Lesson 3.2: Physical Tools - Pens, Highlighters, and More

Beyond your Bible and journal, there are a few more simple physical tools that can enhance your Bible reading and study. None of these are required, but they're inexpensive and helpful.

Pens for Your Notebook

For journaling, use any pen that writes smoothly and doesn't smudge.

Simple approach: Just use one pen (black or blue) and keep it simple.

Color-coding approach: Some people love using multiple colors:

• Blue: Observations about the text

• Red: Questions you have

• Green: Applications—what you'll do in response

• Purple: Prayers

• Orange: Cross-references to other passages

My recommendation: Start simple with one pen. If you find yourself wanting to color-code, add that later. Don't let buying the "right" pens delay you from starting.

Marking in Your Bible

This is more personal. Some people never write in their Bibles and prefer to keep them pristine. Others mark them up extensively. Neither approach is wrong—it's a matter of preference and personality.

If you do want to mark in your Bible, here's what you need to know:

Highlighters for Bible Marking

The Problem with Regular Highlighters: Regular highlighters will bleed through the thin pages of most Bibles and make the text on the other side unreadable. You need Bible-safe highlighters designed specifically for this purpose.

Recommended: Zebrite Double-Ended Bible Highlighters

These highlighters are specifically designed for Bibles because they:

• Don't bleed through thin Bible paper

• Come in multiple colors so you can develop a color-coding system

• Are double-ended (chisel tip on one end, fine point on the other) for versatility

• Have gentle, non-smearing ink that won't damage the page

Other good options:

• Sharpie Gel Highlighters

• Mr. Pen Bible highlighters

• Any highlighter specifically labeled "Bible safe" or "no bleed"

DO NOT use:

• Regular office highlighters (they will bleed through)

• Markers or permanent markers (too harsh)

• Crayons or colored pencils in regular Bibles (they smudge—though they work fine in journaling Bibles)

Developing a Color System

Many people find it helpful to use different colors for different purposes. Here's a popular system:

• Yellow: Verses about God's character or attributes

• Blue: Promises from God

• Pink/Orange: Commands or instructions to obey

• Green: Verses about salvation or the gospel

• Purple: Prophecy or future events

• Gray: Difficult or confusing passages

You can create whatever system makes sense to you. Some people keep a key on the inside front cover of their Bible so they remember what each color means.

Important principles for highlighting:

1. Don't highlight everything If you highlight too much, nothing stands out. Be selective. Highlight what truly impacts you or what you want to find again quickly.

2. Highlight for purpose Ask yourself: "Why am I highlighting this? What am I trying to remember or find later?"

3. It's okay to have no system Some people just highlight what speaks to them in whatever color they feel like. That's fine too!

4. You can always start over If you over-highlight or don't like your system, you can always get a new Bible and start fresh. Don't let fear of "messing up" keep you from marking meaningful verses.

Pens for Bible Margins

If you want to write notes in the margins of your Bible:

Recommended:

• Fine-point pens that don't bleed (0.5mm or smaller)

• Popular brands: Micron pens, Pigma pens, Bible marking pens

• Pencils work great and are easily erasable (good if you're worried about permanence)

Tips for margin notes:

• Keep notes brief—you don't have much space

• Use abbreviations: "cf." for "compare to," arrows (→) for cross-references

• Date significant verses (when God spoke to you through them)

• Use symbols to save space:

  • ⭐ or * for especially important verses

  • ? for questions you have

  • ! for verses that surprised you

  • ❤️ for favorite verses

  • → for cross-references

For Journaling Bibles

If you have a journaling Bible, you have much more freedom with what you can use:

Works well in journaling Bibles:

• Regular pens and markers (the paper is typically thicker)

• Colored pencils for drawing or coloring

• Brush pens for hand-lettering

• Fine-liner pens for detailed work

• Stamps and stickers

• Light watercolors (test first to ensure no bleed-through)

• Washi tape for decorative borders

The journaling Bible becomes a creative space where you can combine artistic expression with biblical meditation.

A Word of Caution

Don't let marking become a substitute for reading.

Some people spend so much time highlighting, color-coding, and creating beautiful journal pages that they're not actually reading with understanding. They're more focused on making it pretty than on what the text actually says.

The goal is comprehension and transformation, not just decoration. Beauty can enhance your engagement with Scripture, but it shouldn't replace it.

If you find yourself spending 30 minutes making one page beautiful but only 5 minutes actually reading and reflecting, something is out of balance.

Beauty should serve the Word, not overshadow it.

Other Useful Physical Tools

Sticky Notes

• Inexpensive and incredibly useful

• Mark places you want to come back to

• Write questions you want to research later

• Create simple tabs for books you're studying

• Put them on your mirror, dashboard, or computer with memory verses

Index Cards

• Great for Scripture memory

• Write the reference on one side, the verse on the other

• Carry a few in your pocket or purse

• Review while waiting in line, during lunch breaks, etc.

• Once memorized, file them and review periodically

Sticky Tabs/Flags

• Mark important passages

• Use different colors for different purposes

• Don't obstruct the text when the Bible is closed

• Great for marking where you left off in your reading

Bookmark

• Helps you quickly find where you are

• Some bookmarks have helpful reference information printed on them

• Simple but essential

What You DON'T Need

Let me save you some money. You don't need:

• Expensive leather journal covers

• A full set of 50 colored pens

• Elaborate stencils and stamps (unless you genuinely enjoy them)

• Specialized tools or expensive supplies

Keep it simple. The fancier the tools, the more intimidated you might feel to use them.

My Personal Tool Kit

Here's what I actually use:

• Bible (ESV Study Bible)

• One hardcover journal

• Two pens (black and blue)

• One set of Bible-safe highlighters (I mainly use yellow and blue)

• A few sticky notes

• That's it.

I've tried more elaborate systems, but this is what I consistently use. Simple wins.

Your Assignment

1. Decide on your marking approach: Will you highlight in your Bible? Write in the margins? Both? Neither? There's no right answer—just decide what feels right for you.

1. If marking, get the right tools: Order Bible-safe highlighters if you want to highlight. Get a fine-point pen or pencil if you want to write notes.

1. If NOT marking, that's okay too: Some people prefer to keep their Bibles clean and do all their notes in a separate journal. That's perfectly valid.

1. Start small: Don't buy everything at once. Get just what you need to start. You can always add more later.

1. Try highlighting: If you got highlighters, read John 1 and highlight 3-5 verses that stand out to you. How does it feel? Is it helpful?