7 Golden Keys to Writing Bible Studies

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

Warmth, insight, flare. I look for these qualities when I want to buy a Bible study for my quiet time. I want something that draws my heart close to God, lets me see a little of the author’s heart and mind, exposes the truths of God’s Word, and presents application with personality, vibrancy, and sparkle. How about you?

It’s only fair that we include in the Bible studies that we write the types of things we love to find in others’ studies. So how can we do that? 

Here are seven golden keys to writing Bible studies that stir both the heart and the mind.

1. Seek God’s guidance.

Spend some time with the Author of the Book. If God has called you to write for Him, He knows exactly what messages and topics He wants you to share with the world. When we have God’s calling to write, His direction to follow, and His grace to depend on as we write, we will have the wisdom, confidence, and endurance we need to see the project through to the end.

Develop your writing skill and voice.

2. Develop your writing skill and voice.

If you’re new to writing, take some time to develop the craft (and never stop growing). Read great books on writing, attend conferences, and take classes. Bible study writers especially need to be excellent in their writing skill because what we’re writing about is so precious and life-changing. Write some devotions, and enter them in a contest. Start a blog. Start small, and dream big.

As you write, develop your voice. Writing isn’t just technical rules—it’s conversation. Write as if you’re having a conversation with a friend. What kind of voice, or tone, would you have with them? Make a friend out of your reader by sounding encouraging and uplifting.

3. Remember who you’re writing to and why.

Identify your target audience, and write your Bible study with them in mind. Are they younger or older? What struggles are associated with their season of life? Are they familiar with Scripture or new to the Christian life? What is your purpose in writing to them—to encourage, instruct, give hope, explain Scripture, etc.? As you put black words on a white page, remember that your audience is colorful, alive, and human.

4. Know your topic from the inside out.

When we write about something we have lived through, we are witnesses to the pain, struggle, victory, and joy related to that topic. We have ached with loss, struggled with sanity while raising our kids, winced at Satan’s painful arrows, or stumbled in trusting God. We saw Him heal our hearts, give us grace and endurance, become our protection, or strengthen our faith. When God pinpoints what to write about, talk about it from the inside out, not as a spectator looking in. Check out my previous post called Writing from the Inside Out for more insight on how to write like you know what you’re talking about.

Take the time to understand your Scripture.

5. Take the time to understand your Scripture.

Although we can present Scripture from a particular angle or slant, the heart of any Bible study should be understanding and applying God’s Word to daily life. Take whatever time is needed to study Scripture with its Author. Use helpful resources such as Bible dictionaries and commentaries as needed. We may not learn the definition of every word or know how to answer every question that a reader might have. But we can study enough till we have an accurate understanding of the book or passages we are writing about, and come away with a peace that we have studied enough. The power to change lives is found in the Word, and by God’s grace, we are stewards of that Word.

6. Pair truth with stories and illustrations.

God loves stories. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with story after story illustrating the goodness and love of God, the need of mankind for redemption, the saving work of Christ, and the oneness and courage God wants believers to have. We learn by stories. Choose memorable stories and illustrations that will help readers to remember your application and live it out. If you need some ideas for this, check out my previous post, For Non-fiction Authors: Tips for Choosing the Right Story.

7. Make your Bible study as interactive as possible.

Ask questions. Supply cross-references for your readers to look up. Give prayer guides. Start a Facebook page for your book, and invite readers to discuss topics on it. Incorporate as many small group activities as you can into your book, either for an individual to contemplate or do, or for a small group to use. The more involved the readers feel, the more they will remember.

Which of the 7 keys above would be the most important to you in buying a Bible study for yourself? Which one do you need to focus on the most as you write? Don’t forget to join the conversation!

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Katy Kauffman is an award-winning writer and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word. 

She has taught the Bible to women and teens, and has two published Bible studies for women, 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory and Faith, Courage, and Victory. She is an editor of the new Refresh Bible Study Magazine and the designer of Broken but Priceless: The Magazine. She makes her home near Atlanta, Georgia.