Jesus Bible Studies
By Pastor Ron Jones, D.D., © 2010, The Titus Institute
Jesus Bible Studies are focused on using Bible study resources to study about Jesus your Savior and Lord to grow in your knowledge of him.
There are three simple methods you can use:
1. The Commentary Method
2. The Topical Method
3. The Audio Method
1. The Commentary Method
A commentary is a book written by a OT or NT scholar explaining a Bible book verse by verse.
To use this approach to study about Jesus, you can choose a commentary on one of the gospels. (See below for some suggestions)
1. Pray and ask the Lord to help you understand and apply his Word to your life as you study. Confess any known sin in your life that you might study with a pure heart.
2. Read through a few verses or a small section of the book at a time.
Commentaries usually divide up their discussion of the gospel text by paragraphs. The best way is to go one section at time. Rushing through is not the goal. We need to take time and do small sections so they sink into our minds.
3. Open up the commentary to the proper section to see which verses the section covers. Then open up your Bible and read the verses that are to be explained in the commentary in that section.
Then read a few paragraphs above and after to get an idea of the context of the passage. The gospels tend to be divided up in sections by the editors of your translation. Read the section in which the passage occurs. Then go to step 3.
4. Read through the commentary, taking your time to understand what is being said. Try to understand what the main point of the passage is that the commentator is explaining. Let him use his gift to teach you about Jesus from this passage.
5. Ask the following questions (some of the questions may not apply to a particular passage so answer only the ones that do):
1) What does this passage mean by what it says?
The commentator will help you understand what the Scriptures mean.
2) What is God my Father telling me (his son/daughter) about himself, his Son or His Spirit in this passage?
3) What is God my Father telling me about our relationship in this passage?
4) What is God my Father telling me about what he desires for me in this passage? What is he telling me about my thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, words, or actions?
5) Do I need to make a change in my life as I result of what I have learned in this passage?
It could be changing a belief or attitude I possess or changing a word or action I am prone to doing.
6. Praise and thank the Lord for what you have learned. Confess any sin that you have become aware of as a result of studying this passage.
7. Think about this passage and these truths (your answers to the above questions) you learned during the day. We call this meditating on the word.
Jesus Bible Study Commentary Resources free online
I recommend beginning with John's Gospel (that is why I placed it first)
J.C. Ryle The Gospel of Matthew
Jesus Bible Study Commentary Resources you can purchase
John MacArthur Commentary on John 1-11
John MacArthur Commentary on John 12-21
John MacArthur Commentary on Matthew 1-7
John MacArthur Commentary on Matthew 8-15
John MacArthur Commentary on Matthew 16-23
John MacArthur Commentary on Matthew 24-28
John MacArthur Commentary on Luke 1-5
John MacArthur Commentary on Luke 6-10
2. The Topical Method
Find a book that focuses on Jesus (See below for some suggestions)
1. Pray and ask the Lord to help you understand and apply his Word to your life as you study. Confess any known sin in your life that you might study with a pure heart.
2. Read through a chapter or a section of a chapter at a time.
Rushing through is not the goal. You need to take time and do small sections so they sink into your mind.
3. Open up your Bible and read the verses that are mentioned in the book.
4. Try to understand what the main points of the chapter or section are. Let the author use his gift to teach you about Jesus from the Bible.
5. Ask the following questions:
1) What is God my Father telling me (his son/daughter) about himself, his Son or His Spirit?
2) What is God my Father telling me about our relationship?
3) What is God my Father telling me about what he desires for me in this passage? What is he telling me about my thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, words, or actions?
4) Do I need to make a change in my life as I result of what I have learned in this chapter or section?
It could be changing a belief or attitude I possess or changing a word or action I am prone to doing.
6. Choose a Bible verse mentioned in this chapter or section to meditate on during the day. Write it down.
7. Praise and thank the Lord for what you have learned. Confess any sin that you have become aware of as a result of studying this passage.
8. Think about these truths (your answers to the above questions) you learned during the day. We call this meditating on the word.
Jesus Bible Study Books free online
Jesus Bible Study Books you can purchase
The Jesus I Never Knew Philip Yancey
3. The Audio Method
This is a great way for Christians to grow in Christ as you commute to work each day. The only thing you will not be able to do is read the Bible while you are driving.
Do either 1. or 2. above, but listen to audio tapes of sermons or Christian books.
If you are listening to a sermon on a Bible passage then follow 1. above.
If you are listening to a sermon on a Bible topic then follow 2. above.
Jesus Bible Study Audio Sermons free online
I recommend beginning with John's Gospel (that is why I placed it first)
For this Gospels as well as the other Gospels, click on link below
Bible Book Audio Sermons Links