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How to Study the Bible – Bible Study Made Simple — Christianity
How to Study the Bible – Bible Study Made Simple

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives.

Topics covered in this podcast:

💡 Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
💡The Basics of Bible Study (Observation, Interpretation) and How to Apple the Bible to Your Life
💡Deep Dive into Bible Studies by Books of the Bible (We’ve covered Ecclesiastes, Romans, Matthew, and more!)
💡 Topical Bible study lessons on Joy, Contentment, Prayer and more
💡 Spiritual Rhythms: Creating New Rhythms in Your Life
💡 4 Principles You Need to Interpret Difficult Scripture

To find more from Nicole, visit https://nicoleunice.com/.

Copyright: © https://www.lifeaudio.com

Latest Episodes:

Love Does No Harm to a Neighbor (Romans Bible Study Chapter 13) Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
4. What does it mean for me?
1. What do the verses say? (We’ll be looking at two verses in particular)
Romans 13:1
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:10
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
2. What’s the backstory? What’s the context?
Before we get to our own authorities, we’ve got to ask what it would have first meant to the first hearers of Paul’s letter. The civil rulers were most likely all pagan. Christians might have been tempted to ignore their civil leaders because of the corruption that influenced their government. The Christians of that day would have been looking for guidance on how to live as oppressed people under a morally bankrupt government. There is no doubt that the morality of the Roman Empire was darker than the morality of today.
3. How do we wrestle through principles together?
(Remember the principle test: principles are timeless, transcend culture, and are harmonious throughout scripture).
4. What does it mean for me?
Rather than a heart of violence or a critical spirit, what does it look like for me to say “love does no harm to my neighbor?”
Think about the fact that Jesus deliberately came into the world during a morally dark time but did not come to overthrow the authorities of the day. What might that teach you about how to live today?
*****
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
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Episode Image Credit: GettyAleksei Morozov

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A Living Sacrifice (Romans Bible Study Chapter 12) Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
4. What does it mean for me?
What does it say?
Romans 12 gives us a clear picture of where we are going in the next few chapters. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly you are supposed to do as a Christian, you can find your answers in this chapter.
What’s the backstory?
The main backstory is that everything before this chapter mattered. Everything we are talking about now has to do with God’s mercy up to this point.
What does it mean? And what does it mean for me?
A few questions to ask yourself:
1. What does sacrifice look like for me in this season?
2. What does serving look like for me this season?
3. What am I drawn to in the love passage in this chapter?
4. What am I being called to overcome?
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Mystery and Clarity of God (Romans Bible Study Chapter 11) Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
What does it say?
Paul has been building a logical argument over the course of Chapters 9, 10, and 11 to ultimately express his desires for all to be saved.
What’s the backstory?
At the beginning of Chapter 9 Paul sets the emotional tone for the letter. The whole tone of 9, 10, and 11 is from a place of grief and anguish for his community. This is not a tone of condemnation or anger, but a tone of sorrow. We begin to see another theme in 9, 10, and 11 which is mercy. He wants to convey to his beloved people that God is bigger than they think.
What does it mean?
God is God. There is mystery to the way he works, but there is clarity of what he wants us to know. When the mystery of God leads you to a place of anxiousness, you can lean back on the clarity of God.
What does it mean for me?
I may not know how all my sorrow is held together in Jesus, but I know that God is merciful, faithful, and has not let me down. If I don’t understand something, it does not mean that God doesn’t understand.
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Romans Week Ten: A Fork in the Road Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
What does it say?
Paul expresses his anguish and trouble towards wanting everyone to be saved. He can testify that the Israelites are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. The gospel has been revealed to them, but not all will accept it.
What’s the backstory?
Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Jesus went to the cross already to die for our sins. This death resulted in a resurrection, just as it will for us.
What does it mean?
1.Everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved.
2.We have the honor of being part of the work of sending and proclaiming so that those can hear and believe.
What does it mean for me?
Questions to Ask Yourself:
1.Am I guilty of having zeal without knowledge?
2.Have I thanked God recently for bringing the good news?
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A New World Order (Romans Bible Study Chapter 9) Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
What does Romans 9 say?
Paul has great sorrow in his spirit knowing that his own people do not see Jesus as their Messiah and as Christianity begins to blossom, his desire is that they accept Jesus as the chosen one.
The Jewish people are stumbling trying to be righteousness by law, but it is the gentiles; the people outside of Judaism, that are choosing righteousness by faith.
What’s the backstory?
There are a lot of people out there who will debate with you about theology and the verses in Romans 9. Amid the mystery of these verses, remove everything you know about church and look at the story for what it is: a historical man who had a 3-year career, who died, and his followers insisted that he was raised from the dead. It sounds like fooliness. And yet, here we are in 2021 with billons of people believe in this message. This is who Jesus is.
What does it mean?
When we are trying to understand the mystery of Romans 9, we must interpret it with scripture that we know is clear and forthright.
Two verses to help us interpret Romans 9:
1.John 3:16: “For God so loved the world.”
2.2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patience with you not wanting anyone to parish but everyone to come to repentance.”
What does it mean for me?
Am I willing to be clay in God’s hands? Am I willing to be formed or reformed? Can I hold onto the mystery of what I cannot explain with the certainty of what I can explain?
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Romans Week Eight: You Are Not Condemned Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
What does it say?
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Outline of Romans 8:
Romans 8:1 —The Promise
Romans 8:24 — The How of the Promise
Romans 8:14-15 — The Permeance of the Promise
Romans 8:26-27 — The Confidence
Romans 8:31-39 — Circling Back on How Awesome The Promises Are
What’s the backstory?
Jesus is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament system, which means he gets the set the conditions and declare that it is finished. He was the only perfect sacrifice who came as a man and embodied sinlessness.
What does it mean?
We have permanent adoption as sons and daughters of Christ Jesus. Because of this, holiness will become more evident in you as you see more of your darkness and sin.
What does it mean for me?
God is actually very involved and interested in being a part of your everyday life and decisions. The Spirit of God is living and has taken up residence in you.
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Romans Week Seven: Our Struggle with Sin Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
What does it say?
In Chapter 7, Paul expresses that even though he has been set free from the law that has brought death, he still struggles with sin.
What’s the backstory?
Paul alludes to a process in which there is a time in our lives that we are innocent of the awareness of sin. However, as we learn about morality and the law that we are supposed to follow, it makes us want to sin.
What does it mean?
Even though Paul is a “holy guy” the struggle is real for him, and the struggle is real for us too. There is no difference between us. More education, knowledge, or desire for God does not mean that we won’t struggle with sin.
What does it mean for me?
There is a real war being waged within me as a believer. This law of sin is still at work trying to draw me in, but I have an assurance of salvation and the mercy of God. Every single day his mercy is new.
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Free from the Enslaving Nature of Sin (Romans Bible Study Chapter 6) Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
What does it say?
It’s okay to be confused or uncomfortable while reading scripture. When reading tends to feel like this, it is important to refer to the study notes.
If we are justified, how do we grow into maturity in Christ? We are going to talk about maturity in three parts over the next two or three weeks:
1.Freedom from sin’s tyranny.
2.Freedom from condemnation.
3.Life in the power of the Spirit.
What’s the backstory?
In verse 18-19, Paul uses the analogy of slavery, which may be hard to digest in 2021 as we go through this difficult time in our history.
In verse 19, Paul also uses the word “offer,” which may be easier to understand in this context. Paul suggests that we offer ourselves as willing servants to the Lord.
What does it mean?
We are free not from sin itself, but from the enslaving, tyrannical nature of sin. In the power of Christ, we have the ability of Christ to break out of our patterns and give ourselves to a higher power.
Sin is deceptive in its charm, but destructive in its nature.
What does it mean for me?
What does increasing holiness look like in your life? Increasing holiness is a person looks like someone that is full of love, presence, kindness, and in enjoyment of the world.
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Peace with God (Romans Bible Study Chapter 5) Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
What does it say?
There are four phrases we are going to look at to help us understand the passage:
Justified by faith: Justification comes through Jesus’ blood. In the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, we can now be in right standing with God. It is the process of reconciliation.
Peace with God: Peace with God is not a weather condition; it is like a location. We can have circumstances that make it feel different, but peace is always the same.
Access into this grace: We all have access into this grace.
Boast in hope: We boast in the hope of the glory of God because of his peace that we have experienced.
What’s the backstory?
Everything that happened through Adam in the book of Genesis is rectified through Jesus. Just like Adam, we are all sinful from birth. We are all made in the image of God, so we are imprinted with his imagery, but we also bring sin into our life. Adam is the way that sin entered the world, and Jesus is the way we experience the abundance of life.
What does it mean?
Peace and hope are always ours to have. Always. Through Jesus Christ, in faith, we get to stand in grace.
What does it mean for me?
Do you practice the peace of God in your life?
What would it look like for you to practice the peace of God this week?
Romans 5:1-2:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Justified By Faith (Romans Bible Study Chapter 4) Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group
Today is a special day! Today I am joined by my friend Rayshawn Graves as we dig into Romans 4. Rayshawn is a pastor here with me in Richmond, Virginia, and hosts the podcast Ask A Pastor.
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?
Romans Week Four: Romans 4
1. What Does it Say?
We learn what it looks like to believe in Jesus – it doesn’t work to depend on works. You could stack your works against the works of the holiest person that you can think of, and the scales do not balance.
2. What Is the Backstory?
Sometimes we may think that the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath, but Paul takes us back to the Old Testament through Abraham reminding us that God has always had a plan. Abraham trusted and believed in God when he had nothing else.
3. What Does It Mean?
We must believe in Him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead. And believe that Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Knowing, embracing, and leaning into this truth is the basis of our faith (v. 23-24).
4. What Does It Mean for Me?
We see God’s goodness and proactiveness in our lives – he does for us what we couldn’t do.
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is Alive
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | Instagram
Episode Image Credit: Getty

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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