Find a quiet place where you can be alone with God. Determine a specific time that you want to spend time studying the Word of God and then keep that time as if it is an important appointment. Use a notebook or journal, something you can keep your notes in so that you can refer to them from time to time.
Read the passage through completely. Reading it out loud helps you to hear things that you might not see if you read it quietly.
Here is an example for John 3:16. Read each verse individually, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.
Write the scripture you are studying in your notebook, and for each verse, determine what each verse is saying by discovering the main thought.
Example: God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.
Write each of these thoughts in your notebook or journal. Read the passage completely through again.
Example: God loved the world so much that He gave us His son, so that by believing on Him we will have life in heaven forever.
Write out how this verse applies to your life.
Example: God gave His son for me. By accepting this gift of salvation, I have eternal life in Heaven.
Summarize your study and the application of its meaning in a paragraph. Write a summary sentence for the entire passage.
Pray that God would grow these truths in your heart.