Bible Study help

[Joey222]

Hi, I have started at sort of bible study at my school.
I am wondering what type of thing I should include in order to make it interesting and educational for the people involved.
Also alot of people who dont call themselves christians but are wondering about becoming christians have been listening in and I wonder what type of things it would be good to talk about.
Please include bible references in your replies.

Thank you, from Joey

 

[daveleau]

I would go with Christian basics. Look for a good book at your local Christian bookstore on basic Christian doctrine.
Or you could start with one of the most inclusive books of Scripture regarding Christian doctrine. The best places to start for this are either John, Romans, Galatians or Ephesians (in order of preference). I mention John and Romans because they discuss central doctrine regarding salvation. Galatians discuss the freedom we have with Christ which is often the biggest barrier that non-Christians have. They see us as legalistic, when we are free! Galatians is a book about freedom in Christ. Ephesians talks about who Christians are chptrs 1-3 and how we are to act chptrs 4-6.

Possibly the best place to start would be to discuss the Romans Road:

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.



Romans 6:23a
The wages of sin is death.



Romans 6:23b
But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Romans 5:8
God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!


Romans 10:13
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!


Romans 10:9,10
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

 

[christandisrael]

Always, let God lead.

 

[Adammi]

Hi, I have started at sort of bible study at my school.
I am wondering what type of thing I should include in order to make it interesting and educational for the people involved.
Also alot of people who dont call themselves christians but are wondering about becoming christians have been listening in and I wonder what type of things it would be good to talk about.
Please include bible references in your replies.

Thank you, from Joey

That's awesome! I teach the Bible Club at my High School and my suggestions would be what ChristandIsrael said to let God lead you.
Let it be interactive, don't just stand up there talking the whole time, but give them the opportunity to give their comments/questions.
Keep it non-denominational, e.g. if you believe in Eternal Securrity, don't teach a lesson on Eternal Security; if you believe in speaking in tongues, don't teach a lesson on it. You will not be able to reach non-Christians if the Christians are divided.
Don't get prideful about it.
And most importantly PRAY!! It has been said that Peter prayed for 10 days and preached for 10 mintues and 3,000 people got saved; but we Pray for 10 minutes and preach for 10 days and 3 people get saved. PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY!!! Pray unitl you pray without even thinking about it.

 

[Nereu]

I would advise caution with Romans. It is not an inclusive book. In fact it is full of threats for the unsaved. Such as this..

""The wrath of God" is on all unbelievers." 1:18-20

" 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;


19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

Remember that the Wrath of God means He will make them burn for all eternity in Hell. That's not very inclusive.

Mark, is also hard to use unless you hide the fact that many cannot hear Christ's message because he has blinded them to it.


Mark 4; 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12; That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Many people think this very cruel considering those who do not hear the message will burn in Hell. It's kind of like pre-planned torture. People do not like to think of Christ doing this.

I'd focus on his throwing the money lenders out of the temple.

 

[Akathist]

Remember that the Wrath of God means He will make them burn for all eternity in Hell. That's not very inclusive.


Many people think this very cruel considering those who do not hear the message will burn in Hell. It's kind of like pre-planned torture. People do not like to think of Christ doing this.

Do you believe in Universal Salvation?

 

[9T6]

It is often worthwhile picking issues that are topical in our modern world that generate good discussion and are of interest to young people. Such as what Paul teaches about family attitudes between husband, wife and children (e.g Eph). Or, for example, in Genesis 1:28 God blessed humankind and said to them to be fruitful, fill the earth, and subdue it and rule over it. Everyone has a view of how well or badly we have done that - how we should do it differently - and how the world would look nowadays if everyone lived by Christian principles (for example, can the benefits of space research be reconciled with Christian values whilst millions die of basic starvation)!

Another approach might be to pick certain characters, such as Peter, and follow them throughout the bible. For example, Peter is a very different character prior to Christ's crucifixion than after he received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But note that this approach can be very time-consuming to prepare.

A look at the different types of miracles that Jesus performed is also very interesting - for example, why did Jesus turn so much water to wine at a wedding that had already exhausted the existing supply of alcohol . What was the spiritual meaning behind the miracle, what can we learn from it, what does it mean to us personally today, etc..

Whatever the topic, think of lots of questions to ask people. This way people really get to ponder on the issue. Avoid insinuating that people are either right or wrong with their views, or allowing any mockery. The point is that the more people's views are encouraged and brought to light the more opportunity there is for God to work through these people.

It is always good to start and end with a prayer, even if it is a short, prewritten one, asking God for his wisdom and truth to prevail.

Hope this helps..

 

[christandisrael]

Hi, I have started at sort of bible study at my school.
I am wondering what type of thing I should include in order to make it interesting and educational for the people involved.
Also alot of people who dont call themselves christians but are wondering about becoming christians have been listening in and I wonder what type of things it would be good to talk about.
Please include bible references in your replies.

Thank you, from Joey

Pray. Come together as a family. Pray as a family going up to God.

 

[wtopneuma]

Hi, I have started at sort of bible study at my school.
I am wondering what type of thing I should include in order to make it interesting and educational for the people involved.
Also alot of people who dont call themselves christians but are wondering about becoming christians have been listening in and I wonder what type of things it would be good to talk about.
Please include bible references in your replies.

Thank you, from Joey

First, some things you should do and realize. It is God that gives the increase. It doesn't matter what scripture the lesson is on if you are obeying God's clear instructions to you as to what scriptures you should cover in that session. I have set through many church services where salvation wasn't preached on at all but more people accepted Christ then the ones on salvation. The fuel for any of God's work is prayer. Study His Word for the answers to your prayers. Teach the lesson on what God reveals to you. Other people cannot give this to you unless they are being used by God for that purpose. You will know when this is the case. I havn,t given you specific scriptures on these comments but you already know they are true and are in the Bible.

 

[Daniels]

There shall no evil befall thee​

- Psalms 91:10​

1. No evil shall befall by your neighbour
"And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door."
- Genesis 19:9​

2. No evil shall befall by your higher official
"And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod."
- 1 Samuel 23:9​

3. No evil shall befall by your adversaries
"That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief."
- Nehemiah 6:2​