In this live episode recorded at TGC25, Melissa and Courtney talk about why group Bible study is so important in the life of a church.  They make a case for doing Bible study homework for the sake of others. They share advice on the practicalities of how to run a study well, such as limiting time spent on icebreaker questions and giving guidelines for sharing focused prayer requests.

Recommended Resources

• Chosen Together (TGC25 keynote by John Piper on Ephesians 1:3–14)
• In View of God’s Mercies by Courtney Doctor (Bible study book)

Related Content

• How to Organize and Orchestrate a Bible Study
• 3 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Bible Study
• Four Types of Questions NOT to Ask in Your Small Group Bible Study
• Need a Fall Women’s Bible Study? Try One of These.

Rubric Questions for Choosing a Group Bible Study:

• Does this study require me to have my Bible open?
• Are the questions rooted in the text?
• Does this study account for various learning styles?
• Is it accessible to the women I'm leading?
• Does it speak to a current need in our church?

Five Levels of Communication:

1. Small Talk

2. Facts

3. Opinions and Ideas

4. Feelings

5. Deep Emotion

Discussion Questions

1. Which book of the Bible could you study over and over without ever getting tired of it?

2. What unique aspects of doing Bible study within the local church have you experienced?

3. When have you been part of studies that were aligned with what was happening in other areas of the church? What benefits did you experience from that alignment? What opportunities exist for future alignment?

4. What locations do you usually study in (home or church)? What benefits could come from hosting your group in different settings?

5. How prone is your study group to using “Christianese”? How can you be more intentional about using language that would make unbelieving friends comfortable joining your discussion?

6. How has prioritizing time in God’s Word and in prayer helped you love others better?