Weekly Tip #7, Fall 2016
Jesus gives us the answer to this question in an important teaching to His disciples, as found in Matthew 9:35-38:
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
There is an abundance of people who need to hear the Good News of Christ and be discipled. And there are too few people who are actively sharing that message and involved in ministry to help disciples grow. How about you? Will you stay involved as a laborer in the harvest?
Effective Bible Study/Weekly Meetings
Why do people come to your weekly meetings and Bible studies? I think there are several reasons but two that come to mind right away are to meet up with people they consider their friends, and second, they feel like they can freely discuss what’s on their heart. When participants are talking, they’re truly engaging and feel more connected.
In feeling more connected and engaged, Bible studies need to build up the believers in your ministry so that they become disciples. True disciples reproduce themselves into the lives of other believers. Three important factors to keep in mind when you lead your studies:
- Is the Bible study transferable? Is it easy to understand, logical, and challenging so that someone in your study can go and lead the study by following your lead?
- Is the Bible study foundational? Are you certain everyone has gone through the important studies first before going to more advanced studies?
- Are you asking some really good questions? Feel free to edit each study you teach so that the questions truly generate discussion and application that targets the heart. Think of 7-9 great questions for each study. If you do this right, you’ll easily fill your allotted time with good discussion.
Here are some links to check out:
https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/bible-studies/the-community.html
Specifically notice the Discovery, Training and Action Group levels.
Talk to you next week,
Ben with Cru