How to Write a Bible Study That Actually Trains People: Lessons from Not Here to Be Nice

Most Christian writers don’t struggle because they can’t write.

They struggle because they can’t tell the difference between inspiration and training.

And if you’re called to write a Bible study (or any kind of discipleship resource), that difference matters—because women are not starving for one more “cute thought.” They’re starving for meat. For clarity. For Scripture that does what it does best: rebuild a life from the inside out.

In a conversation I had with Dr. Heather Burchfield—author of Not Here to Be Nice, a 366-page verse-by-verse Ephesians Bible study—we didn’t just talk about her book.

We talked about what Christian writers need to understand if they want to create resources that actually disciple people.

And yes… we also laughed about camera angles, neck skin, and the fact that sometimes the enemy is not Satan—it’s your mic settings. (Sanctification in real time.)

Let’s get into the parts that matter for you as a Christian writer.

Stop Writing “Devotional-Flavored Content” If You’re Called to Discipleship

Heather made a distinction that every Christian writer should tattoo on their brain:

A devotional can inspire you.

A discipleship resource trains you.

Devotionals aren’t bad. They have their place. But most devotionals don’t require the reader to dig into the Word for themselves—they’re typically someone’s thoughts about a verse.

A Bible study that trains people does something different:

• It teaches the reader how to study

• It forces engagement with the text (not just feelings about the text)

• It builds theological muscle over time

• It transfers skills that work beyond that single book

Heather didn’t want women to leave her study thinking, “That was nice.”

She wanted them leaving thinking, “I can open Galatians next and not panic.”

That’s what training does.

If You’re Writing for Women, Clarity Is Kindness

The title Not Here to Be Nice is not a brand gimmick. It’s a theological pushback.

Heather said it plainly: many women have been conditioned to trade boldness for niceness—especially in church spaces. We stay quiet to keep the peace. We avoid hard truths because we don’t want to offend. We let confusion sit because confronting it feels “mean.”

But niceness and kindness aren’t the same thing.

• Niceness smiles and avoids.

• Kindness loves enough to tell the truth.

If you’re a Christian writer, you’re not just writing sentences. You are shaping someone’s understanding of God. And when we blur the truth to protect feelings, the result isn’t peace—it’s fog.

A strong Bible study is not rude.

It’s clear.

And clarity is a form of love.

The Real Reason Women Get Spiritually Stuck

This part of our conversation hit hard because it explains so much of what you see in your readers.

Heather said women often get stuck because they’re overwhelmed by voices—voices around them and voices about them. And when we’re saturated with noise, we struggle to discern the one voice that matters.

Then she said the line that every Bible study writer needs to internalize:

You can’t recognize God’s voice if you don’t know God’s Word.

It’s that simple… and that intense.

And here’s the part that should shape how you write:

When women don’t know the Word, they become dependent on teachers—because they don’t have the tools to discern what’s true.

So if you’re writing Bible studies, you’re not just delivering content.

You are either:

• increasing dependence on your voice, or

• equipping discernment so they can stand under Scripture themselves

A discipleship study says, “Here’s what Scripture says, and here’s how to study it—so you can test teaching, recognize truth, and grow up.”

That’s not just helpful. That’s urgent.

What Makes a Bible Study “Meat” Instead of Milk

Heather called Ephesians a “T-bone steak of doctrine and duty.” (Paul really did come out swinging.)

But she also said something important: density only helps if people can actually digest it.

So she built her study to do both:

Dense enough to train.

Usable enough to finish.

That combination—depth + usability—is what many Christian writers miss.

If your content is deep but unreadable, it becomes “medicine.”

If it’s readable but shallow, it becomes “useful nonsense.”

A strong Bible study breaks complicated ideas into manageable pieces without watering them down.

That is good teaching. That is good writing.

The Tools Matter: What Your Readers Actually Need

One surprising moment in our conversation was how practical it got. Heather listed the supplies a woman needs to do her study well:

• The book (with QR code access to videos)

• A NASB Bible (preferably inexpensive because she wants readers writing in it)

• Colored pencils (Crayola is holy enough)

• A regular pencil for Bible notes

• Optional: highlighters, sticky notes, tabs

Christian writers—don’t skip this.

The more practical the on-ramp, the more likely your reader follows through.

A Bible study isn’t just content. It’s a learning experience.

And experiences require setup.

If you want completion rates, you need clarity about tools and expectations.

The “Extra” Pieces That Make the Study Come Alive

Heather didn’t stop at the book. She included:

• Teaching videos (because tone and emphasis matter)

• A community network (because growth happens in community)

• A leader’s guide (for small groups, with lesson plans and discussion questions)

This is the future of Christian Bible studies—especially for writers who aren’t trying to build a “book,” but a discipleship ecosystem.

And here’s the advantage for the reader:

They get access to the author.

They can ask questions.

They can learn in real time.

Most women can’t DM a celebrity Bible teacher and get help.

But they can engage with a Spirit-led teacher who’s close enough to shepherd.

That is powerful—and it makes your writing feel alive, not distant.

For Christian Writers: Heather’s Best Advice in One Line

When I asked Heather what she’d say to Christian writers called to write a Bible study or testimony, she didn’t hesitate:

Stop putting it off.

Then she got wonderfully practical:

• Use a simple writing timer (25 minutes)

• Start with a blank document

• Pray before you write, and write what comes

• Don’t worship perfectionism

• Find a team who can help refine the raw material

• Remember: if God gave the assignment, He didn’t hand it to you and walk away

That last part will preach.

If you’re waiting until you feel “ready,” you’ll stay stuck.

Obedience doesn’t require the whole blueprint.

It requires the next page.

(And yes—your editor and publisher will help you clean up the rough draft. That’s literally the job.)

What This Means for You

If you’re a Christian writer who wants to create Bible studies that train—not just comfort—here’s the standard to aim for:

• Write with clarity (not vibes)

• Teach the reader how to study, not just what to feel

• Build resources that move women from milk to meat

• Make your content usable enough to finish

• Create a path for community and questions

Women are hungry.

The hunger isn’t going away.

So somebody needs to set the table.

Watch our full conversation here:

And if God put that assignment in your hands… it’s not because He was confused.

If you’re a Christian writer called to write a Bible study, devotional, or testimony—and you know you need structure, support, and a clear plan to finish—this is exactly what Christian Writers Arise exists to do: help you steward the assignment with excellence and obedience.

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