by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

Insight matters. The right wording matters. God’s investment matters most of all. Would you remember the following line from a Bible study? I’m not sure I would.

“Don’t let old temptations bother you.”

That’s nice but easier said than done. Or would you remember this:

“Slay your vulnerability to the same old temptations: align your heart with God’s.”

Of these two examples, I vote for the zippy one that has the vivid wording—“slay” and “vulnerability.” It also has a concrete way to overcome temptation—align your heart with God’s.

Three Tips for Writing Unforgettable Bible Studies

Capture vivid wording while you study.

We’re on a treasure hunt from the beginning—to understand Scripture and find picturesque ways to explain it. When I need to clarify Scripture and look up definitions or commentary notes, I write down the vivid wording I find that captures both the message and the emotion I want to share with readers. I look for inspiring quotes and “just right” definitions that will help me make my point. (Write down your sources as you go, to save yourself time later.)

Take enough time to get help from above.

Writing about Scripture is like a dance with God—a beautiful partnership in which He guides us to find the right insights and application to share with others. It’s a partnership between us and Him—He uses our study time to give us insights, and He leads our knowledge of the writing craft to communicate with power and relevance.

He guides us to look up definitions and commentary notes. The dance continues to find just the right lead-in, cross-references, and illustrations. It culminates in a crescendo of application, relevant prayer, and discussion questions.

God guides us in the whole writing process, and the end result is “music” for our readers’ souls—a message that resonates in their hearts and sticks with them long after they have finished reading our books, articles, and blogs.

Get trusted and knowledgeable feedback.

Writing is a team effort. God works with us one-on-one, and He can also steer us in a particular direction through a friend’s feedback.

When I was writing about how believers in Christ can protect themselves from old temptations, I talked with my writing buddy about the strategies I wanted to share. My buddy said we need to let old vulnerabilities die. Why didn’t I think of that?

Writing can feel so solitary, but God doesn’t actually want us to write alone. We have Him every moment, and when we ask Him, He can also provide wise friends who may help us to see the world in a slightly different way. We can contribute insight and wisdom to each other’s writing.

What Do You Want to Make Unforgettable?

So what are you writing about right now? Where in the Bible are you drawing encouragement and application for your readers? Here are some ideas for how to make your project a team effort and find unforgettable ways to share God’s truth, love, and power in your writing.

• Ask a friend to take a week or two to study your Bible passage with you, and mention the topic you want to write about. Every day text each other with the insights you find, and discuss application.

• Make a list of the Bible study tools you want to use on your passage, and next to each tool, write down the insights you discover. I love these tools—looking for key people, repeated words and phrases, contrasts and comparisons, and definitions and commentary notes; praying through a passage to thank God for who He is or to ask something for others and myself; and creating one-sentence summaries of what’s in a chapter or paragraph of Scripture.

• Does God include one of these five elements in your Bible passage—a word of encouragement, a warning, a command, a truth, or a promise? It’s likely that not all five will be in the same passage, but which of these does He use, and do you want to include that in your writing?

• After you’ve written your article or chapter, step away from it for a day or two, and then come back with fresh eyes and an open heart. Read it again, and see if you think it would appeal to your target audience. Make sure you have vivid wording, memorable stories, and meaningful takeaway.

God can use our study time with Him and our feedback time with others to create beautiful messages of unforgettable hope and wisdom. Which of these tips or ideas would you want to try next in your writing? Share your thoughts in the comments, and happy treasure hunting!

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations. Her writers’ newsletter called The Lighthouse Connection shares writing tips, inspiration to write, and news of submission opportunities. Katy is also the co-director of the Enrich Conference for Bible study writers, speakers, and teachers.

In addition to online magazines, Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, and three blogs on writing. She loves to spend time with family and friends, draw flowers and landscapes in her sketchbook, and do yard work in the morning sun. Connect with her at www.lighthousebiblestudies.com