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STT: Book Study Method

Book Study Method title graphic featuring a marked open Bible with a pink pen

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he didn’t just send isolated verses—he sent entire letters meant to be read as complete units (2 Timothy 3:16-17). While verse-by-verse study is valuable, studying entire books using a book study method provides context and reveals the author’s complete message.

The Book Study Method helps you grasp the big picture of Scripture by examining entire biblical books as cohesive units with specific purposes, themes, and structures.

1. Survey the Book

Begin with a broad overview:

Read the entire book in one sitting (for shorter books)
Note the author, recipients, and historical setting
Identify the book’s literary genre (history, poetry, epistle, etc.)
Look for natural divisions or major sections
Spot recurring words, phrases, or themes

For example, reading through Philippians in one sitting (only 4 chapters) reveals joy as a dominant theme, appearing in various forms at least 16 times despite Paul writing from prison.

2. Create a Book Chart

Visualize the book’s structure:

Divide the book into major sections
Give each section a descriptive title
Note key verses for each section
Identify the main theme of each chapter
Draw connections between sections

A simple chart of 1 Peter might show how Peter moves from our identity in Christ (ch. 1-2) to how that identity shapes our relationships (ch. 2-3) to how we handle suffering (ch. 4-5).

3. Analyze the Purpose

Determine why the book was written:

Look for explicit purpose statements (John 20:31, 1 John 5:13)
Consider the historical context and needs of the original audience
Note problems or issues the author addresses
Identify the central message or argument

Galatians clearly addresses the problem of people adding works to faith for salvation, with Paul’s purpose being to defend the gospel of grace alone through faith alone.

4. Study Individual Sections

After understanding the whole, examine the parts:

Study chapters in light of the book’s overall purpose
See how each section contributes to the main message
Connect individual verses to their surrounding context
Notice how themes develop throughout the book

For your next study session: Choose the book of James for a book study. Read it entirely in one sitting (5 chapters). Create a simple chart showing the major sections. Identify recurring themes (wisdom, speech, faith and works, trials). Consider how each chapter contributes to James’ overall message about practical, lived-out faith.

What biblical book might you explore using this comprehensive book study method?

STT: The Topical Method

By Paula Wiseman

The Topical Method title graphic featuring printers letters in a wood holder

When the disciples asked Jesus about the end times, He responded with an extensive teaching that connected multiple Old Testament prophecies into a cohesive picture (Matthew 24-25). This demonstrates the value of studying topics that span across Scripture rather than isolated passages.

The Topical Study Method allows you to trace important themes, doctrines, and concepts throughout the Bible, seeing how they develop and connect across different authors, time periods, and contexts.

1. Select a Focused Topic

Choose a specific topic to explore:

Theological concepts (grace, faith, redemption)
Character traits (patience, wisdom, courage)
Relationships (marriage, friendship, church)
Practical issues (money, work, speech)

The more focused your topic, the more manageable your study will be. For instance, rather than studying “prayer” (too broad), you might focus on “persistence in prayer” or “prayers of thanksgiving.”

2. Gather Relevant Passages

Collect verses related to your topic:

Use a concordance or Bible search tool to find key words
Look for synonyms and related concepts
Include both direct references and illustrative stories
Note passages from different biblical genres and authors

For example, a study on “joy” would include direct teachings (James 1:2-4), commands (Philippians 4:4), narratives (Acts 16:25), and poetic expressions (Psalm 30:5).

3. Organize Your Findings

Arrange passages to reveal patterns and progression:

Chronologically (how the concept developed over time)
By biblical author (how different writers approached it)
By aspect or subtopic (different dimensions of the theme)
From Old Testament to New Testament (covenant progression)

When studying “God’s faithfulness,” you might organize passages showing His faithfulness to individuals (Abraham, David), to Israel as a nation, and ultimately to all believers through Christ.

4. Synthesize Your Insights

Look for the big picture that emerges:

What consistent truths appear across Scripture?
How does the New Testament fulfill or expand Old Testament concepts?
What balanced perspective emerges from considering all passages?
How does this topic connect to the overall biblical narrative?

For your next study session: Choose “the heart” as your topic. Gather verses about the heart from different parts of Scripture (Proverbs 4:23, Ezekiel 36:26, Matthew 5:8, Romans 10:10). Notice how the Bible consistently portrays the heart as the center of our thoughts, emotions, and will—not just our feelings. Consider how this biblical understanding differs from our modern concept of “following your heart.”

What topic might you explore using this method to gain a more complete biblical understanding?

STT: The Character Method

By Paula Wiseman

Title graphic - the character method featuring a single blue stick figure spotlighted among rows of dark ones.

When Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah, he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30-31). Sometimes the best way to understand Scripture is by focusing on the people within it.

The Bible is filled with complex, fascinating characters whose lives reveal God’s work in human history. Studying these individuals—their strengths, weaknesses, choices, and growth—provides powerful insights into God’s character and our own spiritual journeys.

1. Select a Character

Choose someone from Scripture to study in depth:

Major characters (Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul)
Minor but significant figures (Ruth, Barnabas, Lydia)
Even unnamed characters (the woman at the well, the rich young ruler)

The depth of available information will vary, but every biblical character has something to teach us.

2. Gather the Facts

Collect everything Scripture tells us about this person:

List every passage where they appear
Note their background, family, occupation
Identify key events in their life
Record their words and actions
Observe how others interact with them

For example, when studying Peter, you’d track his journey from fisherman to disciple to denier to church leader across the Gospels and Acts.

3. Analyze Their Relationship with God

Look for spiritual patterns:

How did God call or use this person?
What challenges or tests did they face?
How did they respond to God’s direction?
What spiritual growth or regression do you observe?

Consider how David moved from shepherd to king, experienced both tremendous spiritual highs and devastating moral failures, yet remained “a man after God’s own heart.”

4. Find Personal Application

Connect their story to your own:

What qualities in this character do you admire or want to avoid?
What situations in their life parallel your own experiences?
What lessons from their relationship with God apply to you?
How does their story fit into God’s larger redemptive plan?

For your next study session: Choose Joseph (Genesis 37-50) for a character study. Track his journey from favored son to slave to prisoner to Egyptian official. Note how his character develops through suffering. Consider how his statement “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20) might apply to challenges in your own life.

Which biblical character might you choose to study using this method?

STT: The Background Method

By Paula Wiseman

THe Background MEthod title graphic featuring library aisle

Study Tip: The Background Method

When Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), His Jewish audience would have immediately understood the cultural tensions between Jews and Samaritans. Modern readers might miss this crucial context without some background knowledge.

Understanding the historical, cultural, and geographical background of Scripture enriches our study by helping us see the text through the eyes of its original audience.

1. Explore the Historical Setting

Every biblical text was written in a specific time period:

Who was in power? (Romans, Persians, etc.)
What major events were happening?
What was daily life like for ordinary people?

For example, knowing that Amos prophesied during a time of unprecedented prosperity in Israel (around 760-750 BC) helps us understand why his messages against complacency and social injustice were so pointed and necessary.

2. Understand Cultural Customs

Many biblical practices seem strange to modern readers:

Marriage and family customs
Religious rituals and festivals
Social hierarchies and expectations

When Ruth uncovered Boaz’s feet and lay down (Ruth 3:7), this wasn’t inappropriate behavior but a culturally recognized way of requesting his protection through marriage as a kinsman-redeemer.

3. Recognize Geographic Significance

Biblical locations often carry meaning:

“Going up to Jerusalem” was both literally uphill and spiritually significant
The wilderness represented testing and dependence on God
Crossing the Jordan symbolized transitions and new beginnings

When Jesus chose to travel through Samaria (John 4) rather than around it like most Jews, this geographical choice revealed His intentional breaking of cultural barriers.

4. Use Study Resources

You don’t need to be a scholar to access background information:

Study Bible notes
Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias
Bible atlases and maps
Reputable online resources

For your next study session: Choose the story of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13). Research what a Roman centurion was, the relationship between Romans and Jews at that time, and why Jesus’ praise of the centurion’s faith would have been shocking to the Jewish audience. How does this background information enhance your understanding of the passage?

What biblical story or passage might you explore using this background method?

STT: The Meditation Method

By Paula Wiseman

When Joshua was about to lead Israel into the Promised Land, God gave him this instruction: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8). Meditation was God’s prescribed method for internalizing Scripture.

Biblical meditation is quite different from Eastern meditation, which often involves emptying the mind. Instead, biblical meditation means filling your mind with God’s Word through thoughtful, prayerful reflection.

1. Slow Down and Savor

Meditation requires unhurried time:

Choose a short passage (even a single verse)
Read it multiple times slowly
Emphasize different words each time
Pause between readings to let the words sink in

Try reading Psalm 23:1 five times, each time emphasizing a different word: “THE Lord is my shepherd,” “The LORD is my shepherd,” and so on. Notice how the meaning shifts with each emphasis.

2. Personalize the Text

Make Scripture your own conversation with God:

Replace pronouns with your name
Rewrite passages as prayers
Turn statements into questions for self-examination

For example, transform Colossians 3:12 from “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts…” to “Lord, help me, [your name], as your chosen and beloved child, to put on a compassionate heart today…”

3. Visualize the Scene

Use your imagination to enter the biblical narrative:

Picture the setting, people, and actions described
Imagine yourself as one of the characters
Consider what you might see, hear, feel, or smell

When reading about Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41), imagine the spray of water, the howling wind, the disciples’ panic, and the sudden, astonishing calm.

4. Connect to Your Life

Move from reflection to application:

Ask: “Where do I see this truth in my own experience?”
Consider: “What would change if I truly believed this?”
Pray: “Lord, show me how to live this out today”

For your next study session: Choose Psalm 1:1-3, which itself describes meditation on God’s Word. Spend 15 minutes with just these verses. Read them slowly, visualize the imagery of the tree planted by streams, personalize the promises, and consider what it means to be “like a tree planted by streams of water” in your daily life.

What verse might you select for extended meditation this week?

STT: The Application Method

By Paula Wiseman

STT Application Method title graphic with a lit bulb and the cord plugged into the wall outlet

After Jesus finished His Sermon on the Mount, He concluded with a powerful illustration: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). The ultimate purpose of Bible study isn’t knowledge accumulation—it’s life transformation.

Application bridges the gap between the text and modern life. It moves us from understanding what the Bible means to experiencing how it changes us.

1. Identify Timeless Principles

Behind every specific command or historical situation lies a timeless truth:

Look for the underlying principle that transcends culture and time
Ask: “What does this passage reveal about God’s character or priorities?”
Consider how this principle appears in other parts of Scripture

For example, when Paul instructs women to cover their heads in worship (1 Corinthians 11), the timeless principle involves showing appropriate respect in worship according to cultural norms, not necessarily wearing specific headwear in all times and places.

2. Make It Personal

Move from general principles to specific application:

Replace general nouns with your name
Turn third-person statements into first-person commitments
Ask: “What would this look like in my life tomorrow?”

When reading Philippians 2:14 (“Do all things without grumbling or disputing”), personalize it: “Today, I will complete my work tasks without complaining, even when I face frustration.”

3. Be Specific and Measurable

Vague applications rarely lead to change:

Instead of “I’ll trust God more,” try “When I feel anxious about my job interview, I’ll pray Philippians 4:6-7”
Instead of “I’ll be more loving,” try “I’ll call my difficult neighbor this week and invite them for coffee”
Create concrete action steps with timeframes

4. Address All Dimensions

Scripture speaks to every aspect of our lives:

Beliefs: What truth should I embrace?
Actions: What behavior should I change?
Attitudes: What feeling or perspective should I adjust?
Relationships: How should I treat others differently?
Words: What should I say or not say?

For your next study session: Choose James 1:19-27 and identify at least one specific application in each dimension above. For example, under “Actions,” you might write: “I will set a timer for 5 minutes before responding to difficult emails to ensure I’m ‘slow to speak and slow to anger.'”

What passage might you practice applying to your life this week using these principles?