A Quick Guide To Teaching Others The SOAP Bible Study

When I first learned to study the Bible, I wanted to share absolutely everything I learned with others. But dumping a whole lot of information on someone is not the best way to go about it. Instead, introduce them to a simple and structured Bible Study method–the SOAP Bible study method.

Teaching the SOAP Bible Study Method requires being able to explain what SOAP stands for and walking through an example with others using Scripture. Thus, teaching the SOAP Bible study method is easy. Familiarity with various Bible study tools is a plus.

Whether you are teaching a Bible study group for the first time or showing a friend, and new Christian, how to study the Bible, knowing how to teach the SOAP Bible Study method is invaluable.

Explain the SOAP Bible Study Method

The SOAP Bible Study Method is a method of Bible study that is simple and practical. It encourages spiritual growth, making sure you not only learn the Bible, but live it as well. Remember that SOAP stands for,

• SCRIPTURE: Choose a passage/verse of Scripture that you want to study.
• OBSERVATION: Make key observations of the verse.
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life?
• PRAYER: Conclude with prayer to God.

When explaining the SOAP Bible Study method to others, it can be helpful to be clear and concise. This is a time to introduce the SOAP acronym and not go into detail about how to do it. Simply, provide a one to two sentence explanation of each step. Highlight how the acronym helps us remember the steps.

Take It One Step at a Time, If Teaching A Group

Another helpful way to teach the SOAP Bible study method is to take it one step at a time. This is especially useful if you are teaching a group how to study the Bible. Have everyone do one step (for example, Scripture) and then move on to the next as a group.

SCRIPTURE

To do this, start off with Scripture. Explain the best ways of choosing a passage of Scripture to study. This can be either working through a book of the Bible one chapter at a time or following a Bible reading plan.

Once a passage is selected have participants read the selected passage. Encourage slow and attentive reading. If this is your first time working through the SOAP Bible Study method with others, it can be helpful to come prepared with a passage of Scripture already in mind.

Ask the person(s) you are teaching the SOAP Bible study method to, to write down a verse or verses from the passage that stood out to them the most. Explain that these are the verses they will be focusing on in their study.

OBSERVATION

Observation is the next step that you will want to explain and walk through with the person(s) you are teaching. First, explain the importance of observation and provide some key things to look for when reading.

You will want to encourage them to consider the following:

• Literary elements: Figures of Speech, Repeated Words, Genre, etc.
• Historical Context: The Who, What, When, Where, Why
• Other Keywords or Phrases that catch their attention

I’d recommend you encourage these participants to make their observations on the same piece of paper they wrote their verse on earlier. They can make these observations any way they want. For example, creating a bulleted list, highlighting key words, underlining or circling literary elements, etc.

APPLICATION

After everyone finishes the observation stage, it is time to move on to the application step. This can be the hardest to teach as it is highly subjective to the individual studying the Bible. A good way to teach the application step is to give them some things to look for in the passage that they can apply. For example,

• An example to follow
• A promise to remember
• A command to obey

Have the person(s) you are teaching take some time to quietly reflect on the verse they chose and how it may relate to their personal experiences, struggles, and circumstances they are currently going through.

After this time of reflection, encourage them to write down specific ways to apply these verses to their lives. You could have them set attainable goals, or specific actions they need to take in light of this passage.

PRAYER

The final step in teaching someone the SOAP Bible study method is prayer. This is a time for them to connect to God based on what they’ve learned through His word and how it applies to their circumstances.

Have the person(s) you are teaching write down their prayer on the same paper they made their observations and application. This way they can go back and look at how God has answered or responded to their prayers over time.

Use an Example, If Teaching An Individual

A great way to guide someone through the SOAP Bible study method for the first time is to use an example. This will help them see exactly how you use the SOAP Bible study in your life and give them confidence if they are unsure whether or not they are doing it correctly.

Having an example ready, either already done or ready to walk through, will also help you as you teach them. You will have already done this example and know what observations and applications you will make. This will help you focus on teaching the SOAP Bible study steps and what to look for.

If you would like an example of the SOAP Bible study method that is ready to use, then feel free to steal mine from the SOAP Bible Study page.

Discuss and Reflect

Either after walking through an example or the one step at a time approach, you will want to have a time of discussion and reflection.

If you are teaching a group, then have the group come together to reflect on what passage they chose, observations they made, and application points they discovered. This group discussion allows for the deeper insights and a sense of community.

It also shows the group members that there are different ways to utilizing the SOAP Bible study, different observations and application points. This encourages them to make SOAP a regular practice in their personal Bible study.

If you are teaching an individual, this time of reflection and discussion will allow them the opportunity to ask questions and provide you with an opportunity to clear up some things they may not have understood. Remember, to always encourage them to stay in God’s word or not.

If they didn’t like the SOAP Bible study method for whatever reason, encourage them to seek an alternative. There are great alternatives to the SOAP Bible study method that are practical and just as simple.

The SOAP Bible Study method is a great way to introduce people to a Bible study habit. Teaching them how to use SOAP is as easy as doing SOAP itself.