You might be asking yourself, “How do I lead a bible study?” Here are some guidelines. First, make sure you’ve read through the study material before the meeting. Second, be patient. Make sure to ask questions that don’t “re-judge” the issue you’re presenting. Third, prepare questions that will help the group grow spiritually. You’ll also want to be sure to prepare the study material before the meeting, so you can lead a Bible study that’s worth attending.
Prepare for a bible study
During a bible study, a person leading a group should be able to facilitate the discussion and seek application. He or she should not simply give a lecture for 40 minutes and expect a group to take the lesson on board. Instead, a leader should facilitate a discussion and correct participants who do not understand the Bible. In this way, he or she can be an effective Bible study leader while being able to relate to the participants.
Before beginning a Bible study, a person should prepare for it in advance. He or she should have a brief outline of the passage, stating the basic situation, characters, and issue of the chapter. The leader should then discuss how to approach the passage. Different groups may choose to approach a passage differently, so a leader should be prepared for this variety of approaches. Besides preparing in advance for a bible study, the person should also prepare for a prayer time before starting the study.
Pose questions
When leading a bible study, it is important to pose questions and make connections between what you are teaching and current events. You can connect the passage to current events by providing a short history or background to the text. When you begin the study, ask your group to read a passage aloud and to share their initial impressions. If you are leading a Bible study for the first time, be sure to pose questions that help them understand the context of the text.
While leading a bible study, you’ll want to tailor your questions to the members of the group and their life situations. Choose topics that are relevant to the group’s situation, whether they are from different work situations, family life, child-rearing, education, Christian ethics, or larger social issues. Consider the jobs or interests of the group members. Does anyone in the group have a powerful role in society? What are the implications of that?
Encourage participants to be patient
If your group is filled with talkers, be sure to encourage them to be patient. People who talk too much can negatively impact the conversation and drive other members of the group away. Encourage participants to be patient by calling on specific people when questions come up. If a talker persists, it might be a good idea to encourage them to read the Bible in silence before asking a question. This will ensure that discussion doesn’t get bogged down in major differences of opinion.
Good Bible study leaders have a solid foundation in Christ and don’t base their self-worth on group members. They also know that the real work is going on behind the scenes and are grateful to be used by God. As a leader, you have to have patience with talkers. Sometimes this can be difficult, but you must know when and how to confront these people. In the end, you need to end your difficult conversation with a heartfelt thank you.