Any tips for writing good study bible questions?
Hi All
Any tips for writing good study bible questions? or any resources in Logos that can guide me in the process?
Thanks
P A 
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I have a lot of respect for writers who are able, by asking good questions, to lead the group in growing understanding of the text.
The worst question which must be avoided is, "What does this mean to you?" We are called to ask what does the text mean. Then, after we understand what God is telling us is true, to apply it to our lives. Application questions may be about how we have been thinking wrongly, what we should repent of, what God wants us to do in our lives, how our new understanding can change the way we live, etc.
I tend to turn away from Bible Studies that are clearly a hopscotch of verses meant to lead me to the author's pre-ordained conclusion. (Ever look at a JW Bible study?) For that reason I prefer studies that go at a significant portion of scripture, with some context or background as is helpful for understanding, and a more inductive approach.
Thanks for the great question. I hope to read others' responses as well.
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Thanks Juan [Y]
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Personally, If I am ever in a bible study and the leader does not give scripture for what he is saying... wellll... let's say I am not in that study long.
Christians should be a people that gives answers for God which means their answer should come from God's word .... not their opinion of what God's word says. Truth is God's word not man's interpretation of God's word.
imho ---- [8-|]
xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".
Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!
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Thanks xnman [Y]
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A couple of ways come that might be helpful. First possibility strategy is ask questions pertaining to what, so what, and now what?
1. What. What does the text say in the context of the chapter, book, and whole Bible? What was the author's intended meaning? What words need to be explored? To the best of our ability, how can we get into the world of the original audience to find out how they would understand the text.
2. So what? So what difference does this make? Why should anyone care? What challenges or paradoxes are in the text that create tension for us?
3. Now what? Now what should we do with it?
Another approach would be to think about questions related to a fourfold sense of Scripture.
- Literal - what took place
- Spiritual - what we ought to believe
- Anagogical - what we strive for
- Tropological - what we ought to do
I've heard some talk about the idea of Scripture having one meaning and then quickly move to application, but I think Scripture is richer than that reduction.
I did a search in my library for type:bible study and had many Bible studies that offer questions for group discussions if I had trouble coming up with something.
Also, if you have access and utilize the AI tools in the sermon builder, the sermon assistant can generate some questions related to your lesson.
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P A said:
Hi All
Any tips for writing good study bible questions? or any resources in Logos that can guide me in the process?
Thanks
P A
If you have chosen to subscribe to Logos Pro, there is a new resource included called Adult Questions for LESSONmaker with some good starting questions for all the chapters in the Bible.
Windows 11 & macOS 15 (Logos Pro) | iOS 18 (Logos Mobile Beta)
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While it doesn't directly answer your question, I find 15 Types of Questions (With Definitions and Examples) | Indeed.com to help me think in terms of a mix of questions so that both people who want to repeat back facts about a passage and people who want to explore fringe interpretations both have questions that meet their needs. Google can provide you with many similar articles, most designed for teachers.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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P A said:
any resources in Logos that can guide me in the process?
Those who came over from WordSearch got - https://www.logos.com/product/214681/adult-questions-for-lessonmaker?queryId=95e4350bb38bd8a6480f5f76ec78b4e4 it is still in production for general release.
Sample:The Trial of the Capitals—Micah 1:1–2:13
Topics:
Deceit, God, Greed, Injustice, Judgment, Justice, Mourning, Pain, People, Plans, Promises, Prophecy, Salvation, Sickness, Sin, War
Open It
1. What one infectious disease would you most like to avoid having? Why?
2. How can people tell if you are sad?
3. *If you inherited valuable land, what would you do with it?Explore It
1. Who received the word of the Lord? (1:1)
2. When did Micah prophesy? (1:1)
3. What was the message for Samaria and Judah? (1:2–7)
4. What was Micah’s lament? (1:8–9)
5. What did the prophet say to those who lived along the route of the invading army? (1:10–16)
6. *What were the sins of the people? (2:1–5)
7. *How would the Lord punish Judah? (2:3–5)
8. *What were the sins of the false prophets? (2:6–11)
9. What did Micah predict for the nation? (2:12–13)
10. Who would lead God’s people? (2:13)Get It
1. How is our sin like an infectious disease?
2. In what ways does our government refuse to acknowledge God’s rule over society?
3. Why would you be fearful of experiencing God’s judgment?
4. How do you handle times of grief and mourning?
5. *In what ways have Christians perpetuated social injustice?
6. *What does God’s standard of justice require of us?
7. What is the Lord’s attitude toward pride?
8. When have you found it difficult or challenging to maintain your integrity?Apply It
1. How can specific concerns for our government and society become a regular part of your daily prayers?
2. *How can you become a more effective Christian witness in matters of social justice?
WORDsearch. n.d. Adult Questions for LESSONmaker. WORDsearch.Making Disciples! Logos Ecosystem = LogosMax on Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (Win11), Android app on tablet, FSB on iPhone & iPad mini, Proclaim (Proclaim Remote on Fire Tablet).
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What does it say about God? What does it say about man? What does it say that we can pray? These are great questions. You would benefit from NIV, Quest Study Bible. It does almost exactly what you are looking to do.
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Some of these are better for group discussion, others are better for individual reflection before the group discussion. You need to move in order from comprehension to interpretation to application, and resist the temptation to jump immediately to application. These questions are borrowed and amalgamated from various sources, including Tim Keller, Jen Wilkin, and others.ComprehensionTry to understand what the passage is saying. This is the time to grapple with the various contexts of the passage (grammatical, literary, biblical, cultural, historical).
- What is the historical setting of the text?
- What was the author's original audience? How does this influence your reading?
- What events were going on as the author wrote? How does this influence your reading?
- What are the key words of the passage? What do these mean in context?
- How is the passage connected to the rest of the Bible (e.g., the verse to the chapter, the chapter to the book, the book to the Bible)? Is it specifically cited anywhere else? Are there repeated themes used elsewhere?
- What questions remain?
InterpretationOnce you feel you start to understand the context of the passage, you can start to ask questions about what it means.- What does this passage teach us about God and his character?
- What does this passage teach us about human nature, character, and behavior?
- What does this passage teach us about Christ and his salvation?
- What does this passage teach us about the Church?
- What questions remain?
ApplicationThe thing we always want to jump to right away, but is best saved for last.- What commands are there to obey in this passage?
- What examples are there to follow or avoid in this passage?
- Identify one particular truth of the passage: How would you be different if this were explosive in your innermost being?
- What specific application can we carry into our lives from this passage this week?
- What questions remain?
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Thank you Ryland Brown [Y]
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Thank you Chris Heil [Y]
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Thank you M J Smith [Y]
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Thank you David Thomas [Y]
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Thank you Christian Alexander [Y]
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Thank you Joshua Briscoe [Y]
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Thank you Joshua Briscoe [Y]
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I’m assuming the Bible study will be going through a Bible passage. Ask questions about what the text says before asking questions about what it means. For example, what does this verse say “x” happened to (eg direct / indirect object, but not using those terms).
You‘ll be surprised how much getting everyone to see those basics helps subsequent discussion.
My $.02.
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I have long used the simple approach I learned even before I was a Christian:
Who?
What?
Where?
When?
Why?
I don't hesitate to ask how these apply to Jesus, the gospel, or my own life as a follower of Jesus.
And all of this comes after reading and rereading the text and doing basic exegesis. The text invariably has answers before I ask the questions since we have an assurance that the word will not come back void.
Open my eyes, that I may beholdWonderful things from Your law. Psalm 119:18The mind of man is the mill of God, not to grind chaff, but wheat. Thomas Manton | Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow. Richard Baxter
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Assuming that we teach by what we do and that the Holy Spirit is already at work in the people we’re teaching, I find these steps helpful:
- Start with questions that invite people to share what they already understand of the text. Listen well: appreciate what they already see, and the gaps lead you to questions that will take them further. (This may involve a pilot session beforehand, or modifying your opening questions based on feedback.)
- Ask people to engage with what God was saying to his people in their setting. This may involve some pointers to the story behind the text (e.g. the Torah or Former Prophets if you’re exegeting Psalms or Latter Prophets). The goal of these questions is to model how people can do this step for themselves whenever they study Scripture.
- What is the revelation of God in this text? (The question assumes all Scripture is the revelation of God.) The question takes us beyond the human setting, and with Old Testament texts it may take us to the more complete revelation of God in Christ.
- Now that we understand what God was saying to his people in their setting, and what the Scripture is revealing about God, we’re ready to ask questions about what the text means for the people of God today and how we might respond and participate with God in what he is doing in his world.
There are lots of other useful questions, such as: Why are we being told this? Why tell it this way? What's the bigger story this part is contributing to? Do you recognize echos from the previous story? How is this different from what we might expect? How have others understood this story before us? How does it challenge the values of our culture?
Hope some of those suggestions prove helpful.
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