Simple Bible Study Ideas for Spiritual Growth

It is such a privilege to be able to read and study God’s Word, but it isn’t always easy to get started. These simple Bible study ideas for spiritual growth are just that, ideas and suggestions to get started on an amazing journey of spiritual growth through God’s Word.

Getting started with a daily Bible study may have some challenges, but the Lord is faithful! Don’t feel like you are alone or the only one who doesn’t know the answers. Think about it, even Jesus’ disciples had to begin somewhere.

Our Testimony

When we first got married, neither of us had a clue about Bible study. We new the Bible stories, but we definitely did not have personal Bible studies on our own. 

As the years went on, we had some major issues in our lives that led us to a deeper relationship with the Lord. We knew then that we needed the Lord to have a healthy marriage and to guide our children to their own spiritual journey.

The Early Years

One evening, Jay and I had a little bit of a spiritual planning session. We both knew what we needed to do, and he was determined to be in church every time the doors were opened – and that is exactly what we did. We started going to the church I grew up in as a youth, so I was comfortable. 

We laugh about this now, since Jay is a preacher, but he had a few apprehensions.

• He was afraid of looking dumb.
• What if someone asked him a question he didn’t know how to answer?
• What if they asked him to pray out loud?

Have you ever felt this way?

These are all common fears. We showed up for Sunday School anyway, and as it turned out, they must have known that those were common fears. They never called on either of us until we were comfortable with it.

Moving Forward

Those were some of the best days – We started bonding with the Sunday School group members who were dealing with many of the same issues we were dealing with. This was a great starting point for learning more about the Word of God, God’s Grace, spiritual gifts, the fruit of the Spirit, God’s love, and our own personal walk with the Lord.

Little did we know that the Lord was teaching and training us for so much more. As we started growing, He kept on using us. In a short period of time Jay was the Sunday School director – he did the announcements and we planned events. (There are a few funny stories there!)

The Lord allowed us to be a part of many more ministries before going into full-time ministry. In each one, I feel like we grew more than the ones we were teaching. I am so glad He meets us where we are and equips us to do what He calls us to do!

All along the way, we were trying to learn to live out our faith in our daily lives. I can tell you that it is definitely a process. I don’t think we will ever have it all together until we reach Heaven, but we can try. Being involved in church helped in this area, but the biggest spiritual growth came when we started having our own personal Bible studies at home. 

If you are just starting out on this spiritual journey, I highly recommend having your own study time of God’s Word. If you have children, you can also have family Bible studies – on their level.

There Were a Few Issues

Wouldn’t you know it? As soon as we determined to be in God’s Word each day, the enemy set up some road blocks! This is where we were:

• Where to begin
• Not understanding 
• Finding time
• Interruptions

However, we pressed on, and the Lord provided! He is awesome that way! Here are some of the things we learned to be able to have our own time in God’s Word.

Things to Consider

A Place to Study

We found that a great way to start was picking a place to call our own for Bible study. If you are looking for a place, consider some of these qualities:

• Quiet
• Solitude
• Indoor or Outdoor
• Comfortable
• Good Lighting

A Set Time

You will hear different things from different people, but I personally feel that if you are in the Word on a daily basis, the time of day doesn’t really matter! People prefer different times according to their circumstances. Just pick the best time for your situation. Here are a few things to consider:

• Morning Quiet Time – You get to start the day off with the right mindset. This may mean getting up 15-30 minutes earlier in the morning.
• Evening or Before bed – End the day on a good note.
• Find other times when you have time alone.
• Lunch or Break Time – My brother-in-law goes to his vehicle everyday at lunch to read his Bible. This might also help you make it through the day!

To this day, neither of us have any idea how we made time to have a mini Bible study as a family in the mornings before school and work! If you know me, I am always a little short on time in the mornings. The Lord stretched that time for us though, and we read stories out of this set that I got at a garage sale.

When you find the time that works for you, try to make it a part of your daily schedule. You may have to begin with writing it on your calendar until it becomes a spiritual habit.

How to Deal with Interruptions

The enemy will use different ways to try and interrupt your Bible studies. When you are aware of this, you can take a few preventative measures. 

• Either put your phone on silent or in the other room. This one is huge! Just getting a pop-up notification can get you off track.
• Kids can and will interrupt, but there are a few ways to help with this. Remember to love people through the interruptions!😊 If it is not life or death, they can be “trained” to wait.
  • Make them aware of what you are doing.
  • Set boundaries with them. 
  • Be consistent with your time so they get used to seeing you do this, even if it is for 5 minutes.
  • Be consistent with the boundaries you set with them. Don’t stop what you are doing for something that can wait.
  • Eventually they will understand and go along with it.
  • In some situations, it may be best to study your Bible before they wake up or after they go to bed at night.

Personal Testimony

When the kids were little, Bible reading was somewhat of a challenge, but as they grew, it was neat to see them in their rooms having their own personal Bible study time. 

Fast forward to the time of grandkids!

You know that when they come to visit, you want it to be all about them. However, even grandchildren need to see you (and their parents) in God’s Word.

When our two oldest granddaughters were little and would spend the night, they would come into the room while I was reading my Bible. At that point, I would include them if they wanted. One would usually sit in my lap and ask me to read out loud. The other would listen from afar.

This same thing happened when we would go on family beach vacations. I would go out on the balcony to read, and before long, Caddie was in my lap asking me to read the Bible to her.

(Now the girls are a lot older and are actively involved in ministry with their family. They also see both of their parents in the Word each day.)

So this summer we went back to the beach. To my delight and joy, I went out to the balcony to have my quiet time, and Caddie was out there having hers! I wish I would have taken a picture! 

Later that evening, when everyone was in bed, I walked through the den, and Chloe was reading her Bible by a little small light.

Where to Start

I have known so many people who were determined to start reading their Bible. Just like any other book, they began at the beginning (with Genesis) and tried to go all the way through. I think I actually did this myself. After a while, you get bogged down in the law and the building of the temple and have a hard time staying focused and motivated. Let me make a few suggestions:

• A good place to start is in the New Testament, specifically the Book of John. The Old Testament is still relevant, but when starting out, begin with the New Testament.
• Focus on reading for comprehension instead of reading a certain amount.
• If you feel like a Bible reading plan would help you, they are available in the back of most Bibles or on the Internet.
• Start with a book of the Bible and continue reading it until you finish it. You will understand more of the context this way and be able to relate things back to what you have already read.

For Comprehension

• Read an accurate version of the Bible that is easy to understand.
• Pray for wisdom and understanding before you begin reading.
• Pace yourself – Read a small portion and stop and think about what you just read.
• Think about the lessons in the passage and how they apply to your life.
• Jay likes to listen to the Bible on audio (in the Bible app) while he reads it in print. This is an excellent way to cover two senses (sight and hearing) for better comprehension.
• Journal
  • After reading, write a scripture that really stood out to you. As you write it, other thoughts and applications will start to come to you.
  • Write out the thoughts and applications that the Lord gave you while you were reading. It does not have to be anything fancy.

• Use Notecards
  • Write the scripture on a notecard and put it in a place that you will see it throughout the day. Keep it on your mind.
  • Use the card to memorize scripture. (I need to do more of this!)
• Talk about it and share with a spouse, friend, or your children.

Resources

For Personal Bible Study

• Bible
• Journal
• Pens/Highlighters
• Sticky Notes
• Bible Atlas/Maps (I love these! These have maps of the times in Biblical days with overlays to show current times.)

Throughout the Day

• Radio Programs with sound preaching and uplifting music
• The Bible App on your phone
• If my Life Applications and Lessons posts help, they are available.
• Biblical Podcasts
• Some Social Media Accounts are really helpful.
• Bible Based Shows and Movies

Be Part of a Community

• Online Bible Study Groups
• Friends to Connect with
• Church for Worship and Biblical Teachings
• Youth Groups for the Young People
• Small Groups through Church
• Connect with the Small Group Leaders
• Sunday School Bible Lessons – These usually have discussion questions to help with understanding and application.

New Resource (To Me)

Last week I asked for other ideas for Bible study resources. A friend of mine, Patricia shared something new to me. It is The Bible Recap. She said they were doing it within her family this year and really enjoying it. Here’s what she said about it:

• It is an app on your phone, so you always have it with you.
• You can follow each other in the group and send questions and comments about the Bible reading for that day.
• At the end of the day there is a recap of what you read.
• When you start a new book, there is a short video that summarizes it.

This is definitely something I am checking out. It sounds great for an extended family. Thanks for sharing Patricia!!!

Other Ideas

To help prepare for this post, I asked friends on social media for their thoughts and ideas. Here are a couple:

• Tammi from Tammig said that she uses the First 5 app by Proverbs 31 Ministry. They study one book of the Bible at a time and are very informative and insightful.
• Rebekah from Headed for a Homestead said that her husband built them a Bible reading plan for the year. He left Sundays for reviewing previous sermon notes and for incorporating scripture memory.

A Few of My Favorite Resources

These are some of the items (and the Bible) I use during my Bible study time. I love the Bible, but the other items are just regular school supplies.

Affiliate links are below for your convenience.

• She Reads Truth Bible
• Composition Notepad
• Sticky Notes

I don’t even pretend to have it all together or know everything about God’s Word. However, I enjoy reading It and learning what He has to say. I would love for you to join me each Saturday as I take my own personal Bible study and share the life applications and lessons the Lord shares with me. It is all about personal application! I would love for you to join my weekly newsletter to get these posts sent directly to you.

I would also be glad to hear what you are learning about, or see if I can answer any questions. I may not know the answer, but I can check other resources. 

Together let’s strive for spiritual growth, to build a strong foundation for our families, and to have a great time doing it! Hopefully some of these simple Bible study ideas will help you in your spiritual growth as well.

Related Posts

Applications and Lessons in the Book of Ephesians – Part 3
Applications and Lesson in the Book of Ephesians – Part 2
Applications and Lesson in the Book of Ephesians – Part 1

Until next week…

disclosure: Amazon affiliate links are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website. 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Timothy 3:16-17

(New Testament in the Holy Bible)