Tips for Leading a Bible Study
Leading a Bible study is a very important task that should not be taken lightly. If you are new to leading Bible studies, you may be apprehensive about your ability to teach and guide your group. Always remember that as long as you're allowing God to speak through you, your group will always learn something valuable. Here are some tips to prepare yourself.
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Instructions
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Pray about what topic you should study. Always start every Bible study with going to God in prayer and seeking an answer from Him about what He would like you to discuss. God can speak to you in different ways. Keep your heart open to what He may say to you.
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Prepare a topic. After you have received an answer from God about what topic you should discuss, begin to narrow down the specifics of your lesson. Think about what would be relevant to your group, and think of fresh ways to discuss a much talked about subject. Try to attach 21st-century relevance to a topic.
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Research your topic. Get a Bible and a thorough Bible dictionary. Use a notebook to jot down ideas that may come to you as you study about your subject. Take copious notes. Also check online (see the Resources below) for more information about your topic.
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Organize what you'll cover. Create an outline of topics and subtopics for your study. It's always best to have a structured study that you can deviate from, as opposed to scrambling to remember your points.
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Know your audience. Tailor your topic to relate to the group you're leading. If you're leading a group of young moms, find a way to make the study personally identifiable to them. Also take into account their Bible knowledge. Try not to be too advanced if your group is not.
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Create handouts for the group so that everyone has a reference to where you're leading, and also a guide for further self-study. Include an outline on your handout for your study topic and also relevant scriptures.
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Keep focused on your topic. It's very easy to get distracted into digressions about miscellaneous facts. Stay on topic as much as possible, and only deviate if there is a call from the group to delve deeper into a certain subject.
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Encourage questions from the group. Allows make a time allotment for a question-and-answer segment. Also, anticipate questions, and make note of them on your handout (with scriptures that back up your answers).
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Regroup. Bible studies can take a lot out of you spiritually. Allow yourself time to regroup after a study. Take some time to be with the Lord in praise and worship, and meditate on His goodness.
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Retool what will be useful for the next Bible study from your current outline.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't just scratch at the surface, people crave deeper studies.
Be flexible; sometimes God leads you away from a specific topic that you've prepared.
Avoid overwhelming the group with all the knowledge you've learned. Take it slow, and only discuss what is relevant at the time.
Resources
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Comments
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Great article. Having a bible study is not just getting together and discussing anything. I've started a few months ago and the interaction is the same. Open with praise and worship music, prayer, then everybody turns and glares at me. And its like...oh no. But God is so faithful. At the end of the night He has pulled it all together. And He leads in prayer. He has already prepared the hearts of the attendees. That's the awe of it. I just cant stop. He is our loving, faithful, patient merciful Father. He just loves for us to boast in Him.Hope someone has been encouraged and edified. The Lords Blessing over all and all of His ministries out there. To Our Heavenly God be glory, honor, dominion and power forever. Amen.
