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Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible

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A Resource for First-Time Bible Readers

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bible on table

John-Mark Smith (2016), public domain

Here at Knowable Word, we’re passionate about the Bible. This blog exists to help ordinary people learn to study the Bible.

We love hearing about people starting to read and study the Bible. We want everyone to learn what God says about himself and how he can be known and worshiped.

But we recognize that many people haven’t read the Bible before. They didn’t grow up with the Bible in their house, they didn’t go to church—they are simply unfamiliar with this book that we love.

We’ve created a resource with these people in mind. This document is a one-page handout for first-time Bible readers. Feel free to print copies to distribute at your church, your ministry, or to your friends as you invite them to read the Bible.

When printed and folded in half (or printed two-sided and cut in half), this resource would fit nicely inside most pew Bibles. If your church is giving Bibles away, consider including a version of this document to help first-time Bible readers get started.

Check it out: First-Time Bible Reader Page

This was first published in 2018.

A New Worksheet for Bible Study Leaders

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Todd Quackenbush (2014), public domain

Recently, I’ve been writing about leading small group Bible studies. In particular, I’ve tried to help leaders minimize the chances that their questions fall to the ground in silence.

As a result, I’ve been thinking about the importance of questions. Aside from studying the Bible text itself, writing good questions may be the most important, difficult work of a Bible study leader.

I’ve created a worksheet which contains the fruit of this labor. My hope is that some small group leaders may find this helpful as they write questions for their groups. (In the future, you can find a link to this worksheet on our Resources page.)

The Worksheet

At the top of the worksheet, there is space to write the main point of the passage under consideration. This can act like a compass for all question writing; most questions will either lead to the main point or flow from it.

The largest section of the worksheet is the space to write discussion questions. On the right side of the page, I have listed the characteristics of a good question, about which I have written previously. I have found this helpful in my own study preparations—having these qualities nearby is a great reminder.

Finally, I have space at the bottom of the sheet for a study leader to work on a launching question. Though this usually begins a small group meeting, I frequently write it last because I want to get a sense of the whole discussion before thinking about how to kick it off. The characteristics of a good launching question are taken from Peter’s first post on the issue and a follow-up that I wrote.

At Knowable Word, we aim to help ordinary people learn to study the Bible. I offer this worksheet to small group leaders as a tool for your work bench.

More Spanish Resources

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If you conduct your ministry primarily in Spanish, or you know someone who does, you may want to know that a number of our blog posts have been translated into Spanish. We keep that list updated as more translated posts are published. You can always find a link to that page at the bottom of our resources page.

I’m especially grateful to Kevin Halloran, who recently translated the post 10 Reasons to Avoid Sexual Immorality, from my series on Proverbs 1-9, for his blog Anchored in Christ.

Recommended Commentaries that Model Good Bible Study

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A good commentary is like gasoline. If you possess a working engine, it will get you where you want to go. But if you’re prone to drinking it straight, you’re better off labeling it as poison.

Alin S (2013), Creative Commons

Alin S (2013), Creative Commons

This is why I and others warn against common but dangerous mistakes when using commentaries. We urge you not to awaken or arouse your study Bibles until the time is right. We’re committed to helping you break the addiction. We’d like to see our generation less dependent on so many Bible curricula and discipleship materials. We’re delighted when others promote the same cause.

However, please don’t think I’m against commentaries. Sure, I occasionally use strong language, but it’s because I care about you. I blog to help you build a good Bible study engine, and I want to help you see the connection between your unquenchable thirst and your choice of beverage. Don’t drink the gasoline!

I devour commentaries. I read them for the same reason I attend Bible studies: I can’t do this by myself, and I need the Christian community to help me know God better. The right commentaries stimulate me, provoking a fanatical compulsion to investigate the text.

The wrong commentaries make me feel like my 6-year-old daughter, who, on a 3-mile bike ride around town, despaired at every uphill stretch. Before long, she was calling down imprecations on herself and all she held dear: “I wish I didn’t even have a bike!” Substitute “a bike” with “this volume,” and you’ve got my sense when I spend good money on something that offers little more than word histories, cross references, and catalogues of debates between older commentators.

An excellent commentary, who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. And many websites and book lists and blog series exist to help you pluck the gems from the sediment. But it’s still hard to find a good match without consistent criteria to help you decide.

So I’ve created a page on the resources section of this site, recommending commentaries that model good Bible study. By “good Bible study,” I mean the following:

  • observing the text carefully (not merely telling us what others have said about the text)
  • taking note of literary devices
  • making interpretive decisions primarily from the text and not merely by scholarly consensus
  • showing, not merely telling, their conclusions
  • spelling out the author’s train of thought (focusing more on logic and meaning than on words, etymology, or cross references)
  • focusing on the author’s main points (without getting distracted by every possible debate on isolated words or phrases)
  • showing a conviction that the text will change our lives, both individually and corporately

Not every commentary I recommend will do all 7 things well, but I’ll look for a preponderance of evidence. And I award bonus points when the gospel of Jesus Christ takes center stage.

Now, before you click the button, please promise me you won’t misuse the list. Commit yourself to studying the text yourself. After you have guessed at the author’s main point and attempted to apply it, your engine will be thirsty and ready for a refill. You’ll get far more out of these commentaries if you don’t rely on them to do the work for you.

Are you ready? Do you promise?         Take me to the page!

A Sermon Notes Sheet for Older Children

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notes

Timothy L Brock (2018), public domain

They’re growing up so fast!

If you’re a parent, you’ve heard this refrain, perhaps from an older friend in your life. And there’s a reason you hear it so often—it’s true!

As children mature, they move through learning stages and require different aids along the way. On this blog we’ve devoted many posts to teaching children how to study the Bible, and we’ve given attention to the nuances of different developmental stages. Today we’ll do the same for helping children follow along during the sermon.

A Resource for Older Children

I’ve previously shared the sermon notes sheet I use for my 8-year-old daughter. The space for both writing and drawing helps her to follow along and enjoy the sermon time.

My older daughter is 12, and today I’m sharing the sermon sheet I made for her. It bears many similarities to the earlier document but with a few strategic differences.

I’ve taken away the instructions for drawing. My 12-year-old is mature enough, for the most part, to process the sermon in writing. (Although she occasionally does include a drawing on her notes!)

I’ve also added a few items to help her follow along with the preacher and process the sermon.

  1. In the instructions that open the area for sermon notes, I encourage my daughter to follow along with the sermon outline in the church bulletin (if one is provided). I also ask her to record the other Scripture references she hears so she can look them up and think through the relationship between different parts of the Bible.
  2. The middle of the sermon sheet is blank, allowing for as many notes as my daughter needs. But the back of the sheet asks her to write down one or two of the most important things to take away from the sermon. I want my daughter to think about the sermon as a whole and try to summarize what the preacher said. This skill requires some maturity that I don’t expect from my younger child.
  3. Also on the back page I point my daughter toward application. I remind her of the three spheres of application (head, heart, and hands) and I ask her to think of some applications that naturally flow from the sermon.

Fuel for Good Discussion

The last two items on this sermon notes sheet have been great discussion-starters for our family. If we are able, we will talk about my daughter’s responses to these questions over lunch or dinner on Sunday. The point here is not to grill her or put her on the spot, but her understanding of and reaction to the sermon helps each of us think about the teaching from the Bible we heard that morning. It can make for good discussions as well as good opportunities to train and disciple our children. Of course, the adults often learn much during these discussions too!

Take it and Use it!

Here is the document my 12-year-old is using. You are free to make a digital copy of your own and adjust it in any way you find helpful. (Instructions for doing this are on the third page of the file.)

The document is landscape oriented and is designed to be printed two-sided and folded in half. (You will likely have to choose “two-sided printing” and then “flip on short edge/side” when printing, though your computer may label these options differently.)

We hope this sermon notes sheet is helpful for you and your children as you carry on the task of reading and studying the Bible.

A Sermon Notes Sheet for Young Children

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bible and notes

Nils Stahl (2019), public domain

Christian parents have a great privilege and a weighty responsibility. We must teach and show our children how to trust and follow Jesus. What an important calling! (And what a reminder of our need for God’s grace!)

Whether we do so well or poorly, we’re always discipling our children. This happens around the table, in the park, and on the way to school. And it certainly happens at the weekly corporate worship service.

How should we worship God? Why do we sing, or give, or celebrate communion, or pray? Why do we listen to someone talk for thirty minutes? These are natural questions for children to bring to their parents.

The Sermon as Discipleship

The sermon is probably the hardest part of a Christian worship service for young children. And because of this, the sermon is a big source of tension in families and stress for parents.

Here’s an encouragement to parents: Hang in there! Keep going! Your kids will grow and mature, despite all evidence to the contrary. And the approach you take to the sermon—even from a young age—really matters.

I’ve written before about how to help your children listen to the sermon. In that article I focused on what to do before, during, and after the sermon. In this post, I’ll provide a practical tool to use during the sermon.

As Children Age

If a church offers a nursery and parents decide that is the best option for their young children, that is great! Nursery workers at a church offer a vital and life-giving ministry. The rest of this article will address children who stay in the worship service.

As children move past board books and snacks to puzzles or drawing, parents can tie the activities into the sermon. Every little pointer can train children to listen and pay attention.

After a few more years, parents can encourage a mixture of coloring and note-taking. A thoughtful preacher or children’s ministry director might even provide activity sheets for children that incorporate the sermon’s Bible text.

When children are able to write on their own and listen for longer stretches of time, parents can teach them to take notes during the sermon. A note-taking sheet provides an activity while also training children to listen and record important truths.

The Goal

As a father, I try to instruct my children in age-appropriate ways. Understanding their limitations is crucial, because demanding too much is a recipe for frustration all around.

I’m not expecting my children to understand the sermon completely. I don’t require adult-level processing of the information they hear. I’m not as concerned about the present as I am the future.

I want to develop good habits in my children. I hope they come to the sermon with eagerness and expectation. I pray they will give attention to the Bible and honor God as they attend corporate worship.

If my children hear and remember enough of the sermon that we can discuss it later, that is a victory. Even small snippets of truth can be great fodder for conversation.

Finally, I want my children to learn the practices of mind and body needed to worship God during the sermon. I want them to discern what is true to the Bible and to respond with joy and obedience. These are all learned behaviors that I’m praying my parenting efforts encourage.

For You and Your Children

Here is the document I created for my seven-year-old daughter. We have been using it weekly for several months. Since she cannot process the sermon quickly enough to take copious notes, her sermon sheet has space for both notes and drawings. For her, this mixture is great; she’s been engaged through the whole sermon since we started using these.

But I designed this document to be helpful for you. You can make a digital copy and edit it for your own situation. Create more space for drawing or note-taking, or add an element I omitted. Talk to your children and make adjustments as needed.

A few final notes about the document itself.

  • The sermon sheet is written in landscape orientation (11 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall). It should be printed out two-sided and folded in half. This makes it easy to tuck into a Bible on the way to and from church.
  • When printing, you may have to choose “two-sided printing” on your computer and then the option “flip on short edge/side.” (Each printer is slightly different.)

Use It!

Consider this document a starting place; nothing is one-size-fits-all. But I hope this worksheet will encourage parents, grandparents, children’s ministry directors, and pastors to pray and help the young ones in their churches learn how to be attentive during the sermon.

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Basic Bible Study Skills Booklet – Now Available for Kindle

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I am pleased to announce that the digital booklet of Basic Bible Study Skills is now available in Kindle format! We now join the prophets of old in communicating our message at many times and in many ways (Heb 1:1).

What is the difference between the various resources we have to help you learn OIA Bible study?

  • If you’re new to OIA Bible study, or you want to teach it to a group, see my book Knowable Word.
  • If you don’t mind clicking through dozens of webpages, see my blog series on how to study the Bible.
  • If you just need a refresher, or you’d like a handy reference, download the free booklet (available on the Resources page):
    • PDF for printing and passing out.
    • Epub for digital reading.
    • New! Kindle version for digital reading.

When we first released the free booklet, a number of folks asked for a Kindle version. And now we have it!

 

Behold the Power of the Church Resource Table

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How does a visitor to your church know what you value? The sermon and other elements of the worship service are a huge clue. He’ll notice the friendliness (or coldness) of the congregation as well. But outside of the worship and the people, your church’s resource table may be the most important pointer he’ll get.

In some churches, the resource table is a footnote. It’s another flat surface that collects dust, styrofoam cups, and out-of-date signup sheets. But we miss an enormous opportunity to guide our congregation and inform visitors if we ignore it.

Why Your Church Should Have a Resource Table

The resource table is a place where your church takes a stand. With these recommendations and pointers, you say: We think these materials will help you love and glorify God.

You might think your church doesn’t need a table at all. After all, you have a website. You have a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Isn’t a resource table terribly old-fashioned?

Of course it is, and that’s why you need it. The older saints at your church aren’t scrolling through your tweets. Further, your recommendation has more compulsive power when you can walk someone to a specific place and put material in their hands.

And don’t forget the visitor. The man who arrives at your building by invitation or providence will want to learn about your church. What do you value? Where do you stand? What is it like to be part of this body?

The church resource table is an opportunity to display and develop your church’s culture. Stock it with resources to help your people reach others and grow themselves.

What Should Be On The Resource Table

Stock your table with aids for the worship service. This includes pens, paper, sermon outlines, and children’s sermon resources. Consider a display about your current sermon series, including dates and texts, so people can read and study the passage ahead of time. Consider producing a few sermon CDs and pointing people to your online sermon home.

Even if you have Bibles in your pews, arrange a stack on the resource table. Make space in your budget for a need-one-take-one policy. Everyone should have a Bible.

Make it as easy as possible for people to join a Bible study in your church. Produce clear, attractive signs or flyers, and highlight the contact person for each opportunity. Small group Bible studies can be the heartbeat of a church, so we should do our best to help people get connected.

Visitors will want to know the theological waters they are entering, so the resource table is a good place for any confessional or doctrinal pamphlets. If possible, supply something short that can be taken by anyone.

Finally, consider books, magazines, and articles that would be especially helpful to younger Christians. Beware of cluttering the table, but if there’s room, gather the best material you can find and make it available to take or borrow. One of the most important skills to teach new Christians is how to study the Bible, so an excellent book on this topic or a free booklet containing the same principles would find a welcome home on the table.

Without solid preaching, good leadership, and vibrant small groups, a church resource table carries as much weight as a wet tissue. But as an aid to these essentials, good resources can help highlight, reinforce, and broadcast the culture you want to take root in your church.

Free OIA Summary Booklet

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OIA Bible study is a wonderful tool. With this tool, anyone can get to know the Lord Jesus by learning to study his word.

Perhaps you’ve worked through our series of posts walking you through the full process of observation, interpretation, and application. Perhaps you’ve read the book Knowable Word, which gives clearer examples and practice exercises in a manageable package. These resources have helped you to learn the OIA process, but you’d like something more.

What you could really use is a shorter booklet that merely summarizes the key principles. You don’t need all the drama or the fluff; there’s no need to pierce your ear with an awl just to prove how committed you are (Ex 21:5-6). You, like the Apostle Peter facing Ananias and Sapphira, just want the facts (Acts 5:7-9). You might use such a booklet as a reference guide to help you practice OIA, as it reminds you of the main concepts and the steps. You don’t want to have to go back to the complete book every time you have a specific question. And you don’t want to have to sift through page after page on this website to get a speedy answer or reminder. So what is there for you?

Yesterday, I would have sadly turned you away, like a bridegroom at the door of his wedding feast (Matt 25:10-12). But not today. Today, I am happy to welcome ye who are weary and heavy laden. May you find some rest for your soul.

Basic Bible Study SkillsWe’ve had a project in the hopper for many months, and I’m delighted to finally release it for general consumption. We have a short booklet outlining basic Bible study skills, and we’ve uploaded it for you to use at no cost.

You could keep this booklet on your desk as a handy reference. Or you could print it out for your study group or church book table. The booklet focuses only on the principles; it gives almost no illustrations or practice exercises. The point is simply to have all the concepts in a short reference guide.

Without further ado, you can find the booklet here:

Basic Bible Study Skills Booklet

I’ve also put these links up on the blog’s resources page, so you can find them easily in the future. Happy studying!

Many, many thanks to my colleagues who made this project come alive:

  • Jenny Carrington took the original blog material and edited it into concise form.
  • Dan Miller did the booklet design and typesetting.
  • Ryan Higginbottom scrutinized the project to make sure it was something we could cheerfully offer to our readers.
  • Caleb Olshefsky did the last-minute troubleshooting to ensure we could deliver usable formats to our readers.

Thanks for visiting Knowable Word! If you like this article, you might be interested in receiving regular updates from us. You can sign up for our email list (enter your address in the box on the upper right of this page), follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or subscribe to our RSS feed. 

David Murray’s Collection of Bible Study Resources

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Professor David Murray has collected a long list of resources to help people study the Bible better. He includes scholarly resources for studying Hebrew and Greek, but he also lists many resources useful to the average Christian learning to study the text.

I haven’t read everything here, but I did appreciate the articles about word study mistakes and women weeping over diagrammed sentences.

Check it out!