How to Study the Bible Until It Changes You

Many Christians struggle with two problems when they read the Bible.

The first is obvious: they don’t really understand what they are reading.

The second is more subtle: they understand the passage, but somehow it does not seem to change their lives.

They know what the verse says. They may even be able to explain it to someone else. Yet the Word seems to remain on the page instead of entering their fears, decisions, relationships, temptations, and everyday walk with God.

One of the most powerful ways to overcome this is something called inductive Bible study.

And the beautiful thing about this method is that it is simple enough for any Christian to use, yet deep enough that serious students of Scripture use the same basic principles.

ObservationWhat does the text say?
InterpretationWhat does the text mean?
ApplicationWhat should I do with this truth?

For the absolute beginner, simply think of it as the O‑I‑A method.

A person writes in a notebook beside an open Bible on a wooden desk in warm morning light.

Do You Prefer to Watch?

The Apple App Store version of the Deshen App is finally here—Version 1.0!

I am currently creating the learning videos that will be used in the Learn section of the Deshen App. We are building the Deshen Academy to give you free resources that will help you get into God's Word for yourself.

Here is the first YouTube video. In about 11 minutes, I explain the basics of the inductive Bible study method.

The rest of this newsletter is simply a summary of that video.

YouTube thumbnail reading Nothing Changes, showing Dr. Patrick Oben beside an open Bible with a centered play button.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Opens YouTube in a new tab.

1. Observation: What Does the Text Say?

Before asking what a passage means, slow down and look carefully at what is actually there.

Ask simple questions:

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

Look for repeated words, commands, promises, comparisons, contrasts, causes, and effects.

Take John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
— John 3:16 (KJV)

Who is acting? God.
What did He do? He loved and He gave.
Whom did He love? The world.
What did He give? His Son.

You are not yet trying to preach the verse. You are simply learning to see what is actually there.

And here is one habit that will dramatically improve your Bible study: write your observations down.

Writing forces you to slow down.

2. Interpretation: What Does the Text Mean?

Now you move from seeing the words to understanding their meaning.

You do not invent the meaning of Scripture. You discover it.

The first question is not, “What does this verse mean to me?”

It is, “What did the biblical author mean?”

Study the surrounding verses. Look at the historical context. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Investigate important words. Then use good Bible dictionaries, concordances, study Bibles, and commentaries when necessary.

But begin with the text.

Let Scripture speak before you ask someone else to tell you what it says.

A Black family discusses an open Bible together in their living room, with a notebook ready for application.

3. Application: What Should I Do With This Truth?

This is where Bible study becomes transformative.

You can understand Greek words, historical backgrounds, theology, and doctrine and still walk away unchanged.

Scripture was never given merely to fill our minds with information.

God's truth is meant to shape our beliefs, desires, decisions, relationships, behavior, and lives.

So ask:

What does this teach me about God?
Is there something I need to believe?
Is there a command I need to obey?
Is there an attitude I need to change?
Is there a promise I need to trust?
Is there something I need to stop doing—or start doing?

What will I do differently because I studied this passage?

This is where the Word moves from the page into your life.

As we study prayerfully, the Holy Spirit illuminates the truth of Scripture and presses that truth into our real circumstances—our marriages, work, fears, temptations, anxieties, decisions, relationships, and walk with God.

Try This Today

Take a short passage of Scripture and open a notebook.

Write three headings

Observation — What does it say?
Interpretation — What does it mean?
Application — What should I do?

Then work through the passage slowly.

Do it again tomorrow.

And again the next day.

Over time, something begins to happen.

You start seeing things in Scripture that you once read straight past. Passages that once seemed confusing become clearer. And most importantly, you begin connecting what God has said with the way you actually live.

That is when Bible study becomes more than reading.

It becomes transformative.

Major Changes Underway for the Deshen App

Version 1.0 is out! The Deshen App is now available for both iPhone and Android.

This first version allows us to test many aspects of the app's functionality and improve them from there. And we want to keep making the experience better for you.

Right now, we are working on refining the AI and improving both the Learn section and the Study tab.

We have also now fully launched the web version at deshen.app. You can use either the mobile app or the website.

The web version will be especially useful for the Academy, where you will be able to browse courses and learning resources more easily. It will also be helpful when you want to sit down on a larger screen and do deeper Bible study.

And here is one important ask from me.

We are looking for our first 50–100 consistent users who will use the Deshen App regularly and tell us what is working—and what is not.

That feedback will be extremely valuable as we continue improving the app for you.

If you have not yet downloaded the Deshen App, please do so today.

If you are already using it, I would love to hear from you. Use the short feedback form to tell us what is working and what needs improvement.

Download the app, study on the web, or share feedback below.