Bible Study Tools I Use Every Day
Four resources to aid your engagement with the Scriptures.
No other people in human history have had access to the volume of Bible Study helps that we do. We have access to writings on history, geography, archeology, literary forms, and theology that would make our forefathers’ heads spin. Our problem is that the number of tools can be overwhelming.
There are many Bible study resources I haven’t used, but after almost 30 years as a Christian, I have come to rely on a set of tools that work for me. These resources either formed the basis for how I study the Bible or aided me in my study. In that sense, I use each of these tools every day of my life. If you’re looking for aids to increase your engagement with Scripture, I hope these will help you like they’ve helped me.
Living by the Book
It would be impossible for me to talk about my method for studying the Bible without mentioning Howard Hendricks’s Living by the Book. The process that he proposes–observation, interpretation, and application–is what I still use in my study of Scripture. For example, when I start preparing a sermon, I read the passage 10 times. Then I sit down with a blank Word document and make 25 observations about the text. I learned this from Living by the Book in 1997 and am still using it 28 years later. If you want to read and study the Bible, it would be hard to improve on Hendricks.
ESV Study Bible
In a perfect world, no one would need a Study Bible. We don’t live in that world. The Bible draws on history, uses metaphors, and references geography that many are unfamiliar with. A good study Bible explains these features to help you have a better grasp of the text.
For me, the ESV Study Bible still has the best notes and articles of any study Bible I’ve seen. It draws from history, archeology, and literature to help us understand the Scriptures. It also contains helpful introductions to each biblical book as well as articles on the basics of theology. (In addition to the hardcover, there is also a Logos version available.)
Logos Bible Software
It is no exaggeration to say that Logos Bible Software has saved me thousands of hours. I spent many years flipping through stacks of books to look up words in the original languages or find cross references. Now I have all of it at the click of a button.
I do all of my sermon preparation in Logos along with some of my daily Bible reading. It allows me to pull up commentaries and background information in a couple of windows. Also, as a bivocational pastor, I often do sermon prep away from my home library. It helps to have access to thousands of volumes on my computer.
Bible Memory
A friend challenged me to memorize an entire book of the Bible when I was a new Christian. This seemed impossible until I put in the work to do it. In the late 1990s, this meant using index cards and keeping up with what I should review on paper.
I wish I had a tool like Bible Memory when I was younger. Using Bible Memory on the web or on the iPhone allows me to make collections of passages to memorize. Then, it sets a review schedule so that my Scripture memory stays up to date. This is a great tool and upgrading to pro unlocks a host of features. (When you sign up at this link, use the promo code “onedegree” to get 20% off.)
Just Read
The main problem with tools is they can become an end unto themselves. Whatever tools or resources you might use, make sure they serve your goal of growing in your knowledge of the Scriptures. Don’t let them overwhelm you or become the main attraction. Use what helps and discard the rest.