Two Things You Need (Which You Already Have) To Write About the Bible

How to write a bible study

The first thing I did was sign up for a Bible class. I was a new mom with a toddler and a second baby on the way. No, I didn’t get much sleep in those early days, but that’s why God invented coffee. God invented coffee, right? After learning to enjoy coffee (thank you creamer), I signed up for Bible classes online. My dream was to write a Bible study. In order to do that, I needed to know the Bible, right? I dared not even think of writing about the Bible until someone else had told me about the Bible. 

One of the first classes I took was on how to study the Bible (for myself). Wait…what? I was so confused. You mean I could study this enormous and sometimes confusing book on my own? It was halfway through the class before I realized a truth I would love to share with you today, dear writer. It is this: You can write about the Bible even if you feel like you don’t know enough or are not deep enough in your faith. In those early days of motherhood, I had a lot of discontentment, anxiety, depression and insecurities I was dealing with. I wasn’t exactly a “pillar of faith.” How could a mess like me really write about the Bible? 

It was the year I realized God’s Word was meant to be understood. That’s right. It was not a mystery treasure box I had to have the “special key” to open. I already had the key to the treasure. I had God’s Word and a desire to learn. Yes, I would eventually (after six long years) get a degree in Biblical Studies, but I didn’t wait until my degree to start writing about the Bible. I started during that very first class. I remember writing a Bible study on the book of Ruth. 

  1. The first thing I would encourage you to get is a good Bible translation. It should be one that is easy for you to read. As you grow in your faith, make sure to develop a good Bible reading habit. It is important you read God’s Word every day. At first, you might not be able to understand everything, but you will be surprised at what you do understand!

  2. The next thing to have is a desire to learn. I’ve heard the Bible described as a pool. It is easy to understand, but there is depth beyond knowledge under the surface. Children can wade and elephants can swim. You will never learn enough about the Bible to feel like you’ve arrived. That is why, if you want to write about the Bible, start today. Just write! 

How to write a bible study

What if we get it “wrong”? It was one of my very first hesitations. The most encouraging steps was realizing everyone (even me) comes to the Bible as a beginner at some point. The important thing is to come. The important thing is to write. Yes, what you write about God’s Word today might change a few months or years from now. It’s OK. You can still write what you know. 

The most beautiful thing about the Bible is you can’t out-know God. God’s Word is so deep, so rich, so full of good treasure, you will always be searching and looking and digging and learning. Writing God’s Word is not about how deep our faith is or how much Bible knowledge we have. Are we willing to study, listen, read and heed God’s Word? Are we willing to write what we know and if there are questions, take them to God? If the answer is yes, you already have all you need to write about the Bible. 

Free resources I’ve found helpful: 
About Sarah Frazer

Sarah E. Frazer is a writer and long-time COMPEL member. She blogs at sarahefrazer.com. Sarah is the wife of Jason and mother of five who all serve as full-time missionaries in Honduras. Her passion is to encourage women to fall in love with the Bible. Sarah is the author of several self-published Bible study resources for women. She shares tools for deep-rooted Bible study at sarahefrazer.com. Follow her on Instagram (@sarah_e_frazer) and join her free prayer challenge at sarahefrazer.com/prayer

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Comments

  1. Heather Bundy: July 3, 2021 at 10:17 am

    “Yes, what you write about God’s Word today might change a few months or years from now. It’s OK. You can still write what you know”. I taught women’s Bible studies for years in a very legalistic, religious, rigid manner. As I’ve matured I’ve had so many regrets at how I once taught. Thanks for this statement. It relieved my pain and helped me move forward.

  2. Patience West: July 21, 2020 at 2:17 pm

    Thank you for the encouragement and compelling reasons to just START!

  3. Norma Williams: June 26, 2020 at 8:35 pm

    I found Kayla’s approach to studying a passage of scripture very practical. I often read and then go away from the passage, not write. I allow the word to marinate in my heart and head, then I write what thoughts come to mind. Then I read and reread and begin to write. I generally follow through with reading in at least one other translation and once my thoughts are clear, I do cross references, look up words and phrases and the I go to commentaries. My first resource is the Holy Spirit.

    Thank you , Sarah for those resources,