S.O.A.P. Bible Study Method
Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer
Studying the Bible needs to be a priority in our lives. In order to get to know God and build a personal relationship with Him it requires Bible Study and prayer. Reading the Bible isn’t enough. We are commanded to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” How can we achieve this without spending time in God’s Word and communicating with Him? The S.O.A.P. Bible Study Method is an easy yet powerful way to study the Bible. It’s great for beginners plus experienced students. Everyone has to determine for themselves what method works best for them so try several different ones until you find the one right for you. Start your Bible Study each day with a prayer asking God to bless your time together in His Word and presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the Bible verse He wants to share with you and for help in understanding the message.
It’s a good idea to keep your Prayer Journal’s or Bible Study sheets to use as a reference. This allows you to periodically review
them to see your growth, prayers answered, and the lessons learned. It’s easier than repeating the lesson!
Did You Know God is Willing to Share His Wisdom with Anyone Who Asks?
What an amazing offer God gives us! He is willing to share His Wisdom with anyone who asks! James 1:5-8 says, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” So ask!!!
SCRIPTURE
It’s best to start any Bible Study by first asking God to bless your time together in His Word and presence. Ask Him to lead you to the Bible verse He wants to share with you. Scan over the table of contents and see if any of the books jump out at you or your eyes focus on a specific book. If yes, go to that book and start flipping through the pages until something jumps out at you again. God will help you and the more you study the Bible the more confident you will be about this process. Write down the Bible verse in a notebook, prayer journal, or a S.O.A.P. Bible Study sheet.
OBSERVATION
Write out any observations you have about the verse. Look to see how God is using the verse to speak to you. Is He trying to correct your behavior, teach a lesson, or give encouragement? If you don’t understand the passage ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Read the footnotes, different versions, and look at the original Hebrew or Greek words to help you understand the message.
APPLICATION
How can you apply the verse to your daily life? What changes do you need to make to honor God’s Word? If you only read the verse it won’t help improve your character. You must apply it to your life and put it into action. This can seem challenging but keep working at it. God loves us but He wants us to work at becoming more like Jesus in everything we do. The Holy Spirit is our helper so ask for His help in applying God’s Word to your daily life.
PRAYER
Write down a prayer and thank God for His guidance and for the lesson He is trying to teach you. Write down what’s in your heart. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer but it needs to be honest and heartfelt. Jesus is our intercessor and when we pray in His name it has authority. Our prayers are going to God through His Son on our behalf. This is why it’s important to end your prayer with, “In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Want to learn more about the Bible and Jesus? Click on the link below.
Bible Resources