This ABC Bible Study is meant to be an aid in Bible study. It is designed to be helpful in Bible study whether you have 15 minutes to study or 5 hours to study. You might wonder, how do I begin? The answer is quite simple. If your time is limited, do instruction 1 under each alphabetical heading. If you have more time to study, do numbers 1 and 2 under each heading. If you have still more time, do numbers 1, 2, and 3 under each heading until you finish the entire study. Or, if you prefer, take any of the alphabetical headings and do the complete study under that particular letter. Nothing to it but to do it.
A – Analysis of a Chapter
1) A Title: In a word or two, state the contents of the chapter. Try to make it reflect as much of the chapter as possible.
2) An Outline: Write down an outline of the contents of the chapter. Make it brief, three or four points at most. This makes it easier to remember. A good way to outline the contents is to read until the subject changes, mark that verse, and continue reading until the subject changes again, and so on.
3) An Application: Essentially, the application is the answer to the question, how can I apply this passage to my own personal life? As you go through the chapter ask God to particularly challenge your heart from some passage, verse, or even a phrase of a verse. As God speaks to you through these verses, write down specific steps you will follow to apply the verses to your life. Be specific. As questions such as:
Are there attitudes that need to be changed?
Are there sins to confess and forsake?
Are there actions to take or avoid?
Are there examples to follow?
Are there promises to claim?
B – Best Verse Analysis
1) Choose the best verse and write it down.
2) Diagram the verse. Write down any parts of speech used in the verse that are important to you. What is the subject of the verse? The predicate? The direct object? Notice any of the following parts of speech:
a) Nouns – A noun is the name of a person, place, or thing.
Ex: God, love, Paul, world, sins
b) Pronouns – A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun. It designates a person, place, or thing without naming it.
Ex: I, he, his, it, this, that, who, myself
c) Adjectives – An adjective is a word which describes a noun
Ex: only begotten Son
d) Verbs – A verb is a word which can assert something (usually an action) concerning a person, place, or thing.
Ex: God so loved, he gave
e) Adverbs – An adverb is a word which modifies or explains a verb, adjective, or another adverb. They answer such questions as How? When? Where? Or to what degree or extent?
Ex: They sailed north. The wind continued to blow hard.
f) Prepositions – A preposition is a word placed before a noun to show its relation to some other word in a sentence.
Ex: of, in, near, beyond, on, Jesus of Nazareth
g) Conjunctions – A conjunction connects words or groups of words.
Ex.: and, but, or, Jesus and his disciples
h) Interjections – An interjection is a cry or other exclamatory sound expressing surprise, anger, pleasure, or some other emotion or feeling.
Ex.: Oh! Alas! God forbid!
3) Outline or Summary of the verse:
a) What is the main thought or thoughts of the verse? Put it in your own words. Check a paraphrased or translation.
b) What is the main thought preceding this verse?
c) What light does it throw on the verse?
d) What is the main thought following this verse?
e) What additional light does this shed on this verse?
f) Make a brief summary statement combining and relating the main thought, preceding thoughts, and following thoughts.
4) Key word study:
a) List the key words of the verse.
b) Notice their parts of speech.
c) Define them. This can be done by using a dictionary, studying the context, or by studying how it is used and defined in other contexts.
