Why I Stopped Using Fill-in-the-Blank Bible Studies

I used to be a collector of Bible study workbooks. If a new fill-in-the-blank Bible study came out, I’d be one of the first in line to pick it up. There was something about the structure, the clean lines, and the comfort of those little blanks waiting to be filled that really appealed to me.

For a while, these studies were a lifeline; they gave me direction and seemed perfect for getting started with my Bible study journey. But over time, I noticed something was missing. My faith was growing, but my ability to study and interpret the Bible independently was not. I started to wonder: *Could there be a better way to engage with scripture?*

The more I worked through these studies, the more I realized that they had limitations. While they might help with consistency, they weren’t helping me build a personal relationship with scripture. I want to share why I eventually decided to move beyond fill-in-the-blank Bible studies and how it transformed my approach to Bible study into a deeper, more personal experience.

Leading Questions and the Author’s Opinions

One of the things that started bothering me was how many fill-in-the-blank studies lead you to specific conclusions through their questions. Often, you’re not left with much room to explore your own thoughts and reflections. The questions guide you toward particular answers, often shaped by the author’s interpretation.

It felt as if I was being told, “This is what you should see in this scripture,” rather than, “What do you see here?” This started to feel like a barrier. Instead of reading and interpreting the Bible on my own, I found myself just agreeing with the author’s viewpoint.

Over time, I realized this wasn’t helping me build a real connection with God’s Word—it was just giving me answers. To me, Bible study should feel like an open conversation, where I can bring my questions and listen for God’s voice in a way that feels personal. I wanted scripture to speak to me directly, without the filter of someone else’s opinions, so I knew it was time to try a different approach.

Dependency on Guides Rather Than Personal Study

Another reason I moved away from fill-in-the-blank studies was the dependency they created. After finishing one study, I’d feel a sense of “What’s next?” Like I needed to rush out and grab another workbook or study guide just to keep going. While I was learning facts and scriptures, I wasn’t building confidence to read and interpret the Bible on my own.

This dependency started to feel limiting. I felt that I couldn’t fully understand scripture unless I had someone else guiding me. But faith is such a personal journey, and being able to approach God’s Word without relying on someone else’s roadmap felt essential. I wanted a Bible study approach that would give me the tools to go deeper on my own, helping me grow a faith that was rooted in my own understanding of God’s Word. Learning to study scripture independently is like learning to walk on your own—it builds a self-sustaining relationship that keeps you close to God.

The Bible Study Collective Approach: Encouraging Independent Study

This shift in my study style is what led me to create our Bible Study Collective study resources and the BSC Membership. I wanted to build a community that equips people to study the Bible independently, without feeling like they need a guidebook to understand what they’re reading.

At the Bible Study Collective, we teach techniques that make Bible study accessible and empowering, giving members the freedom to explore scripture and find their own insights. We focus on tools that help you dig deep, ask questions, and discover what God is saying to you personally.

It’s about moving away from filling in blanks and instead creating a space where you can encounter God’s Word with fresh eyes. This approach has been transformative, and I’ve seen how it brings people closer to God by removing the limits and encouraging genuine exploration.

Embracing Freedom and Growth in Bible Study

Leaving fill-in-the-blank studies behind has allowed me to build a faith that feels authentic and deeply personal. It’s helped me to see the Bible as a source of daily inspiration, without needing someone else to tell me what it means. I’ve learned that when we approach scripture with openness and trust, God meets us there and speaks in ways we can hear and understand.

If you’ve felt that same dependency on workbooks or find yourself feeling a little boxed in by fill-in-the-blank studies, I encourage you to take a step toward studying scripture independently. Trust that God is ready to reveal His truth to you directly. Independent Bible study has the power to transform your journey, building a faith that’s rooted, growing, and uniquely your own.