Table of Contents
- Why is it important to study the Bible as a Christian Family?
- What is the SOAP Method of Bible study?
- When to use the SOAP Method to study the Bible?
- Who can use the SOAP Method to study the Bible?
- How to study the Bible using the SOAP Method?
When I was a new mom, I was struggling to stay focused while digging into God’s Word. Between the diaper changes, the nursing struggles and the sleep deprivation, I found that I needed an easy Bible Study method that still helped grow my faith.
A good friend introduced me to the SOAP Bible Study Method, and it has been so wonderful for me. Today, I will walk you through the SOAP Bible Study Method and how to use it for older kids and yourself.
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Why is it important to study the Bible as a Christian Family?
As a Christian Family, it should be our desire to put God first in our lives and grow in our relationship with Him. One of the ways to do this is by reading, studying and applying God’s Word.
Focus on the Family states the importance of studying the Bible well by saying this:
Since the Bible is God’s Word, studying it is a way to know God better. Through His words we come to know not only the nature and attributes of God, but we also come to understand His plan for each of us. In a larger sense, we also come to know God’s plan in history, His sovereignty, His providence, His love and more. There is only so much we can learn about God apart from the Bible. But with it we can know God better.
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To put it simply, it is important to study the Bible to know God better and to grow in our relationship with Him. As we read and study God’s Word, our hearts and minds are transformed to be more like His, and our faith will grow as we apply God’s Word to our lives. The SOAP Method is a wonderful way to dig deeper into scripture and study the Bible.
What is the SOAP Method of Bible study?
The SOAP Method of Bible study is a simple four-step process that will help you read God’s Word and apply it to your life. The acronym of SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer.
This can be applied to a few verses or a large passage, and this method of Bible study can take anywhere from five minutes to a half hour depending on the passage size.
When to use the SOAP Method to study the Bible?
The SOAP Method for studying the Bible can be used in your devotions everyday.
If I am not doing a particular Bible Study book with a small group or my husband, I will pick a book of the Bible to go through section by section. I use the SOAP Method to break down the passage, study what is written and apply it to my life. I use a prayer journal like this one to use for prayers to God as well as writing down my SOAPed verses and passages.
The SOAP Method really is an easy method that can be used every single day.
Who can use the SOAP Method to study the Bible?
Because of its simplicity, the SOAP Method can be used for kids as well as adulthood. It was originally designed for adults to use, but children are perfectly capable of using the SOAP Method even if they cannot read and write yet.
The SOAP Method could also be a really fun way for parents and kids to study the Bible together. Although my sons are not old enough to use this method yet, my daughter and I will do the SOAP Method together to learn about God’s Word together. This has been a really beautiful way to bond in our faith.
Again, the SOAP Method really is wonderful for all ages. I have included modifications for younger children in the next section, and I just want to encourage adults to remember that we never know what God is doing in the hearts of our children. Having them draw a picture of what they hear from the verses can be just as impactful on their little hearts as having an older child or adult writing out their thoughts on paper. God is so good to work in our lives no matter the age!
How to study the Bible using the SOAP Method?
Like I mentioned above, the SOAP Method is a four-step process using the acronym SOAP. SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Here is a breakdown of the acronym:
S-Scripture
For older children and adults: Actually write out the Bible verse or passage you are studying. When you slow down to write out a verse or passage, it gives your mind and heart enough time to begin to think deeply about what you are reading.
For younger children: Have an adult or older child read through the verse or passage slowly two to three times.
O-Observation
For older children and adults: As you read over the verse or passage you just wrote, ask yourself some of these questions:
- What do you observe or see in the verse or passage you wrote out?
- Are there any words or phrases that stand out or are repeated?
- Who is the audience (who was it originally written to)?
- What is the overall/main theme?
- Does this reveal any truth(s), warnings or lessons?
There are so many kinds of questions you can ask yourself as you are observing the text. Start with these questions, but do not limit yourself to these. Keep probing!
For younger children: Have younger children draw a picture of what they observe. You could also ask them the above questions and they verbally tell you the things that they observed.
A-Application
For older children and adults: As you meditate on the scripture and the things that you have observed, reflect upon how you can apply this verse or passage to your life. Make it personal by asking yourself these questions:
- What is God trying to say to me today?
- How can I apply this scripture to my life?
- Are there any steps I need to take, changes I need to make or habits I need to start in order to apply this passage?
- Does this reveal anything about God’s character to me?
For younger children: Again, you can have younger children draw a picture for how to apply this verse to their life. You could also just have a nice conversation about how to apply the verse using the above questions.
P-Prayer
For every age: Pray a prayer based on what you have read, what you are thinking and what God has revealed to you. This could look like:
- Praying the scripture verse back to Him
- Putting your thoughts into a prayer back to God
- Confessing any sin that God revealed to you
- Thanking God for the revelation He gave you
- Asking for help to implement what He wants you to apply to your life
That’s it! So simple yet so deep. I have created this FREE printable for you to download and print off so you can easily remember what the SOAP Method stands for. I created an option for adults and an option for kids, and both can be accessed within the same download. I recommend you print this off and put it in your Bible for easy reference.
Have you ever used the SOAP Bible Study Method? Is there another method that you like to use? I would love to hear from you in the comments. And don’t forget to download your free SOAP Method printable to put in your journal or Bible.
If you liked this post, check out this past post:
54 Fun Dinner Questions for Families
Footnotes
- VELARDE, R. (2009, January 1). Why Study The Bible? Retrieved August 19, 2023, from https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/why-study-the-bible/
