The following is the basic Bible study outline from the forthcoming Participatory Bible Study method. This is the outline I have been using in classes. Links in each section are to sources for books of the appropriate category.
Note that this Bible study outline is very basic, and does not encompass the entire participatory method. The articles listed below will help fill out the details:
- I Want to Study the Bible!
This method in brochure form, now also available as a booklet in the FastTracts series. - Understanding Context
A discussion of the various aspects of context and how they impact your Bible study.
There is a basic Participatory study method manual available in print, but I am committed to making the entire method available online for those who will access it in this way. As the materials are prepared for web publication, I will put links to them from the outline on this page.
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Outline of the Method |
Notes and Tools |
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1. Preparation a. Materials |
Note paper Pencils/pens Straight edge (for underlining) Colored pens/pencils for underlining |
b. Conditions |
How do you study best? Quiet/noisy/occupied |
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Concordance Bible Atlas Bible Handbook |
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2. Prayer a. Open mind to understand |
Do I have particular ways of thinking which will keep me from hearing what God has to say? Lord, take from me any thought habits which will keep me from hearing. Make me open to your voice and your voice alone. Positive, accepting attitude! |
b. Open heart to receive |
Do any of my attitudes keep me from appreciating the people of Bible times? Lord, help me to accept your people as my brothers and sisters in your kingdom let me learn and grow from both their weaknesses and their strengths. Am I afraid of what I might find out? Lord, I trust you to reveal yourself to your people the way you know is best. Let your will be done. |
c. Sanctifying grace for the actions |
Am I willing to change the way I think? The way I act? My attitude toward other people? Lord, let me not only recognize but obey your voice. Let my actions be conformed to your will. Help me to love my neighbor as myself. Claim these promises: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:25-27 |
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3. Overview a. Reading |
Look at the forest, not the trees. Read multiple times. I use 12 or more, but any number from 3 times up will help. Memorizing is useful, at least of key texts. |
b. What to use |
Different Bible versions, to help you with your concentration. Use our Bible Version Notes, or our Bible Translation Selection Tool to help you select the most suitable version. |
c. What not to use |
Commentaries, study notes, your concordance, anything which takes your concentration off of the passage you are studying. |
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4. Background a. Who wrote the passage |
Tools (Bible Study Tools): Study Notes (Choosing and Bible with Study Notes), Bible Dictionary (Using a Bible Dictionary), Bible Handbook. |
b. To whom was it written? |
Study Notes, Bible Handbook, ordinary dictionary |
c. Situation |
Study Notes, Bible Handbook, ordinary dictionary |
d. What type of literature is it? a) Poem |
Song of Songs, Psalm 78, 104, 119 |
b) Song/hymn |
Song of Miriam (Exodus 15:1-18), Song of Deborah (Judges 5), Psalm 19, 27 |
c) Story |
Ruth, Esther |
d) History |
1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Ezra |
e) Parable |
Luke 16 |
f) Allegory |
Ezekiel 16 |
g) Doctrinal teaching |
Matthew 5-7 |
h) Wisdom Literature |
Proverbs, (this may overlap with Poems) |
i) Prophetic Oracle |
Isaiah 14:1-23 |
j) Vision report |
Ezekiel 1, Daniel 7, 8 |
k) Prayer |
Psalm 12, Daniel 9 |
l) Letter (Epistle) |
Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians |
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5. The Central Cycle (Repeat as needed) a. Meditation a) Formulation of fact questions (what is important) b) Formulation of thought questions |
Use Psalm 12 – What are the promises referred to in verse 6? Who are “they” in verse 5? “Us” in verse 7?
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b. Outlining |
Use outlining to trace the relationships between the various parts of the verse. Find the main point. What is this passage about? Can I make a title for it? |
c. Comparison |
What other passages deal with the same subject or reflect the same sort of experience? What are the key words? Where else are they found? |
d. Research |
Look at outlines in study Bibles and Bible handbooks. Look at key words in Bible dictionary, Bible Encyclopedia or Bible handbooks Compare notes with commentaries Critical Exegetical Devotional |
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6. Comparing with current experience a. Books on current Christian experience |
Does this author describe an experience that is similar to what I see in this passage? How is it similar? How is it different? |
b. Asking friends |
Say: “I found an experience or idea like: . . . .” Have you ever experienced something like that? How does this sound to you? Why? |
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7. Comparing with past experience a. Church fathers |
Church Library, check especially Augustine, Jerome, Aquinas |
b. Luther, Wesley, Calvin, etc. |
All have written commentaries on portions of scripture |
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8. Sharing a. How has this applied in my experience? |
If you don’t know what the application is, you won’t be able to share. Sharing somebody else’s history is simply boring. |
b. Get to know the person you are sharing with. |
Why should this person listen to you? What do you have to share that is important to them? Remember: Sometimes in sharing you have to subordinate your own interests and desires to those of others. Sometimes what seems critical to you will not be interesting to your neighbor. It may not be the time. Share what you know. |