Selecting Passages for Bible Study

10 Passages to Start With

How to Choose Your Own

What should I do first?

It may sound cliche, but you should absolutely pray and ask God about what to study. He might surprise you!

What part of the Bible should I use?

Wherever in the Bible God leads you, you can use this InterVarsity style to lead an amazing study. However, when you and your group are first learning, we recommend you start with a story from the life of Jesus. That’s not because the Gospels are simpler or less advanced than the epistles--rather, it’s because your group will more quickly grasp how to have a great inductive conversation about a story. 

How many verses at a time?

You’ll want to select a passage that can stand on its own. Narratives (stories) are often 20 or 30 verses. Try to keep texts that contain more teaching than story under 15 verses. Don’t be afraid to go too short. You’ll be amazed how deep the conversation can go.

Should we study a whole book at a time?

When possible, that’s the way to go. But realistically, lots of great books in the Bible are just too long to tackle in a once-a-week format. It would take years! Instead, consider tackling a portion of a longer book that you can study in a 4-10 week series, like the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-8) or the life of Abraham (Gen. 12-22).