All you really need for Bible study is a Bible and some time for God. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some items that make it more fun. Here are eight useful tools to make your next Bible study more productive, whether you're doing your own study or meeting with others in your assisted living community as a group.
Anyone can understand the holistic message of the Bible. But to understand the details and the significance of what happened, you need to understand the culture of that time and learn about historical events not included in the canonical text. Study Bibles include extra notes, information and maps to let you go deeper in your Bible studies.
The NIV translation is one of the most popular modern translations because it is accurate and readable. The study version takes the same approach and provides concise, easy-to-understand notes to elevate your study. It includes 16 pages of maps in color, other clarifying graphics, scholarly articles and chapter introductions.
For a more old-school Bible study, go with the Jeremiah NKJV Study Bible. Written by Dr. David Jeremiah, this Bible gives you the original text, explanations of what is happening and how to understand what you’re reading and insights on how you can apply what you read in your life.
Writing helps you internalize what you read or learn during Bible study while processing the thoughts and emotions it inspired. Take some time after group Bible study for personal journaling and meditate on what God wanted you to take from the message.
You can also write prayers in your journal. It’s like you’re making God your penpal. You can confide in Him, tell Him what you’re grateful for or ask for His guidance. And because it’s written down, you can go back to certain prayers and remember what you’re grateful for.
This beautiful journal has Bible verses embossed on the cover and on a pendant. It uses high-quality paper to prevent ink bleed and a lay-flat binding so you can write in comfort. This journal comes in a variety of styles each with a different Bible verse. The “Man of God” design would make a good Father’s Day gift.
Some people like to keep everything in one place. A journal Bible lets you write while you read and make notes on particular verses. This NIV journal Bible has space in the margins and thicker paper perfect for journaling.
Eyesight declines with age, and Bibles and other study materials can have really small pictures and text. Getting some magnifying glasses can help improve Bible study by reducing the strain on everyone's eyes. Page Magnifier covers the whole page and has a built-in light to make reading even easier on the eyes.
Note cards are great for small bits of information that don't need to be in a particular order. They’re also great for making flash cards. You could even make a game with them and play Bible trivia with Bible facts and verses.
Drawing boards are a classic teaching tool. They can help demonstrate ideas to the group easily and make notes for everyone to see. A small free-standing whiteboard could help improve your Bible studies.
Devotionals are a great launching point for Bible study. They can give you ideas for themes to look for or ideas to discuss. And they can even entice healthy arguments if you disagree with the author.
You Can Count on God is a 365-day devotional from Christian bestseller Max Lucado. It features inspirational themes and Bible verses to back them up.
Streams in the Desert is a popular devotional you can now get in Bible form. It has devotions for each day of the year throughout the Bible, following from January in Genesis to December in Revelation. The devotions go with the part of the Bible they’re in, making this the perfect Bible if you want to read the whole text through in one year. Just read until you get to a devotion every day.
If you have a fairly large group for your Bible study, a mini projector is a good investment. They’re great for PowerPoint presentations, pictures and movies or film clips. The WiMiUS Mini Projector can connect to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can show videos or pictures you have saved on your phone. You don’t need a screen to use this projector, just a flat wall.
Fairly active study groups could benefit from a planner or calendar to help keep track of events and organize lessons. The 2022 Christian Planner was designed specifically for active Christians. It has a monthly and weekly planner and a vision board. But it also has space for devotional journaling, gratitude and reflection to help you keep up with your spiritual needs.
