Leading Bible Study | Knowable Word

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.

Saying, “I don’t know”

November 27, 2020 By Tom Hallman

I remember the first time he said, “I don’t know.”

The setting was my very first Bible study, or at least the very first one I took seriously. The group was small; maybe 4 or 5 of us. The book was John. The “he” I mentioned was Dave, the Bible study leader who was teaching us all how to know Jesus through the Scriptures. I was just a baby Christian at the time, but I knew that Dave knew everything about Jesus. Everything!

And that’s when it happened.

Somebody asked a question about the text. I don’t remember exactly what it was. Maybe it was why Jesus responded the way He did to His mother in John 2:3-5. Or whether John 3:16-21 was spoken by Jesus or was John’s commentary. Regardless, Dave’s answer astounded me.

“I don’t know.”

That impacted me for several reasons. First, Dave was suddenly more human. I now had the slightest bit more hope that maybe one day I could lead like he leads (though to this day he’s still a lot better at it than I am!) Second, most of my experience with Christians involved watching them get offended, angry, and/or frightened when they didn’t know something. Instead, here was Dave modeling real humility! And third, it was simply an honest answer to a good question! No shame in that.

Now, this blog is called Knowable Word, and we really do believe (and plan to show why we think this) that the Bible is knowable, that Jesus is knowable, and that you can experience a great deal of joy as you grow in knowledge of God.

However, I do hope we can also be humble enough to say, “I don’t know.” There’s a lot of hard-to-understand stuff in the Bible. The apostle Peter says that Paul is hard to understand in 2 Peter 3:15-16. Paul says that God is hard to understand in Romans 11:33. Are we wiser than they? Aren’t there many passages where we too scratch our heads and basically have to confess, “I don’t know”?

Perhaps this is what the author of Proverbs 3:5 had in mind when he penned,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (ESV)

Maybe! I don’t know.

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.

Quick! You Have One Hour to Prepare a Bible Study

October 26, 2020 By Ryan Higginbottom

The phone rings, and you’re needed. Maybe there’s been an injury or an illness, or maybe your church has changed plans at the last minute. You need to prepare a Bible study, and you only have an hour.

This may sound more like a Mission: Impossible plot than real life. But these scenarios really do happen! And it’s not too hard in 2020 to imagine an event not working out as planned.

In my previous article I described an ideal setting, where I take an average of 6.5 hours to prepare a Bible study. Today I want to consider a scenario that’s much less than ideal.

Rethink the Bible Study

With such limited preparation time, I suggest rethinking the purpose of this particular gathering. Where most meetings center on discovery guided by a leader who has thoroughly considered the passage, this meeting might be better focused on mutual discovery.

Since you’ll have only a tiny head start on the rest of the group, I suggest treating this study as a workshop more than a traditional Bible study. Together, you and the group can study the passage and move toward the author’s main point.

This approach takes a great deal of humility and trust in the Lord. This approach also rests on the fact that the Holy Spirit is our Bible teacher. During a standard Bible study meeting I find God often brings understanding and clarity (and conviction!) through other group members; this will be even more likely during a meeting with light preparation.

Treat this meeting as an opportunity to teach your friends how to study the Bible as you practice observation, interpretation, and application together. And for those who know the OIA method already—we all need to practice and sharpen those skills.

How to Spend Your One Precious Hour

If you’ve re-framed this last-minute Bible study in the way I’ve suggested, a crucial question still remains. How exactly should you use that one hour of preparation time?

Read the passage as many times as possible for 40 of those 60 minutes. After every time or two through the passage, jot down some notes about the overall structure and themes.

For the final 20 minutes of preparation, do some observation and interpretation work, trying to notice important features of the passage and asking why they are there. Be sure to pray and ask for God’s blessing and help.

You’ll likely have more questions than answers going into the meeting. But this exposure to the passage, along with the God-given wisdom and insight of your group members, may make this an exciting learning experience.

Some may wonder why I haven’t suggested picking up a study Bible or commentary. After all, the reasoning goes, why not spend all 60 minutes of your limited prep time learning from someone who has invested in this passage deeply?

The most fruitful Bible studies are led by those who are deeply acquainted with the text. You will have a more engaged and productive discussion by spending time in the Scriptures instead of any commentary about the Scriptures. Commentary-heavy preparation will likely result in a Bible study that sounds like an extended academic citation garnished with a few courtesy questions. And true application would be unlikely.

An Unlikely Event

It may not ever happen that you’re asked to lead a Bible study on short notice. But if you’re anything like me, there will be times when your ideal preparation time is slashed and squeezed by the circumstances of life.

If that happens, there’s no need to worry. Your Bible study may not look like it usually does, but God is not limited by your standard of normal. Studying the Scriptures alongside your friends may prove more fruitful than you imagined.

How Long Does it Take to Prepare a Bible Study?

October 12, 2020 By Ryan Higginbottom

On the one hand, answering the question posed in the title of this article is impossible. The amount of time required to prepare a Bible study is highly individual, depending on the passage involved along with the leader’s experience, skills, and life circumstances.

So, why attempt this at all? Some readers may be thinking about starting a Bible study group, and some may soon be asked to lead a study at their church. The time involved in such service should be part of their considerations.

My aim in what follows is to be descriptive, not prescriptive. I’ll describe roughly how long it takes me to prepare a Bible study. I am probably average when it comes to preparation time, though I have been doing this for many years.

The Stages of Preparation

The first step in preparing a Bible study is to study the passage. And the first—perhaps most important—step in studying the passage is to read it as much as possible. I try to read or listen to the passage at least 20 times before I begin any further study. (This is one of the most valuable parts of my process that I’ve changed in the last three years.) On average this takes me about two hours.

After reading and rereading the passage, I begin my OIA study. I’ve described my tools and process before, so I won’t repeat myself. My goal at this stage is to understand the author’s main point. This also takes me around two hours.

I then grab a commentary or sometimes two. My use of these tools varies depending on the complexity of the passage I’m studying. (And choosing a good commentary is important!) I’m looking for interpretive help from my commentary; I like to compare the author’s conclusions with my own. This usually takes one hour.

I next try to synthesize the commentary and my own understanding of the passage to write down a main point. I then work on personal application; after all, the best small group leader is one who has been changed by the passage. A rough time estimate: half an hour.

The final stage of my process is to turn my private study into something useful for my group. Most of this time is spent writing questions to help my friends understand the passage and discover its main point. I try to think of a good launching question, and I make sure to pray. Time: one hour.

Adding up my time estimates gives a total of about 6.5 hours.

When is Preparation Time?

For most Bible studies, I spread my preparation time out over a week. I finish the task by spending 30–60 minutes/day.

I also have friends that pack their preparation into one or two longer time blocks. Some simply prefer this; others do it out of necessity. Again, there’s no single correct approach.

Time Well Spent

As you gain experience and confidence in leading Bible studies, you will gradually need less time to prepare. That’s true with most endeavors in life.

However, I learn and grow so much during my Bible study preparation, I’m not eager to cut my time much further. For my own spiritual health, it is time well spent.

When You’ve Led a Bad Bible Study: Preparing

November 11, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

You’ve led a bad Bible study and tried to learn from the mistakes you’ve made. What comes next?

Well, usually there’s another study to lead! As you prepare for that meeting you have an opportunity to avoid the problems that turned your last meeting sour.

Remember the Gospel

Coming out of a recent bad experience, it’s easy to approach your next Bible study meeting with an unanchored heart. On the one hand, you might take this as an opportunity to prove yourself, to show the last meeting was an aberration. On the other hand, you might limp into the meeting, wounded and wearing failure on your sleeve.

There’s a better way. The gospel of Jesus keeps you from both extremes. When you know the love of God deep in your bones, you don’t have anything to prove. An outstanding Bible study this time around doesn’t earn you any points with God. The gospel also reminds you that Jesus came for sinners. Your mistakes are not a surprise to God; the price has already been paid. That penance you are trying to complete by wallowing in your sin is unnecessary.

Hear this loud and clear: You cannot lead well enough for God to love you any more. And you cannot lead poorly enough for God to love you any less.

You are God’s precious child, adopted and perfectly loved. This should give you confidence to face your next Bible study with hope and excitement, knowing that God is at work in you and in your friends as you read and discuss his Word.

Use What You’ve Learned

In my previous post, I suggested there might be valuable lessons to learn from that bad Bible study meeting. As you think toward your next meeting, now is the time to turn those lessons into actions.

If your bad meeting was a result of leader error, make sure you budget extra preparation time. Be sure to study the text carefully and ask God to change you through his Word. Approach your group with humility, knowing that even though you’ve studied the passage more than others, you might still have a lot to learn. Take the necessary time to write out good questions, leading your friends through the text to the main point (as you understand it).

If your last Bible study flopped because of conflict in the group, be sure to have any necessary conversations (no matter how uncomfortable) before the group meets next. As much as it depends on you, make sure the air is clear. You might also prayerfully consider where difficult questions or sharp opinions might arise during the upcoming study and develop a plan for handling touchy situations.

Pray

My first post in this series was all about prayer, so this might sound redundant. But, like Paul (Phil 3:1), I don’t mind repeating myself.

The whole process of leading a small group Bible study should be submerged in prayer from start to finish. Pray as you study the Bible on your own. Pray as you write your leader’s notes and your study questions. Pray as you drive to the meeting! Pray after the meeting ends.

No effective Bible study leader will neglect this essential part of the ministry.

Talk it Through

When my math students ask for advice about studying for exams, I tell them to talk to someone about the problems they’re completing. I think there’s something in the brain that snaps into place when we speak out loud what we had previously only been thinking.

In the same way, I’d encourage every Bible study leader to talk through the goals of their upcoming meeting with a friend. Describe the main point of the passage and how you plan to help your group make the connections. Explain the applications you’ve made personally and the reasons behind the specific application questions you’ve planned.

Learn and Improve

That Bible study you led? We don’t need to pretend it was good. But the God who brings life from death may have something important for you in it.

By praying, learning, and preparing for the next Bible study meeting, you can make the most of that experience you’d rather forget.

When You’ve Led a Bad Bible Study: Learning

October 28, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

Kyle Gregory Devaras (2017), public domain

If your last Bible study meeting was a clunker, all is not lost. It happens! Take some time to pray and sort things through with God.

After you’ve prayed, you might be tempted to bury that meeting deep in the forest. But don’t get out your shovel just yet; that bad meeting might offer some lessons as you look to improve as a Bible study leader.

Diagnosing the Problem

A Bible study can turn sour for many reasons. In my experience, bad meetings fall into two main categories: leader error and group conflict.

Leader Error

When I look back at Bible studies gone wrong, I often spot my own lack of sufficient preparation.

not enough study time — Sometimes I simply haven’t spent enough time in the text of Scripture. And if I haven’t wrestled with the text myself, I shouldn’t be surprised if I struggle to help others understand.
no personal change — To prepare for a meeting, I need to apply the passage to my own head, heart, and hands. And yet leaders often skip this crucial step. This may be due to a lack of time, but it may also be due to an unwillingness to face some hard parts of life that need to change.
unhealthy expectations — God speaks through his Spirit and through his Word. And sometimes he uses other Christians (aside from me!) to explain the truth of the Bible. If I assume that my interpretation is perfect and I expect everyone to see what I have seen and agree with me immediately, I’m likely to be disappointed. I need to pray for and welcome observations and correction from others.
poor questions — For my small group leadership, the top predictor of a bad Bible study is a lack of good questions. The less I prepare, the more I talk (instead of encouraging discussion), and this often results in vague or rambling questions that drop to the floor like an anvil. Preparation needs to involve not just understanding the text but drawing a clear line from text-based observations to the main point of the passage. If I’m unwilling or unable to put the work in on this level, I shouldn’t expect a good study.

Perhaps the way to correct these mistakes is clear: leaders need to address any deficiencies in their own preparation.

Group Conflict

Sometimes the bad Bible study didn’t have as much to do with your preparation as it did with interaction among the group during the meeting. This isn’t unusual—any time sinners (which is to say, humans) gather, there’s a potential for conflict or misunderstanding. These usually show up in two ways.

the leader fumbles — A Bible study leader needs to know how to handle questions, silence, unexpected answers, and criticism. If you’ve dropped the ball on any of these matters, you’re not alone! I’d suggest seeking counsel from someone in your church who knows you and others in your group; they might be able to suggest how to prepare for these aspects of the meeting and respond with grace. And if you’ve sinned against any of your friends out of impatience, frustration, or self-protection, you should ask for their forgiveness as soon as possible.
conflict among group members — On rare occasions, a Bible study meeting might be compromised by a conflict between group members. Regardless of the cause of the flare-up, the tension caused by a vocal disagreement can spoil the night. In this situation, you’ll need to talk to the people involved and encourage them to resolve their conflict in a way that squares with the Bible.

Always Learning

The steps to learning after a bad study are familiar: identify the mistake or problem, think through its cause, address the root concern, and seek wisdom to move forward.

When we lead a bad Bible study, we can view it as a setback or an opportunity. If we take the time to learn, we may just become better leaders who help people walk more closely with God.

Advice for Awkward Moments in Bible Studies

October 23, 2019 By Peter Krol

Megan Hill interviews three women’s Bible study leaders for practical counsel on how to handle awkward moments in group meetings. They address situations such as excessive talking, direct challenge to the leader, off-topic questions, and theological hobby horses.

These seasoned leaders have some great thoughts on how to serve all the members of the group in such challenging situations. Check it out!

HT: Andy Cimbala

When You’ve Led a Bad Bible Study: Praying

October 14, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

Every Bible study leader has been there. You leave the meeting, sit in your car, and think, “Wow, that was a stinker.”

Bad Bible study meetings take lots of different forms, but they’re all disappointing. And, depending on how you handle a bad meeting, this disappointment can cling to you and affect your outlook on your friends, your calling, and the church itself.

In this post and the two that follow, I will suggest some ways to move on from a bad Bible study meeting. I hope this helps you process what happened and plan for the future with faith and love.

The first step is to pray.

Why Should We Pray?

Leading a Bible study is a great ministry opportunity, so when a meeting goes sour, it is good to speak with God. After all, we seek supernatural transformation during these meetings! We depend on God to work in us and in our friends.

When we pray, we acknowledge both God’s control and our small place in the world. We need him more than we can fathom, and prayer is the best expression of our dependence on our Father.

Praying can—and should—take several forms. Below, I’ve suggested six ways to pray.

Lament

That Bible study did not go the way you wanted. It did not go the way it should have gone. Bad Bible studies won’t happen in heaven.

It’s okay to sit in the grief of this disappointment before the Lord. It’s more than okay—it’s a good thing. Most Christians need more Biblical lament in their lives. We mourn what’s wrong; we grieve what has been lost; we long for God to make things right.

Invite God to search you

Like King David (Psalm 139:23–24), invite the Lord to search you. Ask him to expose any sin and any mistakes that contributed to the bad Bible study meeting.

Be prepared to sit in silence. Invite and receive conviction from the Holy Spirit. You may find it helpful to journal as you pray.

Confess your sins

If God has convicted you of any sin, confess it to him. It may be impatience, laziness (lack of preparation), failure to love, a critical spirit, or pride. No matter what you have to confess, do so understanding the seriousness of the offense and the warm embrace of God who is eager to assure you of his forgiveness.

Not every bad Bible study meeting is the result of sin on the leader’s part. But this may be a good opportunity to humble yourself before God and repent of any sins related to your study-leading ministry.

Pray for your people

Pray for those people who come to your Bible study group, especially those who attended the bad meeting. Pray that God would protect them from error and frustration, that they would continue to seek God in his Word and grow. Ask God to keep them faithful in their personal devotions, that he would remind them of his presence with them, and that they would return to the next group meeting with enthusiasm.

Pray for each of your friends in the group by name. Pray especially for any people who you think might have contributed to the meeting not going well. Be sure not to harbor bitterness in your heart against them.

Pray for the next meeting

Pray for yourself as you prepare for the next meeting of your Bible study group—that God would give you understanding of his word and love for his people. Pray that God would gather your group together again and that your friends would participate, be honest with each other, and grow in their understanding and application of the Bible. Pray that the Holy Spirit would bless the next group meeting richly.

Give thanks

There are so many reasons to thank God; don’t let one frustrating ministry experience leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Thank him for his Word and for the chance you have to study and help others understand it. Thank God for each of the people in your Bible study group by name—not just for their participation, but for all the gifts they bring to each gathering.

Finally, don’t forget the gospel when you’re giving thanks. God’s love for you does not depend upon your performance or any “good” outcomes from your ministry. Thank God that his love for you is fixed and firm and that you can know this for sure by looking to the work of Jesus: his cross, his empty tomb, and his kingly throne.

It’s Easier Not to Pray

After a bad Bible study meeting, it’s tempting to brush it off, to think it’s no big deal, and to try to forget it as quickly as possible. That’s far easier than praying.

But if we skip this step we miss an opportunity. And we may be overlooking some of the work God is doing in us and in our group. Sometimes these bad experiences show up for just that purpose.

Don’t Try to Hit a Home Run

September 16, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

When a minor league baseball player gets called up to the major league team, the pressure’s on. The cameras are rolling, the stadiums are big, and the lights are bright. Stir in the higher level of competition, and it can be a hard adjustment. Even the best players can take several weeks to settle in.

When they receive a promotion, can’t-miss prospects often fare better than lifetime minor leaguers—and not just for the obvious reason. Hot shots know they have the freedom to make mistakes, that management will be patient. Minor league lifers need to impress; this may be their only chance to turn the right heads and catch a break. The pressure rises and performance suffers.

Young Bible study leaders can feel the same sort of tension.

Why Try So Hard?

Good Bible study leaders are convinced of the power of God’s word and are excited to communicate that truth to others. They don’t take Bible study meetings lightly.

When they get a chance to lead, they want to make it count. Some feel they’ve been waiting their whole lives for this opportunity.

While some study leaders are motivated by godly ambition and a desire to serve, other darker, more insidious motives may be lurking in the heart.

A Bible study leader may want to impress. They long to catch the attention of a mover or shaker in their church. The spotlight calls, and they seek additional opportunities to teach and lead. When a leader wants to be impressive, then often try to be profound. They draw grand conclusions and dispense inter-textual connections like a broken gum ball machine.

Alternately, a leader may seek instant change in their group members. They have been convicted and moved by studying a passage, and they urge the same change on others. They don’t realize that—by God’s design—not every lesson lands on every person with the same weight. They end up trying to do the Holy Spirit’s work for him.

Be Content Hitting Singles and Doubles

When we convince ourselves nothing less than a home run will do, we often end up striking out. If you’re tempted to swing for the fences, here are some better goals.

A Bible study leader’s primary job is faithfulness to the Lord and his Word. Our task is to help our friends engage with the Scriptures, not to push our own agenda or inflate our reputation. Let’s give ourselves to careful Bible study practices, leaving enough preparation time to write questions that lead our friends to grapple with the author’s main point.

Love your people. We do not lead Bible studies in the abstract. We gather real people around the Bible seeking understanding. Pray for the friends who come to your study. Love them. Listen to them and learn from them.

Cultivate your skills. It’s not a sin to want to understand the Bible and communicate it better. (It is a sin to seek this for your own exaltation.) Seek out loving, wise feedback. Try to meet before the Bible study to discuss your interpretation, application, and questions. Meet afterward to review and reflect.

The Accidental Home Run

When a baseball player develops strength, a good swing, and a keen eye for pitch location, they start to make contact. The best players hit line drive after line drive. They get on base, drive in runs, and help their team with singles and doubles.

And those line drives? Sometimes, when the ball finds the barrel of the bat, those line drives end up in the outfield bleachers. The hitter who tries to hit home runs rarely does; but the consistent, faithful hitter will put some balls over the fence.

If you’re leading a Bible study, don’t try to hit a home run. Aim for a faithful, honest discussion of God’s word. Put the bat on the ball and leave the results in God’s hands.

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