Your Free Printables for SOAP Bible Study Method!
The SOAP Bible study method is a practical way to study the Word of God. Grab your free printable and read all about how to use this simple method.
If you’ve been clicking around on this blog for any period of time, you know 2 things that I love are:
Encouraging women to study their Bible and creating free printables! And that’s exactly what you’ll find in this post.
I’ve created some free SOAP Bible study printables to use during your daily bible study time.
This is one of my favorite Bible study methods. It is a great way to help you dive deeper into the Word of God and I hope you love it.
So let’s chat about what it is, how to implement it, and then get you set up with some free resources!
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What is the S.O.A.P. Bible Study Method?
It is a simple bible study method that uses the acronym SOAP to prompt you to think more deeply on God’s Word.
SOAP stands for:
- Scripture
- Observation
- Application
- Prayer
The simple to remember acronym makes it a great method for those new to Bible study. It is straightforward and gets you in to the Word!
How do you use the SOAP method of Bible Study?
The basic process is this:
Each day, you start by selecting a passage of scripture that you want to reflect on. From there, you will write out what you observe about the verse (details on context, responses or actions, etc.). You then think about how it applies to your life or circumstance. Finally, you close in prayer.
Now let’s break it down into a little more detail for each step!
Scripture Step of SOAP Method
When it comes to scripture selection, you can approach this in different ways. You can choose to follow a topical or chronological daily Bible reading plan, or you may choose to select a passage at random.
Personally, I like to work through an entire book of the Bible at time. I find that staying in the same book for an extended period of time really helps me to stay focused on the context. I’ve found that when I can keep the context of the passage in mind, it helps me have a better understanding overall.
Whatever option you choose, the most important thing is that you are spending time on a daily basis in His Word!
Observation Stage of SOAP Method
The O stands for observation. This is the step where you are going to take a little time to dig into the meaning of the text.
You can do this by asking a few questions of the text, such as:
- What does this verse tell me about God?
- What is the context this text was written in?
- Who was it written to or by?
- Are there repeated words or phrases?
- Why is God trying to communicate to the audience?
- What was the response of the recipient of this message?
You may also find it helpful at this point to refer to a trustworthy commentary. A commentary is an excellent tool to give further context into a passage of scripture. I’ll go over more helpful tools here in just a bit!
Are you loving digging in deep to the observation stage? You may really find this Free Verse Mapping Printable that I put together to be helpful! Verse mapping takes the observation stage to a whole new level!
Application Step of SOAP Method
In the application phrase, you are going to reflect on the text and what you’ve observed – and apply it to your own life today.
How does this text apply to my daily life? How should it change the way I live? Are there steps I need to take to remove stumbling blocks? How does this text change the way I interact with those around me?
This step is so important. If we simply go through our reading plans and to check the box off, we are not meditating on the Word as God has instructed. We must take what we have learned and allow it to change us. Remember:
The word of God is active.
So spend some time here, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in wisdom and truth.
Prayer Stage of Soap Method
And finally, you want to end in prayer.
Speaking of prayer – did you know I also have a free Prayer Journal printable and an ACTS Prayer Model Printable?
All of the studying in the world is useless unless we take to time to commune with God over it. If we use Bible study simply to grow in knowledge, we will never experience the heart change that we all so desperately need.
We must remember that the purpose of Bible study is to deepen our personal relationship with our Savior. So take everything that you’ve learned today, and bring it to the Lord in prayer.
You may need to repent. You may need to pray for strength, healing, or guidance. Or you may want to praise God (don’t we always!) from all that He has rescued you from.
Whatever your prayer is, don’t neglect this part of the process. It can be easy to try and rush through the final step just to get done. But I hope to encourage you not to neglect your prayer time.
Tools to Help During Bible Study
When it comes to Bible study resources, we really are so blessed in this day and age. Resources are plentiful. Here are some recommendations.
Commentary
A Bible commentary is a written, systematic series of explanations and interpretations of scripture. Simply put – it helps me better understand the context of difficult passages of scripture!
Just like all resources, there are hundreds of commentaries to choose from. Be sure you are choosing a reliable source of information.
You can also find commentaries online for free at Bible Study Tools.
Literal Translation of the Text
I’ve found that using a more literal translation of the text is helpful when studying my Bible. There are some translations, such as the NLT and Message version, that are more of a paraphrase.
My top preferences for more literal translations are the ESV, CSB, and NKJV.
The Youversion Bible App is an excellent free resource to look at numerous translations of the text.
Study Bible
A study Bible has additional information built into the Bible. I’ve been using my HCSB Study Bible for years and I love it!
It has a commentary at the bottom, timelines, definitions, some photos, and many cross references built into it.
Reading Plan
You can find so many free reading plans online or through the Holy Bible app. Some of my favorite reading plans to follow are the free plans over at She Reads Truth.
I also offer this free Bible reading checklist to help you track every book, chapter by chapter, that you’ve read through!
Bible Dictionary
Another great tool to add to your resources! I use the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. I love the photographs and the additional information I find here. It brings so much clarity to the context!
But again, there are numerous free resources online. Check out Blue Letter Bible or Bible Study Tools for free dictionaries.
Other Free Christian Printables You May Enjoy!
- The Attributes of God Printable
- Printable Scripture Cards for The Hard Days
- 5 More Printable Bible Study Worksheets
Get your Free SOAP Bible Study Printables here!
*The printables found in this post are the property of Humbly Rooted Home. They are for personal use only and should not be sold..*
You’ll find four – yes 4 – different designs in this download. I hope that there is a version of this free printable that you’ll love!
Click here to download your Free SOAP Bible Study Method Printables!
