July 19, 2006
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Bible study leading
Yesterday I got to lead a Bible study. Admittingly, it’s the first one I’ve led in ages and ages. And when I say, “ages,” I really mean far too long for someone who loves leading Bible studies. Final prep time yesterday was incredibly satisfying and the actual time with people was the unfolding of a beautifully written message.
How do you prep for Bible studies?
The first thing I do is read the whole book a few times. I need to see the whole picture of the whole book. What is the author trying to say? Usually on the second reading, I try to summarize each chapter in my head – this chapter is talking about this, that chapter is talking about that, and I try to add it all together in the end to see what’s being said. And then once I understand the whole message, I read the passage-to-be-studied a few times. What’s the message in this passage? How does it connect to the main message? And then…how does the author back up his message?
Sometime at this point, I start asking about significant phrases – especially ones that are a little more difficult to grasp, and I try to read them in different versions of the Bible (NIV, NASB, Amplified and The Message). And I’ll look up some commentaries too.
But the key, the absolute key to Bible study prep — and yes, I will let you in on my secret to good Bible study leading — is this: Pray More Than You Prep. I love this part of Bible study leading. I pray for God to lead the time, to bring the message, to lead the people, to transform their hearts, to change lives. This is the aim of a Bible study — and only God can do this.
Last night we studied Hebrews 1-2:4. I started off by asking if there were any questions and confusion from the passage. The passage that was cited (Hebrews 2:2-3) was the one that I knew was the key verse in the whole passage which explains why the passage was even there. And being able to discuss the end of the passage at the beginning was exactly what we needed to do to make everything wrap together. But it was all God that someone else brought it center stage at the beginning. And that proves to me all over again that I can prep all I want — but if I want God to truly speak, then I need to pray.
Comments (10)
Wow. thanks for telling us ur secret. Often times, we can get soo carried away with all the prepping that we forget to do the most important thing and that is prayer! really brings back to the perspective that it’s not us but God who is touching upon ppl’s hearts.
I love ur devotion to God and how u took bible study seriously!
i am impressed that you lead bible studies! i am too chicken and not well, confident enough in leading a bible study but i love to join them! thanks for the advice to pray. i need to pray more period. btw, what is the navigators group? i dont know what they are.
That’s a really good thing to remember.
Thanks for the post mary ann! I just actually finished leading my first Bible study in ages about 40 minutes ago and these pointers really helped. You always post the right xanga entry at the right time
where did you learn this ‘secret’?
The Navigators is a ministry which exists to help people know Christ and make Him known. Navs have staff (aka “ministers” “missionaries”) on college campuses, in the military, in the community, in the churches, overseas, etc. I first became acquainted with the Navigators in college. It was through this ministry that I believe I truly became a disciple of Jesus. Check out the website at http://www.navigators.org. They just revamped the site!!
I learned this “secret” about Bible study leading quite a few years ago when I taught high school Sunday school regularly. The times when I spent hours studying a passage but very little praying resulted in unspired lessons but the times where I spent hours praying along with studying the passage resulted in amazing encounters with God.
In terms of leading Bible studies, I believe that God can use any “ordinary” person to do extraordinary things — we just have to offer ourselves up to Him. Utlimately, when it comes to leading, we don’t need to be “scared” because it’s not a performance that is based on “us”, our eloquence or intellect; it’s based on God; we need to let Him lead. To be a good Bible study leader, you need to have a relationship with Jesus — an ongoing, deep/intimate relationship. If you read about a chapter of the Bible a day and spend time talking and listening to Him, then you are a good Bible-study leader in the making.
cool, mary ann
i will help me shape what god want me to be.
thanks for sharing maryann. demystifies alot of stuff. but what happens when you’re leading a passage or chapter from a longer book, say from jeremiah, psalms, or isaiah? you’ll still read the book a few times over? diligence becomes of you. =)
i haven’t led isaiah or jeremiah but i’d probably do the same thing also (read the whole book). the psalms i might not because all the psalms seem to be able to stand on their own. (however, it would be cool to read the whole thing in one sitting and try to see the common thread, common message, common theme — or at least the motif in all of them.)