A few years ago, I decided I was finally going to re-tile my kitchen. I watched a couple of videos online and thought, How hard can it be?

Then I went to the store to buy the tools. That’s when reality hit. There were tools I had never heard of, including something called a wet saw. I stood there thinking, “Electricity and water together? Surely that’s not safe.”

In that moment, I realized it wasn’t that the job was impossible. I just didn’t have the tools, and I didn’t know how to use them.

For many people, studying the Bible feels the exact same way. They want to grow. They want to understand Scripture. But they don’t know where to start, and the tools feel overwhelming. The truth is, the right tools don’t complicate Bible study. They make it possible.

Here are three simple tools I give people when they’re learning to study the Bible for the first time.

1. A Gifted Bible, Journal, and Pen

This is the very first thing I give someone I’m beginning to disciple, not because the Bible itself is rare, but because a Bible with their name on it means something. It feels personal. It says, “This is for you. God’s Word is for you.”

I also give them a journal like the one I use. That opens the door for me to talk about my own love of writing and how I take notes while studying Scripture. One of the hardest parts of developing a study habit is moving from obligation to delight—from “I’m supposed to read this” to “I get to hear from Jesus today.” A simple journal and a good pen can help someone slow down and fall in love with studying, not just checking off a task.

2. A Bible Dictionary (and/or an App That Says the Names Out Loud)

We need to remember that most people aren’t starting at level 98. Some are encountering Old Testament names for the very first time. A pronunciation app alone can significantly lower the intimidation factor.

As they grow, a Bible dictionary becomes a tool that grows with them. At first, it helps them see where a word appears in Scripture. Later, it introduces deeper definitions and even scholarly insights. A Bible dictionary might look overwhelming, but it also feels like learning. Sometimes feeling “stuck” creates the excitement that keeps someone moving forward.

3. Another Person

Lastly (and maybe most important), is another human being. We were made for community. Studying Scripture with someone you genuinely enjoy changes everything. It brings encouragement and accountability. In a culture that often avoids accountability, we need to rediscover the gift it truly is. Scripture is meant to be lived out, and we do that together.

Studying the Bible isn’t about collecting tools. It’s about learning to use them. Just like tiling a kitchen, the right tools don’t do the work for you, but they make the work possible. And over time, they transform what once felt overwhelming into something deeply loved.