Ryan Higginbottom | Knowable Word

A New Worksheet for Bible Study Leaders

March 29, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Recently, I’ve been writing about leading small group Bible studies. In particular, I’ve tried to help leaders minimize the chances that their questions fall to the ground in silence.

As a result, I’ve been thinking about the importance of questions. Aside from studying the Bible text itself, writing good questions may be the most important, difficult work of a Bible study leader.

I’ve created a worksheet which contains the fruit of this labor. My hope is that some small group leaders may find this helpful as they write questions for their groups. (In the future, you can find a link to this worksheet on our Resources page.)

The Worksheet

At the top of the worksheet, there is space to write the main point of the passage under consideration. This can act like a compass for all question writing; most questions will either lead to the main point or flow from it.

The largest section of the worksheet is the space to write discussion questions. On the right side of the page, I have listed the characteristics of a good question, about which I have written previously. I have found this helpful in my own study preparations—having these qualities nearby is a great reminder.

Finally, I have space at the bottom of the sheet for a study leader to work on a launching question. Though this usually begins a small group meeting, I frequently write it last because I want to get a sense of the whole discussion before thinking about how to kick it off. The characteristics of a good launching question are taken from Peter’s first post on the issue and a follow-up that I wrote.

At Knowable Word, we aim to help ordinary people learn to study the Bible. I offer this worksheet to small group leaders as a tool for your work bench.

When Small Group Members Are Reluctant to Participate

March 15, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Many small group Bible study leaders face long periods of silence during their meetings. They ask a question. They get no answer.

This awkwardness may be due to the quality of their question. Asking a good question that provokes thoughtful responses is hard! Unanswered questions may also be due to an atmosphere in the group that stifles interaction.

The last reason I’ve offered for these silent stretches is the people in the group. Some people are simply reluctant to participate.

Let’s be clear: People are not a problem to fix. Rather, it is our job as leaders to love our people.

Outside of Group Meetings

There are scores of reasons for people to be hesitant to engage in discussion about the Bible. These reasons may spring from bad experiences, feelings of inadequacy, or even social anxiety.

A small group leader should not guess or assume what’s going on. They should get to know their group members outside of the group meetings.

Relationships take time and effort, but a little can go a long way. Phone calls, emails, and conversations over coffee can help to break down barriers and build trust, friendship, and understanding.

With specific attention to small group discussion, these outside-the-meeting conversations can offer a lot of missing information. Group members can open up about their experiences, and they may be willing to share why they don’t often engage in the conversation.

If you are a small group leader trying to get to know their people outside of the group meetings, I have two broad pieces of advice. First, emphasize how much you value their presence in the group. Whether or not they participate, their membership in your small community counts.

You might also ask how you could make the discussion more helpful to them. The quiet members of your group may have insights about the group and your leadership that you haven’t considered.

These reluctant friends should know that you value any contribution they make and that you are eager for them to engage more—if and when they are comfortable doing so.

During Group Meetings

Getting to know members of a small group is a huge step forward, and it will help leaders during small group Bible study meetings.

It’s not hard to find gradual ways to involve members in the conversation. We can ask them to read portions of Scripture, to summarize the conversation from the previous meeting, or to answer some easier/observation questions. In this way we can build up the confidence of our quieter friends and help them feel more comfortable in the group.

Another strategy for involving quieter group members is to call on them by name (instead of throwing a question out to the whole group). We should only do this if we know in advance this won’t embarrass anyone, and we can even contact the person ahead of time and ask for permission and/or share the question we plan to ask them. When calling on a person by name, I usually include an easy way for them to politely decline to answer.

If our group members know that we love them, and if we’ve created a good climate in our group, then regular, gentle encouragement will go a long way toward bringing people into the conversation.

While some people can and should be encouraged to take risks and participate, others should not. Part of getting to know the people in our groups involves knowing why they don’t often speak and whether or not that reason is an area for encouraging Christian growth. For example, a young woman who doesn’t speak because she is afraid of being wrong is different than a thirty-something man whose reluctance springs from persistent migraine headaches. We should work with and encourage the former while being understanding and patient with the latter. Love and leadership takes many forms!

Conclusion

Small group Bible studies come in a thousand different forms, and each group member offers something different. The best group leaders will get to know their friends well and encourage them to contribute when they are able.

Creating an Atmosphere for Discussion in Your Small Group

March 1, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Most Bible studies are marked by periods of silence that last just a little too long.

These silences usually happen when the group leader asks a bad question. I’ve recently written about the characteristics of a good question, and I’ve provided some examples.

Now we turn to another reason for unanswered questions: a group atmosphere that discourages interaction.

A Bad Atmosphere

The culture of any group takes a lot of time and effort to create, but after the culture is established a lot of decisions and behaviors become automatic. When everyone is expected to share prayer requests or stay afterward to play Backgammon, those activities develop into part of the routine.

A small group leader should aim to create a group atmosphere in which deep, vibrant conversation is expected. When this is the air we breathe, few good questions will go unanswered.

Creating a Good Atmosphere

A small group leader has an enormous influence on the group’s culture. There are at least four ways a leader can work to create a climate that encourages good discussion.

A Leader Must Value Discussion

Perhaps this is obvious, but a small group leader needs to value discussion in order for it to happen. They need to be convinced it is actually good—both for the group and for the leader—to have conversation in the group.

Many leaders know that the question-and-answer model is expected, but deep down they resent it. They think the group would be better off if they could share their knowledge without interruption—and a brain-to-brain download would be even more efficient!

Having attended classes and small groups for twenty-some years, I can tell when a leader values discussion and when they are just playing a part. And, if you’re a leader, trust me—your friends can tell whether or not you want to hear from them.

Hear this, leaders: Conversation is the best way for your group members to learn and grow. And discussion is also better than lecturing for you, as a leader. Your friends are not the only ones who need to listen, engage, and learn!

A Leader Must Invite Discussion

Inviting discussion is different than tolerating or even welcoming it. Leaders who value discussion will invite it from their group members—regularly and emphatically.

How does a leader invite discussion? They ask for it. They work hard to write good questions. And they thank their group members (both during and after the meeting) for their participation.

A small group leader should also look forward to conversation with their group, and they should say so. They should note the ways they learn and benefit from their friends’ insights, comments, and questions.

A Leader Must Engage in Discussion With Love

A great indicator of how much a leader values discussion is the way they listen and react when discussion actually happens. If conversation serves only as filler in the leader’s mind, they will be impatient or inattentive when others are talking. If this sort of leader is listening at all, it’s only to spot another opportunity to speak.

Our posture, our eye contact, our expressions, and our engagement with answers from our friends all communicate our desire (or lack of desire) for discussion.

Now, leaders need to be prepared to field some off-the-wall comments. We should be gracious in response, praising what is praiseworthy without affirming every point. This takes care, because a leader’s bad reaction to an answer will squash any further discussion during that meeting (and possibly for meetings to come).

When a small group member hijacks the conversation or shuts it down, the leader may need to speak with that person privately to explain how their behavior is affecting the group. And if this persists, that leader may need to ask questions targeted at (or away from) specific members of the group.

A Leader Must Pray

Though this item is last in my list, it is first in importance. A good small group leader should pray about all aspects of their group, and this includes the in-meeting discussion.

If we believe that the Holy Spirit is needed to understand and benefit from the Bible, and if we believe that the interaction offered in a small group study is vital for gaining this benefit, then we should regularly bring this request before the Lord.

Clearer Skies

The atmosphere in a small group Bible study can be like smog in a big city, choking out all possibility of vibrant conversation. But with some adjustments, a leader can aim for the blue skies and fresh air of wide, open spaces, where discussion will flourish and Christians can grow mightily in the Lord.

Asking Good Small Group Questions: An Example

February 15, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

You can tell me what qualities you like in a dessert all you want, but eventually I’m going to ask you to get specific.

Similarly, laying out principles for good questions to ask in a small group Bible study is all well and good. But leaders need examples for clarity and motivation.

1 Thessalonians 1

Today I’m sharing a Bible study I led on 1 Thessalonians 1 for my church small group. I am far from a perfect example, so please take this simply as one man’s effort to point in a helpful direction.

As evidence of how much I have to learn, I made several improvements to the study in the process of writing this article! Thinking carefully about good questions has been stimulating.

After the study, I’ll explain how these questions illustrate the six characteristics I described in my last post. I’m numbering my questions here in order to make later referencing easier.

Bible Study Plan

Here’s the outline of the study.

Launching question: Can anyone tell us about an experience you’ve had sharing your testimony of coming to faith in Christ?
Give background on the Thessalonian church. It was a young church!
What do you observe about Paul’s thanksgiving in verses 2–3?
- Follow-up: What is significant about the items Paul mentions?
What evidence does Paul give that God has chosen the Thessalonians?
- Follow-up: Does the power and conviction in verse 5 refer to Paul or the Thessalonians? How do you know?
Why does Paul mention God’s choice?
Note that Paul is speaking of the Thessalonians’ experience chronologically.
What happened to the Thessalonians after the gospel came to them? (See verses 6–7.)
- Follow-up: What is the difference between the way Paul uses “imitator” and “example”?
What is significant about the locations Paul mentions? (See verses 7–8.)
What were people saying about the Thessalonians? Why does Paul highlight these things?
The main verbs in verse 9–10 are “turn,” “serve,” and “wait.” How are these actions important for young Christians?
- Follow-up: How are these actions important for more mature Christians?
Does Paul intend verses 9–10 to be a summary of the Christian life? How do you know?
How does the gospel relate to verses 9–10?
- Follow-up: How do verses 2–8 relate to verses 9–10?
What is Paul’s main point in writing chapter 1? How do you know?
What implications does this have for us? What implications does this have for our work making disciples?

Reviewing These Questions

I have tried to write these questions with my list of six characteristics in mind. Let’s see how those qualities affected my questions.

A good question is asked in a natural order.

While my launching question is personal, none of my other questions get personal until the end. I’ve also tried to ask easier, observational questions (like questions 3 and 4) before harder, interpretive questions (like questions 5, 8, or 11).

A good question is honest.

While I have studied this passage quite a bit, I know that others in my group have much to teach me. So I want my questions to be open and inviting (like the follow-up to question 3 and questions 8 and 10). I also avoid fill-in-the-blank questions–it’s actually for this reason that I state some observations (see #6 above) instead of asking about them. I don’t want my group to feel they must read my mind.

A good question is tethered to the text.

In many of my questions, I use specific language from the passage or verse numbers. In other places, when I ask, How do you know?, that is my effort to direct my friends back to the Bible for their reasoning.

I have made room for people to speak from their different perspectives and experiences (see questions 10, 12, and 14). But ideally all such discussion will spring from the words of God.

A good question is understandable.

I’ve tried to avoid long or complicated questions. My longest question above is question 10, and I would ask this twice before inviting responses.

A good question is purposeful.

When putting this study plan together, I wrote down the main point of the passage and then wrote the questions to lead my group toward that conclusion. My hope was that when I asked question 13, my group would have a solid answer.

A good question is prayerfully considered.

In my planning I tried to imagine the responses that each question could provoke. If the question was ambiguous or unclear, I tried to write with more focus. This lead to several inquiries with immediate follow-ups prepared.

I’ve written this before, but it’s worth repeating. Preparing good questions is time-consuming, demanding work.

Encouraging Conversation

This two-post series on good questions is part of a larger effort to help Bible study leaders encourage conversation in their meetings. In my next article, I’ll write about creating an atmosphere within a Bible study that invites interaction.

6 Characteristics of a Good Small Group Question

February 1, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

A bad question is one reason for lingering silence in a small group Bible study. So, for small group leaders, it is worth our time to think about what makes a good question.

Learning how to ask good questions is a lifelong pursuit. It pays dividends in almost every setting and every relationship in life. But there are few gatherings in which this skill makes a greater difference than in teaching or leading a small group.

What Makes a Good Question?

I have taught and led small group Bible studies for many years, so I’ve had plenty of occasions to ponder the quality of my questions. The observations below are the fruit of my experience, though I know I have much more to learn. I welcome additional contributions in the comments.

In my experience, good questions in small groups share these six qualities.

A good question is asked in a natural order.

What is true in one-on-one conversations is also true in small groups: Accelerating too quickly makes things awkward. Learning and respecting the natural progression of questions is a concrete way for leaders to love their group members.

Questions should generally move from easy to difficult and from objective to personal. It is also usually advisable to ask questions in the observe-interpret-apply progression that we suggest as a Bible study framework.

A good question is honest.

I’ve written an entire post about honest questions, so I will offer only a quick summary here.

Having studied the Bible passage in depth before the meeting, a leader should have a point of view and a direction in which they want to lead the conversation. However, the best questions are asked in humility, understanding that even the most studied Christians have much to learn from others.

Asking simplistic fill-in-the-blank or guess-what-I’m-thinking questions is often more an activity than an invitation to interaction. These questions rarely supply enough oxygen to sustain a conversation.

A good question is tethered to the text.

There are certainly times to probe our friends’ thoughts, experiences, and feelings. After all, our group members’ backgrounds and perspectives are part of what makes small groups so valuable. But within a small group Bible study, discussion should flow from the Scriptures.

If the purpose of our small group is to study the Bible, we should ask questions about the Bible. Our human tendency is to look away from Scripture, so many of our questions must gently remind our friends to look back at the text.

Application questions are the most personal and individual questions we can ask, but even these should originate in the text. Having talked through observations and interpreted the passage as a group, the author’s main point should drive all application questions.

A good question is understandable.

When we are excited about a Bible passage, it is easy to get carried away when writing questions. We must break our questions down into small, manageable steps.

Good questions should not be too long. They should not introduce fancy concepts or big words. Usually, they should not consist of multiple parts.

A good question is concise and clear. It asks people to consider something specific. If our friends can’t understand what we’re asking, we’ve no chance of a good discussion.

A good question is purposeful.

When putting notes together for a meeting, a leader should have a defined plan. They should have a considered idea about the main point for the passage, and they should put a question plan together to help their group gather the information to arrive at that destination.

This means that some interesting features of the passage may not make it into the discussion. With a limited amount of time, a leader needs to choose their questions carefully.

A good question is prayerfully considered.

As leaders, we should pray about all aspects of our Bible study meetings. This includes our questions and the conversations they spark.

A key ingredient of planning our questions is considering possible responses. If we envision the answers, we can evaluate the quality of our inquiries and anticipate the need to rephrase or follow up in a particular way. And the better we know our small group members, the better we’ll be able to predict how our questions will land on them.

Worth the Effort

A low-quality question is just one of the explanations for silence in a small group. But it may be the most common. (I will write about bad group atmospheres and reluctant group members—the other reasons I gave for unanswered questions—in the coming weeks.) Next week I’ll provide an example of small group questions that have the qualities I’ve listed above.

Planning helpful questions is slow, difficult work and it takes time to get better. But it’s worth it—for the good of our meetings and the growth of our friends.

Why a Small Group Question Doesn’t Get an Answer

January 18, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Let’s start with an enormous understatement: This school year has been difficult. Both teachers and students have had to deal with incredible challenges.

Since August I have been teaching my classes in a hybrid style—some students are in the classroom and some are joining the class remotely. My main struggle has been participation. Especially for remote students, it is much easier to stay quiet and let others do most of the interacting. Consequently, I’ve been thinking a lot about silence.

Silence in the classroom and silence in Bible studies are not that different. They can both be deflating for the teacher/leader, and they usually come from one of three sources.

Why to Minimize Silence

The main strength of a small group Bible study is the interaction that takes place. But if there’s no dialogue, the meeting falls short of its potential.

Small group silence usually happens when the leader asks a question that gets no response. After a second or two, the leader rephrases the question or gives an answer himself.

Not All Silence Is Bad

We should note that not all silence is bad. Thinking takes time! So, if a leader asks a thought-provoking question, some silence is natural—especially if the group has not considered the question before.

One of the essential skills for all teachers and small group leaders is the ability to sit in silence. Most people hate silence and will do anything to fill it. But that won’t do in a setting that thrives on conversation. A leader who can’t allow silence short-circuits the thinking and learning that can happen in the group.

What’s the difference between good silence and bad silence? That largely depends on the group, but here’s a rule of thumb. When I was first training as a teacher, a mentor advised me to count silently to fifteen after I asked a question.

For those just learning this skill, fifteen seconds is an eternity. But, comfort comes with repetition. And by allowing this silence, the leader emphasizes that they genuinely want to hear from others.

3 Reasons for Silence

If silence in a group routinely stretches beyond fifteen seconds, something might need to change. There are at least three reasons why a small group leader’s question might be met with silence.

A Bad Question

A group might be silent because the question is bad. It is much easier to ask a bad question than a good one! The older I get, the more convinced I am that asking helpful questions is essential to excellent teaching and fruitful leadership. And asking good questions is hard work.

What makes a bad question in a small group Bible study? Here are three possibilities.

The question is too personal. If a small group leader shifts too quickly from textual to personal questions, this whiplash may cause people to close up.
The question is too obvious. Leaders should avoid asking fill-in-the-blank questions. Group members may feel insulted by questions with trivial answers.
The question is too difficult. While a leader has been studying the passage for hours, some group members have just read it for the first time. Asking people to perform high-level analysis without the proper lead-up is sometimes asking too much.

A Bad Atmosphere

So much of what happens in a small group depends on the climate of the group. Start/stop times, topics for small talk, even who prays and for how long—these are among the many aspects of a small group that develop over time and are a part of its atmosphere.

How much a group values discussion is a foundational part of a small group’s culture. And the small group leader has a huge influence.

Simply put, if the Bible study leader doesn’t value or desire input from group members, discussion is much less likely to occur, regardless of how many questions are asked.

A small group’s atmosphere may also be affected by dominant group members, conflicts between people, or other issues that do not arise from the leader. These may make the climate unfriendly to participation.

Reluctant Group Members

The first two reasons for silence were problems to be fixed. The third reason falls in a different category.

Some people are, by nature, less willing to answer questions in a group setting. They may be afraid of giving a wrong answer, they may take longer to think through answers, or they may just not enjoy talking in a group setting.

A person’s physical or mental health can also play a role in their participation. A group member who is ill, tired, grieving, or depressed may be more withdrawn during group meetings. These are natural and understandable reasons for not answering questions.

Encouraging Conversations

Any small group leader who wants their group to bear fruit is frustrated when they ask a question and hear no response. The good news is that there are ways to improve as a leader to minimize these stretches of silence.

In my next post we’ll start to explore how a leader can ask questions that stimulate thought and illuminate the Scripture. We will also learn some tips to create a culture of friendly interaction within the small group. Finally, we will discuss ways to understand, value, and encourage group members who don’t often participate.

The New-Bible Fallacy

January 4, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

If I buy new running shoes, I’ll become a dedicated runner. If I subscribe to a language-training app, I’ll be fluent in a snap. If I purchase an expensive notebook, I’m sure to be a poet.

It’s easy to spot the flaws in this thinking, and our experiences confirm it. New equipment, by itself, won’t produce lasting change.

Though this error is obvious, this thinking still creeps in, even into our spiritual lives. In particular, many people act like getting a new Bible is the key to reading the Bible more.

It’s not.

The Effect of a New Bible

I’ve gotten a few new Bibles in my life, and the first few weeks unfold in a predictable way.

Week 1 — I love using my new Bible and I’m reading it more than ever. The feel, the smell, the experience of holding it in my hands—I enjoy all of it!
Week 2 — I’m still excited to read my new Bible, but my schedule is getting busy. For some reason, I don’t seem to have as much time or desire to read the Bible as last week.
Week 3 — I recognize all the benefits of having this great new Bible, but I’m not reading it nearly as much as I’d like.
Week 4 — I don’t read my new Bible any more or less than I was reading the Bible a few weeks ago.

I’m guessing you can relate. When we recognize that we don’t read the Bible as much as we’d like, we long for an easy fix. A new physical Bible seems like just the thing! Yet that new book doesn’t produce long-term change.

Producing Real Change

New possessions—in fact, most changes to our environment—won’t make us different people. They don’t have the power to remake us.

And yet, people can change for the better! We can change! Children of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can resist temptation, grow in obedience, and put the deeds of the body to death (see Romans 8:9–13).

So, how do we change our Bible reading behavior for the better? How do we read the Bible more consistently, more deeply, and with greater anticipation?

Real change begins on the inside. In other words, if our hearts and minds are transformed, it’s easier for our behavior to follow. Repentance means putting off our old selves and putting on the new. (See Ephesians 4:17–24.)

Renewed hearts and minds emerge when God gives us new affections. And proper affections are born of truth.

With that said, here are some foundational truths about the Bible. We need to absorb these truths deep in our bones if we want to change.

The Bible is God’s word. It is unlike any other writing or book. (See 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21.)
The Bible contains the most important story and the most important truths we will ever encounter. Understanding and remembering these truths are a matter of life and death for our souls. (See Psalm 19:7–11.)
The Bible is knowable. God has inspired the Bible so that we might know him through his Son, Jesus. (See John 5:39.)
Reading the Bible is essential for faith—both for our conversion and for our ongoing transformation. (See Romans 12:1–2.)
Because of sin, the human heart is both stubborn and forgetful. We need the Holy Spirit to help us read, understand, and remember the Bible. (See John 14:26.)
Because Christians are adopted children of God, our Bible reading cannot earn or lose us any favor with God. We don’t read to be loved; we read because we are loved already.

If God changes our hearts so that we believe these truths, we will be much more likely to live by them. This change of heart will be ongoing and will last a lifetime.

A New Bible

In the West, there’s rarely a need for a new physical Bible. God has blessed us with an abundance of digital resources for reading his word, and we can start any time we wish.

However, let’s not scoff at the purchase (or gift) of a new Bible. This too can be a great blessing.

A new physical Bible will not bring about an immediate, magical devotion to God. But God himself can change our hearts and make more regular reading a reality.

4 Bible Studies for the New Year

December 7, 2020 By Ryan Higginbottom

As we approach the end of one year, we plan for the next. For many Christians, the start of the year offers a chance to assess their devotional habits and commit to new practices.

Lots of believers begin read-through-the-Bible plans in January, and this is a good thing! (Here at Knowable Word, we have our own 2021 Bible reading challenge!) Surveying the totality of God’s word is good for our souls.

But a careful study of the Bible is essential for our spiritual lives as well. If you’d like some structure to help you study the Bible in 2021, this article is for you.

What We Mean by “Bible Study”

In some circles, an article touting Bible studies for the new year would give recommendations of resources to peruse or purchase. It’s not too hard to find devotional works that guide believers through sections or books of Scripture.

That’s not what I’m advocating here. Though devotionals have their place, we want you to hear directly from God.

You might think you don’t have the time, ability, or intellect, but you’d be wrong—you can study the Bible yourself. That’s the very reason this website exists! God’s word is a knowable word, and he wants you to know him through his word.

Toward that end, we have many resources and articles to help you get started. Studying the Bible begins with reading and rereading the passage at hand. You’ll want to observe what the author wrote and use those observations to ask interpretive questions. As you answer those questions, seek out the author’s main point in writing. As you grow in your understanding, apply the passage to your life and your spheres of influence.

While you can and should study the Bible on your own, it’s healthy to talk about what you’re learning with others. As you consider the Bible study plans below, consider recruiting some friends from your local church to travel this path with you. A check-in meeting every week might be a helpful practice to begin the year.

Four Plans to Study the Bible

As with my previous articles on Bible studies for Advent and Lent, there isn’t anything revolutionary in these Bible study plans. Instead, I’ve provided sections of Scripture that can be studied over four weeks, broken down by week.

The studies below relate to the theme of newness. So, at the beginning of the new year you can study portions of the Bible in which you will encounter other beginnings.

A Study in Genesis

Genesis is the ultimate book of beginnings, and its opening chapters are foundational to the rest of Scripture.

Week 1 (January 3–9): Genesis 1:1–31
Week 2 (January 10–16): Genesis 2:1–25
Week 3 (January 17–23): Genesis 3:1–24
Week 4 (January 24–30): Genesis 4:1–26

A Study in Joshua

After Moses dies, the people of Israel get a new leader (Joshua). They cross the Jordan into the Promised Land and begin their new mission.

Week 1 (January 3–9): Joshua 1:1–18
Week 2 (January 10–16): Joshua 2:1–24
Week 3 (January 17–23): Joshua 3:1–17
Week 4 (January 24–30): Joshua 4:1–24

A Study in John

The beginning of John’s Gospel connects the beginning of Jesus’s ministry with the beginning of creation.

Week 1 (January 3–9): John 1:1–18
Week 2 (January 10–16): John 1:19–51
Week 3 (January 17–23): John 2:1–25
Week 4 (January 24–30): John 3:1–36

A Study in Acts

The first chapters of Acts describe the beginning of the gathered and scattered church.

Week 1 (January 3–9): Acts 1:1–26
Week 2 (January 10–16): Acts 2:1–36
Week 3 (January 17–23): Acts 2:37–3:26
Week 4 (January 24–30): Acts 4:1–37

The Best Way to Start a Year

Whether you adopt one of these study plans or not, there’s no better way to begin 2021 than to draw closer to God through his word. May your year be full of joyful understanding of the truth of Scripture and the glad fruit of a changed heart and life.

Context Matters: Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly With God

November 23, 2020 By Ryan Higginbottom

Perhaps you’ve heard that Christians should do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Even people outside the church have seen and heard these phrases.

Some people take this verse (Micah 6:8) as the theme of the book of Micah. Others claim this is even more important—that it’s the central message of the entire Old Testament, or the whole Bible.

This verse has made its way into mission statements for organizations of all types. You can see it everywhere from Christmas cards to protest banners.

But does the current use of this verse honor its context? God has given us paragraphs, chapters, and books—not just sayings and slogans. When we learn to read the Bible as God intends, we may find that our most quoted verses play a different role than we assumed.

The Immediate Context

The immediate context of Micah 6:8 is an indictment of the Lord against his people (Micah 6:2).

God reminds his people what he has done for them. He brought them out of Egypt and redeemed them (Micah 6:4). He turned the intended curses of Balak and Balaam into blessing, and he brought the people across the Jordan into the promised land (Micah 6:5). The people of God should not act as though God has wearied them (Micah 6:3).

Micah asks what sacrifice would be acceptable to the Lord—burnt offerings? Thousands of rams? Rivers of oil? A firstborn child? (See Micah 6:6–7.)

We read Micah 6:8 after these questions. No specific transgression or sin (Micah 6:7) has been mentioned, so Micah 6:8 is the charge against the people to which verses 6 and 7 are a response.

Yes, Micah 6:8 sets out God’s desires for his people in heart and action. But God is not merely giving a mission statement, he is leveling a legal charge. As the rest of the book of Micah makes clear, Israel has utterly failed to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with their God. This failure is detailed (and the deserved punishments are outlined) in Micah 6:9–16.

Needed: A New Leader

We must not only locate Micah 6:8 in its chapter but also its book.

Micah spends much of the first three chapters of the book warning Israel and Judah about the coming judgment for their sin. And many of these warnings are pointed at those in leadership.

The rulers of the nations should know justice (Micah 3:1).
The prophets lead the people astray, motivated by self-interest (Micah 3:5).
The rulers of Israel detest justice and fill Jerusalem with sin. Their officials, priests, and prophets are motivated by money, and they do not see that disaster awaits their city (Micah 3:9–12).

The famous passage about the coming Messiah (Micah 5:2–5) is a direct consequence of these terrible failings. Israel needs a new ruler and a new shepherd; Israel needs peace. God will provide.

Because God is going to bring a new king for Israel, and because God’s king will be completely faithful in his ways, we can read Micah 6:8 through this lens. The Messiah will do justice, the Messiah will love kindness, and the Messiah will walk humbly with God. The Gospels show how beautifully and perfectly Jesus fulfilled these predictions.

Look to the Lord

After the indictment of Micah 6, readers naturally wonder where to find hope. Micah knows his own sin and admits that he cannot find any righteous on the earth (Micah 7:2). There is so much evil and corruption around that he cannot trust anyone (Micah 7:3–6). He must look to the Lord and wait for the God of his salvation (Micah 7:7).

Micah knows he has sinned against the Lord, but he knows just as surely that the Lord will vindicate him (Micah 7:8–9). In the end, Micah can hope and trust in God because of his steadfast love and compassion.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
from the days of old. (Micah 7:18–20)

Conclusion

The way many people use Micah 6:8 is not exactly wrong, but it is incomplete. In this prophetic book, this verse serves as the law leveled by God against the people of Israel. And the judge brings a guilty verdict.

The guilt of the people reflects the guilt of their leaders, and God has promised a Messiah. We cannot depend on ourselves or anyone else except this one who will “be great to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4).

This Messiah—Jesus—will do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with his God. And he will do it for us.

Context matters.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.

Don’t Save All Your Application Until the End

November 9, 2020 By Ryan Higginbottom

When we write about Bible study on this website, we use the categories of Observation, Interpretation, and Application (OIA). This approach to the Bible is time-tested and matches the way human communication works.

Because the best interpretation happens after thorough observation and the best application happens after thorough interpretation, application happens near the end of most personal Bible study. And, consequently, most preachers and Bible study leaders wrap up their sermons and meetings by helping their people to apply the text.

Sometimes that’s the best course of action. And sometimes, it just plain isn’t.

Respect the Structure of the Passage: An Example

My church small group has been working its way through 1 Thessalonians this year. Following John Stott’s commentary, we studied 1 Thess 4:13–5:11 in a recent meeting.

This passage has two clear sections with distinct (though related) points. The first part (1 Thess 4:13–18) concerns how to encourage those who are grieving the loss of loved ones with comfort about the coming of the Lord. The second part (1 Thess 5:1–11) concerns the day of the Lord and its relation to judgment and salvation.

As we studied the passages, it was natural to talk about application related to the first section before moving on to the second. Though my usual pattern is to leave all application for the end of the meeting, we would have lost all momentum of the OIA process if we skipped application related to grief and loss. We needed to press in to that issue in the moment. The passage demanded it.

Time and Predictability

There are at least two other reasons not to always leave all application until the end of the sermon or lesson.

Teachers and preachers often have to make time-related adjustments on the fly. Announcements abound, a meeting starts late, or something unexpected happens. The manuscript or outline is suddenly too long, and something needs to be cut. That usually means that application is cut in half or eliminated altogether, because it is easiest to excise the end.

Additionally, if we fall into a predictable pattern of only bringing up application at the end, our friends will come to expect it. And they may learn to put up their defenses to the work of the Spirit. If instead we occasionally surprise our group with application sprinkled throughout the study or sermon, we may see more changed hearts, minds, and behaviors.

Let the Passage Be the Guide

Our interpretive outlines should be dictated by the passage and so should our application. If we read several commands in our passage, or if the passage breaks down neatly into sections, it may be best to have several application moments in our preaching or leading.

There are times to land on application once, with a definitive thunk that makes your friends take notice. But there are other times to lead your friends to application and then, a few minutes later, take them there again.

Disclosure: The Amazon link in this post is an affiliate link, which means if you make an Amazon purchase after clicking that link this blog will receive a small amount of money.

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