Bible study methods for different contexts …
Bible study has to be tailor-made. There’s no one-size-fits-all.
When I was an undergraduate student in the seventies we gathered in small groups on the campus lawns, read a book of the Bible together, then marked up the text with our pencils – writing insights and questions in the margins. We used the insights and questions to share findings and fuel our discussions. We didn’t know it then, but Paul Byer of IVCF started developing a Bible study method along these lines in 1954. Paul’s method was later called the Manuscript Bible Study (MBS) and is extensively used by IVCF on college and university campuses today.
Bible study methods for children.
What works intuitively for university students may not work for children. Andy Deane, in his book Learn To Study The Bible: Forty Different Step By Step Methods To Help You Discover, Apply And Enjoy God’s Word, recommends the “Heart Monitor,” “Funnel It,” “Weather Report,” “Climb the Ladder,” or “Cross Thoughts” Bible study methods for children.
Andy’s methods are great, but better Bible study methods geared to sports may exist for children. Children at SU Canada’s sports camps or leagues receive God’s Game Plan (a sports-themed Bible) and the Camper Playbook (a Bible Reading Guide). God’s Game Plan and the Camper Playbook have matching cover designs to visually remind children to use a reading guide when studying the Bible. The Bible study method recently developed for SU Canada’s sports ministry utilizes a simple inductive five-step approach built around sports terminology.
The Sports Bible Study Method™
Warm Up – speak to God and invite Him to meet with you
Jump In – carefully read the Bible text
Dig Deep – think about what you’ve read and ask questions
Do It! – apply what you’ve learned
Huddle – chat to God and others
Tailoring approaches for everyone.
The Sports Bible Study Method™ works really well for sports ministry. Other methods like Lectio Divina, 4-K Method, Swedish Method, 5 Ps of Hearing God through the Bible, S.O.A.P Method and the E100 Challenge™ work well for the contexts and people they’re designed for. Maybe you’ve used one or more of these methods. What’s ultimately important isn’t the Bible study method; it’s whether or not we’re engaging, internalizing and incarnating the Word of God.
What methods would you recommend? Please share in the comments.
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Summary
We must tailor Bible study methods to different contexts. No method suits everyone. For example, the Manuscript Bible Study method, developed by Paul Byer for college students, contrasts with methods suited for children, like the “Heart Monitor” or “Funnel It” techniques. Additionally, the Sports Bible Study Method™ uses sports terminology and a simple five-step approach to engage children in Bible study at camps or leagues. Ultimately, the key to Bible study is not the method itself but how well we engage with and apply God’s Word in our lives.
© Scripture Union Canada
