1. Find the key verses and major divisions/approaches to the subject.
1. Attached to each study guide is a brief summary of the topic and verses.
2. For a quick listing of the major verses and key divisions of a doctrine see the Theological Summaries in the back of a Ryrie Study Bible.
3. For a quick overview of a subject and some pertinent verses look it up in a Bible Dictionary or Encyclopedia (New, Ungers, Zondervan, ISBE, etc.)
4. More detailed discussions and divisions of a topic may be found in order increasing length:
• Elwell: Dictionary of Theology.
• Ryrie: Survey of Bible Doctrine
• Ryrie: Basic Theology
• Chafer/Walvoord: Major Bible Themes
• Willmington's Guide to the Bible
• Theisson's Lectures on Systematic Theology
• Chafer's Systematic Theology
• Torrey: The Fundamentals
• Hodge: Outlines of Theology (not exactly in our camp)

(If you want to buy one book, Ryrie's Basic Theology is your best bet.)

2. After familiarizing yourself with the subject, study what appear to be the key Biblical verses, using whatever skills and tools you possess.
3. Arrange the results of your study in an orderly fashion:

1. group related verses
2. note logical progression/development
3. highlight key conflicts (between verses and systems of thought) and resolve them.
3. Synthesize your findings into a concise statement and compare it to other doctrinal statements on the same subject. Note where you'd agree and where you understand a statement to depart from Scripture. Study verses which supposedly support a view with which you'd differ.
4. Jot down any thoughts or questions you'd want to discuss in a study group or larger setting.
5. Write out a number of lifestyle responses or commitments someone should make who believes what you've believe the Bible states about the subject, which would be appropriate to include in a covenant of membership for a Biblically based church.
6. Memorize one verse on the Subject.
7. Review Section III. (Proposed Standards) to see if you meet them and/or if they should be modified.