Steal These Questions To Get the Most Out of Your Bible Study and Watercolor Scripture Art
Have you ever read a passage from the Bible and thought… “Ok, I think I get it… But now what?” Do you just close your Bible and walk away? “Well, that was nice. On to the next thing!”
If you’ve ever felt this way, please know – you are not alone!
I was raised in a Christian home, attended a Christian school for most of my education, and STILL felt like I didn’t really know how to study the Bible. I could memorize Scripture, tell Bible stories, and even piece together the timeline of major Bible events. But if you sat me down in front of a passage and said, “Ok, now study this,” I’d squirm in my seat!
Maybe you’ve felt the same way. You want to understand God’s Word, hear His voice, and delight in His presence. But you’re not sure how to dig in, process what you’re reading, or truly apply it to your life today.
If that sounds like you, this blog is for you!
I’m going to walk you through some simple, practical questions to ask yourself before and after reading Scripture. They’ll help you feel confident, equipped, and empowered to get everything you can out of your study.
Instead of getting overwhelmed, you’ll actually look forward to reading God’s Word and getting to know Him better – which I know is what you REALLY want!
Let’s jump in!
Before You Read: Set the Stage
Have you ever walked into a movie halfway through? You have no idea who the characters are, who’s the bad guy, what’s already happened, and what kind of story you’re watching. Is it a romantic drama? A thriller? A historical documentary?
The same thing happens when we read the Bible without understanding the bigger picture – we jump into the middle of it, feeling lost and confused. Instead of actually grasping the context of the passage as it was intended, we end up just skimming words and piecing together our own version of the story.
To truly step into the world in which the passage was written – to understand characters, motives, plot, and backstory – we need to ask some important questions before we dive in.
Five Questions To Ask Before You Read:
1. Who wrote the book?
2. When was it written?
3. To whom was it written? (And what was their culture like?)
4. Why was it written? (What was the purpose behind it?)
5. What genre of literature is it?
That last one might seem unnecessary, but think about it – if you read a legal document the same way you read poetry, you’d be pretty confused. And maybe end up breaking the law without knowing it! The Bible contains several unique types of writing, each meant to be understood in its own way.
Some of the Major Genres You’ll Find:
Historical Narrative (Tells real-life events that actually happened)
Law (God’s commands and instructions)
Poetry (Expresses deep emotions and worship)
Wisdom (Practical life lessons)
Prophecy (Messages from God, often about the future)
Epistles/Letters (Personal letters written to churches or individuals)
Parables (Stories with deeper spiritual meanings)
Understanding the genre and contextual details helps you interpret Scripture through the lens God intended. Otherwise, you might miss the whole point the writer’s trying to communicate!
For example, a believer in 60 AD Corinth, secretly attending a house church under Roman persecution, probably reads Paul’s letters *slightly* (note my sarcasm ha) differently than someone in 2025 America, sipping coffee in a megachurch lobby. Maybe just a little.
Helpful Hint:
You DON’T have to figure this all out on your own! Most study Bibles (and even some regular ones) include this information right before each book or in the back of your Bible. So before you read, check those notes. No need to reinvent the wheel – lean on the scholars who’ve gone before us and did all the work!
Now that you’ve set the stage and grasped the context, it’s time to read the passage.
Ready, set, READ!
After You Read: Dig Deeper
Welcome back – you did it! You learned the backstory, put on the right lens, and read a passage – maybe even more than once.
But now what? How do you take what you just read and actually make sense of it in a way that sticks?
This is where I like to ask the following questions. They’re little guideposts to help me slow down, process what I’ve read, and walk away with something practical.
Six Questions To Ask After You Read:
What does this tell me about who God is? Remember, the Bible is a book about HIM! Sometimes we get so caught up in what this means for us that we forget to listen to what He wants to tell us about Himself.
What words from the passage should I define to help me go deeper? If something feels even the TINIEST bit fuzzy, take a second to define it. There’s no shame in that!
Are there any repeated words or phrases to pay attention to? If God says something once, it’s important. If He says it over and over? You better believe He REALLY wants us to pay attention! It’s like the God-version of using all caps.
What Biblical theme do I see here? Each passage in the Bible – creation, the fall, redemption, restoration – is part of God’s bigger story. These aren’t random events slapped together. They’re all threads in the same tapestry, weaving the Bible into one big, beautiful, intentional narrative.
How should this change me moving forward? Scripture is alive and active (Heb 4:12), and it’s meant to actively change our lives! To shape how you live right now, today!
How would I rephrase this to explain to someone else? If someone asked you to explain the passage to them, could you actually answer? Because if you can summarize it in your own words, you probably get it.
Are These the Only Questions I Can Ask?
Nope! This list isn’t exhaustive. But think of these questions as your “bumpers.” You know, when you go bowling and set up those bumpers on the sides for your kids (or even for yourself – no judgment here!) The bumpers guide the ball in the right direction and keep it from getting sidelined in the gutters.
That’s what these questions are like. They’re not rigid rules – they’re just here to guide you, keep your thoughts focused, and help you stay engaged instead of zoning out. So use them, tweak them, make them your own – whatever helps you stay on track as you grow in understanding God’s Word.
Now open your Bible back up and start asking!
Practical Bible Study Tools (Also Available To Steal!)
Are you feeling a little overwhelmed wondering how on earth you’re going to remember all these questions? I know, it’s a lot to try to keep in your brain. And don’t worry, you don’t have to!
I’ve put together a few tangible, practical tools to help you get the most out of your Bible study.
If you’ve ever wished your Bible study was more simple, intentional, and organized, these tools might be exactly what you need. And the best part is that you don’t have to come up with them and put them together. They’re already made for you, ready to grab and use right away!
Feel free to steal these for yourself using the links below!
The Bible Study Journal
I created this Bible Study Journal so you don’t lose any more moments of clarity that suddenly just – poof! – vanish a few hours after you put your Bible down. It gives you an organized, structured space to actually process what you’re reading and make the lesson stick.
This journal walks you through many of the key questions we just talked about – so you don’t have to rely on memory every time you open your Bible. It gives you that gentle little reminder to quit speed-reading, slow down, and really digest what God’s saying to you.
(Oh, and did I mention this is a GREAT gift for a friend wanting to study God’s Word? Or just get two and do it together!)
Here’s a sneak peek of the inside:
The Bible Study Bookmark
Think of this as your pocket-sized cheat sheet. With the literary genres and themes of Scripture engraved on a little wooden bookmark (yes, engraved – it’s that fancy), plus a few to-go study questions, you’ve got everything you need in your back pocket. Just tuck it into your Bible or journal, and boom – you have a built-in reference guide whenever you sit down to study!
And can we just take a second to admire how stunning it is? The back is engraved with delicate florals, making Bible study feel extra special – like a small, beautiful reminder that God’s Word is worth lingering over.
Here’s what a friend messaged me the other day about her Bible study bookmark:
Want to Take Bible Study To Another Level? Try Watercolor Scripture Art
So you’ve got your Bible open, you’re asking amazing questions, and you’re diving deep into God’s Word. You’re learning things about God you never knew, seeing yourself in a new light, and loving this deep connection to Him. YAY!
But what happens after you close your Bible? I hate how easy it is to have a powerful God-encounter during Bible study, only for it to be swept away by the busyness of the day. And suddenly that life-altering lesson God taught me seems so faded and irrelevant. Anyone else?? Just me?
That’s why I fill my home with gorgeous watercolor Bible verses. They lock in the lessons God’s teaching me and keep truth in front of my eyes all day long. It's like an instant heart check – a gentle, beautiful reminder of the truth, speaking to me right when I need it most.
What Difference Does Watercolor Scripture Art Make?
It keeps God’s Word in front of you after you close your Bible. You know how you highlight key verses in your Bible? This is like that, but BIGGER, and outside of your Bible!
It engages your soul and mind. I LOVE reading the Bible, but I also LOVE beauty. There’s something powerful about experiencing God’s words to me in a delicate, stirring art form. It reminds me of God’s careful hand in my own life, painting a beautiful story of His faithfulness.
It strengthens what you’re already learning. Filling your home (and mind) with beautiful watercolor Bible verses reinforces the lessons God’s teaching you during Bible study. It's like putting sticky notes of truth in your brain – but way prettier!
It helps you pause and refocus. Life moves fast, and it’s SO easy to get distracted. But when your eyes land on Scripture all over your home, it gently pulls your focus back to God’s presence in that very moment.
So if you’re ready to take your Bible study beyond reading – if you want to really absorb God’s Word and carry it with you throughout your day – start filling your walls with Bible verse watercolor! It turns your home into a place of holy reminders, encouragement, and truth. And honestly, it just makes your space feel instantly more peaceful.
My Encouragement to You
Friend, you’ve made it this far, and I just want to say – I am SO proud of you. Seriously. You’re here because you want to understand God’s Word on a personal, deep level, and that alone is huge. You’re showing up, asking questions, and making space for God to speak.
I’m so excited for you to use these tools to really dig into Scripture. He delights when you spend time with him!
And if you ever feel overwhelmed – like there’s so much to learn, or like you’re not “doing it right” – take a deep breath. There’s no perfect formula. The goal isn’t to have all the answers; it’s to keep seeking Him, moment by messy moment.
As you keep growing in your faith, I’d love to help you keep Scripture the focal point of your mind. Take a look at my watercolor Scripture art and see which truth pops out at you. I’m confident the Lord wants to speak to your heart here!
So as we go back into real life, let’s surround ourselves with truth – because we all need little soul anchors to snag us on God’s Word throughout the day. To remember the precious words He spoke to us during our Bible study, and to let our daily actions be changed by that truth.
You’ve got this, friend! I’m in this with you!
Xoxo,
Tam
