Suggested Steps for doing a Bible Study

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and to prepare your heart to be open and obedient
   • Keep on doing this as you are studying
2. Decide on your main study version (best to use a fairly literal one like ESV, NKJ, NASB, NET)
   • Ideally, print out the passage or book, with plenty of space to write
   • Keep reading it through, highlighting and writing notes on it.
   • Find the divisions, how the book breaks down into sections
   • Do word studies wherever it could help
   • Be sure to read it in another translation
     • It is not a bad idea to use a paraphrase like The Message as well as a more literal translation
3. The Message
   • Figure out the line of reasoning
   • Be honest with the things you don’t understand
   • Major on the majors: Ask what the main theme (or themes) is.
   • At this point, look at what other people have learned, e.g.
     • ESV Study Bible or NIV Study Bible (excellent for explaining difficulties in the text)
     • commentaries on bible.org or eSword
     • other commentaries (e.g. Expositor’s Bible Commentary)
4. Spend time soaking/meditating in the Word, asking for the Spirit to show you how to apply it
   • Apply it seriously to your life and live it!!