Create Your Own Bible Study Basket
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to reach for your phone all day long, but when it comes to reaching for your Bible… you don’t seem to get around to it nearly so often?
Sure, you say that reading your Bible is important. And you truly believe that it is.
But it isn’t your Bible you find yourself reaching for as soon as you wake up in the morning, last thing before you go to bed at night, or multiple times a day when you have a few minutes to spare… It’s your phone.
And you typically aren’t reaching for your favorite Bible study apps on your phone either… but social media–even though it’s hurting your faith.
Now, if this is true for you, don’t feel judged. I totally do the same thing.
And sure, I could blame it on lots of things.
The fact that I work online… the fact that I want my phone nearby in case of emergency… the fact that sometimes I just need a break during the day and my phone is always so handy…
I’m sure you could do the same.
But the truth is: It all comes down to priorities. You make time for Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
Are you making time for God too?
Or are you guilty of spiritual laziness?
Well, the good news is, I have a solution that I hope will make reaching for your Bible (instead of your phone), that much easier: Keep your Bible within close reach.
It makes sense, doesn’t it?
I don’t know that we check our phones so often because we’re genuinely THAT interested in what’s on them. More like, we’re bored or need an escape and our phones are handy.
So why not make your Bible even MORE handy?
Sure, you may never reach for it quite as compulsively as many people reach for their phones, but by keeping your Bible close at hand, you drastically increase the odds of you actually reading it. Keep additional study materials on hand too, and who knows, you may be well on your way to actually falling in love with studying the Bible on a regular basis.
And that’s a very good thing.
I’m this post I’m sharing 14 of my favorite Bible Study resources that would be great to include in a Bible study basket. You may choose to include different books, materials and resources in your basket, but this should be a good list to get you thinking!
*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps cover the costs of running this site and allows me to help provide for my growing family. Thank you!
1. A Good Study Bible
While pretty much any Bible will do, I would definitely recommend getting a good study Bible for your Bible Reading Basket if you can. Study Bibles are great because they contain a lot of additional information to make your studying easier.
For example:
- Quick summaries at the beginning of each book
- Additional information right next to the text
- Answers to common questions
- Word definitions
- Lists of key verses by topic
- Lists of key miracles and parables and where to find them
- Maps of the time period
- And much more
Don’t worry — this doesn’t make your reading more difficult or complicated. These resources are there to help you find what you’re looking for and to help explain things you might otherwise miss or not understand. They’re super helpful!
Plus, study Bibles are super common, so it’s not hard at all to find one.
Personally, I own a REALLY old version of this NIV Study Bible. The NIV is one the most popular Bible translations out there, and it’s what I grew up with and am most comfortable and familiar with.
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a great Bible translation for beginners, since it’s pretty easy to read. The Message is another option. It’s a paraphrase–so it’s not as accurate to the original text–but it is very user-friendly and easy to read.
The English Standard Version (ESV) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB) are two additional great choices as well. They all say essentially the same thing–just in slightly different words. And all of these Bible translations are readily available on Amazon or in any Christian Bookstore. They’re all very common.
Start your search for a good NIV Study Bible here.
2. Fall in Love with God’s Word (Book + Workbook)
Okay, I may be completely biased here, but if you’re interested in reading your Bible more often, getting more out of it, and enjoying your time in God’s Word more, I’d highly recommend brand new book: Fall in Love with God’s Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women!
Practical, encouraging, and full of biblical truth, Fall in Love with God’s Word has everything you need to learn how to:
- Overcome 7 common obstacles preventing you from spending time in Scripture
- Discover the personalized Bible-reading routine that works for YOU
- Learn 15 easy ways to make reading the Bible for beginners more meaningful and enjoyable
- Use Scripture to conquer sin, false beliefs, and negative thought patterns
- Experience fresh spiritual growth and passion for God’s Word.
Please visit Amazon.com or your local bookstore to learn more and grab your copy of Fall in Love with God’s Word (and its companion workbook) today!
3. A Bible Concordance
A Bible Concordance is a reference book that lists common words found in the Bible along with several places that particular word is found. For example, if you wanted to know what the Bible said about tithing, you could look up the word “tithe” in a concordance to find all the places that particular word is found, such as Leviticus 27:30 and Malachi 3:10.
Most study Bible should have a concordance section at the back, though these are usually condensed versions that only include the more common words. You can also purchase a stand-alone Bible concordance if you’d like to research less common words.
Concordances are a great way to find a ton of Bible verses on a particular subject very quickly, as well as to find a particular Bible verse you don’t know the reference for.
This is the concordance I own.
4. A Bible Dictionary
Another tool that can be helpful is a Bible dictionary. As you might guess, Bible dictionaries allow you to look up Biblical words, people, places or concepts you might be unfamiliar with in order to get more information or a more exact definition.
This can be especially helpful for anyone who didn’t grow up in church or reading the Bible, as the Bible does contain many names and places that will be unfamiliar at first, as well as Biblical concepts (such as justification, sanctification and grace) that may require a more in-depth explanation for modern readers.
I don’t use this one as often (because I’m pretty much always at my computer and can just use Google), but it’s great to have on hand if you prefer to study without distracting screens nearby.
I have this handy little Bible dictionary.
5. Bible Guides and Resources
With 66 books in Protestant Bibles (and 73 in Catholic Bibles), all of which vary widely in timeframe, style and focus, it’s easy to find learning how to read the Bible for the first time totally overwhelming.
Thankfully, there are resources, like “Know Your Bible,” that make learning how to study the Bible easier. For example, Know Your Bible contains:
- short summaries of each of the 66 Bible books
- basic information on the author and timeframe of each book
- key verses within each book
- ideas for practical application of the book’s contents.
“Know Your Bible” isn’t the only book like this out there, but considering it’s a #1 bestseller on Amazon with over 2,000 reviews, I’d say it’s a fantastic resource for anyone who could benefit from an easy-to-understand guidebook of the Bible.
You can find “Know Your Bible” on Amazon here.
6. Quiet Time Planning Guide
Alright, you have your Bible. You have a few helpful resources. But when will you use them? And how? That’s exactly what the Quiet Time Planning Guide helps you decide.
Short, simple and incredibly helpful, the Quiet Time Planning Guide will help you determine what the perfect quiet time looks like for you. From when you’ll have time to what you’ll read and how much, this free guide is perfect for anyone who wants to read their Bible, but who struggles with consistency.
You can grab your Quiet Time Planning Guide free here.
7. A Great Bible Study
Of course, if you’re totally intimidated by the idea of studying the Bible for yourself because you feel you’re too new or not knowledgeable enough (which isn’t true, by the way — ANYONE can study the Bible with a tool like Bible Study Methods…), you might prefer a study that someone else has already put together for you.
I have a list of the 10 Best Bible Studies for Christian Women here that is definitely worth checking out.
8. These Cute Bible Bookmarks
Of course, you’ll need a good way to mark your spot when you finish reading for the day. And these cute Bible bookmarks are the perfect thing. You can grab them (and a bunch of other awesome Bible resources) completely FREE on my Subscriber Freebies page.
Always good to have a few on hand for both the Bible and any other Christian Living books you may be reading!
9. A Pretty Journal and Pens
Have you ever tried Bible journaling before? There are a few different ways to go about it.
While some people love to color and draw right in the margins of their Bibles, to help them remember and meditate on important concepts they’re learning, personally, I loved always keeping a separate journal so I could Bible journal without ruining my Bible.
A pretty Bible journal like this one is a great place to:
- Record verses you want to remember or memorize
- Keep a prayer list
- Do a word study
- Journal your thoughts and prayers to God
- Keep track of everything you’re learning – both in the Bible and through sermons
- Doodle, color or draw as you meditate on Biblical concepts and passages
- Hold yourself accountable to reading your Bible or overcoming bad habits
And if you ever make a mistake? Just tear out the page!
10. Highlighters
Of course, no Bible basket is complete without at least one highlighter. While you could likely use any highlighter you have handy, these Bible highlighters are specially made for highlighting in the Bible’s thinner pages (so you have less smudging and bleed through).
There’s even a color coding system on the back of the package if you want to get especially fancy!
11. Sticky Notes
Another thing you may want to throw in your Bible study basket is a set of brightly-colored sticky notes. These are great for jotting down any quick notes you want to remember, that you don’t necessarily need to keep forever.
For example:
- A verse you want to cross-reference
- A topic you want to research more later
- A passage you want to come back to later
- Any distracting thoughts you want to jot down for later
- Any action steps you want to remember to take as a result of your reading
12. An Encouraging Coffee Mug
Do you often read the Bible over coffee or tea? (Many women do, especially those who wake up early to read). If so – why not put it in an encouraging Christian coffee mug?
From funny ones to pretty ones, Amazon has tons to choose from.
13. A Cute Bible Caddy to Hold Everything
And of course, you’ll want a cute basket to put everything in. I simply used an old bath caddy we had on hand. You may prefer to use something a little prettier, particularly if your caddy will get a prominent place in a main living area.
I personally like this grey basket from Amazon. It’s totally up to you!
Do you have a place in your home where you keep all of your Quiet Time supplies? What do you always keep on hand? (Or what do you WISH you kept on hand because you’re always looking for it? lol)
I keep index cards in mine in case I want to write out a verse or make a note or add someone/something to my prayer list
Great idea!
I love this idea! I have a new pack that I have no idea why I bought them. They will be going into my study basket right away!!
Good idea!
I have colored pens and plastic paper clips, a magnifying book mark, washi or masking tape roll, and The Believers Commentary with my bin. The commentary aids in cultural, geographical, and idiom clarity. The washi lets me tape a page of notes to the Bible page, works like the sticky notes for us wordy folk ?. Keeping it in a sturdy canvas tool kit with pockets helps in organization and mobility, such as outside or to a retreat. Found the tool bag at a lumber supply store, better stitched for moving with heavy items.
Ooh, I never would have thought to look at a lumber supply store. I bet that’s a nice, sturdy bag! 🙂
I love these ideas! In fact i just ordered (from Amazon lol) Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Young’s Analytical Concordance, and a Bible dictionary (can’t remember the name) but i forgot the Bible Highlighters! I’ve been using regular ones but too much bleed-thru! Back to Amazon!!
I use a spiral bound notebook to “write the word” (several actually are full!!) I like to write all the verses that pertain to say, God’s Promises, or during the last hurricane I wrote out verses on God’s Protection, and so on!
I do have trouble knowing what to read each day? I have many Bible Reading Plans pertaining to different things like ,Faith, Hope, Etc! Sometimes I’ll just read several chapters …slowly & sometimes repeatedly, so that i better understand! I printed out 7 ways in 7 days but i have time with consistency!! Any thoughts? Thanks for the post and the helps!!
Bible reading plans are great! I typically just choose a book, and then read through in order.
Maybe one of these posts will help?
https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/struggling-to-read-the-bible-consistently/
https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/how-to-read-the-bible/
https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/daily-bible-reading-habit/
These bible study basket ideas are so great! I think this will be perfect for a DIY mother’s day gift too. Thanks for the idea.
Thank you, Scarlet! And what a great idea for a Mother’s Day gift. I love this!
Brittany,
I am a huge fan! I absolutely love this idea of putting all of your Bible study materials together. This is especially great if you are into Bible journaling. I want to write a post on my Christian blog https://sharinglifeandlove.com/ about Bible journaling tips for my readers. I adore this basket idea, though. I currently just keep my Bible on my desk with all my Bible reading plans inside of it. Then, when I’m ready for the next month, I just add them to my faith binder. 🙂 I love Bible study! I keep all my highlighters handy with a good pencil or pen to keep notes in the margins of my Bible! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing all these great tips! You rock, girl!!
<3 Michele