SOAP Bible study template: a free copy-and-print page, plus a filled example
A free SOAP Bible study template you can copy or print: daily page, weekly review, group version and a filled KJV example on Matthew 6:33-34.
In this article
- The daily SOAP template (copy this)
- The SOAP template as a table
- The weekly SOAP review page
- The group SOAP template
- A filled SOAP template: Matthew 6:33-34
- A short version for busy days
- How to set up your SOAP journal
- Paper template or app?
- Mistakes to avoid with any SOAP template
- Frequently asked questions
A SOAP Bible study template is a one-page form with four labeled spaces: Scripture (the verse you copy out), Observation (what the text says), Application (one specific thing you'll do), and Prayer (your written response to God). Add a date and the day's reading at the top, and a follow-up line at the bottom so you can check your application later.
Below you'll find that template in three versions you can copy straight into a notebook, a document or a notes app: a daily page, a weekly review page and a small-group version. Each field has the prompts that keep it from going vague.
After the templates there's a fully filled example on Matthew 6:33-34, so you can see what each box looks like when it's done well.
The daily SOAP template (copy this)
Copy the block below into a notebook or document. One page per day is enough. Leave about five lines for Observation and three or four for each of the other steps.
SOAP journal: daily page
- Date: ______________
- Today's reading: (book and chapters) ______________
- S, Scripture: Copy the verse that stopped you, word for word, with its reference.
- O, Observation: Who is speaking, and to whom? What comes right before and right after? Key or repeated words, contrasts, "but" and "therefore"? What does this show about God?
- A, Application: One thing I believe, stop, start or change. When will I do it? (today, this week, or a specific moment)
- P, Prayer: Thank God, confess honestly, ask for help with your application.
- Follow-up (fill in next week): Did I do it? Yes / Partly / Not yet
That's the whole page. If you want to understand the reasoning behind each field, our guide to the SOAP Bible study method walks through every step with five worked examples.
If you'd rather skip paper entirely, Bible Academy's SOAP journal uses these same four fields and keeps every entry with its verse, so you can come back to it later.
The SOAP template as a table
Some people prefer a grid, especially for printing or for a spreadsheet. Copy this table into a document and widen the right column.
| Field | Prompts | Your notes |
|---|---|---|
| Date and reading | Day, book, chapters | |
| Scripture | One verse (or 2–4), copied word for word, with reference | |
| Observation | Speaker and audience? Context before and after? Repeated words? What it shows about God? | |
| Application | One belief, action or change. When exactly? | |
| Prayer | Thank, confess, ask | |
| Follow-up | Did I do it? What happened? |
To print it, paste the table into any word processor, set the page to portrait, and make each row at least five lines tall. One sheet per day fits easily in a folder or binder.
The weekly SOAP review page
Daily entries are where you meet God in the text. The weekly review is where you see what's changing. Use this page once a week, ideally on the same day.
SOAP journal: weekly review
- Week of: ______________
- What I read this week: ______________
- The verse that stayed with me most: ______________
- What I learned about God this week: (look back at your Observations)
- My applications, and what happened: one line per day, marked Done / Partly / Not yet
- One application to carry into next week: ______________
- One verse to memorize: ______________
- Prayer for the week ahead: ______________
This page takes about ten minutes. It's also a good moment to choose a memory verse from the week. For ideas on how to keep it, see how to memorize Scripture.
The group SOAP template
SOAP works well in small groups when everyone reads the same passage during the week and brings their entry. The group version adds two questions for discussion.
| Field | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Passage for this week | (set by the leader) |
| Scripture | The verse I chose, and why it stood out |
| Observation | One thing I noticed that others might have missed |
| Application | What I decided to do, and whether I did it |
| Prayer | One thing the group can pray with me about |
| Discussion 1 | Did anyone choose the same verse? Did we see different things in it? |
| Discussion 2 | Is there anything in the passage that we found hard or confusing? |
Comparing which verse each person chose is often the best part of the meeting. Two people can pick the same verse for completely different reasons.
Quick quiz: Philippians
Complete: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die…”
In prison, Paul does not know which to choose: to live is Christ; to die is gain, for it is to be with him. Philippians 1:21
Complete the exhortation Paul repeats: “… in the Lord alway: and again I say, …”
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice”: joy runs through this whole letter written in chains. Philippians 4:4
What has Paul learned, he who can do all things “through Christ which strengtheneth me”?
“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content… both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:11–13
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.
A filled SOAP template: Matthew 6:33-34
Here's the daily template completed on a real passage, so you can see how much to write in each box.
- Date: Monday, October 26
- Today's reading: Matthew 6
S, Scripture
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
O, Observation
- Speaker and audience: Jesus, teaching his disciples on the mountain (Matthew 5:1-2). This is part of the Sermon on the Mount.
- Context: Verse 25 begins "Take no thought for your life," about food, drink and clothes. Verse 32 says "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."
- Key words: "first" sets an order of priority, not a ban on the other things. "Take no thought" here means don't be anxious; Jesus isn't telling people not to plan. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof": each day has enough trouble of its own.
- About God: He knows what I need before I ask, and he promises "all these things shall be added."
A, Application
I've been worrying about next year's rent increase every night this week, and I'll stop rehearsing it at bedtime. Tonight, before bed, I'll write tomorrow's one practical step on the budget, then pray and leave the rest for tomorrow.
P, Prayer
Father, you know I need food, clothes and a place to live. Forgive me for acting as if you didn't. Help me seek your kingdom first this week, with my time and my money. Give me peace tonight, and enough for tomorrow when it comes. Amen.
Follow-up (next Monday)
Partly. I did it four nights out of seven. On the nights I wrote down one step and prayed, I slept better.
For ten more complete entries across Psalms, Proverbs, Genesis, the prophets and the letters, see our SOAP Bible study examples.
A short version for busy days
Some mornings you have six minutes, not twenty. On those days use the short template. One sentence per field is still a real SOAP entry.
| Field | One sentence |
|---|---|
| S | The verse reference only |
| O | The one thing in this verse I hadn't noticed |
| A | One action for today |
| P | One sentence to God |
A one-line example on Micah 6:8: S Micah 6:8. O After asking whether God wants "thousands of rams" (Micah 6:7), the prophet answers with justice, mercy and humility instead. A I'll treat the person I disagree with at work fairly in today's meeting. P Lord, teach me to walk humbly with you today.
How to set up your SOAP journal
The template matters less than the setup around it. A few choices make the habit much easier to keep:
- Pick one notebook or one app. Entries spread across three places are entries you'll never reread.
- Follow a reading plan. The template assumes you know what you're reading today. A plan through one book, or the whole Bible, removes that decision. Our Bible reading plan for beginners is a good place to start.
- Start with a short, direct book. James (5 chapters) and Philippians (4 chapters) are easy to SOAP because they give direct instructions.
- Keep the template in the same place every day. Paste it at the top of a new note, or print a stack of pages at once.
- Track your days. A simple checklist or a Bible reading tracker printable next to your journal shows your streak at a glance.
Paper template or app?
Both work. The right choice is the one you'll use every morning.
| Paper or printed template | Journal app | |
|---|---|---|
| Writing by hand | Yes, which many people find slows them down usefully | Typing (faster, less reflective for some) |
| Finding old entries | Flip through pages | Scroll or search, depending on the app |
| Linking to the verse | You copy it out | Usually saved with the verse |
| Reminders and streaks | You track them yourself | Built in |
| Cost | A notebook | Varies by app |
Bible Academy's SOAP journal is one digital option. It keeps the four SOAP fields with the verse, sits alongside the reading plan and the KJV and ASV reader, and lets you share a meditation with friends you've added in the app. After the 7-day free trial it costs $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year (as of October 2026), with no ads.
Mistakes to avoid with any SOAP template
Leaving the follow-up line empty. The follow-up is the most skipped field and the most useful. Without it, applications become intentions.
Filling Observation with feelings. "This verse makes me feel calm" belongs in Prayer, maybe in Application. Observation is about the text.
Choosing a different template every week. Changing the format resets the habit. Use one template for at least a month before you adjust it.
Writing a commentary. If your Observation runs to a full page, you're studying (which is good), but you'll burn out on SOAP. Save longer study for a separate session using one of the other Bible study methods.
Frequently asked questions
What should a SOAP Bible study template include?
A good SOAP template includes the date, the day's reading, and four labeled spaces: Scripture (the verse copied out), Observation (what the text says in context), Application (one specific action), and Prayer. Add short prompts in each space and a follow-up line to record whether you did your application.
Is there a free printable SOAP template?
Yes. The daily, weekly and group templates on this page are free to copy. Paste the table version into any word processor, make each row about five lines tall, and print one page per day. You can also copy the list version straight into a paper notebook without printing anything.
How do I fill out a SOAP journal page?
Read your chapter first. Copy the verse that stood out into the Scripture box. In Observation, write three to five sentences about what the text says, using its context. In Application, write one specific action and when you'll do it. In Prayer, write a few sentences to God. Check your application a week later.
Can I use a SOAP template for group Bible study?
Yes. Have everyone read the same passage during the week and fill in their own template. In the group, compare which verse each person chose, share one observation, report on applications, and pray together. Adding two discussion questions, about shared verses and hard parts of the passage, keeps the conversation focused.
Should I use a paper or digital SOAP journal?
Use whichever you'll open every day. Paper suits people who think better with a pen and like a screen-free morning. A journal app suits people who want reminders, a streak and the ability to search old entries by book or word. Many people try both for a week each and keep the one they used more.