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The Vision...

A Biblical Small Group Within Walking Distance of Every Person on the Planet.


02.20.2013

When Someone in the Small Group Asks About Doing "Deeper Bible Study"

 
 
Many small group members have been in churches where, when a small group of believers get together they, “study the Bible.” Sometimes a group member will ask why the small group you lead isn’t engaged in “deeper Bible study” or will ask why we spend so much time talking about people’s problems instead of spending more time being taught the Bible. This is a very fair question and is most often flowing from a heart eager to learn what God has to say. When a group member asks a question of this nature, a small group pastor or leader needs to give a response that is biblical and that answers the questioner’s question well.
 
Something like what you see below may be useful.
 
Dear Group Member,
 
Please allow me to share some thoughts with you concerning biblical/Christian community as it is to be lived out in a small group. I believe this will help you understand why groups do what they do the way they do them. The goal of a biblical community is to be well... biblical. In order for us to know what that looks like we must go to Scripture itself. In God’s Word we find that we are to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), seek wise counsel from one another (Proverbs 15:22), use our spiritual gifts for one another and those include not only teaching but also wisdom, encouragement, and mercy which are brought out when believers gather (1 Peter 4:10), teach and admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), instruct and model Jesus to one another (Romans 15:14), spur one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), strengthen one another in tough times (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11), confess sins to one another (James 5:16), and to pray for one another (James 5:16). As you can see by this long list, much of what brothers and sisters in Christ do when they get together is climbing into one another’s lives to encourage, equip, and even admonish. The teaching of God’s Word is an essential part of the experience as it teaches us, corrects us, and trains us (2 Timothy 3:16 - 17). In the small group setting we learn from God's Word through a conversation utilizing God's Words found in the bible as each person shares those vital truths as we converse about real life issues and discuss our own stories. 
 
Hope this helps.
 
Community, Bible Study
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07.31.2012

Small Groups Reading the Bible Correctly… YOU Means US, not ME

 
 
All too often we read the New Testament as if it were written specifically for the individual doing the reading. In our mind’s eye there are two people involved in the conversation, God and one other person… the reader. If we are going to read the New Testament in context we may need to revisit that image.
 
A few years ago, while doing sessions at a church retreat, I had a conversation with a Greek scholar. I was there leading sessions on the topic of “community.” He was the pastor of the local church I was doing sessions for. One evening he made a statement that has forever changed the way I read the New Testament. He said to me, “You do realize that 70% of the time, when reading the New Testament, the Greek word for “you” is talking to a group of people, a Christian community, not just one person.”
 
This has a phenomenal effect on a small group when they gather and study the Bible together. In many instances, when a group gathers, the group needs to consider if God is calling for individual repentance or communal repentance, if God is expecting a few individuals to commit to die for Him or if the expectation is for a community of believers to be willing to do so, if God is requiring the entire community of believers to give their monies to meet a need or if He’s speaking to only a few individuals who are compelled to do so.
 
When we begin to read the New Testament from this perspective groups will be more unified than ever as they are coming to life-changing and community transforming decisions together. Also… individuals are much more apt to follow God’s directives as those expectations are being committed to by everyone in the room, not just one person who is “making a decision” independent of others making commitments.
 
A small group leader must ask themselves when leading the study… Is God speaking to a community of people or to each of us individually? This paradigm shift is one that will transform what it means to live in Christian community. In fact, this may be the primary component that sets Christian community apart from all other communities. 


You May Also Want to Read...
The Table of Emmaus by Heather Zempel
How Do You Know When a Bible Study Has Been Effective? by Reid Smith
Knowing God: Where Do We Start? Theological Conversations #1 by Scott Boren
 
Community, Bible Study
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06.22.2012

How to Get Small Group Members to Read Their Bibles V… Models

 
 
People are discipled by people (not studies) and disciples do what they have seen done, not what they have been told to do.
 
If our small group members are going to read their Bibles those who lead them are going to have to spend personal time in the study of God’s Word first and talk about it. It’s that simple. Some suggestions to those of you who are leaders in your church…
 
Senior Pastors… When preaching in the weekend services, speak of what God has revealed to you in your “personal Bible study time.” We often speak of what God tells us through His Word while preparing to preach. That is not the same as your individual time in the Word. Differentiate the two and be the primary model for your congregation. 
 
Elders… When in hallway conversations and leading meetings verbalize what you are learning during your “quiet time.” Tell them what passage you’re studying so those in your meeting get a real-life understanding of your time in the Scripture. If you want to have an even greater impact, use what you’re learning in your personal time with God to lead the devotion before the business part of the meeting starts.
 
Staff Members… When leading a meeting, a rehearsal, or in conversation with your leadership team, speak of your own daily time in the Word. Also… remind those you are leading that, in order for the ministry area you lead to have its greatest impact, each of us must be walking with God. This creates wise people who then live in healthy, unified community.
 
Small Group Leaders… You are closest to the people who need to spend time in God’s Word daily. And, in many of your groups you have been given permission to create an environment of accountability. When preparing your covenant see if the group will agree to every person doing her/his best to spend time in God’s Word daily. This will be tough for some and may not fly so, you may consider some of the following ideas.
1.     Speak of your own journey in the Word.
2.     Every time a study opens the door, remind the group that a daily time reading the Bible is vital to each person’s spiritual growth.
3.     Once in a while, allow a small group member to tell the rest or the group what it has meant to them to spend time reading the Bible consistently.
4.     Discuss how to prioritize Bible reading in midst of life’s busyness.
Mentor, Bible Study
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02.29.2012

Small Group Curriculum in the Digital Age 3, Sermon Based Discussions

 Sermon based Bible studies may be the most prevalent movement in the small group world today. That is, an individual or a team of people taking their own pastor’s sermon and creating a Bible study around the sermon. In most instances, the author/authors simply create five or six questions that each group uses as their small group Bible study.
 
This approach often has some amazingly positive outcomes.
1)   Everyone revisits what was taught in the weekend worship experience. Reinforcing a truth taught is never a bad thing.
2)   The group has the opportunity to process with others those statements made or truths espoused bringing more clarity to the teaching.
3)   While the group can only hear facts declared when the teaching pastor is espousing information during the sermon, during the group meeting the group can dive deeply into how to apply what was taught and even be held accountable to live out the unveiled biblical expectations.
 
If you use this approach I think it’s important that you ask yourself a few questions.
 
1.     Are the people writing these questions capable of writing transformational Bible studies? There’s much more to writing Bible studies that transform than getting people to talk to one another. Transformation is obvious when attitudes, actions, and mindsets are changing. Are these discussions causing this kind of revolution in the hearts of group members, changing the way they think and live their lives? 
 
2.     When you look at what has been prepared by the person or persons writing the study do they ever approach group member’s hearts? I’ve been asked to read an amazing number of sermon-based Bible studies and give my opinion of them. I can honestly say that over 95% of them never take groups to places where transformation of the heart takes place. They ask those in attendance to reengage in the pastor’s main sermon points. Oftentimes they even demand group members tell how they’re going to apply what the pastor taught. But the most important aspect of a Bible study is the heart. When the heart is transformed right actions will follow. Only those who have allowed themselves to know and journey into their own hearts have the sensitivity and necessary awarenesses to create Bible studies that approach the heart, And, in most churches, the persons writing the sermon-based study is more theologian than journeyer, more teacher than shepherd, more knowledge espouser than mentor. Don’t get me wrong, it’s vital that theology, teaching, and knowledge be part of any Bible study. But when the journey only approaches the head and the hands seldom is a person transformed into the image of Christ.
 
If your church is going to do sermon-based Bible studies might I suggest you consider carefully the team that will create them and get them some training concerning how to write them. Let’s be real honest… Asking a group of laymen to create Bible studies for your entire congregation, individuals with no real understanding of how to create transformational Bible studies, is about as wise as allowing anyone who would like to preach in your pulpit the opportunity to do so. There are two premiere transformational events weekly in church life, 1) The teaching of God’s Word at weekend worship services, 2) the small group meetings your people attend. You would never give your pulpit over to someone with no real ability to preach and teach the Word and who had little or no understanding of the preaching event. So, why do we allow people with little ability and less understanding of spiritual formations to create Bible studies for our entire congregation? 
Curriculum, Driven, 'Sermon, Bible Study
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12.07.2011

When to Use and When Not to Use DVD-drivin Bible Studies


Monday and Tuesday the blog focused on the pros and cons of DVD Bible studies. These were simply facts. Today, I’m going to give my own opinion on when it’s appropriate and when it’s not appropriate to use DVD-driven studies.
 
Do Use DVD-driven Bible studies when…
 
1.     You’re a new church plant and a few people are doing a massive number of jobs.
 
2.     You have no one in the small group with the spiritual gift of teaching.
 
3.     Your group wants to cover a topic that demands an expert and there is no expert in the group.
 
4.     You have a fast growing small group ministry and you don’t have adequate time to train small group leaders well.
 
5.     You have a fast growing small group ministry and you need leaders. People are more apt to sign up to lead/host a small group if they don’t feel the pressure of teaching the Bible or equipping and empowering someone else to.
 
Don’t Use DVD-driven Bible studies when…
 
1.     The people in your group need to learn to use their Bibles.
 
2.     Your group has someone with the gift of teaching in the group.
 
3.     Your church is a disciple-making church. The best way to learn is to teach and by allowing group members to teach you also allow them to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and how to motivate others to depend on God’s Word.
 
4.     Your small group pastor has adequate time, is capable of, and is training training small group leaders and Bible study leaders to teach the Bible in a conversational setting.
 
5.     Your group system has as a primary objective for small groups to multiply. In a healthy church each time a small group multiplies young believers are apt to join a group. Young believers need the biblical discussion that takes place in a conversational Bible study. 

DVD Driven Studies, Curriculum, Bible Study
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12.05.2011

The Pros and Cons of DVD-driven Bible Studies 2, The Cons

 Yesterday I talked about the pros of DVD driven Bible studies. And while there are some very important pros there are also some cons that cannot be overlooked.
 
1.     If a group uses DVD driven Bibles studies exclusively individuals with the spiritual gift of teaching will never be able to utilize the gift God has given them. 
 
2.     If a group uses DVD driven Bible studies exclusively the Holy Spirit is given little room to be the teacher as He often makes truth known through the synergistic conversation that takes place when a group of Spirit-led Christ followers are seeking truth together.
 
3.     When a group uses DVD driven Bible studies exclusively individuals who have the gift of teaching but are new to teaching will never have the opportunity to grow in their teaching abilities.
 
4.     When a group uses DVD driven Bible studies exclusively group members seldom learn how to seek God’s revelation using their own Bible. Most of us learn how to use our Bibles by watching others. We watch them as they are cross-referencing, using the helps in their study Bibles, etc… And the only setting most people are in where this happens is during a small group Bible study.
 
5.     When a group uses DVD driven Bible studies exclusively small group leaders are unable to evaluate the Biblical knowledge level and the worldview of each group member. Knowing this information is important so that the group leader can determine how to take next steps with each group member in their spiritual formation process. 

You May Also Want to Read...
The Pros and Cons of DVD Bible Studies 1, The Pros
DVD Driven Studies, Curriculum, Bible Study
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12.05.2011

The Pros and Cons of DVD-driven Bible Studies I, The Pros

 
Many churches are using DVD driven Bible studies as their primary format for Bible study in groups. Yet they are the target of much criticism. Because of this I think it’s important that we consider the pros as well as the cons when a group uses these.
 
Today, let’s consider the pros. Tomorrow, we’ll dive into the cons. And Wednesday I’ll give my opinion on when it is most appropriate to use DVD driven small group studies.
 
I believe there are five pros:
 
1.     DVD driven Bible studies assures the church leadership that biblical truth is going to be taught. A conversational Bible study can quickly become a night of shared ignorance. If a knowledgeable and spiritually mature Bible teacher is the talking head on the DVD that individual will teach the truth and the group will give their time focusing on application.
 
2.     DVD driven Bible studies demand little to no preparation time.
 
3.     DVD driven Bible studies can help in the recruitment of new group members. That is, if the teacher teaching on the DVD is a well-known teacher or preacher.
 
4.     DVD driven Bible studies makes it possible for a group to experience substantial understanding without having someone in the group with the spiritual gift of teaching.
 
5.     DVD driven Bible studies allows an expert to teach the group concerning topics that are often outside the knowledge base of any of the group members. 


Other Writings You Might Want to Read...
Custom DVD-Driven Curriculum by Mark Howell
HOSTs Help Friends Connect by Eddie Mosley
Small Group Leadership... Should We Lower the Bar? 

 
DVD Driven Studies, Curriculum, Bible Study
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10.05.2011

Pursuing God’s Love: Stories from the Book of Genesis by Margaret Feinberg

Something transcendent happens when a gifted teacher/communicator/author is captured on film and an astute editor listens to and follows the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is at this point that a life-transforming bible study has been created. And when the synergy of a small band of Christ followers joins forces with the Spirit of God, the author, editor, and communicator, people will be transformed from the inside out.
 
I was given the opportunity to review Margaret Feinberg’s Pursuing God’s Love Series. It was my privilege to dive deeply into Pursuing God’s Love: Stories from the Book of Genesis. I can’t begin to tell you how inspired, convinced, and convicted I was as I listened in as Margaret unearthed truths that often go unnoticed in a way that is too often under appreciated. Her personality reverberates with a subtle and indescribable passion that is captivating and confident. I don’t see how any small group, whether that be a men’s group, a women’s group, a single’s group, or a mixed adult group could experience these six weeks and walk away unchanged.
 
I have not only become a Margaret Feinberg fan, I am also a fan of any study she may write.
 
I realize that, as a small group leader or pastor, you’d like to know much more before considering getting this study. Below you’ll see what this study is all about as described by those who know it best, the people who helped in the creation of it.
 
In this six-session video curriculum, Margaret Feinberg provides an overview of the Book of Genesis celebrating its literary wonder and highlighting six stories of redemption reminding us that nothing is beyond God's love and transforming power.
 
Through this study participants will get a fresh appreciation for the story of Creation, the hidden truths that can be found in ancient genealogies, the profound calling of Abraham, the love stories of Isaac and Rebekah, and lay hold of the hope found in the life stories of Joseph and Jacob. Whether you've read the book of Genesis dozens of times before or this is your first experience, you'll find the ancient stories coming alive in a fresh away and strengthening your own spiritual journey. Each lesson will include an experiential activity, discussion questions, and five nights of optional homework for those who want to dig deeper.
 
This is a pack containing one soft cover participants guide and one DVD.
Session One: God Rising
Session Two: Call on the Name of the Lord
Session Three: The Pursuit, the Promise, and the Provision
Session Four: When Love Goes Right and When Love Goes Wrong
Session Five: It's Not About You
Session Six: Finding God among Prisons and Palaces
 
Margaret, please keep creating small group bible studies. The movement longs for what God is allowing you to create. 

Margaret Feinberg, Genesis, Bible Study
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