5 Bible Study Hacks We Wish We Knew Sooner

Aug 3

What if the key to getting more out of Bible study isn't simply reading more, but learning how to slow down, ask better questions, and carry God's Word into everyday life? We share practical Bible study hacks that have helped us dig deeper into Scripture over decades of study, from asking "in what sense?" when a passage could be misunderstood, to reading an Old Testament and New Testament book side by side. We also talk about looking for "why words" that reveal God's purposes and character, letting Scripture "simmer" instead of rushing on to the next thing, creating topical "home bases" in our Bibles, and practicing a midday recall to bring what we've read into the rest of our day. Our goal isn't simply to collect information or have all the right answers, but to know God, be transformed by His Word, and keep growing in confidence and joy as we study Scripture.

What We Learned

Asking "In what sense?" can help us avoid taking a biblical statement beyond what the text actually means and protect us from interpretive errors.
Reading an Old Testament book and a New Testament book at the same time can help us stay engaged when we reach portions of Scripture that feel difficult, confusing, or less interesting.
Looking for "why words" such as "so that," "in order that," and "because" can reveal God's purposes and help us see His character in passages that might otherwise feel disconnected from everyday life.
We can "let it simmer" after Bible reading by journaling, sitting quietly, taking a walk, doing a hands-on task without adding new information, or simply giving our minds space to process what we just read.
Creating topical "home bases" in the margins of our Bibles can help us build our own cross-reference catalog, gathering passages about a particular theme in one place for future study.
Writing in our Bibles—even when we might later need to cross something out or change our thinking—can help us remember and internalize what we're learning.
A "midday recall" can help us remember what we read earlier, reflect on what stood out, pray about it, and connect God's Word to ordinary moments throughout the day.
The purpose of Bible study isn't merely to become smarter or collect the right answers; we want to know God, be changed into His likeness, and be transformed by His Word.