7 Tips for Leading a Bible Study

This text is a part of the 7 Tips collection.

Connecting Folks to God’s Phrase

We couldn’t consider that David got here to our Bible examine. Then we couldn’t consider that he modified his work schedule to maintain attending. He by no means missed! A couple of years in the past, my husband and I had a singular alternative to start out a Bible examine for highschool college students in our dwelling. Our youngest son attended a big public faculty, and several other of his associates weren’t Christians. I’m a Bible instructor, so that you’d assume I might’ve been comfy with this chance. However opening the Scriptures in entrance of girls who’ve studied all week is totally different from main youngsters who haven’t opened the Bible earlier than. I used to be nervous! I had no concept what questions they’d ask or if they’d even present up once more. It was difficult! And I liked it!

Bible research ought to are available in all styles and sizes, connecting every kind of individuals to God’s phrase. All through my twenty years of ministry and numerous conversations with ladies within the church, I’ve discovered that many lengthy to guide a Bible examine, however few really feel geared up to take action. Whether or not main from a stage in a church auditorium or from the sofa in your lounge, listed below are seven ideas that I’ve discovered to be efficient.

1. Start with the top in thoughts.

Begin by writing a imaginative and prescient assertion on your Bible examine. Contemplate the next prompts:

When Bible examine wraps up, what do you hope the outcomes shall be?
Who shall be attending? Though you in all probability received’t know names, take into consideration who shall be invited.
What’s going to you examine?
Will it’s discussion-based? Or will you embody a educating time additionally?

A couple of examples of straightforward imaginative and prescient statements:

• I wish to introduce ladies in my neighborhood to the Lord Jesus and the Scriptures. We’ll examine the Gospel of John, and I’ll lead the dialogue. When Bible examine wraps up, the ladies in my neighborhood will know they’ve a protected place to ask questions on God, and we can have fashioned significant connections with each other.

• I wish to educate 5 highschool seniors the right way to learn the Bible. We’ll examine Colossians and Philemon. I’ll mannequin and educate the right way to examine the Bible, in addition to facilitate dialogue. My hope is to see these 5 college students educate others to do the identical throughout their freshman yr in faculty.

Your imaginative and prescient assertion also can function the metrics of success for Bible examine, slightly than specializing in the variety of folks on the final assembly. It’s tempting to have a look at numbers because the measuring stick for Bible examine success, however numbers will not be God’s measuring stick. He’s nice at multiplying!

2. Set clear and lifelike expectations.

Talk the beginning and finish date, and the beginning and finish time for every week. Then stick with what you mentioned. Be sure you set lifelike expectations for many who will attend, rigorously contemplating and speaking what contributors shall be anticipated to check on their very own and methods they are going to be requested to contribute whenever you collect. Take the thriller out of the dedication being made.

Be clear about the way in which time shall be spent. As an illustration, will there be a proper educating time? Group dialogue? Prayer? Will the primary fifteen minutes be spent catching up, or will the examine begin instantly?

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3. Be ready.

You wouldn’t have to be a seminary graduate to guide a Bible examine. However you do should be acquainted with the content material you’re main. An ideal beginning place is to learn the introductory pages in a examine Bible in regards to the e-book you can be main. These pages embody useful context, like who wrote the e-book, who the unique viewers was, and what was happening on the earth when it was written. One other nice beginning place is the video summaries supplied by way of BibleProject. Then learn the entire e-book a number of instances, noting repeated themes.

If you happen to plan to guide a time of educating throughout Bible examine along with dialogue, learn a trusted commentary or two to verify your details are on monitor. Ask a trusted instructor or pastor to suggest their favourite commentaries. Ship them a recording of your educating and ask for suggestions.

And pray. Then pray some extra. There’s a wholesome concern in main Bible examine. We’re to do our greatest to deal with the Scriptures precisely (2 Tim. 2:15). However a wholesome concern mustn’t hold us from creating an area to open the Bible collectively; slightly, it ought to inspire us to be diligent college students and nice pray-ers.

4. Encourage contribution.

You’ll be excited to share all that you simply found when you studied, however so will these attending. Give contributors a chance to articulate what they realized whereas they studied the Bible. Use language that communicates that you’re a co-learner alongside them. Share your questions and discoveries alongside theirs.

Most Bible research can have those that dominate the dialogue and people who don’t share in any respect. An efficient technique to assist each is to e mail the shy participant a number of days earlier than Bible examine meets, asking her if she’d be prepared to start dialogue. Give her the query you’d like her to reply so she has time to consider it. She is not going to really feel placed on the spot, and he or she’ll know that her contribution to the group is valued.

Emailing the shy participant additionally helps the one who tends to dominate. Whenever you start a dialogue by asking, “Who desires to share first?” you’re inviting the one who dominates to leap in proper originally. By instantly asking another person to start, you’re main dialogue time and making a protected area for the shy participant to contribute.

The last word objective of Bible examine is to get to know God higher.

5. Construct relationships.

Bible examine must be deeply relational. The last word objective of Bible examine is to get to know God higher. We’re spending time in his phrase, studying story after story about how he engaged every kind of individuals, demonstrating his need to be with his folks. Bible examine is one solution to give him our full consideration and to anticipate his.

Bible examine can also be a spot to present consideration to others. When Bible examine is a spot the place contributors really feel seen and cared for, they are going to hold exhibiting up. I consider for this reason David prioritized our Bible examine. We ate dinner collectively each week and deliberate nights across the hearth pit to get to know each other higher. And there’s a lot to study from each other’s questions, discoveries, and insights!

6. Domesticate security.

When Bible examine is a protected place to share discoveries and to ask laborious questions, contributors will prioritize attendance. Everybody craves a spot to be sincere about doubts and questions. Do not forget that you don’t should reply each query on the spot. When stumped by a query, you possibly can say one thing like, “What an excellent query. I’d like to present that extra thought and circle again subsequent week.” Take pleasure in being a co-learner with these you’re main. When doubts are confessed, reply with compassion and curiosity slightly than a correction and even recommendation. You possibly can say one thing like, “Thanks for sharing that doubt. That sounds laborious. I’ve wrestled by way of one thing comparable.” Or ask the group, “Has anybody else had comparable questions? How had been you inspired in your season of doubt?”

Rigorously contemplate your viewers. Are there folks attending who’re interested by Christianity however don’t profess religion in Christ? Are there contributors who have not learn the Bible? Additionally, keep in mind that there are totally different studying kinds represented and totally different personalities. Not everybody enjoys filling in charts and making lists. Incorporate photographs, art work, and music. Contemplate the wants of your viewers as you put together the dialogue and educating time, together with questions that each the brand new believer and the seasoned Bible pupil wish to reply.

7. Contemplate what’s going on on the earth.

Bible examine ought to influence our lives, making us an increasing number of just like the Lord Jesus. We wish our time within the phrase to affect our households, friendships, workplaces, and even the nations. Know what’s going on on the earth. Learn the headlines. Who must be fed and clothed? How will we shine mild into seemingly hopeless conditions? What’s inflicting battle amongst Christians? Transfer your contributors to motion on the earth. If you happen to really feel you don’t have time throughout Bible examine to present a name to motion or software, you could be elevating content material above coronary heart change.

Main a Bible examine is necessary, however it doesn’t at all times should be difficult. Don’t let concern or perfectionism hold you from opening the pages of Scripture alongside others. Lead the strong dialogue. Contemplate laborious questions. Share discoveries. Construct relationships. We’d like extra Bible research! There could also be a “David” in your world who will change his schedule to attend your examine. And God is delighted to satisfy you in your examine of the Bible!

Colleen Searcy is the creator of The Story of Jacob: An 8-Week Bible Study.

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