How to write an Inductive Bible Study

An inductive study is when you study 1 main passage from the Bible using the text only. Topical studies often compile many verses from various books of the bible that speak to a particular subject or life need.

The aim of any Bible study should be to gain fresh knowledge and insight about Jesus Christ in a life-changing way.

Your basic responsibility as a small group facilitator is to enable the group to discover for themselves what they Bible says and means. From this understanding meaningful application can be made for their lives.

The inductive Bible study method has been chosen for specific reasons:

  1. It places the authority in the Bible and not in the small group leader.
  1. It teaches the group members a way to study and understand the Bible for themselves, not only in small group, but in their personal times of study as well. “If you give a man a fish he can eat for a day. But if you teach him how to fish, he can eat for a lifetime.”
  1. It removes the small group member from dependence upon a pastor, bible teacher, or author and builds confidence in them that they can understand the Bible for themselves,
  1. It shows them how to teach others how to study the Bible.

Staff teaching is left for Wednesday Night Fellowship meeting; small groups are to be a place where small group members learn from one another. Although you have a leadership role, you are also a learner. Your main tools are good questions (and good ears!)—wise use of them will enable the group to study together.

The Steps

Step #1 is Observation (Read the Lines)

What Does the Text SAY?

What does it mean to “observe” the text?

  • These are the non-negotiable FACT-statements that are clearly said in the text.
  • What does the text say, plain and simple?
  • Some observation questions that are often easily answered by “reading the lines”:
  • Who is the author of the passage?
  • Who is the intended audience of the passage?
  • How would you outline this passage?
  • What are the key phrases?
  • What words keep recurring throughout the passage?
  • How does this section relate to the context (the surrounding text)?

How can we make the observation stage interesting?

You can get creative in the observation stage by asking questions that:

  • Help envision the scene
  • Example from Mk 4:35-41
  • Boring example: Who was in the boat?
  • Interesting example: What would it be like to be one of the fishermen that evening in the boat?
  • Capture the tension or point of intrigue in the text:
  • Confusing example: What do you think of the disciples’ lack of faith when they wake Jesus?
  • Helpful example: What is Jesus’ attitude towards the disciples when he wakes up?

Stage #2: Interpretation (Reading between the lines)

What does the Text MEAN?

  • The second stage is figuring out what it meant to the original hearers in their historical context. What did it mean to them 2,000+ years ago?
  • Look for a Timeless Principle – truths that transcend time, culture & environment.
  • How was that timeless truth supposed to impact the original hearers?
  • Do your best to pick out all the contextual clues you can. If you get stuck, consult your study bible and/or the resources on Biblegateway.com to “check” your answers.
  • Interpretation questions are the “why” and “how” questions relating to the original audience & meaning.
  • Examples:
  • What did Jesus mean when he said ______?
  • What was probably going on in the Corinthian church that Paul needed to say ____?
  • (from Mk 4:35-41) In this passage, the disciples voice two different questions. How would you compare these two questions?

Stage #3: Application (Reading beyond the lines)

What does it mean to me?

  • How does the Timeless Principle relate to me?
  • The point is not to cover the material, the point is to be covered BY it.”
  • Warning here: You can’t apply scripture accurately if you’re interpreting it inaccurately.

Helps to writing good application questions:

Good application questions are:

1. Open-ended (no 1 right answer)

2. Lead to life-change

More ideas about application:

  1. What is the main truth of this passage of Scripture?
  2. What past experience have I had that makes this Scripture real to me?
  3. What strengths and weaknesses does this passage reveal in my life?
  4. How should my actions change today because of what I have read?

Questions to help you apply the text (SPACE PETS)

Sin to confess?Prayer to pray?

Promise to claim?Error to avoid?

Attitude to alter?Truth to believe?

Command to obey?Something to praise God for?

Example to follow? (special thanks to Bob Stone)

Writing Good Questions for Inductive Bible Studies

The questions a small group leader asks have a profound effect on the quality of a group Bible study. And for most of us, thinking of great questions that draw people out isn’t something that comes naturally. It takes work and practice to write good questions. What follows is some great info about different types of questions, and about what makes a “good” Bible study question.

Good Bible study questions tend to:

  • Use language that is accessible to the group (avoid Christianese)
  • Be text-based (even application questions are reflective of the passage you’ve read)
  • Help small group members relate to the text with their emotions and/or experiences
  • Be open-ended (a.k.a. not yes/no questions)
  • Be concise
  • Make people think deeply

Here are some genres of questions:

  1. Questions that help the group to envision the scene.
  1. Questions that capture the point of tension in a text.
  1. Questions that link the students’ lives to the text.
  1. Questions that tie the discussion together.

The Small Group Leader’s Responsibilities:

The best small group leader is not a teacher, but a moderator. The real teacher is the Holy Spirit, and you must not get in His way. You should talk sparingly. If a group member asks a question, throw it back to the group. If the question is off the subject, weed it out—gently, but firmly.

Your small group may be quite slow to respond, especially at the beginning. It’s better to pray silently with a smile on your face until the Holy Spirit prompts someone to answer than to get impatient and answer the question yourself.

In order to draw out shyer members or quiet talkative ones, you might ask, “Can we hear from someone who hasn’t spoken up yet?” or “What does someone else think . . . (pause 3 long seconds) . . . Jeff?” Be sensitive to everyone in the group. They will enjoy the Bible study time more and learn better if they participate. Relax! Remember to keep your sense of humor; be ready to laugh at yourself, too. Be enthusiastic without being irreverent or overpowering. Lead in such a way as to encourage honesty and confidence in small group members.

Be ready with questions that will stimulate discussion and not simply require one-word answers. You should include questions that lead the group members to observe the situation the passage actually describes, and questions that draw out what the passage means, and questions that lead small group members to see how the truth of the passage can be applied in their own lives (observation, interpretation, application). Encourage questions from others, but refer them back to the group.

It is not enough to listen to people. We must hear what they are really saying. As a group member yourself, comment on their contributions or ask questions for clarification or elaboration, as you would in a natural conversation.

Allow freedom of expression so anyone in the group can say what is on his/her mind, but keep to the passage. Carefully challenge superficial answers by asking others to suggest additional ones. Finally, at the end, summarize into one or two clear points of fresh knowledge, insight, and challenge.