I listen to a lot of podcasts, and a newer one I’ve been enjoying is called Table of (mal)Contents. The show is mostly about reading, and I’ve gotten some great book recommendations by listening.
On a recent episode, two of the hosts were talking about writing. Both of these men have written multiple books, and they were discussing their writing habits, how they come up with book ideas, editing, and other writing topics.
As they were talking about editing, one of the hosts (Barnabas Piper) said something that got me thinking—not so much about writing, but about preparing Bible studies for my small group. (A link to the episode is here; this quote begins at the 30-minute mark.)
People want to have 100% satisfaction with their written work, and you just won’t. You just come to the place where you’re like, “this was my best effort, my best contribution to ….” So I did a book on pastor’s kid, I did a book on faith and doubt, a book on curiosity. Are any of those the definitive word on those things? No. My hope is that they are the right kind contribution to connect with the right kind of reader and that I didn’t say anything terrible or stylistically just crappy. […] I think perfectionism is a terrible bane for writers.
I was struck by his comment about his books not being the “definitive word” on any of those subjects. I’ve grappled a lot with perfectionism when preparing to lead my small group.
Not a Seminary Class
In a Bible study meeting, my time is limited. We might have 45 or 60 minutes to look at the passage together. And I have a specific goal during that time: I want to help my friends see the main point of the passage and think about the implications for their lives.
We cannot do in a small group study what can be accomplished in a seminary class. Some passages are so rich that to dive into all of the connections and theological implications would take hours. And some small group members do not have the background or interest to cover all of those (sometimes complicated) topics.
A small group study will rarely cover everything associated with a Bible passage. But the study will be a success if we can read, understand, and apply the Scriptures in a faithful way.
A Check on My Ego
It is tempting for me to design a small group study as the definitive word on a Bible passage. Not only do I like the idea of being complete, but I like the recognition that comes from leading a profound discussion.
Perhaps other leaders face this same temptation. I want others to praise me as their small group leader. I like sounding smart and impressing people with my learning. The more theological richness I can wring out of a passage, my thinking sometimes goes, the better my reputation.
Of course, this posture is self-focused and wicked. Leading a Bible study is an opportunity to serve others and help them encounter the God of the universe. It is not a venue for shining a spotlight on myself. And exploring doctrine just for the sake of a sophisticated conversation is rarely the best way to serve the people in my group. When I am more concerned about my own praise than the way my friends worship and follow God, I am a glory thief. And I should shudder.
But the gospel says there is good news for glory thieves. For Christians, God is a loving, faithful Father. Because of the work of Jesus, he offers forgiveness and the power and motivation to change.
Keep it Simple
Bible study leaders, let’s remember that we don’t need to prepare the definitive study on our passage. We should study the passage ourselves, let the message change us, and then work hard to lead our group to the main point of the passage. Let’s aim for the “right kind of contribution that connects” with our friends.
God’s word is powerful and his Spirit is at work. He will bring about the fruit he wants from our efforts. We don’t need to craft the perfect study to make this happen.
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