Steps
Pick a Bible
Most of the major Bible translations will work. You can use a physical Bible or a computerized Bible. If you just have access to one Bible translation, pick something that is more word-for-word like King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New King James Version (NKJV), English Standard Version (ESV), or New International Version (NIV).
Computer Bibles often provide access to multiple Bible versions which can be very helpful. If you are not aware of the benefits of comparing multiple Bible translations you may want to take a look at our translations page.
You can find computer Bibles on the web in various places. Here is a list of some good ones in case you don't already have a favorite: Blue Letter Bible, Bible Gateway, Biblia.com, YouVersion, or ESV Bible. For more Bible study resources, check the Appendix of our book, How to Study the Bible So God Speaks to You.
If you have an iPhone, you may be interested in our free Wave Study Bible iPhone app since it provides such convenient access to multiple Bible translations and to the Original language.
Pick a Passage
The objective when picking a passage is to pick something that has interest to you. There are several approaches to picking a passage. Here are a few.
The Bible is composed of several different kinds of literature. One method for picking a passage is to go to the kind of literature you feel like reading. If you like reading narratives or stories, you might go to the historical books of the Bible like Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Ruth, 1st or 2nd Kings, 1st or 2nd Samuel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, or Acts.
If you like poetry, you might like to read from the book of Psalms or Proverbs. If you like prophecy, you might try the book of Daniel or Revelation. If you like to read letters, you might like books like Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, or 1 Corinthians.
Another way to find passages is to subscribe to a devotional service that will suggest a different verse each day to study. One of the most popular is Our Daily Bread or Blue Letter Bible daily devotion. If you just want to study the passage, you don't have to read their devotional thought.
If you like Bible passages selected for you and and would like to have each of the 4-Step study panels filled in, just in case you get stuck, you might like our Verses with Answers guides. For more suggestions how to pick passages, see chapters 7 and 8 of our book, How to Study the Bible So God Speaks to You.
Start Learning How to Study
Press the button below and start learning. At any time you can download and print the 4-Step Study Panels and try your hand at it yourself.
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