5 Steps for Reaching Your Bible Study Goals

Goals can be easy to set, but hard to reach. One goal we have is to do a daily Bible study. However, it is easy to become discouraged, you start reading your Bible daily, and then life happens!

Not only does this affect you; it also affects your family. You want your children to see you taking time to study God’s Word and to set a good example for them but, it is hard when you feel like all they see is inconsistency.

For some of us, we are not only setting goals for ourselves but for our children or a class we are teaching.

The first of the year is a time of fresh starts: new school year, new season, and new schedule. As you are preparing to set your fall schedule take to reset your Bible study goals too. We all need fresh starts and this is the time for you to start a new chapter in your spiritual growth!

Not sure where to start when you want a daily Bible study? Here are easy five steps you can use to reach your Bible study goals.

1. Setting  a Time  to Study your Bible

For Adults

How much time each day are you setting aside for a daily Bible study, including reading, journaling, and prayer? Start small, with 10 to 15 minutes each day, so that you can feel successful. You might also want to set a goal to read for 5 out of 7 days a week, counting church as one of your days of reading. For adults, I recommend iWrite Bible Old Testament to get you started. It is a  40-day Scripture writing plan that will take you through a summary of the Old Testament. It is great for teens and adults. You can try a sample here.

For Children and Teens

Each of the Grapevine Bible studies are designed to be 15-20 minutes a day. I recommend beginning with the Old Testament Overview. If you have children of various levels, you can use the student book matching the age of the child, and the Master Teacher book.

Here are 3 Time Goals to set for you and your children:

• Minutes Per Day: I want a daily Bible study for 10-15 minutes per day
• Times Per Week: I want to do 5 out of 7 days
• Length of Time: For 7 weeks

Here are 3 Time Goals to set for your class:

• Minutes Per Day: I want to do daily Bible study for 10-15 minutes per day
• Times Per Week: I want to do 5 out of 7 days
• Length of Time: For 7 weeks and attend class 6 times

Encourage your students to study the Bible daily, even if your class only meets weekly.

2. Pick a Topic for Bible Study

What topic do you want to study first? What interests you now? Are you studying with a friend, or with a group that will pick a topic together? Is there something you have learned at church that you want to study further?

I love topical studies, but my passion is for chronological studies. So, if you have never completed a chronological study of the Bible which is where I would begin. A chronological study of the Bible will give you the framework of the Bible so that when you do study individual characters, events, or topics, you have an understanding of the context of what you are reading.

Within the goal you have set for your time, what topic do you want to study?

_{3. Choose Your Bible Study Method}

I’ve found that the most successful way to spend time in the Bible daily is to do something that is fun, engaging, and fits into my schedule.

Here are some options that I have found

• Pre-written study: this is a great way to start if you don’t have time to write or chart your own study. God has gifted some teachers to write not only for themselves but also for you and your children. Find a study that interests you and your students and dive in!
• Journaling or Scripture Writing: puts you directly into the Bible with little to no outside distractions. Sometimes we need a season focused solely on the written Word of God. If you recovering or in a new season of life, this might be just what you need.
• Listening to an audio version of the Bible as you drive or walk can be a great way to reach your Bible reading goal too. Listening is a great way to get in Bible study when you are on the move, have young children, or just a very busy schedule. You do not have to give up time in the Word simply because you cannot sit down and read it.

There are other methods and combinations to help you reach your daily Bible study goals, the main thing is to choose one for this fall that you want to you use. You can always switch after you reach your first goal.

_{4. Set Up Accountability}

Bible Study is always better with a friend or two. Friends help us to be accountable and inspire us when we feel like giving up. As you look at this fall and setting new goals, who do you want to take a spiritual journey with this fall? Do you have a study partner? Do you need to begin to pray for one? At Grapevine, we are considering forming a study group, would you be interested?

Identify and contact your study partner. Begin to develop a plan for accountability with them.

_{5. Write it Down}

Goals are best accomplished when they are written down! So write down your goals in several places.

• Post it where you see it daily
• Place one copy in your Bible
• Write it down in your planner

Ready to get started? Download the worksheet for setting goals here. Reaching your Bible study goals is something you can start today!