Answering a Few Common Questions about SOAP
Who is the SOAP Bible Study Method for?
Well, SOAP can be for just about anyone. Beginners will find it an easy way to begin learning how to study God’s Word. Children will find it short enough, they don’t lose focus. Families can find it easy for people of any age to get something out of it.
When is a good time to use SOAP Bible Study?
First, it is perfect for family time devotionals. Second, you could use it for a personal quiet time experience with God. However you use it, whenever you use it, you can always get something out of it.
What tools do you need for the SOAP Bible Study method?
A Bible, paper, and pen/pencil.
How long will it take to do the SOAP Bible Study method?
Well, the SOAP Bible study method can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour once you get the hang of it.
Overview of the SOAP Bible Study Method
The SOAP Bible Study method is a great choice because it is easy, practical, and well-balanced. The acronym makes it simple to remember and apply. Plus, this method is extremely practical for any lifestyle. Whether you are a Bible student or busy single-mother, you can customize this method to fit your life.
Remember that SOAP stands for:
- Scripture
- Observation
- Application
- Prayer
In this SOAP Bible study guide, we’ll walk step-by-step through each of the four letters and explain in-depth what they mean and what to do. Plus, I’ll give you an example that you can follow to illustrate what each step looks like. (There may even be a surprise at the end… you’ll have to wait and see).
SOAP Bible study can be done with a devotional verse, reading plan, or verse of the day.
When you are ready to do the SOAP Bible study method, you will need a Bible, a sheet of paper, and a pen/pencil. Other resources can be helpful, but are not necessary.
Ready to get started? Then let’s jump right in with Scripture.
Benefits of SOAP Bible Study
The SOAP Bible Study method can have a great impact on your spiritual life and well being. Some of these benefits include:
- Deepening Understanding of Scripture
- Helping Us Encounter God
- Keeping the Bible Revelvant to Our Lives
- Shaping the Way We Make Wise Choices, and
- Transforming us to Live More Like Christ
Overall, the SOAP Bible study method is a great way to experience the Bible in a way that leads to a life transforming encounter with God. That’s what Bible study is all about. So, let’s get into the SOAP Bible Study Method.
Step One: Scripture
When starting to study the Bible for the first time it can be overwhelming. It’s a big book. Some parts are really interesting or encouraging, while other parts can be confusing or even plain boring (or just weird).
Choose a Passage to Study
So, if you are starting to study the Bible for the first time I’d recommend you start somewhere you are interested. It’s important when building a habit to start with things that interest you. Start with a favorite book, favorite character, or favorite verse, then go from there.
Now I know what you are thinking, “How long does this section of Scripture need to be?” Great question. That is going to depend primarily on two things: where in the Bible you are studying and personal preference.
A general rule of thumb that I use is section headings. I will read from one section heading to the next. Now it’s important to remember that while these section headings are helpful, they were added to make Bible reading/studying easier. So, don’t be afraid to go a little before or after one if the need arises.
Example
In my NIV bible chapter six of Galatians is broken up into two sections: “Doing good to all (Galatians 6:1-10)” and “Not Circumcision but the New Creation (Galatians 6:11-18).”
Let’s choose the first section (Galatians 6:1-10) to be our Scripture to study.
“Brothers and sister, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”Galatians 6:1-10
Read it Multiple Times
After you decide on a Scripture to study, read over it a 2-3 times and get familiar with it. It can help to read it in different translations as well. This could help you in deciding on a particular verse to focus on when doing SOAP.
Choose a Specific Verse
Now that we’ve chosen a Scripture and read over it a few times, let’s choose 1-3 verses to focus on.
For our example, let’s focus on verse 9:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
You’ll want to hand write the verse you are studying at the top of a piece of paper. This will keep it in front of you at all times. Plus, studies have shown that writing something by hand helps with learning, comprehension, and memorization.
Congratulations! You have just completed the first step in a SOAP Bible study. See, that wasn’t so bad. Ready for the next step?
Step Two: Observation
Now that we’ve decided on a Scripture to study and written the verse we want to focus on at the top of the page, it’s time for the next step–the “O.” Observation.
There is a whole list of things we can look for when studying a passage of Scripture. But in order not to get overwhelmed, let’s focus on the main things.
What To Observe:
Repetition:
Repetition is how Biblical authors emphasis something. It is how they make a point. So, if a word, phrase, theme, or idea is repeated take note of it.
Example: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice!”
Compare/Contrasts:
Are there things that are compared/contrasted in the verses you are studying? Comparisons/Contrasts help us see relationships between similar or different ideas.
Example: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Lists:
Lists are usually pretty easy to spot. They help us organize our thoughts.
Example: the fruit of the Spirit, the acts of the flesh.
Figures of Speech:
Similes, metaphors, imagery, hyperbole, etc. Figures of speech are often used to illustrate points. Look for words like: “like”, “as”, etc.
Example: “As a deer pants for streams water so too my soul pants for you, my God.”
Cause and Effect Relationships:
Cause and Effect is what connects events in a story and ideas in a thought. Look for words like: “If…then”, “Because”, “for”, “so that…”.
Example: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Author and Audience:
Who is doing the writing? Who are they writing to?
What words stand out to you? Is there something interesting or unusual? What’s one thing you didn’t notice before?
How To Mark Observations
Now, when it comes writing these observations you can use a bulleted list format. Or get creative and make your own color-coding system for each of the things above.
Example using a bulleted list:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
- Repetition: Not becoming weary, not giving up
- Figures of Speech: reap a harvest (not a literal harvest, but a reward for doing good)
- Cause and Effect: If we don’t give up in doing good, then we’ll reap a harvest
- Author: Paul
- Audience: Christians
- Other things: “at the proper time” is an interesting phrase.
Example using a color-coding system:
Now, don’t feel like you have to spend hours making observations. Just spend some time, make some observations, and don’t stress.
Before you begin spend some time in prayer asking God to help you see what He wants you to see. Then trust Him and this process and you will get a lot from Scripture using SOAP.
With that done, we are halfway through the SOAP method. Are you ready to get practical?
Step Three: Application
This application step is where we’ll take all that we’ve observed and boil it down into a meaning. Then, we’ll apply it to our lives today.
Meaning VS. Application
But first, what is the difference between meaning and application?
Well, meaning is what the author is trying to communicate to the audience.
Application is how we choose to respond to the meaning in our daily life.
So, meaning is something we discover through observation, and application is something we create based off of that meaning.
Discovering the Meaning
When discovering the meaning take a look at your observations and ask yourself two questions:
- What does this say about God?
- What does this say about people?
Let’s look at our example and see if we can discover the meaning.
Example
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
From this verse, we learn that Christians can get tired of doing good and want to give up. We also see that if they continue to sow good, eventually they will see a harvest.
So, our meaning in this verse is: a person reaps what they sow. This is even more clear in the surrounding context of Galatians 6:1-10.
Finding Application Points
Now, we have our meaning: a person reaps what they sow. How do we apply it to our lives?
We can look at the key elements of the verse and see where our life fits into those elements.
Example
First, let’s look at the key elements in our verse.
- Element 1: A Christian (Let us…)
- Element 2: sometimes gets tired of doing good (…become weary of doing good…)
- Element 3: but will see a reward if they persevere (…will reap a harvest…)
Now the goal is to see where these elements fit into our lives personally.
For example, I am a Christian. Right now, I’m praying for a friend to grow closer to God. But I’m not seeing much progress, and there are times I want to quit praying. However, this verse encourages me to continue praying and have faith that one day I will see the answer to my prayers.
So, there is a promise we can claim: That we will see a harvest if we don’t give up.
There is a command to obey: Don’t give up in doing good to all as we are able.
What about your life? How do these elements fit into your life? Is there an instance where you are tired of doing good?
Take a moment and try applying this verse to your life. Then, when you are ready, let’s move on to the last step in our SOAP Bible Study method.
Step Four: Prayer
This last step of the SOAP Bible Study Method is to pray. This brings our focus back to God.
Take this time to reflect back to God what you learned. Use the verse as a guide if you want. Ask Him to guide you throughout your day, and help you remember and apply this verse to your life.
Example
“Father God, Paul is right. There are times I get tired of doing good. Especially, when I don’t see any fruit. You are right to remind me in these verses that I am to do good for Your sake, for Your name, for Your glory. Though, often I lose sight of that. That is why I get tired of doing good.
Help me today to do good to others. Open my eyes to see those who need Your light. Strengthen me to persevere in doing what’s right and to remember I am doing it for You. Amen.”
A Free Gift and Template
Well, that’s it–the SOAP Bible Study Method. And congratulations! Since you’ve persevered and made it this far I want to offer you a free gift if you subscribe to our newsletter. Subscribers to our newsletter automatically receive our FREE Building A Bible Study Routine Guide.
It helps you build a Bible study habit and create a personalized Bible study schedule that fits with the SOAP Bible Study Method. Plus, it includes a free summary of SOAP as well as worksheets you can use for your Bible study.