RICK WARREN’S

BIBLE STUDY

METHODS

Twelve Ways You Can

Unlock God’s Word

Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods

Copyright © 1981, 2006 by Rick Warren

Formerly published under the title Personal Bible Study Methods

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Warren, Richard.

Rick Warren’s Bible study methods: Twelve ways you can unlock God’s Word / Rick Warren.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-310-27300-4

1. Bible—Study and teaching. I. Title.

BS600.3.W37 2006

220.071–dc22

2005037198

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

KJV indicates Scripture quotations from the King James Version.

The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Zondervan, nor do we vouch for their content for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. Some forms are designated in the text as being suitable for reproduction. No other part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Interior design by Mark Sheeres

To my wife, Elizabeth Kay

whose prayers, support, and commitment to disciple-making have been

a constant encouragement while I was working on this book.

She is truly a gift from God.

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction: How to Study the Bible

Preview of the 12 Bible Study Methods

1. The Devotional Method of Bible Study

2. The Chapter Summary Method of Bible Study

3. The Character Quality Method of Bible Study

4. The Thematic Method of Bible Study

5. The Biographical Method of Bible Study

6. The Topical Method of Bible Study

7. The Word Study Method of Bible Study

8. The Book Background Method of Bible Study

9. The Book Survey Method of Bible Study

10. The Chapter Analysis Method of Bible Study

11. The Book Synthesis Method of Bible Study

12. The Verse-by-Verse Analysis Method of Bible Study

Appendices

A. How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time

B. General Questions for a Biographical Study

C. A List of Positive and Negative Character Qualities

D. A Partial List of Biblical People

E. A Suggested List of Key Words for Study

F. What to Look for in a Chapter Analysis Study

G. A Plan for Studying the Bible Systematically

For Further Reading

PREFACE

For many years every time I heard a good sermon or some in-depth Bible teaching, I would leave the meeting frustrated, wondering to myself, How did he find all of that in his text? I wanted to be able to discover those truths on my own. In addition, I often felt guilty because people were always telling me I ought to ...