We are grateful you have chosen to lead one of our studies. To ensure a meaningful experience for everyone, setting clear expectations and shared values from the outset is essential. Below are ideas to get your group started. If you have any questions or would like our personal Leader Notes (which provide commentary for each question), please feel free to contact Erika McCown.
Ideas for Bible study expectations:
- Availability
Prioritize attending the group. - Confidentiality
Respect the privacy of others and do not share group discussions outside of the group. - Authenticity
Commit to being open and honest in all conversations. - Respect
Ensure members can share without fear. There may be disagreements, but there will be no arguments. Stick to one conversation at a time and listen to what others are saying. - Interaction
Talk, but do not dominate. Allow everyone to participate in the discussion. It is best if everyone completes the weekly lessons and comes prepared to learn from one another.
Ideas for Bible study flow:
- Prayer and Preparation
Before each lesson, set aside time to pray for God’s guidance and wisdom in leading the study. Familiarize yourself with the passages and questions, ensure you can respond to each confidently, and prepare any additional resources that may enhance the study experience. - Opening Prayer
Begin the study with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide the study and to open hearts to receive God’s Word. - Lesson Questions
As you go through each lesson, encourage each person to share their answers and thoughts, but ensure no one dominates the discussion — including you, the leader. Discuss how the passages can speak to our lives today to help us be more like Jesus, living in obedience to God. Be prepared to gently steer the discussion back to the study questions if participants wander too far off-topic. - Refresh
Have the Refresh section read aloud at the end of each lesson to serve as a final takeaway summary. - Closing Prayer
As the leader, end the lesson with a quick closing prayer, thanking God for His Word and asking for continued understanding and growth. - Final Group Prayer
After the closing prayer, ask for any prayer requests (consider writing them down on the Lesson Notes page), then have each person in the group pray out loud. If you have a large group, break off into smaller groups. A Bible study group is a safe place where everyone should encourage and support one another, cultivating the practice of praying out loud with others. Praying out loud in a group may be uncomfortable for some people at first, but encourage them to say, at the very least, “Thank You, Lord, for today.”
Planning for a Retreat?
- Our 4-lesson studies are perfect for weekend retreats, and if you would like tips, a sample schedule, or have questions about making your retreat as successful as possible—or have any other Bible study-related questions—please feel free to contact Erika McCown.