Find the Best Small Group Bible Study in 7 Easy Steps
How does one eat an elephant?
The answer will be, “Ya eat it one bite at a time!” It is the same with any large task, really. If you look at the whole thing all at once, it seems to be impossible. Break it down into its elements, into small bite-sized pieces, and those usually do not look formidable ?n any respect. The individual steps can each be relatively simple, something that’s no problem, that you can do. And once you have completed all the steps, you suddenly realize you have come all the way right from the start to the end of completing the complete huge project! It’s exactly the same with the best way to task, you can easily get bogged down in all the details. Same with finding the right Bible study for your small group. Here then is how you approach the elephantine task of finding the right small group Bible study, in 7 easy steps.
Step 1. Determine whether it will be DVD based or book based or free form. With this you need to know your group members well. Are they just starting out with Bble study? If so, a DVD they can watch is often the least-threatening approach. If you choose not to do that or forget it, you could expect newcomers to feel intimidated by a group study where they are asked to do a lot of reading and question answering. Book studies generally are for the more advanced.
And I would not recommend a free form study unless you have a very mature and knowledgeable group. Otherwise, discussions can get too far afield, fast..
Step 2. Determine when your group will meet. This step is very important because if it’s every week, study assignments can easily be broken up over a small number of days. Remember the elephant analogy? If you meet biweekly, the study gets more daunting. And if monthly, forget it… doing the homework really will be like eating an elephant and no one will be able to do it. (Monthly studies work best with DVDs. ).
Step 3. Determine how much time you will have for study in your regular meeting. This is going to mean that you must develop a schedule. If a DVD, you will need to factor in each episode’s length, allowing time for questions. If a book, you’ll want to be even more precise in planning so there is some variety, not just the presenter droning on and on.. This could additionally mean that you will need to identify others who can hep with the facilitating to add variety to the study..
Step 4. Ask for recommendations. if your church has a small groups pastor, ask for curriculum suggestions. do a poll of other small group leaders and ask what worked for them.. This can require a bit of detective work but chances are, there are some excellent studies that your church network can help you find.
Step 5. Check the websites of your favorite radio or TV Bible teacher.. A significant point to keep in mind here is that these teachers almost all have extensive libraries of their past messages and study guide of their books.. The reason this is very important is that you already know them and can be assured of quality materials..
Step 6. Poll your group members. Ask them what spiritual issues they are facing and what subjects they would like to gain spiritual insight into. This is a great step to take at the first meeting if you have not yet selected a study. It helps you know your group members better and it bonds the group into having ownership of whatever study you select..
Step 7. Finally, once you select the study, review it ahead of meeting time. Make sure it is what group members are expecting. If a DVD, make sure all play. If a booklet, look over the pages of each book so you can be sure your members won’t have hard to read materials. Ge comfortable with the materal and always read a week ahead so you know what’s coming.. Great! Now you’re almost there! Don’t forget, to pray! That;s, of course, even more important that step one! Pray throughout the selection process and then pray before each meeting. After all, you want God’s blessing on this!.
Once you continue with the steps set forth above, step-by-step the enormous elephant-challenge you had been facing is going to be “consumed”, conquered and finished off. You will complete your project, succeed and be able to enjoy the benefits and fruits of accomplishment and victory! Congratulations on your triumph! You undertook a huge challenge, overcame it and won, taking 1 step at a time!
You can find more tips on how to find small group Bible study material visit at my Best Small Group Bible Study website at bestsmallgroupbiblestudy.com.
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