The S.O.A.P. Bible study method is one of my favorite ways to teach and encourage young believers to study the Bible. It’s deceptively simple, easy to remember, and provides plenty of room for growth. This Bible study method can grow and mature as the believer grows and matures.

The method was developed by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro as a resource for his church and others to pass to their congregants as a simple and effective way to study the Bible at any stage in a believer’s life.

S.O.A.P. is an acronym that tells you exactly how to do the Bible study—it has a built in guide. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Let’s open up our Bibles and dive in to see how we can use this in a practical sense. We’ll take a look at Romans 8:1 together and walk through what a S.O.A.P. Bible study might look like.

Scripture

This is just as simple as it sounds: write the Scripture that you’re studying in a journal. If you’re studying a single verse, write that verse word for word and include the reference. When I study longer passages, I try to single out a verse or two that captures the main theme of what the Lord is teaching me. For us, it will look something like this:

“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1

Observation

What do we see in the Scriptures? Write some things that stick out to you. If there are common threads or even tie-ins to other passages you remember in other places, note those in your journal as well. In addition to specific observations about the passage, you can paraphrase the Scripture in your own words to help you think through exactly what it means for you. That will help with the next step as well. For us, it might say something like:

“Jesus doesn’t condemn those who are known to Him. Everyone who makes Jesus their Lord has been saved from condemnation.”

Application

Next, we’ll meditate on what we’re supposed to do with the text, now that we’ve spent time looking at it. What truths are we learning from this that we need to apply to our lives? Is the Holy Spirit convicting us of something? Is God revealing something of His character and nature that we need to be more aware of? Should this passage affect my daily life and my attitude in some way?

An application for us, for starters, would be to recognize the redemption we have in Christ. If you don’t know who Jesus is or you don’t know that He bore your condemnation on the cross and purchased life for you with His blood, then the first step is giving your life to Jesus. I would encourage you to seek a pastor or contact someone who can help you walk through that truth and how to give your life to Him.

For us, the application for this passage might be something similar to:

“I have been redeemed by Jesus. He no longer condemns me but welcomes me as a brother and child. Do I find myself bringing condemnation on others? Do I forgive others with the same measure of forgiveness the Lord has given to me? Do I still feel condemned for unconfessed sin that I need to deal with and put behind me, so that I can experience the freedom that Jesus purchased on the cross for me?”

Be ready to ask yourself really difficult questions during this section. This is where the proverbial rubber meets the road.

Prayer

Just as we started our study time with prayer, we will end with prayer. Receive the Word that the Lord has given you, and ask the Holy Spirit to cement it in your soul. Reflect the Word back to God in your prayer and ask Him to write it on your heart so that you can live in the truth of His Word daily.

“God, thank you for your Word. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross and free me from the condemnation my own sin brought upon me. Teach me to live in your grace and to extend the same grace to everyone who might wrong me. I confess my sin of _______ and ask that you forgive me and free me from the guilt I feel for it. Thank you for your goodness. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Simple but Effective

At face value, the S.O.A.P. Bible study method is simple and quick, but as you grow more comfortable in it and continue spending time studying the Word, you will likely find yourself growing deeper and deeper and getting more and more out of your time in Scripture. The beauty of S.O.A.P. is that it grows and scales really well with the believer. When you truly seek to make the most of your time in the Word, you will find that these four simple prompts will take you really far in your spiritual journey.

I see people from pastors to new believers using the S.O.A.P. method and it’s beneficial for all of them—there is no ceiling on what this kind of intentional Bible study can do for you.