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How to study the Bible on your own

The S.O.A.P. Bible study method with a free printable journal

Short answer: S.O.A.P. is a simple way to study the Bible on your own. Read a passage, then write four things: Scripture (copy out the verse that stood out), Observation (what it says), Application (what you will do about it) and Prayer (talk to God about it). It takes about fifteen minutes and fits on one page.

✎ Try it now, online⬇ Free PDF journal

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

— James 1:22 (BSB)

S.O.A.P. turns reading into listening and doing. Most of us have read a chapter and forgotten it by lunch. Writing one verse down, asking what it means, deciding on one thing to do and praying about it slows you down enough for the word to take root.

The four steps

  1. S

    Scripture

    Read today’s passage. When a verse stands out to you, write it out word for word. Copying it by hand makes you notice every word.

  2. O

    Observation

    What does it say? Who is speaking, to whom, and why? What does it show you about God, about Jesus, about people? Look at the verses around it. Write two or three short sentences.

  3. A

    Application

    What will you do about it? Be specific and personal: not ‘trust God more’ but ‘when I wake up worried about the bills, I will stop and pray before I check my phone.’ Ask: is there a promise to trust, a command to obey, a sin to confess, an example to follow?

  4. P

    Prayer

    Talk to God about what you read. Thank Him, confess, ask for help to live it today. You can pray the verse back to Him in your own words.

A S.O.A.P. example

Scripture

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

— Philippians 4:6-7 (BSB)

Observation

Paul wrote this from prison (Philippians 1:13), so he isn’t speaking from an easy life. He doesn’t say ‘don’t have problems’; he says take every one of them to God, with thanksgiving. The promise isn’t that every problem disappears but that God’s peace will guard my heart and mind.

Application

I worry most at night. Tonight, instead of replaying tomorrow’s meeting, I’ll write down what I’m anxious about, pray through the list, and thank God for three things from today.

Prayer

Father, You know everything I’m carrying. I give You tomorrow’s meeting and the money I’m worried about. Thank You for today’s small gifts. Guard my heart and mind with Your peace, the peace I can’t explain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Try it now: an online S.O.A.P. journal

Type any reference (like John 3:16 or Psalm 23) or pick one, and the verses appear here from the Berean Standard Bible. Your journal stays on this device.

S.O.A.P. for kids

Children can do it too, with smaller steps. See it: read one verse together and have them copy a few words. Think it: ask what the verse tells us about God. Do it: pick one thing to do today, like sharing a snack. Pray it: a one-sentence prayer in their own words. Five minutes is plenty.

Make it a habit

Questions

What does S.O.A.P. stand for in Bible study?

Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer: write out a verse, note what it says, decide what you will do about it, and pray about it.

Who created the S.O.A.P. method?

It is usually credited to pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii, who taught it as part of a daily Bible reading journal. Many churches and ministries now teach it in their own words.

How long does a S.O.A.P. Bible study take?

About fifteen minutes: five to read, ten to write. It can be as short as five minutes with one verse, or longer with a whole chapter.

Can you do S.O.A.P. in a small group?

Yes. Everyone reads the same passage during the week and writes their S.O.A.P.; when the group meets, each person shares their verse and their application, and the group prays for one another.