What is MBS?

What is Manuscript Bible Study?

Manuscript Bible Study began with one frustrated ministry leader, two cut-up Bibles, and a table.

Seventy-five years ago, a young InterVarsity campus minister named Paul Byer did the unthinkable: he cut apart two Bibles. Frustrated that his notes vanished every time he turned a page, he spread the pages side by side across a table. As the text lay open before him, patterns surfaced, themes connected, and the Word of God came alive with fresh clarity and force.

That improvised act led to Manuscript Bible Study.

Dynamic Conversations / Lifegiving Process

In Manuscript Bible Study, we gather around printed pages of Scripture the way Paul Byer did: at a table with colored pencils and highlighters in hand. We observe and ask questions about what it means, taking an inductive approach. First, we do this alone. Then, in groups of 2-3, we share what we’ve seen and seek answers from the passage. Those groups come together to think about why the story matters. Along the way, the Word comes alive and we’ve encountered the Holy Spirit.

Watch a testimony from one of our partners, Revive Europe.

Led by A Skilled Facilitator

Whether you think of yourself as a leader, teacher or facilitator, you are what makes MBS special. We approach each book of the Bible as our curriculum. This lean focus on the passage, together with a learner centered commitment, means facilitation skills determine the quality of MBS experiences. Script & Spirit believes vibrant group experiences in Scripture are dependent on teachers who lead and facilitate with presence: intellect, spiritual sensitivity, and love.

"Manuscript Bible Study changed my life, helping me fall in love not only with God’s Word, but also with Jesus. Through MBS, God led me to devote my life to study and teach Scripture."

"The things we learned about God as we discovered the meaning of the text still orient my understanding of God's character to this day."

"By close observation and sharing what we found, our group was able to draw near to each other and to God through His word."

“I had no idea that the word of God was so rich. The experience lit my heart on fire for Jesus and started in me a love for God’s word. We drew our friends into the experience. On a campus of 1600 students, 160 studied Mark in one year.”

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