One of the reasons I love to study God’s Word is because it truly is my daily food. When I wake up and come downstairs, I make a cup of coffee and I head to my cozy chair in the front room. My Bible is the first thing I reach for. Just like a breakfast satisfies my physical hunger, God’s Word nourishes my soul. Honestly, I really don’t know where I would be without it.
In the book of Proverbs, it says God’s Word is “life to our bones”, and in Hebrews 4:12, it tells us His Word is alive and active. Every time I open it, I encounter life, hope, and guidance that speak directly to me that day.
Studying God’s Word is not just about gaining knowledge; it is about being transformed. As I sit in the quiet, I ask God to open my heart and mind to receive all that He has for me that day. His Word strengthens me and it equips me for the day ahead. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, it reminds us that all scripture is useful for teaching, correcting and training in righteousness. It gives me real-life help for the challenges I face, whether it’s a sin I’m struggling with, a relationship, or even a difficult decision I must make.
God’s Word also renews our minds. In Romans 12:2 it says “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by renewing your mind.” When I study God’s Word, it replaces my stinking thinking with God’s truth. Over time, as I sit with Him and let His Word strengthen and equip me, my perspective changes. I find myself living more like Him in my everyday choices.
In short, the Bible doesn’t stay on the page — it works in me and us by renewing our minds and changing our hearts. It transforms our lives. The more we sit with it, the more we are shaped by the living Word of God.
Studying Together: A Group Experience
Not long ago, I gathered a group of friends for a simple book club. We journeyed through our book, The Sublime Soiree: God’s Invitation to the Party of your Life. We laughed, shared life, and talked a little about the book. But in the end of one of our gatherings, someone suggested, “Let’s study the Bible together.” My heart was bursting with excitement. We decided to dive into the book of Ephesians and use the SOAP Method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) as our guide.
Summer hasn’t made it easy, as schedules have been tricky and finding time hasn’t always worked out the way we hoped. But every time we have been able to gather, God’s Word has been life-giving. In short, His Word is alive and active meeting each one us where we are.
Studying Scripture together strengthens us individually and bonds us as a community, reminding us we are not alone and we have each other.
A Sampling of the SOAP Method
SOAP is a Bible study method created by Loving God Greatly. Here is a sample of what it looks like to SOAP a verse:
Ephesians 1:7
Scripture: Write it out. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s Grace.”
Observation: What is the passage saying? I see that redemption and forgiveness are not earned. They are gifts from God, freely given through Christ.
Application: What is the passage saying to me? I notice that when I feel weighed down by guilt, I can rest in the truth that I am forgiven and redeemed. My identity is in Christ.
Prayer: Write a prayer based in the passage. Dear Lord, thank you for redeeming me and covering me in your grace. Thank you for your death on the cross. You paid the price. Help me walk in your freedom today. Amen.
Ephesians 2:10
Scripture: Write it out. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Observation: What is the passage saying? We are God’s masterpiece- crafted with care and designed with purpose. We were created for good works.
Application: What is the passage saying to me? Instead of questioning my worth or my purpose, I can rest in the fact that God created me with intention and trust him with the plans he has for me.
Prayer: Write a prayer based in the passage. “Father, thank you that I am your handiwork, and you call me your masterpiece. Show me today what God works you have in store for me and help me to have courage to walk in them.”
When we open God’s Word, we aren’t just reading it we are encountering the living God who speaks to us through it. That is why studying scripture matters so much. The book of Ephesians reminds us of who we are in Christ and how deeply we are loved.
Whether we study alone in our chair first thing in the morning or in a small community, God’s Word is alive and active, working in us to renew, strengthen and transform. Just like I sit with my friend at coffee or visit with my husband over dinner the more I sit with Jesus and encounter His Word the more I will reflect Him.
— Sue M. Lindsey for The Sublime Soiree (c) September 2025