Wondering what you should change to study the Bible as a young adult? This blog post is for those of you who aren’t beginners at reading the Bible but aren’t experts on the subject either. You’re ready to dive into a deeper Bible study for young adults, and people your age.
Well, good news I’m here to help.
Let’s assume you know the basic message and story of the gospel already. You know that the Bible goes from creation, to fall, to wars and chaos, to redemption, and life now serving our King.
Growing up, I attended a Christian school, which had daily Bible classes, weekly scripture memory, and also weekly chapel sessions. I learned about the Bible often and I am so blessed to have had that experience in my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.
On top of this, I attended church every Sunday and youth group every Wednesday. You would think I would know how to study the Bible in more detail, but I still didn’t know quite how to go from just reading it and being taught it like I was in school to digging into what it said and applying it to my life during my own personal quiet time.
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But everything changed when I served at a Christian camp, Camp Barakel in northern Michigan, one summer.
At camp, they taught us what Inductive Bible Study was, and it was a fantastic way for me to study the Bible as a young adult. It took me beyond basic lessons and gave me a chance to make studying the Bible my own.
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How To Study the Bible As A Young Adult
My Dad actually, probably in middle school, purchased The New Inductive Study Bible for each of us. This was my first introduction to studying the Bible as a young adult with this method.
See the Inductive Study Bible I Own Here
The New Inductive Study Bible is an incredible way to form a genuine and authentic relationship with your Savior.
Is that something you yearn for? Then stop listening to what others have to say about Scripture. Don’t open it and read what they tell you the passage says, but instead open it up and listen to the Word of God for yourself.
We know that God reveals Himself to us through His word and that the Bible is supernatural. He gave us His word in complete form, with everything we could ever need right inside it.
Scripture encourages us to be with our Savior every morning, and there is no better way to start your day than with a cup of coffee, a notebook, and you’re Bible. Read the Bible every morning and spend time with your Lord so that the rest of your day can be focused on Him.
Psalm 143:8 says, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”
>Click here to learn more about setting up a morning routine<<
What is Inductive Bible Study?
The whole idea behind Inductive Bible Study is to interact with the words of Scripture yourself. Seeing the truth for yourself, discerning what it means, and then applying it directly to your life.
Let me encourage you that you do not need to be in seminary, have a doctorate in biblical studies, or have years of experience to open Scripture and discern what it means. God speaks to each of us right where we are at.
I love how my pastor put it once. The Bible is so deep that an elephant could swim in it, but so shallow a young child could wade.
You see, God made Scripture so rich and beyond our understanding that people have dedicated their whole lives to studying its words and still not scratched the surface; yet, He also made it so understandable even a young child can understand its message and believe.
I pray you would not be intimated by studying the Bible, or worry that you are not adequate enough to study it for yourself. Re-learn how to study the Bible as a young adult now so that you can apply these principles to the rest of your life.
An inductive study can become a habit in your life if you begin practicing it now.
How To Re-Learn How To Study the Bible As A Young Adult
New Inductive Bible Study involves observation, interpretation, and application.
First, you will want to discover what the Bible has to say. Open a chapter of Scripture and read it through once. What does it say? What is it about? If you could pick one verse to summarize the chapter, which one would it be?
Next, you can discover what that passage means. What does the passage mean? What are the good lessons and bad lessons that come from the passage? Is there hope, fear, longing, joy, etc. implied?
Last, you will then discover how the passage works. What does the passage of Scripture that you read mean to you personally? How can you apply what you learned directly to your life? What will you change? What will you pray about and seek counsel regarding?
God never fails to provide us with insight when we are reading His word. Sometimes it may be harder to understand a passage, or you may feel lost in what it is actually saying. I encourage you to dwell on this passage for more than one day. Wrestle with it and ask God to reveal more lessons to you through it.
The following are notes that have come from my Inductive Study Bible which you can find here!
Let’s Talk About Observation
Re-learning how to study the Bible as a young adult means taking new steps and taking them consistently. I encourage you to set aside the amount of time you need each day, whether half an hour or a full hour, or more to implement these steps until they become a habit in your life.
First, open up your quiet time with prayer. Kneel beside your bed and ask the Lord to open up your heart to what He has to say and what He can teach you today.
Here is my favorite book on prayer if you need more advice!
Next, ask the 5 W’s and an H when reading scripture. They are: Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?
Also, look for keywords and phrases. I love this inductive study bible I have because each chapter explains what keywords I should be looking for and how to mark them.
It is also important to look for lists. It is often when keywords are described. Does the passage list several examples of love? Does it explain a concept in three different ways?
This is also a great time to look for contrasts and comparisons. How do things relate to one another?
Mark expressions of time. How much time has passed? How old is someone? When did this happen in relevance to the last chapter?
Look for words that identify a conclusion. Is there a “Therefore,” or a “Because…”
After reading an entire chapter, don’t only identify a verse that summarizes the chapter but also label it with a heading. What is the main thing happening and what is the main message?
Lastly, observe if there are any LFLs or Lessons for Life, and mark those as you are reading through.
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Because #ADULTING.
Do you feel in the dark? I know I did after I graduated college! Here's everything you need to know to start your SUCCESSFUL adult life!
Let’s Dive Into Interpretation When Studying The Bible As A Young Adult
The observation was the first step to really looking into the passage of Scripture, but now it is time to determine what it actually means. This involves maybe eliminating some pre-determined beliefs or opinions you have. It is diving into your heart and examining it.
When interpreting Scripture, make sure you do not pull anything out of context. Also, look at the Bible as a whole so that you do not eliminate or add to some sort of meaning. I lastly encourage you to remember that Scripture does not contradict itself. In fact, it only supports itself so look for truth supporting more truth.
Interpretation is simpler than you think. While you are interpreting Scripture literally, not in some mystical way, stay aware that most passages will have a single meaning. Determine what that meaning is and stick to it.
See my favorite book on Adulting on Amazon here!
See my favorite book on Adulting on Amazon here!
How to Apply What You Have Studied To Your Young Adult Life
This last section is my favorite because it’s where real-life change happens. One of my top five strengths is being a Learner, so I love to learn about new things and concepts, but that makes it hard for me to stop learning a lot of times and actually apply what I learn.
Don’t be like me. This is the most important step of all and you’ve worked so hard observing and interpreting, that now it is time to apply it to your life. Be a doer, not just a hearer.
The Bible is there to teach us, giving us insight; reproof us, showing us what is wrong with our lives; correction, showing us how to change that wrong thing; and training us, to learn and take action.
The ultimate goal of Inductive Bible Study is to change ourselves to be more Christ-like. God wants us to become more righteous and like Himself. Our goal should be to become more holy, just as Christ is holy.
Here are some questions I ask when looking to apply Scripture to my life: What does the passage teach me that is wrong? What does this expose in my own doings? What could I change based on the message? What sin does God want me to repent of? How can I add this truth to my life?
It can be tempting to change Scripture to read it how we want it to sound. This comes easily to me, and to all of us quite frankly.
If I want to hear that I should be chasing success, then sometimes I will read just that. That is why prayer is so important. God is always able to help us through the work of the Holy Spirit to overcome this aspect.
Don’t read what you want to hear but read what Scripture actually says.
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Additional Info on Studying the Bible As A Young Adult
Consider taking time on the weekends to study the background and author of the book of the Bible you are currently going through. I love doing this so that I get a better understanding of Scripture as a whole.
Looking at Biblical maps, character charts, and information on historical context is extremely useful in studying Scripture.
Also, purchasing different colored pens or markers is a great way to separate the three steps to Inductive Bible Study that we have been studying.
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My Favorite Way To Study the Bible As A Young Adult
Proverbs 31 Ministries is a wonderful company that is here to help you succeed in your walk with the Lord.
Ever since graduating from college, I have been purchasing their Experience Guides. If you are not ready to purchase an Inductive Study Bible, then I encourage you to purchase these guides.
Each day you will read one passage of Scripture, write down the verse that summarizes the chapter, and then answer about 5 questions relating to observation, interpretation, and or observation.
It is a way to inductively study the bible without being intimidated or anxious. It keeps inductive study simple and doesn’t lead you to interpret Scripture towards someone else’s viewpoint – you continue to study Scripture for yourself.
They also have an app called First 5 that encourages you to start your day in the Word and then hosts discussions where you can discuss what you learned from others. Don’t be scared to check it out!
So there you have it – the best way to re-learn how to study the Bible as a young adult! Have you tried inductive Bible study before? Let me know in the comments!
Kelsey at GoodPointGrandma
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