Bible Study Topics, Themes & Other Super Practical Tips

21 Foundational Categories for Bible Study in Churches and Small Groups

Exploring meaningful Bible study topics can greatly enrich your spiritual journey and encourage deeper faith in Jesus Christ. Whether in a church or a small group setting, the following 21 main categories provide a well-rounded approach to Bible study:

1. Character and Fruits of the Spirit

2. Christian History

3. Church Life

4. Culture

5. Discipleship

6. Discrimination

7. Emotions and Feelings

8. Eschatology

9. Ethics

10. Evangelism

11. Family

12. Holidays

13. Knowing and Trusting God

14. Money

15. Politics

16. Prayer

17. Sex

18. Sin

19. Spiritual Growth

20. Theology

21. False (World) Religions

These categories offer a strong foundation for any Bible study group aiming to help believers grow in their faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Topics Covered in This Guide:

1. 110 Inspiring Bible Study Topics

2. 22 Thoughtful Bible Study Themes

3. Practical Tips for Leading a Small Bible Study Group

4. Creative Ways to Boost Group Engagement

5. How to Choose the Right Bible Study Topic

6. How to Start Studying the Bible

7. A Look at the SOAP Method for Bible Study

110 Bible Study Topics Organized into 5 Key Areas

1. Topics About God and Jesus Christ

1. Who is Jesus?

2. Understanding how Jesus and God are one

3. Exploring the existence of God

4. Names and titles of God in the Bible

5. Science and faith: Are they compatible?

6. Does God care about us personally?

7. How to live a life pleasing to God

8. The meaning of fearing the Lord

9. Discovering God’s will for our lives

10. The Holy Spirit vs. the human spirit

11. Exploring the fruits of the Spirit

12. Jesus’ life and ministry

13. How to pray effectively

14. What is the Bride of Christ?

15. Understanding intercessory prayer

16. Biblical purpose of fasting

17. How does God respond to prayer?

18. God’s promises to us

19. What kind of worship does God desire?

20. Insights on “Judge not” and “Narrow is the gate”

2. Topics About Life

1. Understanding the meaning of life

2. Our role and place in the universe

3. What it means to be saved

4. The concept of predestination

5. When do we become children of God?

6. Biblical perspectives on holidays and festivals

7. What is Passover?

8. What is Pentecost?

9. Are our souls immortal?

10. Is there life after death?

11. Why do people suffer?

12. Dealing with grief and loss

13. Eternal destiny of unbelievers

14. Biblical definitions of heaven and hell

15. Resurrection and its meaning

16. Challenges of living as a Bible-believing Christian

17. Overcoming fear and anxiety

18. Bible verses about tears and sorrow

19. Can love grow cold?

20. Becoming an ambassador for Christ

21. Biblical definition of happiness

22. Taking every thought captive

23. Keys to a joyful life according to Scripture

24. Righteous judgment vs. human judgment

25. Faith and repentance explained

26. How temptation works

27. Dealing with doubt

28. What is the unforgivable sin?

29. Understanding sin

30. Forgiveness and justification

31. When forgiving feels difficult

3. Bible Study Topics about the Bible

1. Why is prophecy important?

2. What is the Great Tribulation?

3. What is the Kingdom of God?

4. Who or what is the beast?

5. Meaning of Jesus’ parables

6. How and when will world peace come?

7. Understanding the mark of the beast

8. What is the Day of the Lord?

9. What is Armageddon?

10. The abomination of desolation explained

11. Who or what is the Antichrist?

12. What does our world need most right now?

13. Where are we in the prophetic timeline?

14. God’s promise to Abraham

15. Jerusalem’s role in end-times prophecy

16. Why is Israel God’s chosen nation?

4. Topics About Relationships

1. Are there contradictions in the Bible?

2. Is the Bible the true Living Word of God?

3. Who really wrote the Bible?

4. Overview of different books in the Bible

5. Understanding the Ten Commandments

6. What is the greatest commandment?

7. Is the Old Testament still relevant?

8. Jesus as the Lord of the Sabbath

9. Is pornography sinful according to Scripture?

10. Purpose of Bible stories

11. Encouraging verses from Scripture

12. What is doctrine?

13. What are good works?

14. How to correctly interpret Scripture

15. Where to start reading the Bible

16. The Old vs. New Covenant

17. The Church: Definition and purpose

18. Lessons from women of faith in the Bible

19. The true Biblical name of the Church

20. Mission of the Church explained

21. Biblical examples of anger

22. Apostle Paul’s letters and journeys in chronological order

5. Bible Study Topics Related to Prophecy

1. Biblical guidance for singles

2. What makes a strong, godly marriage?

3. Equally yoked vs. unequally yoked

4. Questions to consider before marriage

5. Marital challenges through a Biblical lens

6. Building a faith-filled family

7. What is Biblical fellowship?

8. Speaking the truth in love

9. Teaching kids about money and responsibility

10. Helping children develop a relationship with God

11. Honoring elders and parents

12. Biblical roles of men and women

13. Coping with aging from a Biblical perspective

14. Understanding divine healing

15. Biblical take on debt

16. Financial stewardship in Scripture

17. Gambling: A Biblical analysis

18. Managing anxiety with God’s help

19. Handling difficult people Biblically

22 Small Group Bible Study Themes by Group Type

1. Small Group Bible Studies for Parenting

1. Building healthy relationships (1 Cor. 15:33, Eph. 4:29, 1 Pet. 3:8–12)

2. Addressing parental anger (James 4:1–2)

3. Creating a peaceful home (Psalm 46:1–4)

4. Instilling faith in children

5. Bible Basics 101

2. Small Group Bible Studies for Teens 

1. Developing integrity (Prov. 11:3, Heb. 13:18)

2. Exploring Jesus’ parables

3. Spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10–18)

4. Navigating relationships

3. Small Group Bible Studies for Men

1. Mentoring and discipleship

2. Discovering spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12)

3. Powerful prayers and spiritual tools

4. Biblical male leadership

4. Small Group Bible Studies for Women

1. Experiencing freedom in Christ

2. Understanding Biblical femininity (Eph. 5:22–24)

3. Dealing with discontent (Phil. 4:11–13)

4. Growing in perseverance (Heb. 12)

5. Living out your calling (1 Thess. 5)

5. Couples

1. Origins of family (Gen. 2:20–25)

2. Communicating effectively (Prov. 15:1)

3. Thriving in marriage (Eph. 5:22–33)

4. Faith, finances, and friendships

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

1. Prioritise getting to know Jesus Christ in your Bible study
2. Approach the Living Word of God as a dialogue with the Lord
3. Look at Scripture study as a long-term process
4. Think of different ways for applying God’s written Word
5. Consider the various Bible study resources and tools
6. Implement an attitude of thanksgiving
7. 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:

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

Conclusion

Choosing the right Bible study topics and themes can help your group members grow spiritually and develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible is not only relevant today—it’s essential for every believer.

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.”

Let God’s living Word guide, correct, and transform your life.