How to Apply the Bible

My Response

CHARA BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

From cover to cover, the Bible is a book about God

Therefore we should look for God on every page. Much like a conversation, a response is needed to fully engage in a deeper relationship with God through His Word. The goal when reading the Bible is not just to be smarter, but to be transformed. So make sure to pray for understanding and a renewed mind every time you open your Bible.

Ask these questions as you go to Apply the passage:

*Pray: “Lord, what do you want me to learn and how should I apply this to my life?”

u

Reflect: What specific questions do you have upon further reflection of the passage?

*Ask: What do you learn about God – His character, attributes, or desires?

Yield: What personal, cultural, or religious bias and assumptions do you bring to the text? What do you need to surrender, if anything, to be in harmony with the Bible?

Express: What fears or concerns do you have about applying what you’ve learned? 

Respond: What was expected of the original audience and what principles make sense for us now (is it a cultural or timeless truth)?

NEW TO CHARA? Start with the questions we ask the most—they are noted with an asterisk.

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People at a Group Bible Study

KEY PRINCIPLE

Although the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. Therefore, you must first determine the original meaning of a verse or passage before applying that same meaning to your life today. Because the Bible cannot mean now what it didn’t mean then, save application for last, as you first consider the Context, History, what the Author meant back then, and Research deeper into the text.

What to Study Next:

C

CONTEXT

Understand the text surrounding the passage

H

HISTORY

Understand the history and culture of the ancient world

A

AUTHOR

Understand the author’s purpose and their style of writing

R

RESEARCH

Dig deeper through word and translation study

A

APPLY

Identify how you can apply this passage to your life

Group Bible Study

Tips on How to Host and Lead a Group Bible Study

Recommended Resources

Our Favorite Tools to Help you Apply the Bible

Apply in Action

Examples of Studying Passages with the CHARA Bible Study Guide 

Joy As We Apply

In this video, you’ll get to see the Chara team in action as we walk through how to apply a Bible passage to everyday life. The Bible isn’t just a book to make us smarter — it’s meant to transform us as we grow closer to God. That’s why, before anything else, we pray for understanding and a renewed mind. Then we’ll explore what the passage teaches about God, reflect on personal biases, and think through what it looks like to live out what we’ve learned. Whether you’re new to The Chara Project or just need a fresh perspective, we’ll guide you step by step in moving from reading to real-life application. Let’s dive in!