  It isn’t a guide on how to write a sermon, prepare a lecture, or even teach a class.  All of those things are a little different from this.  Here are some principles and steps you can take as you prepare a Bible Study.

Know the Text
In order to be effective you need to know the text as well as possible given the tools and skills you have access to.  You don’t have to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar, have many commentaries, or be an expert on the Bible.  You also don’t have to have the answer to every question.  I have been a pastor for 25+ years (I started at 10 years old) and I still get asked questions I don’t have answers to…it’s okay not to know.  Nevertheless, as the leader you should know the text as well as you can given your resources.  Here are the basics:

• Read the text 10 times. 

There is nothing magic about the number 10, but if you do that you should have a decent handle on the text.  I recommend reading it 2-3 times the first time you sit down with it.  Then read it every day leading up to the day you will lead the study. 

• Read the text around the text.

It is important to understand the larger context of the verses, chapters, and even the whole Bible.  Look at how the immediate context informs the text you are looking at.  Ask how this passage fits in the entirety of God’s redemptive plan. 

• Make sure you understand the genre.

If you are reading a narrative that is different from the teaching text of an epistle, poetry, apocalyptic literature, or prophecy.  To get a handle on this check out this web site:  https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-genres.html

• Mark up your Bible and take some notes.

I use a hard copy of the Bible when I do this.  I use a highlighter and a pen.  You can pick your tools, but those work for me.  Many people will use a separate notebook and this is verry effective!

• Mark repeated words or phrases and themes. 

These repeated words or phrases will help you get at the main ideas in the passage. 

• Look for a key verse that tips off the point of the text.

There isn’t one verse in every passage that tips a person off to the purpose and meaning of a passage, but sometimes there is.  For instance, it could be argued that in Revelation 16 verses 5-7 are the key to understanding what is going on in that passage. 

Try to derive the main principle found in the passage
This is probably the most difficult part of the process, but these questions might help figure it out.

• What does this passage say about God?

Does the passage reveal an attribute of God?  Is that an attribute that should be imitated or one that is exclusive to who God is? 

• What does this passage say about humanity? 

Understanding who God is and who we are as humans will go a long way.  Does this point out the sinfulness of mankind in a particular or general way?  Does it point out the way in which humanity is made in the image of God?  Does it point out how humanity will be renewed or redeemed? 

• What does this say about how God and people interact?

Many passages Show God’s patience towards humanity and humanities continued rebellion against God.  Is God’s grace, justice, holiness, love, etc. a main theme in the passage.  Sometimes, especially in a narrative passage, these things aren’t explicitly stated but are implied by how the text is structured or the story presented. 

• What does this say about God’s redemptive plan?

Maybe the passage is meant to show man’s need for a savior or that God is sovereign and will certainly accomplish his purposes.  Maybe the purpose is to remind the reader of the eternal hope we have. 

• What does this tell us about the world we live in?

Does this tell us about how we are to interact with the world, how the world will treat Christians, etc.
 
These are great questions to ask in a Bible study or small group context. 

Application
Do not skip to application before going through the previous two steps.  Only once a principle is discovered can we ask the question of application.  Once a principle is revealed determine how that principle can be applied in various context.  This isn’t something the leader has to have figured out, this is a great time to invite interaction.  Stat the principle discovered and ask how it might be applied in different circumstances.  Think about how it might apply to you ahead of time. 

Be Flexible
Sometimes you will learn as you lead the group through this process.   You may arrive at a principle you missed.  As long as the group stays focused on the text, roll with it.  Flexibility doesn’t mean letting the study leave the text all together, but there may be insights and observations that appear during the discussion that provide a principle or application that you didn’t see…that’s okay. 
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Conclusion
This is just a basic start, but if you are just beginning or if you want a basic outline to approach a Bible study, this will suffice for those purposes.  Everyone should learn to lead a Bible study, and, in fact, they should do it as often as they have opportunity. 

2 Tim. 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

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