Over the past eight years, I have been blessed to be part of a small group of women dedicated to both studying the Bible and growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We’ve completed many Bible studies together – – big and small – – and I wanted to share some thoughts on the studies I’ve enjoyed the most over the years. It’s my Bible Study Roundup!
I want to start by sharing that I don’t believe there’s any such thing as the “best” Bible studies. When my group and I started together, we were overwhelmed with all of the options available to us. How did we choose one? Where do we we even start? My hope is that you will find this a helpful resource to determine what small group bible study may be right for you.
Keep in mind that there is value in any study of God’s Word when you do it with the goal of drawing near to Him. That said, there is literally no bible study book written by someone that can be a replacement for God’s Word. Whatever bible study you choose, be sure to measure it against the only truth that is God’s Word.
And with all of that out of the way – – in this bible study roundup post, I’ll share my favorite Bible studies in three categories (shown below). I will also share my thoughts on what category works best for different types of bible study / small groups.
- Classic bible studies with video teaching
- Traditional topical books
- Deep-dive studies into specific books of the Bible
Be sure to also check out a gallery view of my Bible Study RoundUp below!
bible study roundup: classic bible studies with video teaching
This classic bible study format is likely the one that you are most familiar with. These studies are most often from popular Bible teachers (think Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer) and are often published in partnership with Lifeway. They are accompanied by video teachings and are typically designed to take six to seven weeks to complete. Each week, you will re-cap what you completed in your homework during the week through guided discussion questions. Then, you’ll watch the weekly video teaching, introducing concepts in the upcoming week’s homework and your group will have the opportunity to discuss. Rinse and repeat every week.
Best For:
- Those interested in hearing from a specific Bible teacher. One of the greatest aspects of these classic studies is getting access to teachings from fabulous Bible teachers – – right in your living room. It’s not always feasible for everyone to be able to attend conferences or summits featuring these teachers. Therefore, video teachings are a great way to see and hear from them that is also affordable and available for most.
- Those new to leading a Bible study. These studies are some of the easiest to lead in a small group setting. That’s because they provide everything you need in one concise package: the teaching, the homework, the questions, everything. So, if you can play/stream a video teaching and help facilitate conversation using discussion questions, you can lead a small group through any of these studies!
- Those that are ready to use the study of the Word for life application. These studies are often based on deeper and more complex concepts found in Scripture. By deeper and more complex, do not read controversial. Just the opposite, in fact, these studies are developed with the intention that participants will walk away with greater wisdom and knowledge to apply the gospel message in their lives.
Keep In Mind:
- The commitment. There’s no denying it – – these studies contain A LOT of content to try to get through in a single week. It can be intimidating and make your group sometimes feel like they’ve failed before they’ve even begun. But there is a solution! Our group decided to break these studies down into more manageable chunks that allow for some grace and breathing room. Doing this has made us so much more successful. Join my VIP list to get a FREE vault of reading plans for the studies in this roundup!
Some of my favorites in this Bible study roundup category include:
seamless by Angie Smith
Known for her endearing children’s books and fantastic topical books, this was the first bible study written by Angie Smith. In this 7-week study, she reveals how the entire Bible is woven together with one consistent thread: Jesus Christ. And if that’s the first time you’ve ever heard that, my friend, well you’re not alone! When I completed this study, it was my first time hearing it too. And it was like a light bulb and Fourth of July moment all rolled into one.
This study seems to have been specifically written with that in mind. It beautifully walks readers through the the concept of studying God’s word as one, singular story – – from creation to revelation. It encourages you to make connections you’ve never made before about how every piece of Scripture is pointing to THE truth that is Christ Jesus.
And can we also talk about how pretty it is, too? I mean, it’s pink after all! But seriously, it’s one of my favorites for good reason and I definitely have plans to walk through this study again in the future.
By the way, you should also definitely follow Angie on social media because her FB/Insta stories are truly the best – – she always brings the humor which we all could use more of.
the quest by beth moore
Beth Moore has written numerous Bible studies. At the time of this post, she currently has 18 in print! She also founded Living Proof Ministries, focused on teaching women to know and love Jesus through the study of scripture. If you do any reading about this particular study, you will quickly find that this study is different than perhaps Beth’s other bible studies. In fact, she herself is the first to point it out.
She did this with a purpose: to put the focus on readers going straight to Scripture with the goal of developing a more intimate relationship with God. In this 6-week study, Beth focuses our attention on, of all things, questions throughout the Bible.
If I’m honest, when I completed this study, I found it a bit confusing. It doesn’t follow a particular narrative or order through the Bible. Rather, it jumps from book to book, concept to concept, and I had a hard time piecing all of it together.
Only after much time had passed did I realize what it was that I gained from this study. And that was an eye that was always looking for questions in God’s Word. Questions to God and from God. Questions for Jesus and from Jesus. And it give me a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity about my own questions! I began to write them all down – – in the frayed margins of my journaling Bible. And the most beautiful part is that HE answered them. Little by little, He has been faithful to answer my questions and speak to my heart.
So I would definitely encourage you to complete this study – – it’s a hidden gem for sure.
the armor of god by Priscilla Shirer
Priscilla Shirer has authored over a dozen bible studies with video teachings for both adults and teens. She has also written many topical books (including one we’ll cover later) and founded Going Beyond Ministries. She is a seminary graduate with a passion to preach God’s Word – – and I gotta say, she is one of my all time favorite bible teachers.
You can tell simply by the title that this 7-week study is about the Armor of God, introduced in Ephesians chapter 6. But Priscilla actually says it best:
“The Armor of God, more than merely a biblical description of the believer’s inventory, is an action plan for putting it on and developing a personalized strategy to secure victory. “
Priscilla Shirer, the Armor of God (Lifeway)
This study – – oh, this study – – it’s unlike any other study you may ever encounter. I know, a bold statement, to be sure. But this study has resonated with me perhaps more than any other. And that’s because I can honestly say that despite it having been years since I first completed it, I still put into practice things I learned from this study. And ya’ll, that’s not about me – – that points to the power of the Holy Spirit. To Him be ALL the glory.
So if that sounds at all appealing to you, I’d definitely get your hands on this study!
bible study roundup: traditional topical books
Moving on to traditional topical books. And as their name implies, they are focused on a specific theme or topic of discussion. While they may be biblically based and reference scripture, their focus is learning what scripture has to say on a particular topic versus the study of scripture as a whole. These books may or may not include questions to aid in facilitating small group discussion or include companion journals/study guides.
Best For:
- Those in a small group that’s just getting started. Traditional topical books are a great option for those small groups that are brand new or newly formed. That’s because you may or may not know each other well yet. So, if you are leading a group, you can adapt questions and discussion to go as deep as the group would like.
- Those in a small group focused on inviting and including non-believers. If your group is focused on having a place to invite non-believers and to introduce the gospel for the first time, topical books are a great place to start. They remove some of the more intimidating things about joining a “bible study group” – – starting with not really even needing to own a Bible. Believe it or not, for non-believers, it can be overwhelming to decide whether they need to show up with a Bible to a group for the first time. Giving them the opportunity to just bring themselves or a simple paperback book can help them feel more at ease.
Keep in Mind:
- Test everything against God’s Word. There are, of course, millions of books in the world and more are written every day. And with the introduction of ebooks, they can be written by anyone and sold online in almost an instant. With that in mind, be sure to do your homework when selecting a topical bible study book. Find out more information about the author and their background – – what do they believe? Test key concepts against God’s Word. And if you aren’t sure if the book is right for you and your group, you can seek guidance from your local church leadership.
Some of my favorites in the Bible study roundup category are:
stumbling into grace by lisa harper
I am convinced that Lisa Harper could have been a stand-up comedian. Instead she chose to use her gift for telling hilarious stories coupled with her theological scholar resume (yup, you read that right) to teach God’s Word. And I am so glad she does! Lisa often has me laughing, even through tears!
In her book, Stumbling Into Grace, she shares personal stories meant to teach us something about how we don’t have to be perfect to be loved by our Creator because He’s the one who made us after all. We simply have to love Him and know Him for who He is – – King of our hearts.
This book is jam packed with belly-laugh inducing stories and very real struggles and is a great candidate for a group just starting out together who loves to laugh and wants to learn more about our loving Savior.
having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by joanna weaver
Joanna Weaver is a Christian author who has written several topical books centered on helping others grow in their relationship with Christ and to become more and more like Him. Several years ago, our group read her book, Having a Mary Heart in A Martha World, and we really enjoyed it. Since then, Joanna has also published a companion guide and video teachings to accompany the book but honestly, the book was great all on its own.
For those familiar with the account with Mary, Martha and Jesus in Luke 10, you’ll immediately understand the book’s title. If not, quickly read Luke 10: 38-45. It’s only five verses. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
In this account, we see that the these two women – – sisters Mary and Martha – – have each chosen to spend their time on what they believe is the priority. And in verse 39, we get a glimpse of who chose well:
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said." LUKE 10:38-39
But let’s be honest, we all see a little bit (or in my case, A LOT) of Martha in us and we’re not quite sure where to go with all of that. Joanna describes exactly where to take it all – – to the throne of Jesus.
A great option for a topical book for your Bible study group – – or if not there, just for you.
the resolution for women by priscilla shirer
As promised, this is the second resource from Priscilla Shirer on this list. Written in partnership with creators of the Love Dare, in this book, Priscilla outlines thirteen unique resolutions that are promises to ourselves, to those we love and ultimately, to God. It touches alllll the things, including forgiving yourself and others, blessing your husband, faithfully pursuing integrity, and leaving a Godly legacy – – just to name a few.
This is actually the very first “study” my group and I completed together back in 2012. And just like ALL of these studies, God chose precisely that season in our lives for us to read this book. At the time I first completed this study, I was newly married and did not yet have my daughter. I completed this study again with my group as the seasons have shifted and changed – – to remind me of the things I committed to and to refine those areas that now had new meaning (particularly around raising my daughter). It was just as instrumental the second time!
As I sit here today, I am wholly convinced that this book was a tool used by the Holy Spirit and that it set the tone for who and what I wanted to be: a woman of resolution. And though I still need A LOT of work, which I know He is faithful to complete, the Holy Spirit reminds me of things I learned in this book often to help steady me and ground me and keep me walking in those promises today.
bible study roundup: deep dive studies into books of the bible
The formats of the deep dive studies can vary dramatically – – from classic studies to podcasts – – and I have included several different formats in this roundup. But the one thing that they have in common is that they are all focused on diving deep into a specific book of the Bible.
Best For:
- Those that want less commentary and more Bible reading. Deep dive studies are one of my favorite formats for Bible study because their sole focus is on reading God’s Word, plain and simple. There are so many things demanding our attention every day and it’s so easy to fall into the trap of not having time for daily time with the Bible. And so while I love hearing all of the funny and real applications from Bible teachers, I don’t always have time to read 4 pages of back story before getting to the good stuff – – the single verse it’s focusing on. What I love even more is reading God’s holy written Word and discovering HIMSELF in the pages through the Holy Spirit.
- Those that want to unpack a book of the Bible – – verse by verse. Studies on books of the Bible (especially the shorter books of the Bible) focus on truly studying the book, sometimes even verse by verse. The study spends time revealing the historical and cultural context along with how different languages and Bible translations can enhance how we see and understand God’s Word.
Keep in Mind:
- Be prepared to create your own discussion questions. Many of the formats for deep dive studies into one book of the Bible have very diverse formats. And to make things a bit more complicated, some offer all of the pieces (teaching, study guides, discussion questions) but on different platforms (read verses here, listen to podcast over here, sign up for email to read commentary and print out this paper for discussion questions)! I’m exaggerating a bit (not much), but this can be confusing and sometimes challenging for some groups to navigate easily. If you’re leading the group, I recommend to come prepared with or create your own discussion questions to take the pressure off of the group to keep up with it all.
Some of my favorites in this category include:
study of daniel from first5app / proverbs 31 ministries
The First5App, a free app provided by Proverbs 31 ministries, has studies for every. single. book of the Bible! There are daily Bible readings and quick devotionals within the app and weekly audio “weekend” teachings. In addition, to dive deeper and also to use in a group setting, Proverbs 31 Ministries sells study guide books to accompany the in-app studies. The daily homework in the study guide is only a single page. So while there a few different platforms to keep up with; the content of this study feels so much more manageable.
Our group has completed two of these studies with plans to eventually complete more. My favorite of the two was the study of Daniel. In addition to the daily homework, the study guide book also includes some great resource materials – – maps, diagrams, and other helpful pictorials. We learned during this study that contrary to how Daniel was portrayed in all of our children’s Bibles, that Daniel was actually a very old man when he was thrown into the lion’s den!
Just goes to show that by diving deeper, the Spirit will reveal so. much. more. than you ever imagined!
study of james podcast from jen wilkin
Jen Wilkin is an author and Bible teacher who has published several bible studies. Her straight-forward, no nonsense style is exactly what I love about her. All of the resource materials for her study of James are 100% free, with a free study guide and podcast, Flower Mound Women’s Bible Study.
In this study, you will unpack the book of James literally verse by verse. Doing this gives you context that you would not get any other way. And an extra bonus, you will also get to enjoy Jen’s awesome sense of humor.
You can get a FREE copy of the accompanying James study guide here.
study of job by Lisa Harper
Only the second author to be featured on this list twice, the study of Job was written by Lisa Harper. And to be fair, this is a traditional 7-week study with accompanying video teaching, but I am including it here because it’s a deep dive into one book of the Bible.
Ok, yes – – I was intimidated by the thought of completing this Bible study at first. Job is a difficult book of the Bible to study. But thanks to Lisa Harper and the Holy Spirit, I finally got to see and appreciate the gift that this book is to us.
As I look back, I recall that when going through this study, my small group and I discussed often: “Why do you think God wanted us to complete this study now?” Well, that was at the end of 2019 and 2020 was quickly approaching. While I am certainly not comparing our present circumstances to Job’s suffering, there were beautiful promises that I know I’ve cherished during this very difficult season. And this Job study turned out to be a very, very precious gift.
That’s it, friends! I hope you enjoyed my Bible Study roundup! And I further hope that this may be a helpful resource to you in selecting your next bible study. I’d love hear if you’ve decided to try one of these or if you have favorites you would add to your own Bible Study Roundup list! Share with me in the comments and may the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
Sincerely,
bible study roundup gallery
Comments
One response to “Bible Study Roundup | Find the Study that’s Right For You”
This is awesome Cassie! What a great resource for small groups!
Thank you!