Bible study is one of our core practices in men’s ministry. We want to know what it says, how to find it, and what it means. Every meeting, we take time to open God’s word, and every year we dedicate one of our study cycles to Bible study.

This page is a space to help connect you with great resources that can improve your Bible study skills and knowledge. We hope you will bookmark it and come back in the months and years to come.

Introduction

Let’s start with translation:

Want to know more about comparing translations? Check out this article from The Bible Project. There are lots of good options, but we recommend using one of the following, from most readable to most technical: NLT, NIV, CSV, NET, ESV, NASB.

Tools

Online Bible Study Tools

Here are some great free resources to help you get deeper into Scripture.

• Blue Letter Bible – one-stop shop with many translations, concordance features, and original language dictionary
• NET Bible (formerly Lumina) – Bible study tool using the NET translation; includes great textual notes and commentary
• Bible Gateway – the classic Bible study site; simple and with the most translations

More helps:

• ScriptureMark – (free) from Blue Letter Bible: a tool to let you mark up your digital Bible just like a paper one
• Logos – (paid subscription) robust Bible study tools and access to a vast library; 30 days free, then $8/month for the basic plan
• Accordance – (paid software) robust Bible study tools, can purchase from a vast library; 90 days free, then $50 to own

Audio Bibles

Sometimes it’s helpful not just to read but to listen. We don’t recommend relying solely on an audio Bible, but it can be a great way to meditate on Scripture on the go, engage with it in a different way, and sometimes catch things you missed when reading. You can find free audio Bibles through Blue Letter Bible, YouVersion Bible app, and many other sites.

Physical Study Tools

Sometimes it’s just nice to get your hands on a Bible, flip real pages, and even mark it up. If you want to take the next step up from what you have, here are some ideas.

• Pigma Micron pens come in many colors and the ink doesn’t bleed or fade, great for underlining or note writing.
• A good study Bible has built-in commentary and resources to help shed light on the text. Search by translation to see what’s available.
• You can also find Bibles with wide margins for writing more notes, reader’s editions that are formatted like a traditional book, or even Bibles with blank pages for extensive journaling.
• You might also consider an interlinear Bible (with two translations side-by-side) or an amplified version (with multiple translation options beside each word).
• If you’re interested in commentaries or other more advanced tools, reach out to a pastor for advice.

You would be amazed at the number of options out there. Just remember: the best tools are the ones you will actually use. Keeping it simple enough to use is often the best bet.

Concepts

Bible Study Methods

There’s more than one good approach to studying the Bible, our goal is for every man in our church to be strong in the inductive study method. It emphasizes learning to do the work for yourself based on becoming a better observer, a more thoughtful interpreter, and an effective applier of God’s word.

A great place to start is with this classic video series from Howard Hendricks. The production is a little dated, but the content has shaped generations of Christian leaders.

If you would like more hands-on practice, we recommend Learning and Living God’s Word or The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study. Both currently sell for $10. If you’re on a tight budget, let us know and we can hook you up.

Bible Backgrounds

While the Bible is sufficient and self-interpreting, it was still originally written to people in another time and place. Understanding things like genre and other background information can help shed light on what was said and why.

A great place to start is the How to Read the Bible video series, from The Bible Project.

Conclusion

Because knowing God’s word is so important to the Christian life, there is so much more we could say on the subject. We will continue to add key resources to this page, so check back every now and then for the latest helps.