New Bible Study

[Jon_]

A few weeks ago, an old friend of mine from my previous church called me up and wanted to know if I would be interested in attending a Bible study he was starting. I hadn't been in a group Bible study for a few months and I didn't have anything regular on Thursdays planned, so I said yes. That very first week we met, it was only me and him because the rest of the group was out of town for the holiday (this is the week of Labor Day). Ostensibly, he just wanted to sort of "hang out" and get a feel for how we wanted to proceed. Well, what he didn't realize is that once I get my Bible open and you get a subject started, I don't stop. So, I spent about four hours sharing the doctrines of grace with him and the biblical justification for their formulation.

It's funny because when he originally called me up I told him that I would be glad to come as long as he "didn't mind having a Calvinist in the group" (which I said in a joccular fashion). To which he responded, "Calvinist? Well, that's cool, right? I mean, Calvinists are Christians, aren't they?" Needless to say, he had all the common misconceptions regarding the doctrines of grace, but that first week demolished nearly all of them handily. I shared with him God's sovereignty, the incompatibility of it with the humanist conception of "free will," the radical depravity of man, the irresistability of grace, and God's unconditional election of his chosen ones. It was a great experience. We were all over the Bible, flipping from Old Testament book to Old Testament book, drawing inferences between the two, through which I would relate to him the sovereign hand of God in all things.

To speed things up a bit, it wasn't but two weeks after my friend invited me to this Bible study that he, in fewer words than these, asked me if I would like to lead it (after a fashion). We meet at his apartment and he is still the official leader that reports to the church (since I do not even attend there anymore), but I will be the one preparing the lessons and guiding the study.

We are going through the book of Romans, which of course, is probably the greatest single book of theology in the entire Bible. It is so rich with the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone that I could not have asked for a better single focus for the group. In fact, if my friend had not suggested it, I was going to.

We have already gone through Romans 1. This is largely a learning experience for me, as well. My lesson on vv. 18-32 ended up turning into a sermon. I expounded on the passage in focus and about two dozens other verses with little or no feedback from the rest of the group. It was probably not the most effective message for that very reason, so this week (2:1-16) will focus more on participation.

On that note, if anyone has any input for me, I am all ears. This is the first time I have conducted a Bible study or any other type of group teaching, so I am certainly open to suggestions.

As far as the list of things to pray for goes, me and this little Bible study are probably way down at the bottom in terms of priority, but I thought I might ask, anyway. If you happen to remember me after asking the good Lord to get that mustard stain out of your new shirt, I would appreciate it. I surely take the Scripture seriously that says,

(James 3:1 ESV) Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
​

Therefore, in earnest commitment to the profession of the Lord's truth and nothing but that, I humbly ask that you might consider my endeavors, that I should not stumble and fail to deliver the full word of God. While the group is small in numbers (for now), the assignment is of no small import where the souls of men are concerned; therefore, as a man who will be required to give an account (Heb. 13:17), I am determined to take this very seriously.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jon

 

[erin74]

One of the helpful things I learned about leading bible studies has more to do with learning, and was written by a minister with an adult learning background.

Anyway - it was about recognising the different learning styles - some learn by listening, some are visual learners, some are kinesthic learners - so they learn best by some kind of hands on method. So when you are looking at something some will learn just by listening to what you say, some by looking at it for themselves, and others by by doing something more hands on.

another helpful thing I have found in women's groups that may apply across the board, is the sooner your group can do something social together and get talking, the sooner talking and questioning will happen well within the group. In women's groups I have found you can gauge this by food consumption.... weird I know. But when women first meet they generally don't eat much together - "no thanks, I had a carrot stick for breakfast 4 hours ago" kind of thing. When they know each other well they will split an entire chocolate cake between two of them. Slight exaggeration. So when the women in my group are happy to eat morning tea together, I know they also feel safe to ask questions that they feel might be "too stupid", or are happy to share something they are struggling with. I'm not sure what the men's equivelant to the eating thing is, but either way I have found doing something socially together will help this along.

Is your group a mixed one by the way?

The book I read is called "Leading Better Bible Studies" by Rod and Karen Morris. There are probably heaps of helpful books like this out there. Rod has done stuff in adult learning, prior to bible college. Karen is also a very able teacher. So they have some really helpful stuff to share. I would highly recommend looking at something like this when you first start leading.

Hope this helps - I'll remember to pray next time I stain my clothes - or perhaps earlier.

erin

 

[Beoga]

Bring food!

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

 

[5solas]

(James 3:1 ESV) Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness

That is perfectly true, of course!

But if God called you to do this then you should have a look at this:

Dan 12:3 (YLT) And those teaching do shine as the brightness of the expanse, and those justifying the multitude as stars to the age and for ever.


I just noticed that Luther has the same translation ("those teaching/teachers") like Young's Literal Translation, but others translate differently. But have a look at the Geneva footnote:

Dan 12:3 - And they that be (c) wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that (d) turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

(c) Who have kept the true fear of God and his religion.

(d) He chiefly means the ministers of God's word, and next all the faithful who instruct the ignorant, and bring them to the true knowledge of God.

 

[reformedfan]

people like questions & this makes 'em more involved.

I used to be the same way when i first started going to the jail, i read a nav press book on it & found out that adults in Bible studies like being asked stuff (not 'how do you feel about this passage?' obviously )

 

[CoffeeSwirls]

If people can come to their own conclusion on the Doctines of Grace, they will feel less coerced into it and will be able to defend their views better. FWIW, I am reading "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcy now. In the book, she says that any worldview needs to present where we come from, what went wrong and how is this to be resolved without any one overshadowing the others. Just as Paul explained that creation was good before the fall on Mars Hill, we need to preach just what it is that we are being redeemed to. Just what it means to be restored. This is mentioned in Romans, but many theological messages discuss sin to a high degree and creation/redemption are reduced too much.

Yes, this can include Total Depravity if it is not presented in light of just how far we have fallen. Like any proper discussion of theology, your study would benefit through another study of what labors God has taken to reconcile us. Example: if the image of God is not upon us there is nothing to redeem. Genesis 1:31 is what we are being redeemed to.