Nav Tools - How to Study a Bible Character
What a Character!
How to Study a Bible Character
Pick a Character
First, decide which character you’d like to study. It might be someone well known (Paul, David, or Mary), or it might be someone you’d like to know more about (Ruth, Deborah, or Timothy).
Find Scriptural References
A Bible dictionary, encyclopedia, concordance is good for this. If you don’t have one, you may be able to check one out at your church library, or try one of many online resources such as BIblegateway.com for word searches.
Create a Biographical Sketch
Read the passages you’ve found and think about them. Use this information to create a brief biographical sketch of your character. You’re merely recording facts—not interpreting the facts. Include things like the meaning of the person’s name, his/her family, and where they lived. Were there significant events that shaped his or her life? Describe the character’s relationship with God. What impact did this person have on others? Then condense the information into a one-to-three paragraph summary.
Choose a Key Verse
Pick a verse (or several verses) that best describes this person. This could be a passage about the person’s character or a verse that summarizes his or her life and impact.
Choose a Leading Lesson
Review the Scriptures you’ve listed again and re-read your biographical sketch. Record what you think is the main lesson in this person’s life. There may be several, so pick the one you think is most significant. This could be a positive lesson (something you’d want to emulate), or it could be a negative lesson (something you want to avoid). Explain why you think this is the main lesson.
Identify Problems
As you study, you may identify some problems in your understanding of the character or problems you have with the way God dealt with this person. You don’t need to resolve these problems immediately, but it’s helpful to identify them. You may want to come back and look at them in more detail later.
Make an Application
This is where “the rubber meets the road.” As you review what you’ve learned, ask God to show you if there is a principle you should apply to your own life. Ask Him if there is some characteristic in the life of the person you’ve studied that you need to build into your life—or eliminate from your life. Take time to pray and think about this. Then write a sentence or two about what you think God wants you to do. Be as specific as possible. Write out an example of how you might make this change—with the Holy Spirit’s help.
Of course, one thing that makes any study more meaningful (and fun!) is sharing it with another believer. It’s really much more enjoyable to do a study like this with a small group of like-minded individuals.
Adapted from The Navigator Bible Studies Handbook © 1979 The Navigators.
