A Beginner's Guide to the Bible
How to Do a Bible Study
A simple 5-minute daily rhythm and the SOAP method, with a step-by-step example.
If you've ever opened a Bible, read a few verses, and thought, "I have no idea what I just read," you're in good company. Most people at Next Level Church started right there. The Bible is a big book written over hundreds of years, and nobody hands you a map when you first pick it up.
The good news is you don't need a seminary degree or a stack of commentaries to get something out of it. You need a passage, a little time, and a simple way to slow down and pay attention. This page gives you two easy methods to start with: a 5-minute daily rhythm and the SOAP Bible study method. Both work whether you're reading alone at your kitchen table or with a few friends on a Tuesday night.
Why Study the Bible at All?
Christians believe the Bible is how God speaks to us. It tells the story of who God is, who we are, and what Jesus came to do about the gap between the two. Reading it regularly is one of the main ways people get to know God personally and start to look more like Jesus over time.
Studying the Bible is different from reading it like a novel. When you study, you read smaller pieces, you ask questions, and you let the text ask questions of you. A few verses read slowly will usually do more for you than three chapters read on autopilot.
What You Need to Get Started
You probably already have everything:
A Bible. A print Bible or a free app like YouVersion both work. If the older English trips you up, try a modern translation like the NIV, NLT, or CSB.
A notebook or journal. Writing things down slows you down, and slowing down is most of the battle.
A consistent time. First thing in the morning, lunch break, or before bed. Pick the one you'll actually keep.
A quiet-ish spot. It doesn't have to be silent. It just needs to be somewhere your phone isn't constantly pulling at you.
The 5-Minute Rhythm
If you're brand new to reading the Bible, start here. Five minutes a day is small enough to keep and big enough to change you over time.
Start with a passage of Scripture like Luke 24:13–35, the story of two discouraged friends walking to a town called Emmaus when Jesus shows up and walks with them. They don't recognize Him at first.
Each day, read a small section slowly. Maybe five or six verses. Read it twice if you can.
Ask yourself
- Where is Jesus in this story?
- What is He trying to form in me?
- What does this mean for my life today?
- What did I notice this time that I missed before?
Then say a short prayer in response
"Jesus, I don't always recognize You walking with me, but I want to. Help me slow down and see You today. Amen."
Spend about a week in one passage before moving on. Reading the same story several days in a row feels strange at first, and then you start seeing things you completely skipped on day one.
The S.O.A.P. Bible Study Method
The SOAP Bible study method is one of the most popular ways to study Scripture, and for good reason. It's simple, it fits in a notebook, and it moves you from reading words on a page to actually doing something with them. SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.
The method was popularized by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii, and churches around the world now use it for personal devotions and small groups. Here's how each step works.
Scripture
Pick a passage to read. If you're following a reading plan, use today's reading. Read it carefully, then write down the verse or verses that stood out to you. Underline any words or phrases that grabbed your attention, even if you can't say why yet.
Observation
Now look closely at what you wrote down. Ask questions like:
- What is the main message of this passage?
- Are there any commands, instructions, or warnings?
- What does this teach me about God?
- What is God revealing to me through His Word?
It helps to notice who's talking, who they're talking to, and what's happening right before and after your verse. Context keeps you from making a verse say something it was never meant to say.
Application
This is where the study gets personal. Think about:
- How can I put this into practice in my daily routine?
- Are there changes I need to make in my behavior or attitude?
- What is one thing I can do differently today because of this?
- Is there someone I need to talk to, forgive, or serve because of what I read?
Try to land on something specific. "Be more patient" is hard to measure. "Don't snap at my kids during the morning rush tomorrow" is something you'll know whether you did.
Prayer
Close your study by talking to God about what you read. Thank Him for what He showed you, and ask for His help living it out. Your prayer can be short and plain. God isn't grading your vocabulary.
A SOAP Bible Study Example
Here's what a SOAP entry might look like using the same Emmaus story from Luke 24.
S – Scripture
"They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'" (Luke 24:32, NIV)
O – Observation
These two followers of Jesus were walking away from Jerusalem, sad and confused after His death. Jesus walked right beside them for miles and they had no idea it was Him. It wasn't until later that they realized something had been stirring in them the whole time. Jesus was present before they recognized Him, and He used the Scriptures to open their eyes.
A – Application
I tend to assume God is absent when life is confusing. This passage tells me He may be closer than I think. This week, when I'm frustrated at work, I'm going to stop and ask, "Where might Jesus be in this?" I also want to keep reading my Bible on the hard days, since that's where these two finally recognized Him.
P – Prayer
"Jesus, thank You for walking with me even when I don't see You. Open my eyes the way You opened theirs. When I'm discouraged this week, help me remember You're right here. Amen."
That's the whole thing. A full SOAP entry can fit on one page and take ten to fifteen minutes.
How to Do a Bible Study by Yourself
Studying on your own is where most people start, and it's where habits get built. A few tips that help:
Follow a plan. Deciding what to read every day gets old fast. Pick a book of the Bible and work through it a little at a time.
Go slow. A few verses with real attention beat a few chapters with none.
Write it down. Your notebook becomes a record of what God has been teaching you, and it's encouraging to look back on months later.
Don't panic over confusing parts. Write the question down and keep going. You can ask someone about it later, or come back to it when you know more.
Give yourself grace. You'll miss days. Everyone does. Just pick it back up tomorrow.
How to Do a Bible Study With Friends or a Group
Reading the Bible with other people helps you see things you'd never catch alone. Someone else will notice a detail you skipped, and you'll notice one they skipped. Here's a simple way to run a Bible study at home or with a small group:
Choose a passage ahead of time so everyone can read it before you meet.
Read it out loud together when you gather. Hearing it is different from reading it.
Walk through SOAP as a group. Have each person share the verse that stood out, what they observed, and how it might apply.
Keep the application personal. Ask "What is this saying to me?" instead of "What is this saying to people I know?"
Pray for each other based on what people shared.
You don't need to be a Bible expert to lead. Your job is to ask good questions and keep the conversation moving. If a question comes up that nobody can answer, it's perfectly fine to say, "Let's look into that and talk about it next week."
Where Should Beginners Start Reading?
If you're not sure where to open your Bible, here are some good starting points:
The Gospel of Mark
The shortest account of Jesus' life, and it moves fast.
The Gospel of Luke
Full of stories about Jesus meeting ordinary people, including the Emmaus story above.
The Gospel of John
Written so that readers would come to believe in Jesus.
Psalms
Honest prayers and songs for every kind of day, including the bad ones.
James
Short, practical, and very direct about how faith shows up in everyday life.
Starting with one of the Gospels is usually best, since everything in the Bible points back to Jesus.
Common Obstacles (and What to Do About Them)
"I don't have time."
Start with the 5-Minute Rhythm. Most of us find five minutes for our phones without trying.
"I don't understand what I'm reading."
Try a more readable translation, use a study Bible with notes at the bottom of the page, or read with someone who's been at it a while.
"I keep forgetting."
Attach your Bible reading to something you already do every day, like your first cup of coffee.
"I don't feel anything when I read."
Feelings come and go. The two friends on the road to Emmaus didn't realize their hearts were burning until later. Keep showing up.
The Rhythm of Formation: Scripture
The way the digital age has rewired our brains is at odds with how Scripture was designed to be read. In the age of skimming and scrolling, how do we read Scripture in such a way that we meet God and become like Him?
We're used to taking in information quickly. We scroll past headlines, skim emails, and jump between tabs all day long. Most of the Bible was written to be read out loud, heard in community, memorized, and chewed on slowly over a lifetime. When we bring our scrolling habits to Scripture, we tend to collect information about God without actually meeting Him.
Becoming more like Jesus, one ordinary day at a time.
Formation happens slowly. Reading a short passage several days in a row, writing down what you notice, sitting with a question instead of rushing to an answer, and praying in response are all ways of retraining our attention. Over time, those small, repeated moments shape what we love, how we think, and how we treat people. That's what Christians mean by spiritual formation: becoming more like Jesus, one ordinary day at a time.
You don't have to fix your attention span overnight. Start with five minutes and one passage. Put your phone in another room. Read slowly. Let God meet you there.
Questions People Ask
Frequently Asked Questions
Study the Bible With Us
You don't have to figure this out alone
Next Level Church is a place for people who are new to faith, coming back to it, or just curious. Join a group, check out our online Bible study, or come visit us on a Sunday in Matthews, NC. We'd love to meet you.
Sundays at 10:00 AM · 4317 Stevens Mill Rd, Matthews, NC 28104