6 Bible Study Supplies I Can't Live Without

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Eight years ago I decided that rather than just read my Bible, I was going to really dig into it and study it fully. Since then I have studied every single verse and gone through the Bible cover-to-cover four times.

During this time, I have accumulated several binders of notes and even began teaching a weekly Ladies' Bible Study. But even more important than that, the Bible has come alive to me in ways it never did before. I have also grown closer to the Lord and my faith has grown in ways that are hard to explain.

Today I want to share my 6 favorite Bible study supplies and explain why I love them so much.

My Favorite Bible Study Items

A Bible

Obviously, you're going to need a Bible. Given today's technology, I know that many people read the Bible on their phones and tablets. However, if you really want to dig deep and make it personal, I recommend studying with a real, live Bible.

As for Bible translations, I have always used the New King James Version (NKJV). This version is what my first pastor used, and it stuck with me. Although I have many versions of the Bible, the NKJV is my daily go-to and the one I write my notes in.

I am currently on my second Bible. I have had to "retire" the one I started using in 1996. I still have it, of course, because the notes I've written in it are priceless, but it is being held together with a lot of love, a cover I made specifically for it to keep it together, and of course, tape!

In 2022 I purchased a new Bible and started using it for my study in January of 2023. To

date, I have studied 49 of the 66 books in the Bible. This time through the Bible, I am taking it slow and cross-referencing more than I usually do. The Bible that I purchased is great. It has plenty of room to write notes and add post-its, draw pictures and add stickers.

To order this Bible, click here.

I promise that you will be satisfied with this purchase. I have recommended this Bible to several people who love it as much as I do.

Bible Tabs

One thing I highly recommend pairing with your Bible: a good set of Bible tabs. To

me they are a must-have.

If you have ever opened your Bible in the middle of a teaching and found yourself flipping frantically trying to find the right book, you know exactly why these matter. Bible tabs are indexed labels you attach directly to the edges of your Bible, one per book. Once they’re in, you can open to any book instantly.

The tabs in my current Bible completely change how I navigate during my Thursday class. No more fumbling. No more losing my place. Just open and go. These are the tabs I personally use, and they have held up beautifully through years of heavy use. To purchase these Bible tabs, click here.

No-Bleed Gel Highlighters

The next thing I cannot live without in my Bible study time is a good set of highlighters,

BUT... they absolutely have to be no-bleed. Nothing is more frustrating than marking a powerful verse and watching the ink seep right through to the page behind it.

I went through several brands before I found these Accu-Gel Bible Hi-Glider Highlighters, and I have not looked back since.

These highlighters are gel-based, so they feel a little different than a regular felt-tip, almost like a smooth, waxy crayon. This is exactly what makes them work so beautifully on thin Bible pages. They glide across without tearing, they do not bleed through, and they do not smear the ink underneath. The text stays perfectly readable right through the color.

This set that I bought comes with 10 colors, which is important to me because I color-code as I study. I use different colors for commands, promises, names and titles of God, and prophecy. Once you start color-coding, you will not want to stop.

The set even includes an inductive Bible study color code guide if you want a starting point.

To purchase these highlighters, click here.

The Perfect Pen

I have to make a confession before I write about the perfect pen. I am addicted to pens (and all office supplies) and have been as long as I can remember. But for writing in my Bible I wanted a pen that would not be seen through the pages and was thin enough to write small if I had to. So, for writing notes in my Bible margins and in my study binders, I use Uniball Jetstream Pens.

I have been using these pens for years. If you have ever been in the middle of writing a note and your pen skips, bleeds through, or smears, you know exactly why a good pen matters.

These pens are smooth, they dry quickly, and the ink does not bleed through thin Bible pages. I use the bold point (1.0mm) because it gives a clear, clean line that I can read back easily. When you are flipping back through your Bible months after a study, you want to actually read what you wrote!

These are my go-to for Bible margins, study binders, and writing my notes for my Thursday class. Once you switch to a good pen, you will never go back to the cheap ones sitting in the junk drawer.

To purchase the Uniball Jetstream Pens, click here.

Narrow Flag Markers

This might seem like a small thing, but it has changed how I navigate my Bible completely. These are the slim, skinny sticky tabs that I write a scripture reference or the gist of a verse on and stick out from the edge of the page. Even when my Bible is completely closed, I can see the tabs sticking out and know exactly where to turn.

If I am in the middle of teaching and need to find a verse quickly, I go straight to the tab. No flipping. No hunting. They come in assorted colors, which I also use to color-code by topic so I know at a glance whether I am looking for a promise, a command, or a cross-reference.

I go through these sticky tabs faster than almost anything else on this list.

To purchase the narrow flag markers, click here.

Standard Sticky Notes Set

This sticky notes set goes hand-in-hand with the flag markers, and they serve a completely different purpose. Where the flags are for fast navigation, the sticky notes are for active thinking like writing a question I want to research, noting a connection I noticed, flagging a cross-reference I want to come back to, or capturing a thought that is just too long to fit in the margin.

I use different colors for different purposes so I can tell at a glance what kind of note I am looking at. Together with the flag markers, these two products do something I have not found any single product able to do on its own. I use both in every single study. I actually love this set that has tabs on the sides that I can stick out of the side of my Bible to highlight certain notes.

To purchase the sticky notes set, click here.

BONUS: Faith Inspirational Stickers

I know. Stickers sound like something out of an elementary school supply closet. But hear me out.

When you are deep in a passage and you want to mark a theme visually, decorate a margin, or just make the experience more joyful, stickers are a surprisingly powerful tool. Bible study does not have to be all business. God made beauty too, and there is nothing wrong with bringing a little of it to the pages of your Word.

I use these Faith Labels Bible Journaling Stickers to mark themes, decorate my study notes, and add visual interest to the margins of my Bible. They are vinyl and waterproof, which means they hold up even with heavy use over time. There are several themes and sets available to choose from.

To purchase the Faith Stickers, click here.

By the way, I also designed a set of Christian Inspirational Stickers that you can download and print on your own, as many times as you'd like.

To view my Christian Inspirational Sticker Sheets Bundle, click here.

FREE DOWNLOAD — Bible Study Bookmarks

One more thing I want to share with you, and this one is completely free.

I created a set of Bible Study Bookmarks for every single book of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Each bookmark includes the key verse, the main theme, key chapters, and a Christ Connection section to help you see how every book points to Jesus.

I use these in my own Bible as quick-reference guides. They are especially helpful when you are jumping into a new book and want to remember the big picture before you dig in.

The full set of 66 Books of the Bible and Introduction to the Old and New Testaments included - no strings attached. Just my gift to you. Fill out the form below to receive the Bible Bookmarks in your inbox.

Final Thoughts

Eight years ago I opened my Bible determined to truly know it, not just know about it.

What I did not expect was that the deeper I went, the more alive it became. Four cover-to-cover studies later, I can tell you with complete confidence: the Word of God does not go stale. There is always more. Every time I open it, God has something to say.

These supplies are just tools. They will not do the work for you. But the right tools can help you show up with intention, and intention is everything when you are building a real study habit.

I hope they serve you the way they have served me.

Blessings,

Amy