Mastering Character Bible Study: Format, Questions, and More
A Character Bible study is a great way to experience the Bible in a way that you encounter God. The Bible comes alive and you get to experience God through other peoples stories and lives. But if you are new to Bible study, then you probably have some questions.
Some questions you may have are,
- How do I format a character Bible study?
- What questions do I ask when doing a character Bible study?
- Can I see a character Bible study?
All these questions will be answered in this article. So, whether you are new to Bible study or a seasoned pro, this article can help you master doing a character Bible study.
Character Bible Study Basics
A character Bible study is a unique way to study the Bible in that you look a specific person from the Bible, their strengths and weaknesses and their relationship with God, and apply it to your own life.
This is a fun way for anyone of all ages to learn how to study the Bible for the first time. It uses very little Bible study resources and can be done with just a study Bible. It is a great way to grow spiritually and help the Bible come alive, especially if you are struggling to study God’s word.
The basic steps of a character Bible study are,
- Select Your Character
- Contextualize Your Character (Learn Basic Background Info)
- Study Scripture References
- Examine Character Traits and Relationships (esp. Relationship with God)
- Identify Lessons and Morals
- Apply Lessons to your Life
It’s really that simple. You can go as in-depth as you like. So, you can do a quick overview or specific trait or you can learn absolutely everything the Bible has to say about that person.
If you are interested in a more detailed step-by-step look at doing a character Bible study, then check out this article. It will walk you through each of these steps, plus more to help you get the most out of your character Bible study.
Now, that we have a basic idea of what a character Bible study is let’s see what the best way to format a character Bible study would be.
Formatting a Character Bible Study
Formatting a character Bible study can vary depending on your personal preferences, the goals of the study, and whether you are doing it individually or as a group. Regardless of these differences, there are some things you want to consider including in how you format your character Bible study. They are,
- Character Introduction and Background
- Key Characteristics
- Relationship with God
- Lessons Learned from Character
- Scripture References
- Discussion Questions (if applicable)
- Prayer
- Group Activities (Optional, if doing a group character Study)
Group Character Bible Study Format
So, say you are doing a character study as a group, here is how you may want to format that study,
| Phase | Description | Timeframe | Resources Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Research and gather materials on the character’s life and relevant biblical passages. | 1-2 weeks | – Bible -Commentaries or study guides -Notebooks/Journals or handouts for participants |
| Introduction Session | Welcome participants, explain the purpose of the study, and set expectations. | 1 session (1-2 hours) | – Printed study guides or handouts -Audio/Visual equipment for presentations (if applicable) |
| Character Background | Explore the character’s background, upbringing, and early life. Discuss key events that shaped them. | 2 sessions (2 hours) | – Bible -Visual aids (maps, family trees, etc). |
| Key Characteristics | Analyze the character’s strengths, weaknesses, virtues, and flaws. | 1 session (1-2 hours) | – Bible |
| Relationship with God | Examine how the character sought God in various situations and their spiritual journey. | 2 sessions (2 hours) | – Bible |
| Lessons Learned | Discuss the lessons that can be learned from the character’s experiences and how they apply to life. | 1 session (1-2 hours) | – Bible |
| Scriptural References | Compile relevant Bible verses related to the character’s story. | 1 session (1 hour) | – Bible -Concordance or online Bible tools |
| Transformation & Growth | Explore moments of transformation and growth in the character’s life. | 1 session (1-2 hours) | – Bible -Visual aids or timelines to illustrate growth |
| Challenges & Struggles | Discuss the challenges the character faced and how they responded to adversity. | 1 session (1-2 hours) | – Bible -Questions to guide group discussions |
| Application to Daily Life | Reflect on how the character’s story can be applied to participants’ daily lives. | 1 session (1-2 hours) | – Bible |
| Group Reflection | Share personal insights and reflections from the study. | 1 session (1 hour) | – Bible -Reflection sheets for participants |
| Prayer & Commitment | Conclude with a prayer session, committing to apply lessons learned. | 1 session (1 hour) | – Bible -Printed prayer guides or prompts |
Remember that you can adapt this format and timeframe to suit the needs of your group. Also, remember to leave room for God to work. Flexibility is key, so be open to adjusting as you do your study.
If you are going to lead a Bible study for the first time, then be sure to check out this article. It includes nine tips for leading your first Bible study. It will help you get started on the right foot and make sure people not only experience the Bible but have fun as well.
Individual Character Bible Study Format
You can use a similar format for doing a character Bible study individually. Again, you can adapt it to fit your personal needs and goals. So, you can go as in depth or not as you like.
| Phase | Description | Timeframe | Resources Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Research and gather materials for your study. Create a plan and have fun. | 1 week | – Bible -Commentaries or study guides (if desired) |
| Introduction Session | Set goals, expectations, and outline study objectives. | 1 session | – Journal or notebook |
| Character Background | Explore the character’s background and early life. | 1-2 sessions | – Bible -Visual aids (maps, family trees, etc.) |
| Key Characteristics | Identify and analyze the character’s traits. | 1 session | – Bible |
| Relationship with God | Examine the character’s spiritual journey. | 1-2 sessions | – Bible |
| Lessons Learned | Reflect on the lessons learned from the character. | 1 session | – Bible |
| Scriptural References | Compile relevant Bible verses related to the character. | 1 session | – Bible |
| Transformation & Growth | Explore moments of transformation in the character. | 1 session | – Bible |
| Challenges & Struggles | Discuss the character’s challenges and responses. | 1 session | – Bible |
| Application to Daily Life | Reflect on how the character’s story applies to life. | 1 session | – Journal or notebook |
| Conclusion & Prayer | Conclude with a prayer and commitment to apply lessons. | 1 session | – Bible -Prayer Journal or notebook |
Doing an individual study it is important to have some sort of journal or notebook available. This will help you record insights, reflections, prayers, and more. Then you can look back on it and reflect to see how far you’ve grown spiritually.
Discussion Questions for a Character Bible Study
Regardless of whether you are doing a group or individual character Bible study, it can be important to ask yourself (or the group) some questions to foster reflection and discussion. So, here are some questions you can ask for each key step of a character Bible study,
- Character Introduction:
- What aspects of the character’s background stood out to you the most?
- How did the character’s upbringing or family dynamics influence their journey?
- Key Characteristics:
- Identify three positive traits of the character. How did these traits contribute to their story?
- Discuss any weaknesses or flaws the character displayed. How did these impact their decisions and relationships?
- Relationship with God:
- How did the character seek God in times of joy or struggle?
- In what ways did the character’s faith evolve throughout their story?
- Lessons Learned:
- What lessons can we draw from the character’s successes and failures?
- How can we apply these lessons to our own lives and faith journeys?
- Scriptural Connections:
- Identify Bible verses that resonate with the character’s experiences. How do these verses enrich our understanding of the character?
- How does the character’s story align with or challenge certain biblical principles?
- Transformation and Growth:
- Discuss key moments in the character’s life where they experienced growth or transformation. What triggered these changes?
- How does God’s grace play a role in the character’s journey of transformation?
- Challenges and Struggles:
- What challenges did the character face, and how did they respond to adversity?
- How can we draw strength from the character’s approach to challenges in our own lives?
- Application to Daily Life:
- In what ways can the character’s experiences be applied to our daily lives?
- Share practical steps or actions inspired by the character’s story that we can implement.
- Group Reflection (if applicable):
- How does hearing others’ perspectives on the character’s story enhance your understanding?
- Share a personal connection or takeaway from the character study that impacted you.
- Prayer and Commitment:
- Based on the character’s story, what specific aspects can we pray for in our own lives?
- How can we commit to applying the lessons learned from this character study in the coming weeks?
Character Bible Study Example
Now, let’s take a moment to see what a character Bible study would look like in this format. This is a simple and quick study on the life of King David.
Key Scriptures:
The story of David is found primarily in the books of First and Second Samuel. Here are some key chapters that cover David’s story.
- 1 Samuel 16-18
- 2 Samuel 7, 11, 24
- Psalm 23, 51, 103
Background:
David was the youngest son of Jesse and grew up as a shepherd in Bethlehem. His life changed dramatically when Samuel, the prophet, anointed him as the future king of Israel. His rise to kingship began when he killed the giant Goliath.
He went on to work for King Saul, before facing persecution and trials by the King. Despite all this, he remained faithful to God. Eventually, after Saul’s death, he ascended to the throne and united the tribes of Israel, establishing Jerusalem as the capital.
David was also known for his musical abilities, and wrote many Psalms, that celebrate God and his faithfulness. Some also deal with a wide range of emotions such as grief and repentance.
David’s life is not without flaws. He had an affair with Bathsheba and committed murder to cover it up. Some of his sons started a rebellion and tried to take the throne. Despite all this, David was called a man after God’s own heart.
Key Characteristics:
- Courage: David faced Goliath with unwaviering courage, trusting God’s strength.
- Repentance: Despite David’s mistakes he demonstrates heartfelt repentance and faith in God.
- Dependence on God: Throughout David’s life, from being a shepherd, to running from Saul, to leading a nation, David constantly depended on God.
Relationship with God:
- David is known as a man after God’s own heart, someone who had deep faith and love in God.
- The Psalms, through praise, lament, and repentance, illustrate David’s personal and unique relationship with God.
- God established an everlasting covenant with David.
- David’s sins (the census, affair with Bathsheba, etc.) resulted in facing the very real consequences of those actions. David repented, but still had to face the consequences of his actions.
Lessons Learned/Challenges and Struggles:
- Trusting God in adversity: David trusted God and had faith in times of great challenge.
- How to Repent: Psalm 51 can illustrate how we are to repent over our sins.
- Dealing with Betrayal: David faced betrayal by King Saul and his own sons. We can analyze how David responded to this betrayal to see how it can guide us.
- God’s Grace and the Consequences of Sin: David faced the consequences of his sins, even though he repented. Yet, he still received God’s grace.
Application to Daily Life:
- Courageous Faith: David is a great example of faith no matter what we face. We can apply David’s courage and faith to “giants” we are facing in our life. The hard circumstances and trying times.
- Repentance and Restoration: When David was convicted of his sin, he immediately repented. But do we? Or do we try to justify or explain away our sin? Repentance should be our first and only response when confronted with the reality of our sin.
Prayer:
Dear God, help me to be a man after your own heart. Help me to trust your guidance, promises, and provision no matter what circumstances I face.
May repentance be my first and only response when confronted by my sin. Create in a clean heart, that I may know and experience your grace, love, and glory. Amen.
Curious to see what other character Bible studies looks like? Then check out these on Esther and Ezra. They look specifically at their relationship with God and what we can learn from that.
Now that you have all the tools, it’s time to begin your own study!
