While individual Bible study is essential, it should not stop with our own personal quiet time. As believers, we are made to love the Lord AND love one another. We do this best by coming together around God's Word to share what we have been learning from Him in the Bible, to encourage each other in our struggles, to rejoice with one another in our victories, and to worship together the One who binds us together.

In essence, when we apply the Bible, we connect the meaning of a passage with our own lives—our actions, attitudes, and even our thoughts. In other words, application means transferring all that knowledge from our heads to the way we then live. As James says, we must prove ourselves to be doers of the Word, and not merely self-deluded hearers (James 1:22).

A foundational principle in Bible study is the absolute consistency of Scripture. Namely, the Bible acts as interpreter of itself and will never be found in contradiction of itself. Therefore, the Bible is a primary resource in Bible study through the exercise of cross-referencing.

Discerning the author's intent when reading Scripture is the only way to arrive at an accurate understanding of a biblical passage. The Bible is a book whose message is conveyed exclusively through words. Therefore, arriving at a clear understanding of the writer's intention necessitates a clear understanding of the words themselves. Here's where word studies come in. This article will help equip you to enrich your own study of the Scriptures through learning the why & ho

Once you have completed your observation of a given Bible text, it is time for interpretation. The interpretation step is vital for grasping the meaning of a passage and involves analyzing the text to discern its intended meaning. One of the more dangerous errors in Bible interpretation is divorcing the author from his writing. What the prophet or apostle was trying to say is the only accurate meaning. Many disagreements about Scripture have their origin in reader-imposed

So, you want to get serious about your walk with God, and you know that it will really help to read and study the Bible. But how? The Inductive Bible study method is a hands-on approach that anyone can do. But what is it? The Inductive Bible Study Method is comprised of just three steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. This article discusses the first step: Observation and provides a sample of how the Bible Conversations Series approaches this step of induct

Learn about our effective approach to personal Bible study and engaging small group discussions.