If you had a best friend, but you never learned about or spoke with one another, how would you ever really know each other? That’s where we discover ourselves when we would like to have a life-changing, close relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and yet don’t understand why it’s vital to review the Bible. Or possibly we comprehend it’s crucial to be in God’s word with the intention to know who He is, what He’s done, and what He has planned for us, but wish we could discover a Bible study method that helps us connect with Him more.
Thankfully we don’t need to look far to seek out many alternative ways to grow in God’s Word. There are so many options to select from, whether we would like to do an inductive study, read through the Bible with the assistance of a study Bible or commentary, or learn in depth about one topic within the Bible. One great plan of study that goes beyond reading to non-public application is the SOAP Method.
What Does SOAP Stand for in Bible Study?
Pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii, created the SOAP Method of Bible study, outlined in his book The Divine Mentor: Growing Your Faith as You Sit on the Feet of the Savior (2007). The SOAP Method can also be featured in a series of articles within the NIV LifeConnect Study Bible. SOAP is greater than only a reading plan. It’s a type of Bible study and journaling whose acronym stands for:
Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer
The method takes studying the Bible further with additional steps that help to cover God’s word in our hearts, as suggested in Psalm 119. Beyond reading the Word of God, the strategy causes you to pause to essentially understand the reality, renew your mind, and permit your life to be transformed through Scripture. In her article, “Have You Tried the SOAP Bible Study Method?” Emma Danzey writes, “What I like in regards to the SOAP method is that it is straightforward enough for a recent believer in Christ to use, and deep enough for a seasoned spiritual veteran to grow. It could be very practical and replicable. You can use it whether you’re within the book of John or Deuteronomy. You could type it in your phone in an airport or write in a journal in your property.”
So, how do you set the entire steps of SOAP together to develop greater faith?
How Do You Use the SOAP Method Step-by-Step?
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at how Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer work together within the SOAP Method.
First, select a passage of Scripture (whether you desire to study one verse, an entire chapter, or something in between). Don’t simply read, but write it down. Studies have shown that we remember things more after we read and replica them in writing, fairly than simply reading. Second, jot something down that you just observe in regards to the passage. Does it teach you anything in regards to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit? Is it a couple of person or group of individuals through whose interaction with God we are able to learn something?
Third, write down how you’re thinking that this passage applies to your life particularly. Does it change something you think about God? Do you are feeling the Holy Spirit is communicating something to you thru these words? Is there a promise you can claim? Finally, the fourth step challenges you to contemplate if you want to change the best way you’re thinking that or act based on this passage.
What Are Some SOAP Bible Study Examples to Try?
We can take a passage of Scripture and apply the SOAP Method to point out the way it is meant to attract you closer to the Lord. For instance:
Scripture: Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it’s written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we’re regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all this stuff we’re greater than conquerors through him who loved us. For I’m convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the current nor the longer term, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will give you the chance to separate us from the love of God that’s in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Observation: What more could anyone ask for however the truths in these few verses? Literally nothing that happens in my life can separate me from God’s love that was poured out for me when Jesus died on the cross FOR ME. It doesn’t say that I won’t experience hardship, it just implies that God won’t ever let ANYTHING take me out of His hands for eternity.
Application: Before the following time I get anxious or afraid due to something that has come against me in my life, I want to have these verses written on a card in order that I can immediately check with them. THIS is my truth, not what I’m fearing. And if God loves me a lot that He guarantees that I’m greater than a conqueror through Jesus, then I actually don’t have anything to maintain me anxious. He is all the time with me and won’t ever quit on me.
Prayer: Most merciful heavenly Father, I can’t thank you adequate for the truths of those scriptures. I’m human, so you realize it’s my tendency to reply with fear when something scary happens. Thank you that you just inspired the Apostle Paul to jot down these words to the believers in Rome (who faced persecution that I likely never will). Thank you that there’s a lot joy ahead, irrespective of what is going on today.
Just in that one application of the SOAP Method, you may see that going beyond reading to applying the Scripture to your life could cause you to see that God is gracious, good, generous, and loving. Can you see how much you might have to realize from trying the SOAP Method?
Why You Should Try the SOAP Method Today
Even in case you’ve tried other Bible studies, why not give the SOAP Method a try? Granted, it’ll take more time than in case you just read through the Bible (which obviously has its merits!), but there’s a lot you may get out of SOAP. It’s like having a two-way conversation with God about what you’re reading–you come to a greater realization that every one of Scripture (all of God’s story) applies to you.
Once you are attempting the SOAP Method you’ll probably see that you just are growing in your walk with Christ and need to maintain pursuing it. If you run right into a difficult passage, don’t let it dissuade you from using the strategy–perhaps just get some inspiration from a commentary or Bible encyclopedia to allow you to along.
Considering this routine? Maybe you may pray for God’s direction and that He could be glorified in your efforts:
Lord, we all know that each word within the Bible is a present from You, even those chapters or books we don’t quite understand. Please help us to have patience, and to put aside time for Your word and prayer Lord because without it we’re lost. You meant us to be “doers of the word and never hearers only” (James 1:22), and that’s for our profit in addition to for many who are impacted by what we learn. Thank you for Bible studies that make it easier for us to dig deeper into Your word, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Additional Resources:
25 Bible Study Books and Resources for Beginners
How I Mark My Bible
The Basics to the Inductive Method of Bible Study
10 Tips for Studying Your Bible
What Is the Best Way to Study the Bible?
Photo credit: ©Ben White/Unsplash
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance author and replica editor who prayed for years for a approach to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing greater than 1,500 articles along with marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is just too short to jot down about anything. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a big healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the unique Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she likes to spend time together with her author daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not all the time in that order).
