BIBLE STUDY ROADMAP

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s Bible-believers, we know we’re supposed to be reading and studying from the Bible. But for many it can be a real struggle, not knowing how to study, or how to find things in the Bible to study. For the longest time, I struggled with this - the studies I did would be sporadic and infrequent. I would mostly stick to just reading through the Bible. Which, obviously, is still super important. But I wanted to really dig in more often, regularly, just wasn’t sure how. 

Now though, I’ve figured out something of a system that seems to work pretty well, so I wanted to share it in case it can help someone else. It’s more specific to verse by verse studying, but can be applied to other studies as well. And it can definitely be tweaked to fit your individual habits. Just remember to pray for direction and understanding as you go along. The Holy Spirit will provide it.

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.  
– Job 32:8

1.      Find a starting point

If you’re not sure what to study, try picking out a (short) book of the Bible to work through verse by verse. This will provide continuity, as it takes time to work through a whole book. If you want to focus more on doctrine, try one of the Pauline epistles, or if you want to focus more on history and prophecy, try one of the minor prophets.

Another idea is to start keeping a list of verses, passages, or topics that strike your interest while you’re doing your normal Bible reading and use those as starting places to study. You could also take note of questions that stand out when you’re listening to a sermon, or from a discussion. Basically, anything you’d like to study more.

2.      Ask questions

Once you’ve picked something to study, start asking questions about the verse(s) to guide your study. Think of the “who, what, where, why, when, and how” as a guideline for ideas. The number of questions applicable will depend on the verse, go by what stands out the most or strikes your interest. You can keep it as simple or detailed as needed.

Here are some of the questions you could ask:

a.       Who is being addressed? Gentiles? Jews? Judah or Israel? Individuals? Nations?

b.      What is the subject/topic? What do you think it means, at face value?

c.       Where is this taking place? Are any particular locations mentioned? Where do those locations show up elsewhere in the Bible? What is their significance?

d.      Why is it important? Is there somewhere else in Biblical history that gives more light on why it is important?

e.      When did/will the event take place? What dispensation is it in? Is it speaking of the past, present (at time of writing), or future (prophecy)?

f.        How does the topic relate to other events in the Bible?

As an example of this in motion, take Psalm 78:67-68:

Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

Some questions I could ask are:

1.      Why did he (God) refuse the tabernacle of Joseph, and Ephraim?

2.      Why did he choose the tribe of Judah?

3.      What was special about mount Zion?

4.      Where is mount Zion located?

5.      Where else does mount Zion show up in the Bible?

Obviously, this could very quickly become a deep, involved study. And you don’t want to overwhelm yourself to the point you think it’s too much and give up. So, pick a couple to focus on, and see where that leads you. You can always expand the study or even take it in an entirely different direction later if necessary.

3.      Take notes

Write down the questions you want to study. It’s also helpful to briefly summarize your initial thoughts on the verse(s), what you think it means, to compare with what you find later. Examine the context of the verse, read the surrounding verses. Take notes on what you find.

Sidenote: If you’re not much of a note-taker, this part of studying can be tough. If you have to, you can try keeping notes mentally, but keeping written or typed notes will greatly improve your studies. It helps keep the mind on track, making your study easier to navigate. It also gives you a record of what you’ve studied, which can be quite motivating, seeing it add up. And it makes it easier to share your studies, especially if you have a study partner.

If writing is easier for you, get a dedicated notebook for Bible study. If typing is easier, create a document on your computer and keep notes there. Even if the notes are really short and simple, it will still help. Keep it as simple as you need to.

4.      Search relevant keywords

Use a concordance or online Bible search tool to search relevant keywords (locations, names, phrases, etc) to see where else in the Bible stuff shows up. If the search brings up a ton of verses, try narrowing the search with a different keyword, or, if you’re using an online search, adding parenthesis on either side of a phrase to show exact results. Go through the verses and their contexts (at least the ones that seem relevant) and compare/study to see what you can learn. And then take notes on what you find, or new questions that pop up.

5.      Look at cross-references

If your Bible has cross-references (CF’s), look at each of them and see if anything stands out to you as being particularly relevant. Usually the CF’s just beside the verse you are studying will be sufficient. A lot of CF’s will simply show parallel words, or sometimes it can be hard to even see how a CF is related. But some CF’s can really shed new light on the subject and make you think.

Disclaimer: keep in mind that CF’s are not inspired by God. Use them as a tool, like you would a dictionary or concordance – knowing that men wrote them and can be wrong in the connections they make. Some people prefer not to use CF’s for this reason, but I personally have found them to be very helpful, as long as they are used with caution. You can even write down your own CF’s as you find new ones.

6.      Find definitions

This step is optional, but when you come across a word you don’t understand, study how the Bible uses and defines them. This is where the keyword Bible search is helpful. You can also use a dictionary (Noah Webster’s 1828), but again, keep in mind dictionaries aren’t inspired by God, and the Bible may use a word differently.

7.      Look up places on a Bible atlas

This step is also optional, but it can be quite interesting, when studying verses that mention a location. Even if the maps aren't fully accurate (hint: they aren't), it can help give you a better picture of what is going on, and where. It can be a bit like a treasure hunt.  Bonus: if you’re using an online atlas, you can add a screenshot of the map to your note document for future reference.

8.      Note side-studies

Oftentimes when you’re following one trail of verses, you’ll see another trail and get sidetracked. What you can do here is either section off a part in your notes to study that separately, or make a note to go back and study it another time. You want to keep focused on the original study, but the main thing is, you’re studying the Bible. So “rabbit trails” are fine! But if you start getting bogged down with it, just make note of it and get back to the main study.

9.      Summarize your findings

Once you’ve finished looking at other verses, go back to the starter verse(s) and, if you haven’t already done so, summarize what you’ve found. This can be simply your thoughts on what the answers to your questions might be, based on what you found. Many times you won’t end up with clear answers, and that’s fine. Just write what you think it means. You’re studying to learn, and that builds up overtime, so don’t stress about not finding answers, or worrying if you’re wrong. Pray, study diligently, and God will bless that. It’s His job to interpret the Scriptures, to open your understanding. Job 32:8. It doesn’t mean He’ll show you everything right away – He won’t. But stick with it, keep ploughing through, praying all the time, and He will give you that understanding as time goes by.

10.  Move on!

Go to the next verse or passage and repeat the process…now or another day!

Bonus tips:

1.      Schedule your study time: Routine helps prepare the mind to accept it and cooperate. The mind is lazy, if it knows “okay, it’s study time now, shut up and quit being lazy”,  you’d be surprised how much better it will cooperate! If you’re not in the habit, even just aiming for a day or two per week can make a big difference. For example, say you work five days a week, plan to do at least one study session on one of your days off. Start somewhere!

2.      Consider counter arguments: If you want to take a study deeper, consider some of the arguments against your position. Study “opposing” verses in light of what you’ve learned and see if your conclusion still holds up. Be open to changing your mind if you find you’re wrong. The more understanding you have of something from either point of view, the better equipped you’ll be to explain it to someone in the future.

3.      Find a study partner: Study independently, then get together and discuss what both of you studied (this is where taking notes really helps). You don’t have to study the same thing. It’s about having something to share, and someone to share it with, and then studying those things together. Testing weak points, getting another perspective. And getting some great fellowship as a secondary bonus.

 

This ended up being a lot more extensive than intended, but if you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. I really hope it helps!  If you have any questions or would like to add your own suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
- Acts 17:11

 

Helpful Study Resources:

"Cheat sheet" version: Bible Study Roadmap Cheat Sheet

For a condensed, more shareable version of this post. :)

Keyword searches:

Official King James Bible Online - https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

This one has the best search options. Hit “modify search” to see them. “Fuzzy search” is good for if you’re not sure how to spell something.

Timeless Truths Online KJV- https://bible.timelesstruths.org/

Bible Dictionary:

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - https://webstersdictionary1828.com/

Bible Atlas:  https://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Bible-Atlas.pdf

This is an incredibly extensive collection of Bible maps. It is hard to navigate, since the search function doesn’t work. But they  are arranged chronologically (in Biblical order), and you can scroll through the preview pages on the left sidebar to find them quicker.

Old Testament Timeline: https://staticblog.bgcdn.com/learn/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12151743/Chart-of-Israel-KingsUpdated2020-Owens.jpg

It may not be 100% accurate, but it seems solid enough to give you a pretty good idea. I haven't found any contradictions with it yet in the Scriptures. And it has really helped in my own studies, for understanding the chain of events, kings, and kingdoms.