Bible Study Methods

There are a variety of ways one can study the Scriptures. I would like to introduce you to a form of Bible study method I have formulated over the years that includes the “Who, What, When, Where Method.”

This method has many advantages. One of the many advantages is that it is so universally simple, a child can do it. It is not afraid of your questions, in fact it encourages them, inspiring creativity because it refuses to stifle the question asking process with ignorant and debative answers. Also, and perhaps, most importantly, you do not have to be a Bible scholar or perfect in execution to get something out of it.

This method, as outlined below, begins with an invitation to the Holy Spirit to be your teacher via prayer, asking God for insight. Next, you read the passage several times, perhaps by different translations which helps familiarize  you with the passage and to better comprehend what you are reading. Then, you begin asking a series of investigative questions. The more questions the better. No question is too small or too tough. You are not answering these questions, just exploring and becoming more and more familiar with the passage and it’s context. You begin to see or notice things that you might not have seen otherwise, again increasing both observation and understanding, and thereby increasing a more credible application of the passage. By the time you get to the why questions, you are looking for truths or implicational principles within the passage about God, life, people, myself, etc. These will be the principles from which we will build our applications from truths that will change our lives.

Finally, we ask, So What? Here’s where we begin to apply and allow the Spirit to change and convict us – to teach us. This is where we become vulnerable.  This is where real change occurs, and we listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to our minds and hearts.  Here is where change comes from.  This is where it gets real and interesting.

You can do this method in minutes or hours, one word, phrase, clause, verse, paragraph, passage, book, or the entire Bible.  You can do it alone or with a group, small or large, young, or old, believers or non-believers.

As you will see, included is not only the Method outline but a vast arrau of personal Bible study series I have done over the years, using this method and invite you to come explore them with me finding your own personal application. Anyone and everyone can get something out of it and allow God’s Spirit to speak to you.

Joseph M. Cross

Children’s Learning Center Lessons
Using the Bible Study Method.

Below is a vast collection of Pastor Joe’s Learning Center Bible Studies. Joe wrote these studies for many years for the Learning Center and Youth teachers to use as lessons for their students. While they are not highly crafted in style and only lightly edited, they provide excellent examples of how Bible Study Methods work and particularly in Joe’s practical and personal applications he provides with each lesson of Spiritual truths taken from Scripture.