Learning to Study the Bible Leader Guide

Learning to Study the Bible is an eight-week study for adults, exploring the biblical history and methods of interpretations using the classic questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? This study explores geography, archeology, biblical genre, context, and interpretation. Participants will also learn how to use important biblical resources such as Bible dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, and more.

The goal of Learning To Study the Bible is to equip participants to read and study the Bible for themselves. It seeks to deepens one's understanding of the biblical stories and to help participants grow in their biblical faith. Tween version of this resource is also available.

Session Outline and Learning Goals:

1. Who? Author and Audience

   • Learn about the authors and original audiences of the Bible
   • Use a Bible dictionary
   • Sharpen deductive reasoning skills in biblical interpretation

2. What? Genre

   • Introduce and explore biblical genres
   • Learn to use Bible commentaries and apps to identify possible genres of texts
   • Explore the significance of genre for biblical interpretation

3. When? Context

   • Investigate the connection between context and meaning
   • Spark curiosity about biblical and modern cultural contexts
   • Use Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and handbooks to research biblical context

4. Where? Geography

   • Spark curiosity about the biblical landscape
   • Prompt reflection on the relationship between land and daily life
   • Use biblical maps and archaeological research to explore biblical geography

5. Why? Interpretation

   • Create awareness of interpretive lenses and layers
   • Spark curiosity about our own and others’ interpretive lenses
   • Use a concordance and various translations to compare meanings

6. How? Read Closely

   • Cultivate appreciation for the way our ancestors preserved the biblical text
   • Practice reading carefully and paying attention
   • Discover the four meanings of Scripture and practice interpreting them

7. How? Reread

   • Create awareness of our own role in making meaning
   • Prompt reflection on the nature of Scripture as the “living word of God”
   • Practice the ancient tradition of divine reading

8. How? Read Together

   • Create awareness of the diversity of voices within the canon
   • Inspire students to enter into the centuries-long biblical conversation
   • Practice reading the Bible inter-canonically