Bible Study Help For The Elderly

Brinley, I would think it depends more on the individuals concerned than their ages.

For instance, you don't tell us what kind of church/theological background they are from, or whether any of them have been in a home group before etc.

Are they all commited Christians, a mixture, seekers? Male or female?

You could ask them what they want to learn about, then look for suitable materials to guide you all through a particular Bible book or theme.

It might be really good to get them interested in some of the many elderly characters used by God: Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Naomi, to remind them that retirement can be a new begining, and that their wisdom and experience are valuable.

I see Daveleau's point. I'd say getting a leader of their own age would be plan A, but I know that's not always possible.

Have your pastor or elders given you any guidelines?

God bless, Susana

anyone have any ideas for a elderly bible study group?Mybe some you could share that i can use?Anything you could share would be helpful.God Bless.

Thanks for the extra info Brinley.

It sounds as though you and your wife have been winning hearts in that place by showing the compassion of Jesus, so use the Bible to build on that picture you're giving them.
How lovely that you can have this ministry together too.
What a blessing you must be to the staff! Maybe they'll overhear the word of God and seek Him too.

It sounds as though these people may have health problems, so it may be hard for them to sit and concentrate for a long hard session of study.
Answering a lot of questions from booklet study aids might be a quite alien concept anyway, so perhaps a more informal method might be best.

I haven't run a study group like this, but the afternoon prayer meetings I run are largely attended by retired ladies.
Their experience, wisdom, and enduring faith throughout their long lives, humbles me.
Yet still find I have something to give them from my understanding of God and His word; something most of the older people in my church have not been encouraged to explore for themselves: the culture here is that the vicar speaks and the congregation listen and nod!

I always open our meetings with a Bible reading, usually only 2 or 3 verses but sometimes a little more, and give a little background if I feel it would help, and a very few words form myself - how the passage made me feel or helped me see God better.

That's about where I have to leave it, since this prayer meeting is only given a 1/2 hour slot.
The Bible is the lead-in and the foundation, but studying it isn't the purpose I've been given for this time. (I'd love to take it further some time though!)

Maybe you could start like that, and then ask whether anyone has any comments, or if they remember reading that story before, or has anyone evr found that a comforting part of the Bible, a challenge to live up to, a help when things were tough?
Did anyone memorise anything as a child that they'd like to share - this age is the time for reminiscence and the long-term memory becomes extremely active.
Remember to respect and draw on their experience too whilst building up their theological knowledge.

(Oh yes - and avoid controversy if they'e mixed denom!)

I would really love to hear how it's going when you begin. You can give me some tips in case my dream ever materialises of expanding the Bible element in the prayer meeting.

Oh, I just had another idea - leave them with something to keep with them for the coming week. A card with a beautiful verse they can look at to call God's love to mind daily. But remember to write it big and clear since they probably they have restricted vision.

Let us know how it goes.

God bless you both and your very special new group, Susana