As Christians, we need to study our faith outside of church. One of the best ways to do this is to host a Bible study in our homes. If this is your first time hosting one, it can be intimidating. You want everyone to feel welcome and get as much as possible from your time together. If this is you, no worries; here are some tips on how to create a welcoming space for sharing your faith.
Schedule-Make sure the time of the Bible study is convenient for everyone. You may even want to research how to set up a group online if you have to because of weather complications. This way, you won’t ever have to miss a study; you all may have just to adjust a little.
Deciding What to Study-You can choose what topic to study in two ways. If you are correlating with what you are studying right now in church, then you know what topic you’ll be studying.
However, if you are getting together with personal friends to study the Bible together, you can send out a list of topics, have everyone vote on what they would like to learn, and start with the most popular topic.
You could also choose a book that relates to the book you are studying in the Bible. For example, Revelation: The Ultimate Hope in Christ by David Jeremiah, Psalms Bible Study Guide: 12 Studies for Personal or Group Exploration by David Abana, or Esther Study Guide: 12 Studies for Personal or Group Exploration by David Abana.
Going Over the Material-Read over the material you’ll be studying and write insights you have, research related topics if necessary, and develop discussion questions to help urge participation.
Establish Ground Rules-Establish some ground rules for the group, like respecting each other, keeping what’s said in confidence, and sticking to study schedules.
Make it cozy-Add some cozy throw blankets and pillows to your couches and chairs.
Set up Snacks and Beverages-Set up an area where guests can get snacks and beverages at their leisure. This will help break the ice.
Temperature—Ensure that your home is not too hot or cold. This will also help people stay focused and comfortable.
Lighting -Choose a room in your home with plenty of lighting. Good lighting will help everyone see the material they are reading.
Scents-As long as none of your participants have asthma or severe allergies, light a scented candle or burn a wax melt in a scent of whatever season you are in. A light floral scent in the spring, citrus in the summer, a warm scent like apple pie or pumpkin in the fall, and a pine scent in the winter months. This will help make your home more inviting and smell great.
Soft music: Put on some soft instrumental worship music or light jazz to welcome your guests as they arrive, then turn it off before you dive into study time.
Introductions-Either have name tags on hand for people to wear or make sure you do introductions at every group meeting. This will help build community and make new participants feel welcome.
Check Your Bathrooms- This may sound weird, but if you’ve got kids, double-check the bathroom your guests will be using is definitely a good idea. A quick touch-up and a scented plug-in should do the trick.
As the Bible study leader, your role is crucial to guiding the discussion and providing a meaningful experience for everyone. Here are some tips on how to do this.
Break the ice - Ask a question or come up with an activity related to your studies. The introverts in your group will thank you.
Use Questions—As mentioned above, prepare questions ahead of time and use them to guide the discussion. This will help people think deeper and share their insights. Make sure your questions are open-ended and encourage personal reflection. This will help make the material more meaningful to participants.
Keep the environment open and respectful - Before starting a discussion, remind people of the ground rules. This will help participants feel comfortable sharing their insights and opinions and asking questions. As the leader, be open to different perspectives and encourage dialogue while keeping things civil, respectful, and focused.
Encourage active participation-Invite different people to share their thoughts and perspectives, creating an inclusive environment where all participants feel heard, seen, and valued.
Hosting a Bible study where people can read and discuss the word is great, but spiritual growth is also very important. Here are some tips to help encourage your participants' spiritual growth.
Sharing- Encourage your participants to share personal experiences or stories related to what you are studying. For example, if you are reading about Job, have participants share an experience where they felt all was lost and how God helped them. Or if you’re studying about Esther, ask about a time when participants had to be brave and how God helped them do so.
Incorporate Prayer and Worship-Open your Bible study with prayer and a song or two that relates to what you are studying. If you study Job, you could sing Praise You in the Storm by Casting Crowns. Or if you are studying about heaven, you could sing I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. Choose a song or two that are meaningful to you and correlate with the topic you are studying. Also, close your Bible study in prayer as well. If you don’t have the best voice, it’s okay. You can always play the songs and let everyone worship their own way.
Provide Further Resources-Help enrich further study by recommending a book, podcast, blog, or specific website to help participants continue their understanding of the topic or book of the Bible.
Offer opportunities for participants to put what they learn into action - Always encourage acts of kindness, but also research volunteer opportunities that align with the themes you are studying and present them to the group. You could even take an evening or a day on the weekend to participate together. This will help everyone apply what they’ve learned, strengthen bonds in the group, and everyone can enjoy an outing doing something good.
Hosting a Bible study group can be rewarding but also challenging. People have different mindsets and opinions that may clash from time to time. Here are some tips for when this happens.
Hosting a Bible study can be nerve-racking, but with the tips above, you can ensure everyone involved a safe, meaningful experience.
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