Bible Study Topics, Themes & Other Super Practical Tips

These are the 21 main categories for Bible study topics that you can tackle in your Church or small group:

Character and fruits of the spirit
Christian history
Church life
Culture
Discipleship
Discrimination
Emotions and feelings
Eschatology
Ethics
Evangelism
Family
Holidays
Knowing and trusting God
Money
Politics
Prayer
Sex
Sin
Spiritual growth
Theology
False (world) religions

There are many really useful Bible study topics and themes that can help believers grow in their faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To further expand on this, in this article we’ll cover the following topics:

110 Bible study topics
22 Bible study themes
Practical tips for leading a small Bible study group
Methods for boosting a Bible study group’s engagement
How to choose a suitable Bible study topic
How to start studying the Bible
What the SOAP method of Bible study is all about

110 Bible Study Topics in 5 Categories

Here are 110 hand-picked Bible study topics grouped under 5 categories that you can dive into right away:

1. Bible Study Topics About God (Jesus Christ)

Who is Jesus Christ?
Explaining how Jesus and God are the same
Whether God exists or not
The different names of God
The compatibility of science and God
Does God care for us?
How to please God
The meaning of fearing the Lord
What the will of God for us is
Defining the human spirit and the Holy Spirit
What the fruits of the spirit are
The life of Jesus Christ and His ministry
How to pray
Defining what the Bride of Christ is
The definition for an intercessory prayer
Defining fasting in Biblical terms
How does God answer our prayers?
What the promises of God are
What is the type of worship that God wants from us?
Explaining what Christ meant by “judge not” and “narrow is the gate”

2. Bible Study Topics About Life

The meaning of life
Our position in the universe
What does it mean to be saved?
Defining predestination
When do we become children of God?
God’s view on Biblical festivals and holidays
The Biblical definition of Passover
The Biblical definition of Pentecost
Are our souls immortal?
Whether there’s life after death or not
Why do we suffer?
Dealing with grief
The eternal destination of people who die without knowing Christ
The Biblical definition of heaven and hell
Whether or not there’s life after death
What is the Biblical meaning for the resurrection
Is it hard being a Bible-believing Christian?
How to cast out fear and anxiety
Bible verses about crying
Can our love grow cold?
How to become an ambassador of Jesus
Defining happiness from a Biblical point of view
How to bring every thought into captivity
The key to a happy life according to the Bible
How to judge using righteous judgment
Defining faith and repentance
The way through which temptation occurs
Dealing with doubt
What unforgivable sin is
The definition of sin
What forgiveness and justification is
What to do when forgiveness appears difficult

3. Bible Study Topics about the Bible

Are there contradictions anywhere in the Bible?
Whether or not the Bible is the truth and true Living Word of God
Who the real author of the Bible actually is
The background of the different books in the Bible
The 10 commandments in the Old Testament
What is the greatest commandment?
How relevant the Old Testament is today
The meaning of Jesus being the Lord of the Sabbath
Is watching pornography a sin according to the Bible?
The purpose of the various stories in the Bible
Encouraging Bible verses
Defining what doctrine is
What exactly are good works?
How to properly understand the Holy Bible
Where to begin reading the Bible from
The definitions of the Old and New Covenant
The definition of Church in the Bible
The things that we can learn from women of faith in the Scriptures
The Biblical name of the true Church
What the mission of the Church is
Definition and examples of anger in the Bible
Explaining the chronological order of Apostle Paul’s letters and journeys

4. Bible Study Topics Related to Prophecy

What’s the purpose of prophecy?
The definition of the Great Tribulation period
What the Kingdom of God is
Explaining what or who the beast is
The meaning behind the parables spoken by Jesus Christ
When and how world peace will come
What the mark of the beast is and how to avoid it
What the Day of the Lord is
Defining Armageddon
Explaining what the abomination of desolation is
Defining what or who the Antichrist is
What our world truly needs the most currently
Our current position in the Bible prophecy timeline
What did Abraham promise?
Where does Jerusalem stand in Bible prophecy?
Why are Israel God’s chosen nation and people?

5. Bible Study Topics Related to Relationships

God’s expectation for the unmarried people
What a great marriage should be like
Defining being equally or unequally yoked in a marriage
The questions that one has to ask themselves before getting married
Marriage issues from a Biblical standpoint
How to build a strong family
What fellowship is
How to speak the truth in love
Teaching children about money and responsibility
Helping children build a relationship with the Lord
How to teach children to honour the elderly
The Biblical roles of men and women
How to honour your parents
Dealing with the process of aging
The definition of divine healing
Debt from a Biblical perspective
Explaining the Biblical principles of personal finance
Dealing with gambling using Biblical lenses
How to deal with anxiety
How to deal with difficult people

22 Small Group Bible Study Themes in 5 Categories

Here are 22 specific Bible study themes that fall under 5 particular categories:

1. Small Group Bible Studies for Parenting

Cultivating healthy relationships (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:33, Ephesians 4:29, 1 Peter 3:8-12)
Dealing with parental anger (e.g. James 4:1-2)
The home as a refuge (e.g. Psalm 46:1-4)
Encouraging a life of faith
Bible 101

2. Small Group Bible Studies for Teens

Integrity (e.g. Proverbs 11:3, Proverbs 12:22, Hebrews 13:18)
Parables (e.g. Luke 8, Matthew 10)
Spiritual warfare (e.g. John 8:44, Romans 8:11, Ephesians 6:10-18)
Relationships

3. Small Group Bible Studies for Men

Manly mentoring
Spiritual gifts (e.g. 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 8)
Power tools (e.g. Matthew 6:11, 1 John 5:14, 1 John 4:4-5)
Biblical leaders

4. Small Group Bible Studies for Women

Freedom in Jesus Christ
Biblical femininity (e.g. Ephesians 5:22-24, 1 Corinthians 7:34)
Discontented heart (e.g. Philippians 4:11-13)
Cultivating perseverance (e.g. Hebrews 12)
Marching orders (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 5)

5. Small Group Bible Studies for Couples

Family concept origins (e.g. Genesis 2:20-25)
Effective communication (e.g. Proverbs 15:1)
Thriving in marriage (e.g. Genesis 2:24, James 1:19, Ephesians 5:22-33)
The 3 F’s (family, friends and finances)

Useful Tips for Leading a Small Bible Study Group

Below you’ll find 10 really useful and practical tips for doing the best you can to lead a small Bible study group:

1. Focus on Keeping a Consistent Schedule

Set a reasonable timeframe for each Bible study session on a given day of the week and stick to it.

Do your best to keep the meetings consistent, regardless of whether they’re hosted weekly or only once a month.

2. Consider Any Amenities for Your Group

You can do that in many ways including adding amenities such as:

Childcare
Food
Drinks

Although a cup of coffee for each person can help with bonding and making a comfy environment, you shouldn’t turn the small Bible study group into a dining place.

3. Prioritise Bible Learning Over Small Talk

Socialising is perfectly normal as is some small talk before and after each session.

But don’t let social time take away precious time from actually reading Scripture and commenting on it.

That’s what you’re there for after all – to learn and understand the Living Word of God.

4. Always Pray in Each Bible Study Session

Prayer is our most effective method for communicating with our Heavenly Father.

Thus, you absolutely have to utilise prayer in each meeting by praying for each other, your loved ones, your group and anything else that’s on your heart.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

5. Help Each Group Member to Grow in Their Faith

Although you’re leading a small group that’s constrained by time, you need to think about how you’re helping each member grow in their faith in the Lord.

Dedicate time to see how each individual is increasing in knowledge about God and His written Word, regardless of the type of the group (be it for teens, parents etc.).

6. Get Feedback About Your Leadership Skills

Find a mentor or someone you trust and ask about genuine feedback about how well you’re leading the small Bible study group.

This will help you to stay loving and gentle while sticking 100% to the truth i.e. the Bible as you help others draw closer to Jesus.

7. Ensure the Group is 100% Available to Newcomers

Although you’re leading a small group, don’t let that limit your ability to welcome new members.

Encouraging visitors and adding them to the Bible study group is a great way to assist other people in strengthening their faith.

And if your small group grows too big, you can simply form sub-groups e.g. for men, women, parents, teens etc.

8. Delegate Responsibilities to Other Group Members

Feel free to delegate tasks to others, whether it includes greeting new members or collecting any prayer requests.

You can also mentor an apprentice leader who can cover for you if you’re away.

Besides, your apprentice can become the leader of a brand new group if the one you’re leading gets too big!

9. Feel Free to Break the Ice Every Now and Then

Although studying the Bible should definitely be your top priority, you can still occasionally organise social events at restaurants or parks that are meant to strengthen the bond between group members.

Also, inserting a sense of humour here and there is perfectly acceptable since God has a sense of humour Himself as we were created in His image.

10. Don’t Be Afraid to Add Devotional Materials

An adequate devotional material can help your small group grow and mature spiritually in their faith in Christ.

This way you’ll be able to reveal your own commitment to personal spiritual growth, which will stimulate your group members to do the same.

Ideas to Boost a Bible Study Group’s Engagement

Neat ideas to increase your Bible study group’s engagement by concentrating on modern topics from a Biblical viewpoint:

1. Money

Money has always been a relevant and important, yet divided subject in the church.

There are plenty of Bible verses about money including 1 Timothy 6:10, which states that “money is the root of all evil”.

But this doesn’t mean that you have to avoid this topic in your Bible studies.

Quite the opposite – include money as a subject that you tackle in your Bible studies by addressing financial problems and helping others create financial freedom through a Biblical lens.

Always rely on the Bible when dealing with financial issues as Scripture can help you and your fellow group members understand that money isn’t to be idolised.

2. Business

Nowadays it’s quite modern for young people to be involved in some sort of business.

Whether it’s what some call “a side hustle” or a freelancing gig, business is a very fitting subject for boosting your Bible study group’s engagement, especially within the youth community.

That’s why you can teach a Bible study on what Scripture says about work ethic and best business practices.

3. Modern Technology

It’s hard to avoid technology as it’s so prevalent in today’s society so use it wisely as a method to draw more people to the Living Word of God.

You can use a technology-related Bible study to bridge the gap between generations, although younger group members will most likely be more knowledgeable about this topic.

That’s why you’ll need to get familiar with modern tech trends and how they might be impacting Christianity from a Biblical standpoint.

4. Stewardship

Stewardship is a Biblical principle that reassures us that everything is created and owned by God.

We can say that we humans are simply managers of the resources that the Lord created. But we don’t own them.

Material possessions have become such an integral part of our lives that they’ve literally become idols for most people, which is a huge problem.

We can blame it on television and modern marketing techniques, but the truth is that the church needs to tackle this via proper Bible studies on stewardship.

This involves focusing on making individuals free of self-obsession and lessening their desire for material things.

Remember the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth. and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal”

5. Tithing

Tithing is a touchy subject as many people aren’t sure how, when and why to support their church.

This is where a tithing Bible study comes into play by explaining to the group how economic generosity is essential for every Christian and something that’s pleasing to God.

Don’t forget the account of the faithful giver in Mark 12:41–44 who contributed everything she had, despite being poor.

This Scripture passage shows a beautiful example of trusting in God’s provision, despite your current financial situation.

Common Questions About Bible Study

How do I start studying the Bible?

Studying the Bible is definitely a marathon, not a sprint and here are a few tips for making the most of your Bible study:

Prioritise getting to know Jesus Christ in your Bible study
Approach the Living Word of God as a dialogue with the Lord
Look at Scripture study as a long-term process
Think of different ways for applying God’s written Word
Consider the various Bible study resources and tools
Implement an attitude of thanksgiving
Develop a teachable spirit

What is the SOAP method of Bible study?

The SOAP method is a simple technique for reading and applying the Bible in our daily lives.

The abbreviation SOAP means Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer with each of the 4 steps focusing on:

Scripture – Read a short Scripture verse aloud and/or write it down
Observation – The things that stand out about the verses and what the primary message is
Application – Apply Scripture into your own life and ask the Lord how to do it
Prayer – Always pray for you, your loved ones and for other people

Conclusion

Using appropriate and engaging Bible study topics is a great way to help group members grow in their spiritual maturity and faith in Jesus.

Studying the Bible is paramount for every Christian and it should be an integral part of your life.

After all, the Bible is an invaluable tool with many uses as written in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

God’s Word is truly living, always relevant and it applies to our lives in a unique and divine way that only the Lord is capable of creating.