How to Do a Topical Bible Study: A Simple Guide

Introduction to Topical Bible Study Method

A Topical Bible Study is an excellent way to explore what God’s Word says about a particular subject. This method allows you to gather all related verses, organize them into themes, and gain a deeper understanding of God’s message about your chosen topic. This guide is designed to help you carry out a topical study in a clear and straightforward way.

1: Choose Your Topic for your Topical Bible Study

The first step is to decide what you want to study. You can pick a topic based on something you’re personally dealing with, a spiritual question you have, or even something you’ve recently heard in a sermon or read in a book.
Examples: God’s Love, Faith, Forgiveness, Peace, Prayer, The Holy Spirit, etc.

Tip: Write down your chosen topic in a notebook or on a worksheet. This will help you stay focused.

2: Gather Relevant Scriptures

After you’ve selected your topic, find all the relevant Bible verses that talk about it. Use tools like a Bible concordance, Bible apps with search features (like Bible Gateway or Blue Letter Bible), or even a Study Bible with topical indexes.
Write down each scripture reference and the main idea next to it.

For example, if your topic is “God’s Peace,” you might gather verses like:

Philippians 4:7 — “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
John 14:27 — “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
Isaiah 26:3 — “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.”
Colossians 3:15 — “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”

3: Organize the Verses into Categories

Now that you’ve gathered several verses, it’s time to organize them into themes or categories. This step helps you see connections and gain deeper insights into the topic. For example, if you’re studying “Faith,” you might categorize your verses into:

Definition of Faith (Hebrews 11:1)
Examples of Faith (Hebrews 11:7-12)
Living by Faith (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Faith as Trust (Proverbs 3:5-6)

This way, each verse has a specific place, and you can see the bigger picture.

4: Study Each Verse in Context

One of the key principles of Bible study is to understand each verse in its context. To do this, read the verses surrounding your chosen scripture, and note any connections to the broader message. This step will help you avoid misinterpretation.

5: Summarize Key Insights

After organizing and studying your verses, it’s time to summarize the main ideas or lessons you’ve learned. These summaries will be a reflection of the overall theme and sub-themes you’ve studied. For each category, write a few bullet points or short sentences that capture the central insights.

For example, in your study of “God’s Peace,” you could summarize with:

God’s peace is beyond human comprehension and guards our hearts.
Jesus gives a peace that the world cannot provide.
Trusting in God leads to perfect peace.

6: Draw Personal Applications to Topical Bible Study

This is the most important step—applying what you’ve learned to your life. Think about how these insights can impact your daily walk with God. Ask yourself questions like:

What does this teach me about God?
How should I change my behavior or thinking?
Is there something specific God is calling me to do?

For our topic of “God’s Peace,” a personal application might be:

When feeling stressed, take time to pray and give thanks to experience God’s peace.
Trust in Jesus’ promise of peace and rely on Him in uncertain times.

Practical Example: Studying ‘God’s Peace’

Choose Your Topic: “God’s Peace”
Gather Relevant Scriptures:
- Philippians 4:7 — Peace beyond understanding.
- John 14:27 — Jesus gives peace.
- Isaiah 26:3 — Perfect peace through trust.
- Colossians 3:15 — Let peace rule in your hearts.
Organize Verses:
- Nature of God’s Peace: Philippians 4:7, Isaiah 26:3
- Source of Peace: John 14:27
- Living in Peace: Colossians 3:15
Study in Context:
- Read Philippians 4 to see Paul’s message of finding peace through prayer and thanksgiving.
- Understand Jesus’ farewell speech in John 14, where He comforts His disciples.
Summarize Key Insights:
- God’s peace is beyond human comprehension.
- Peace is a gift from Jesus.
- Trusting in God leads to perfect peace.
Personal Application:
- Choose to pray and give thanks in stressful situations to experience God’s peace.
- Trust Jesus’ promise of peace during times of uncertainty.

Conclusion to Topical Bible Study

Conducting a topical Bible study is an effective way to gain a deeper understanding of specific topics in the Bible. With these six simple steps, you can pick a topic that’s meaningful to you, organize relevant verses, and find life-changing applications. Start with a topic you’re curious about and see what God reveals through His Word!

Free Downloadable Worksheet: Topical Bible Study Worksheet

Other Bible Study Methods by Disciple Blueprint

Call to Action

Have you tried a topical Bible study? Share your experiences in the comments or let us know if you have a specific topic you’d like us to cover next. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog or join our newsletter for more Bible study guides.