Howto.Bible
Engaging the Bible
Every year, InterVarsity trains thousands of college students from every background to lead engaging and transformational Bible studies. We’ve been at it for a long time, and over the years we’ve discovered a tremendous secret that makes it possible for someone with even limited training to lead powerful Bible studies.
We created this site to happily share what we’ve learned with anyone who’s been called to lead others into God’s Word. If you’re a current college student, we hope you’ll consider joining our movement! If you’re an InterVarsity alumnus, we hope this site will help you share what you learned on campus with your church.
Welcome!
Throughout church history, believers have prayed the Scriptures. There are a number of reasons why the Bible can be a pa...
Throughout church history, believers have prayed the Scriptures. There are a number of reasons why the Bible can be a particularly helpful resource for our prayers.
The following method is designed to help you discover the core message of a passage and experience Jesus in his Word. Wh...
The following method is designed to help you discover the core message of a passage and experience Jesus in his Word. Whether you are new to the Bible or have read it a lot, this approach will open up the text in amazing ways.
If you’ve read a novel, you already know how to read the Bible! But a few tips might help . . ....
If you’ve read a novel, you already know how to read the Bible! But a few tips might help . . .
The living God, whose words brought the cosmos into being, is eager to relate to us. He has not left us to guess at his ...
The living God, whose words brought the cosmos into being, is eager to relate to us. He has not left us to guess at his character and intentions like some kind of charades game or to try to interpret what he is saying through the night sky, natural disasters, or the changing of the seasons. He knows that relationships need words—so that’s what he gave us.
Questions to Discover the Gospels
What if the one who made you would LOVE to talk with you every day, about big things and everyday matters? What if he ga...
What if the one who made you would LOVE to talk with you every day, about big things and everyday matters? What if he gave us the Bible so he could do just that? What if there were an easy way to learn how to read the Bible and hear his voice?
Use these Discovery Questions in Matthew which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offer...
Use these Discovery Questions in Matthew which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offered to help you meet God in his Word with greater perceptivity, understanding, and power.
Use these Discovery Questions in Mark which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offered ...
Use these Discovery Questions in Mark which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offered to help you meet God in his Word with greater perceptivity, understanding, and power.
Use these Discovery Questions in Luke which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offered ...
Use these Discovery Questions in Luke which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offered to help you meet God in his Word with greater perceptivity, understanding, and power.
Use these Discovery Questions in John which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offered ...
Use these Discovery Questions in John which provide you three unique study questions for each reading, joyfully offered to help you meet God in his Word with greater perceptivity, understanding, and power.
Bible Study 101
Spending time as a small group in inductive Bible study is a key way to encounter Jesus together. This resource will wal...
Spending time as a small group in inductive Bible study is a key way to encounter Jesus together. This resource will walk you through the steps of leading a time of inductive Bible study with your small group.
Learn about what a Manuscript is, why InterVarsity uses them, and how to make one yourself....
Learn about what a Manuscript is, why InterVarsity uses them, and how to make one yourself.
10 Passages to start with and how to choose your own....
10 Passages to start with and how to choose your own.
Starting to Study
Explaining the shape of the OIA graphic....
Explaining the shape of the OIA graphic.
If you know what types of things to notice when observing a passage of the Bible, you’ll be able to see more than you no...
If you know what types of things to notice when observing a passage of the Bible, you’ll be able to see more than you normally do.
Great questions are at the heart of any solid Bible study. Here are five characteristics of great questions that will gu...
Great questions are at the heart of any solid Bible study. Here are five characteristics of great questions that will guide the interpretation part of the conversation deeper and help your group unlock the core message.
The summary of the passage is a short paragraph that helps clarify the heart of the passage and launches into applicatio...
The summary of the passage is a short paragraph that helps clarify the heart of the passage and launches into application. It is the bridge between discussing the meaning of a Bible passage to discussing what it means for our lives.
The core message is the essential meaning of the passage. If the summary is a paragraph, the core message is a tweet—one...
The core message is the essential meaning of the passage. If the summary is a paragraph, the core message is a tweet—one key repeatable sentence that participants will remember from the study.
The goal of a Bible study is not information, but transformation, and this is what the application phase of the conversa...
The goal of a Bible study is not information, but transformation, and this is what the application phase of the conversation is all about. Here are five characteristics of application questions that will help your group respond well to what Jesus is doing in their lives.
Growing as a Reader
We all naturally have a set of ‘lenses’ through which we view and understand the Bible. Since InterVarsity brings togeth...
We all naturally have a set of ‘lenses’ through which we view and understand the Bible. Since InterVarsity brings together Christians from a broad range of churches, ethnicities, and cultures, a core set of commitments when interpreting Scripture provides unity in the midst of diversity:
Reference these books and other online resources to enrich your Bible Study....
Reference these books and other online resources to enrich your Bible Study.
Leading Others
With God's help and a little preparation, you too can create a space where Jesus takes center stage. When preparing, spe...
With God's help and a little preparation, you too can create a space where Jesus takes center stage. When preparing, spend about half your time getting to know the passage and the other half preparing to teach. Remember to be prayerful as you work through your preparation. Jesus wants to meet with you even as you prepare.
In this first phase of your group's conversation, called “Observation”, you want to see your group grow increasingly cur...
In this first phase of your group's conversation, called “Observation”, you want to see your group grow increasingly curious about the passage as they look closely at what’s there and share what they’re seeing.
During the second part of the conversation, called “Interpretation”, your group will gain clarity about what the passage...
During the second part of the conversation, called “Interpretation”, your group will gain clarity about what the passage means as they share and discuss their questions together.
During the third part of the conversation, called “Application”, you’ll help your group put into practice what God has m...
During the third part of the conversation, called “Application”, you’ll help your group put into practice what God has made clear through his Word.
These resources are yours to use and distribute as you find helpful. The Instructions for Prep and Quick Guide below are...
These resources are yours to use and distribute as you find helpful. The Instructions for Prep and Quick Guide below are tools to help you prepare and lead a study.
Growing as a Leader
A Creative Observation activity asks your group to put themselves into the passage and make observations from “inside” t...
A Creative Observation activity asks your group to put themselves into the passage and make observations from “inside” the story. This will engage their imagination and add energy and depth to your study. Give one of these prompts a try, or invent your own!
Try these tips to help you facilitate group conversations in your small group setting. ...
Try these tips to help you facilitate group conversations in your small group setting.
This handout outlines how to pace your small group's Bible study, depending on how much time you have available. ...
This handout outlines how to pace your small group's Bible study, depending on how much time you have available.
Use this review sheet as you reflect on how leading your Bible Study went....
Use this review sheet as you reflect on how leading your Bible Study went.