Click here to read the third part in this series: How to Study the Bible Part 3: Living with the Text.

Different Learning Styles

My husband and I are very different when it comes to learning styles.

I’m somewhat of an academic. I love reading and taking notes. When something interests me, I’ll research it and read as much as I can about it. My ideal day would be spent holed up in a room by myself reading and writing.

My husband is the opposite. He thrives on being around other people. Asking him to read a book, take notes, and have an in-depth discussion with me wouldn’t be his cup of tea. He learns by engaging with other people. If my husband wants to learn something, he’s more likely to call an experienced friend and ask for their input.

Neither one of these learning styles is better than the other. My husband and I are simply different people who learn in different ways.

That being said, it’s really important to stretch ourselves every once in a while and engage in a learning process that might be slightly uncomfortable to us. My husband is our small group leader and thus is required to read and research written material to prepare for small group each week. It’s good for him to stretch himself and grow in this way. I’m a leader in our MOPS group and it’s likewise very good for me to attend MOPS meetings and grow in my knowledge of motherhood by conversing with other moms, even if it makes me slightly uncomfortable.

I say this to prepare you for the fourth part of this series on “How to Study the Bible”. Observation, the first part of the Inductive method of Bible Study, is geared more toward academics. I love the note-taking, word study, making lists and outlines, and research that is required by this step. However, if you are more like my husband, you may find this part of the study quite tedious.

That doesn’t mean that the Inductive method of Bible study is not for you! I encourage you, if you are not geared toward reading and researching, to see this as an opportunity to stretch yourself. It’s so important that we engage in different learning styles, both academic and social, to grow in our understanding and appreciation for God and the world He’s created.

But just in case this method of study isn’t your cup of tea, I’ll include several ways to make Bible Study a more social experience later on in this series. We need to experience the Bible for ourselves, but we also need to carry those experiences into our communities. Good Bible study is both academic AND social.

Observation

So let’s jump right in. The first part of an Inductive Bible Study (and the fourth part in this series) is called “Observation”. Jen Wilkin in her book Women of the Word (not an affiliate link) has re-titled this section “Comprehension”. I like her use of the word comprehension because I believe it better describes what we actually do during this first step. We aren’t simply observing the text, we are trying to understand what it’s truly saying. But since, in most circles, the first step of an Inductive Study is still called “Observation”, I’ve chosen to stick with that title.

To complete a good an thorough observation of the text, I highly recommend gathering up the following tools:

1. Highlighters
2. Pens or Pencils in a variety of colors
3. A three-ring binder (to keep everything in one spot)
4. A pencil case (to hide all your special colored pens from your children)
5. Multiple translations of the Bible (you can access multiple translations on biblegateway.com or blueletterbible.com)
6. A Study Bible (this is optional, but if you’re looking for a good one, I recommend this one)
7. A printed, double-spaced copy of the text you are studying (more on this below)

Jen Wilkin recommends printing out a double-spaced copy of the text so that you can make notes right on the page. I really like doing this, because I have yet to find a Bible (even a journaling Bible) that has enough room for the kind of note-taking that a good, thorough study of the text requires.

Once you’ve gotten your materials gathered, you are ready to start annotating!

Annotation

To annotate, simply means to make notes. There are two kinds of notes that you will want to take: “Key Words and Phrases” and “Questions and Comments”

Key Words and Phrases

First, go through a section of the text (you can break it up by chapter or section heading) and mark any key words or phrases you come across. A list of words and phrases to look out for is below. As you mark things, take special note of any words you don’t know. Look those words up right away or mark them to look up later. You can write the definition right on your double-spaced copy. If you are into color-coding and organizing, you can dedicate a different pen color and/or symbol to each type of word or phrase. Here are some types of words or phrases to keep an eye out for:

• People
• Places
• Dates
• Times
• Repeated Words
• Lists
• Contrasts
• Comparisons
• Figurative Language
• Commands
• Attributes of God
• Promises
• Cause and Effect
• Themes

You can underline, draw circles, put arrows, highlight – whatever best fits your learning style and draws your attention to the important words and phrases in the text.

Questions and Comments

After you’ve marked all the important words and phrases, go through the text and write down any questions or comments that arise as you read. Think about what the text is actually saying. Is there a point that you would like to have clarified? Is there something about the text that you just don’t understand? Is there something in the text that caused an emotional reaction within you? Write it down! Be careful not to give into the temptation to simply skip over the parts that are confusing.  This is your chance to really engage with the text and question it. No one ever needs to see these notes but you! No question is too insignificant or silly and writing it down might just be the key to finding the answer to it.

Multiple Translations and Cross References

As you mark key words and phrases and write your questions and comments, you might come across a verse or two that you would like some further clarification on. Don’t jump to your commentaries just yet (more on that below)! Try consulting a different translation or looking up the cross references first. This is where access to biblegateway.com or blueletterbible.com will come in handy. Although you might have a translation that you are partial to, it’s good to look up how other translations worded the verse. Cross references in Bibles are usually listed in the margins on the side or at the bottom. These are additional verses in the Bible that have the same theme, topic, or idea as the verse you are studying. Taking a look at these can help bring understanding to a tricky verse.

Focus On What the Text Says

It’s really tempting, as you start taking notes, to jump to a commentary or the commentary section of your Study Bible to try and gain some clarity on tricky verses. I would encourage you to resist this temptation at this point in the study. The Bible tells us that God has gifted some people to be teachers of His Word and it is good for us to want to learn from these people. But for now, it’s important that you try to wrestle with the text for yourself first. It’s also good to note, that during the Observation part of the study, you’re not necessarily focusing on meaning. Observation is about getting a general sense of what the text says. The next step, Interpretation will have you focusing on what the text means. It is during this step, Interpretation, that I will have you consult the Biblical experts.

Below is a link to a free printable guide to help you remember what to focus on during the Observation part of the study. Click on the picture to download and print. I’ve also created Inductive Bible Study workbooks that will take you through the Inductive Bible Study process step-by-step for the books of Ruth and James (more coming soon!). In the workbooks there is ample space for note-taking and writing down your questions and comments. To gain access to these FREE workbooks, enter your email in the gray box below or click here.

Happy Studying!