Learn to Study the Bible: A Review and A Contest!

by Melanie | April 6th, 2010

When I first heard of Andy Deane’s new book, Learn to Study the Bible, I was drawn to it because I have been looking for years for something to help our sons to dig a little deeper when studying the Word of God. This book is a great start.

Learn to Study the Bible grew out of the author’s effort to teach the youth in his church inductive Bible study methods with, at first, little success. His search for an easy to teach and understand system led him to realize that there were many approaches that had a place in the Christian life, and perhaps he needed to make those ideas accessible to a wider audience of Christians than those willing to research and search through the many books he did.

The opening chapters of the book explain why we need to go beyond light reading of the Scripture and consistently spend time in real study to truly get all the Lord has provided for us in His Word. They also lay out the foundational principles of Bible study: that we should observe, interpret and apply the Word to our lives. This was an extremely valuable part of the book and I can’t wait to have my sons and read it and discuss it with them. I did find the author’s repeated use of lists and underlining a real distraction. This style, while well suited to the latter part of the book where the methods are taught, encourages the reader to skim, when the explanations under each heading contain points too good to miss. I’d love to see these chapters rewritten in a prose style – they would be fantastic!

The second part of the book describes forty different methods we can use to find the rich treasures buried in the Word of God. I must confess this part was much more interesting than I expected. I wanted to pull out my Bible right then and get going. The author includes basic methods, such as using the words in 2 Timothy 3:16 (doctrine, reproof, correction, etc) to analyze a passage, traditional methods such as word study, creative methods, such as a translation comparison, methods appropriate to specific parts of Scripture and innovative methods that might appeal to a younger crowd. Really, there is no excuse for not approaching your Bible study with anticipation after you’ve read Learn to Study the Bible.

The section on study methods treats each suggestion separately, describing in detail how each is done, but it doesn’t stop there. Each method has a handwritten example of the notes someone might produce if they used that approach to study an appropriate Scripture. Seeing the system “in use” on an actual Bible passage greatly aids comprehension, as well as clearly showing the usefulness of it since you can immediately see the conclusions and applications the author found while using that method.

This is a great resource not only for teaching our children step by step how they can approach the Word of God as “a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” but also encouraging ourselves to get back into the Scriptures and take a look at them with a fresh eye. That’s worth a lot!

I would love to see the author add a chapter, or perhaps do a follow-up volume, that teaches folks how to use Bible helps, such as Nave’s, Strong’s, a Bible atlas, etc, in just the same way that he teaches these Bible study methods. How about it, Andy?

Get a copy (and you should!) of Learn to Study the Bible at the book’s very cool website: www.LearntoStudytheBible.com.

The author provided us with a free copy of the book for our honest review. AND… he’s provided us with another copy for…

A Contest!

I have one free copy of Learn to Study the Bible to be chosen from those who comment on this post by noon Friday. I would love to hear what you have done to teach your children to love the Word of God. You can get additional entries by posting about this contest on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or a forum or email loop. Just leave us a comment telling where you posted it!

  • http://amy-shiningmylight.blogspot.com/ Amy Dorse

    I use Living Books Curriculum.com for my boys schoolwork. In that, they read a chapter ever so often and learn from it. They also have verses they have to remember. I also read to them myself. My oldest got a book for Christmas that gives a review of each book in the Bible. He's loving that. I would love to have a book that teaches them HOW to study.

  • jkittell

    we homeschool our children and teach them about God through our history and science curriculum as well as our involvement in AWANA and the children's ministry at our church and other churchs. every day there is a lesson to be read or remembered about how God has specially designed our lives for His purpose. Our whole life centers around making sure our children are brought up with no doubt about who God is.

  • http://twitter.com/haysters Hayes

    We are involved in a Christian homeschooling Co-op, along with the children's ministry program at our church. Privately we use Rod and Staff publications with our K, pre school age children, andseveral beginner Bible picture books. Our biggest influence on our Children's Christian upbringing: trying to live by example.

  • Alicia

    I'd love to have copy of this book. Thank you.
    Alicia
    :-)
    –
    Free Bible courses by email with a private tutor.
    freeBiblecourse.salvation@gmail.com

  • J Coburn

    We just read the Bible out loud to our children. They are old enough now to really benefit from a book like this!

  • kmamalorenz

    We've done Catherine Voss' Bible Story Book, we've done various Bible memory/reading story books. We've read Proverbs, some Psalms, some Revelation. We've used some Mem-lok to memorize. Thanks for the nudge — we've slipped and we need to get back on track with devotions!

  • kmamalorenz

    Shared on Facebook.

  • kmamalorenz
  • kmamalorenz

    Tweeted.
    kmamalorenz

    Check out Raising Real Men. Contest on their blog! http://bit.ly/9mzOts

  • kmamalorenz

    Now Follow RRM on Twitter!

  • http://lovelettersfromPapa.blogspot.com/ spitfire

    We use Kay Arthur's childrens inductive study for Little Critter's personal devotions. He loves part of it, but there's plenty he's not so keen on. I'd love to be able to take parts of Kay Arthur and mix in other methods to make his devotional time more enjoyable for him. We also do family devotions every evening and daily Torah portions. But at 10, Little Critter needs to be doing more on his own instead of waiting for Dodi and I to do the hard work for him. Thanks for the headsup about this. Shalom, Spitfire

  • cocoacraver

    We have a couple of different children's Bible story books and we read a story or two each day to our preschool-age kids. Our daughter is always asking questions about the stories and we try to relate them to the present time. They always want to learn more and know that they just need to ask and I will pull out the Bible and we'll look it up together. My husband and I love the fact that they are not afraid to question things and they know where to look to find the answers.

  • Danielle Pankratz

    We homeschool our 5 children. We use a variety of ways to study the Bible. We are currently going through a study of Revelations using a Bible Study called Bible Prophesy for Kids. I would this book to learn how to study the Bible better.

  • deannagermany

    I think the best thing we have done to teach our kids to love the Bible is to have family time at night. Having time together where we pray and discuss the Bible has provided a time where the kids are free to ask questions, laugh, and be safe in learning.

  • Holly Sharpe

    Would really like to have a copy of this one.

  • Rachel Stevens

    I posted it on my FB page :)

  • Rachel Stevens

    We have used Kay Arthurs childrens Bible studies. Right now we are doing a Bible book club whee we read a certain passage and take notes on tht things that stand out to us or things that come to mind as we are reading it then meet at a certain time to discuss our thoughts. Of course, we are talking about it all week long too but this seemed a fun way to make sure we do this (not that we have made sure to do it all the time, but we are trying!).

  • http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/solidrockhomeschool/776298/ Rachel Stevens
  • kraynovic

    My son is twelve (will be thirteen in 6 days), and I've found through trial and error, that he does much better with when we begin the day with a little spiritual guidance. (Mom does better too!) I have been reluctant to bombard him with too much Biblical information at once. So far, my slow and steady approach appears to be working without turning him off the subject. This book looks like an excellent tool to help guide and help us step-up this endeavor. I would love for him to learn HOW to study the Bible other than just reading and looking up information on random topics. Thank you for the opportunity and telling us about the book.

  • paulah6

    We homeschool and use My Father's World curriculum across the board from elementary to high school. It is biblically centered with all subjects parallel to what is being studied in the bible. There is everything from memorizing bible verses to indepth book studies.

    We have used Doorposts' products and like them as well.

    This book looks incredible. It's always wonderful to bring new and fresh ways to study God's Word!

    Thank you for posting this give away!

  • paulah6

    Posted a link on my blog!

  • Patti Johnson

    I would love to have my 12 year old son learn HOW to study the Bible. To date I haven't found the right tool to help him. I'd love to take a look at this book.

  • http://twitter.com/haysters Hayes

    We are involved in a Christian homeschooling Co-op, along with the children's ministry program at our church. Privately we use Rod and Staff publications with our K, pre school age children, and several beginner Bible picture books. Our biggest influence on our Children's Christian upbringing: trying to live by example.

  • Alicia

    I'd love to have copy of this book. Thank you.
    Alicia
    :-)
    –
    Free Bible courses by email with a private tutor.
    freeBiblecourse.salvation@gmail.com

  • J Coburn

    We just read the Bible out loud to our children. They are old enough now to really benefit from a book like this!

  • kmamalorenz

    We've done Catherine Voss' Bible Story Book, we've done various Bible memory/reading story books. We've read Proverbs, some Psalms, some Revelation. We've used some Mem-lok to memorize. Thanks for the nudge — we've slipped and we need to get back on track with devotions!

  • kmamalorenz

    Shared on Facebook.

  • kmamalorenz
  • kmamalorenz

    Tweeted.
    kmamalorenz

    Check out Raising Real Men. Contest on their blog! http://bit.ly/9mzOts

  • kmamalorenz

    Now Follow RRM on Twitter!

  • http://lovelettersfromPapa.blogspot.com/ spitfire

    We use Kay Arthur's childrens inductive study for Little Critter's personal devotions. He loves part of it, but there's plenty he's not so keen on. I'd love to be able to take parts of Kay Arthur and mix in other methods to make his devotional time more enjoyable for him. We also do family devotions every evening and daily Torah portions. But at 10, Little Critter needs to be doing more on his own instead of waiting for Dodi and I to do the hard work for him. Thanks for the headsup about this. Shalom, Spitfire

  • cocoacraver

    We have a couple of different children's Bible story books and we read a story or two each day to our preschool-age kids. Our daughter is always asking questions about the stories and we try to relate them to the present time. They always want to learn more and know that they just need to ask and I will pull out the Bible and we'll look it up together. My husband and I love the fact that they are not afraid to question things and they know where to look to find the answers.

  • Danielle Pankratz

    We homeschool our 5 children. We use a variety of ways to study the Bible. We are currently going through a study of Revelations using a Bible Study called Bible Prophesy for Kids. I would this book to learn how to study the Bible better.

  • deannagermany

    I think the best thing we have done to teach our kids to love the Bible is to have family time at night. Having time together where we pray and discuss the Bible has provided a time where the kids are free to ask questions, laugh, and be safe in learning.

  • Holly Sharpe

    Would really like to have a copy of this one.

  • Rachel Stevens

    I posted it on my FB page :)

  • Rachel Stevens

    We have used Kay Arthurs childrens Bible studies. Right now we are doing a Bible book club whee we read a certain passage and take notes on tht things that stand out to us or things that come to mind as we are reading it then meet at a certain time to discuss our thoughts. Of course, we are talking about it all week long too but this seemed a fun way to make sure we do this (not that we have made sure to do it all the time, but we are trying!).

  • http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/solidrockhomeschool/776298/ Rachel Stevens
  • kraynovic

    My son is twelve (will be thirteen in 6 days), and I've found through trial and error, that he does much better with when we begin the day with a little spiritual guidance. (Mom does better too!) I have been reluctant to bombard him with too much Biblical information at once. So far, my slow and steady approach appears to be working without turning him off the subject. This book looks like an excellent tool to help guide and help us step-up this endeavor. I would love for him to learn HOW to study the Bible other than just reading and looking up information on random topics. Thank you for the opportunity and telling us about the book.

  • paulah6

    We homeschool and use My Father's World curriculum across the board from elementary to high school. It is biblically centered with all subjects parallel to what is being studied in the bible. There is everything from memorizing bible verses to indepth book studies.

    We have used Doorposts' products and like them as well.

    This book looks incredible. It's always wonderful to bring new and fresh ways to study God's Word!

    Thank you for posting this give away!

  • paulah6

    Posted a link on my blog!

  • Patti Johnson

    I would love to have my 12 year old son learn HOW to study the Bible. To date I haven't found the right tool to help him. I'd love to take a look at this book.

  • S. Lane

    I am recommitting myself to my children and homeschooling after being lead to believe so many things that I now know are completely wrong. I would love to have a copy to add to our homeschool as we embark on this journey that I will complete this time.

  • Jeremy Sexton

    I'd love to have a copy of this book.

    Jeremy

  • http://www.fortunatelyforyoubooks.com/ Heidi

    In our home, we have used quite a lot of different curriculum to teach the Bible. We just finished up a series from Answers in Genesis that was awesome! In addition to whatever curriculum we are using, we do the Charlotte Mason style of scripture memorization. It helps us to review all the scripture we have learned and keep adding new ones to it.

  • http://jennycraigformen.net/185/39days-com-day-12-2-0/ 39days.com – Day 12 (2.0)

    [...] Raising Real Men » Blog Archive » Learn to Study the Bible: A Review and A Contest! [...]

  • acherry

    This book looks wonderful! I left a comment on FB about how we memorize scripture with our boys. They love getting in to the Bible! My entire family would benefit from this book and I look forward to seeing the 40 ways to study the Bible.

  • http://www.fortunatelyforyoubooks.com/ Heidi

    I posted a comment and link about the contest on Facebook.

  • http://www.fortunatelyforyoubooks.com/ Heidi

    I have put a post about this contest on my blog as well: http://fortunatelyforyoubooks.blogspot.com/2010…

    Thanks for the extra chances to win!

  • suziepeterson

    Hi, I have been looking for a resource to help me able to teach my 11 year old son how to really study the bible. He is so ready for really “digging into” the Word of God, and this book would be such a blessing to us! We have used resources off the internet, read the Word of God daily and then we all share from our hearts what those particular scriptures mean to us in our family prayer and devotion time. We have also used different devotions through the years, but are really ready for more! Thank you for offering this book as a giveaway! I'm sure every single person who responds here could use it! My husband is also a “new” baby christian, and this would be something that would really help HIM as well! Thank you for being such a blessing! :)

  • http://twitter.com/raisingrealmen Raising Real Men

    You are the winner, Rachel! Contact me & I'll get Learn to Study the Bible sent to you!

  • http://twitter.com/raisingrealmen Raising Real Men

    You are the winner, Rachel! Contact me & I'll get Learn to Study the Bible sent to you!