4 Tips To Starting a Group Bible Study

If you are new to leading or starting a Bible study, we are here to help! Here are our top 4 tips when starting a group Bible study:

1. Invite People - Most groups start small, with just one or two friends and grow organically as people share their experiences and what they are learning. Groups can range from 2-4 people to 12-14, with the ideal size being somewhere in the middle. Encourage your group to invite friends, neighbors, family members - even people outside their faith tradition or who’ve never done a Bible study before. You may be surprised at who is interested in exploring the Bible. 

2. Determine the Schedule - Most groups meet weekly or every other week. Meeting in the Fall (September to November) and in the Winter/Spring (January to April/May) allows for groups to meet without running into summer or holiday activities. Groups typically meet for 1.5 to 2 hours and often get started with about a half hour of social time to catch up and build friendships.

3. Meet in a neutral location - If your group comes from a variety of faith backgrounds, consider meeting in a home, park, or restaurant (rather than a religious facility), where everyone will feel welcome and comfortable to learn and grow on their own timeline. 

4. Share Responsibilities - As your group grows, consider sharing any of the following responsibilities to relieve pressure off the leader and encourage others to become more invested: 

• Co-leading - You can be much more present with your group when you share the responsibility of leading and listening.

• Hosting - There’s a familiarity that comes when entering someone's home and neighbors, friends and family members will be more likely to visit when they know who’s hosting.

• Sharing prayer requests - Asking someone to be in charge of facilitating prayer requests helps everyone stay connected and invested in each other's lives.

• Providing refreshments - If your group enjoys having a treat or snack, put out a sign-up sheet for others to decide what day they’d like to contribute.

Are you ready to lead a small group? Check out our How to Lead a Group Bible Study link below!