What is Bible Study for Men, how to define it so you can lead it?

Imagine a man in your church comes to you and requests to start a Bible study because he wants to go deeper in his understanding of God’s Word. He extends to you a copy of a book he found online by a popular Christian author. Inside are the thoughts of a man who studied the Bible, but the content is far from a Bible Study. Quickly you realize the term “Bible Study” is at times very loosely defined and understood. What exactly is a Bible Study for men and how do I lead my men toward it?

The Right Understanding | Study Is A Verb

It helps to understand what the term “study” actually means. In the verb sense, studying implies a close examination and observation. It is something you do rather than have done for you. As a noun, a Bible Study is the product of someone who looked at the Word and drew conclusions. It is a body of work like a book or a sermon. Either way, it is the result of another person’s study. Both are important and have a proper place. To mentor men who lead with conviction, showing them how to study is more important than giving them what others have studied. Knowing how to lead men toward studying the Bible builds ownership of God’s Word and demonstrates the value of discipleship. As the adage goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

The Right Approach | Methods, and Tools

Next, we also must remember that good intentions don’t produce good results. Just because I want to remodel my home or repair my vehicle, does not mean I can. Common sense requires me to learn the right method and secure the proper tools. Anyone skilled at a craft knows that both equipment and procedure are key to a superior outcome. It is no surprise the Bible is a document well over a thousand years long before our current day and age. It has one correct meaning, and that is what the author intended to communicate to his audience. Understanding both sides of that communication and carefully observing the text is crucial to success. Demonstrating the method and offering the right tools is critical in teaching a man a DIY approach to Bible Study. For tools to study the Bible you have to check out Logos, they have the best tools and software on the market today.

The Right Behaviors | Practice Makes Permanent

And then finally, Michael Jordan once said “You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down, and the level of everything you do will rise.”  Studying is about repeating the right behaviors over and over again. Many guys are great at repeating poor technique, and this leads to boredom and disinterest. Imagine walking a group of men weekly through a process that empowers them to discover the truth in God’s Word on their own. A church filled with men who are confident they can understand God’s Word would be like a basketball team full of players as confident and practiced as Michael Jordan.

The apostle Paul said that when he became a man, he put the ways of childhood behind him (1 Cor. 13:11). Children are dependents because they have not learned how to do things for themselves. Bible study for children is dependent on someone else studying for them and helping them draw conclusions. Bible study for men is an independent examination, thought, and effort applied to the text. It produces a rich dialogue by a group of men who each contribute insight. Groups that use Resolute content will discover together the process, the practice and the tools to achieve this result. If you are looking to lead men on a journey of Bible study that yields a great spiritual result, try Resolute.