How to Write a Bible Study Guide

As a writer looking for new markets, one possibility is to create material for churches and religious individuals. Bible study guides are popular among many Christian churches and are often used by large and small groups. Creating Bible study guides is one straightforward way you can diversify your writing.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bible
• Bible reference books (dictionary, encyclopedia)

Prepare to Write Your Study Guide

1. Choose your approach. You may decide to write a character study, a theme study or a book study.

2. Read over the relevant passage or passages two or three times. You will need to read an excerpt from the life of a Bible person, a reference where your theme is discussed or a section of the book you have chosen to study.

3. Make notes on what you read. Highlight areas where connections or contrasts are made or where cause and effect is noted. Write down the questions that come to mind while you are reading and rereading the passage you have chosen.

4. Look up the answers to your questions in a Bible dictionary, encyclopedia or other reference book. Make notes of the answers and discuss the questions and answers with someone else who is involved in the project.

5. Review the information you have gathered so far and try to determine the main point of the passage for which you are writing a study guide. Ask yourself how the passage could be applied to your life or your readers' lives.

Put Your Guide Together

6. Begin with an introduction. Be sure to include information that will attract readers to your study and show how it might be helpful for them. Then write a title, a theme and a goal for your Bible study guide.

7. Add some preparation for the individuals using your study guide. Instruct participants to read the relevant Bible passage and begin their study with a prayer.

8. Write three or four questions that lead toward your chosen theme. Include questions on what is happening in the passage and why it's happening. Your last question should discuss how that information can be applied.

9. Keep track of the answers to your questions to create a leader's guide for the study. This should accompany the study guide if it will be used with groups of people.

10. End your study with a logical conclusion. This is another good place to discuss how the information in your study can be applied to daily living.

[Ransomed]

on 11/5/2008 Very interesting and something I hope to do someday in the future.