What If Jesus Led Your Small Group Bible Study?

by Mark Mitchell

What would it be like to be a part of a Bible study group led by Jesus? Until recently, I never presumed that it would be possible to answer that question with any kind of authority. Then I realized that the discourse in John 13 -17 that Jesus had with his disciples on his last night with them might provide a clue. Consider what seven things we can learn in the upper room from Jesus, the quintessential small group leader.

PREPARATION

Jesus prepared for uninterrupted time with His small group. This meeting wasn’t just thrown together; it wasn’t a spontaneous affair.  He gave careful instructions as to the preparation for their time together.

Jesus teaches us that Bible study groups don’t happen by accident; they require intentionality on the part of the leader. Leaders must be intentional about the planning and preparation of every phase of the group’s time together.

MODELING

Jesus modeled what He taught. For example, He desired His disciples to be people who served one another in genuine humility, so He washed their feet in a shocking display of divine meekness. Jesus also desired that they be people of prayer, so He fervently prayed to the Father in dependence and gratitude.

Bible study leaders who wish to pass on life-changing truth to their group members would do well to heed this principle. One authentic act of righteousness displayed before the group is worth a thousand lectures.

TIME FOR QUESTIONS

Jesus allowed room for questions. Most of what Jesus taught in the upper room was in response to questions that the disciples asked.

Successful small groups are ones in which many questions are asked by the group as well as the leader. Fielding questions is as much of an art as asking them is. Leaders must learn to welcome questions, even when they seem unimportant or threatening. Often these questions are opportunities provided by the Holy Spirit for the group to discover something new or uniquely helpful.

A SAFE ATMOSPHERE

Jesus created an atmosphere in which His group was free to fail. On two occasions during their evening together, Jesus told His disciples that they would soon fail Him. Later, they would remember that He made these predictions right alongside promises of His continued presence and committed love. This combination of personal failure and committed love would become the raw material for an entirely new understanding of their self-worth and adequacy for ministry – one rooted not in their performance, but in God’s love and sufficiency.

MUTUAL FRIENDSHIP

Jesus treated the people in His group as friends by sharing all that He knew with them. Rather than give orders that He expected them to obey without explanation, He chose to lead through loving dialogue. This method would insure that their discipleship was internalized rather than born from mindless conformity.

FLEXIBILITY

Jesus could change His agenda to meet the needs of His groups. Effective small group leaders are aware of the emotional pulse of their group. They are even willing to change their agenda in order to deal with the pressing needs and feelings of an individual.

ABSENCE

Jesus ministered to His group by His absence as well as His presence. At several points in the upper room, and later in the garden, Jesus told His group that His departure was best for them because it was necessary for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Small group leaders are rightly concerned about being present for the group both in and out of the planned meetings, but rarely do they consider that they can also minister to them by their absence. In the leader’s absence, the group is set free from compulsions the leader may have and learns to depend on and listen to the Holy Spirit.

As Bible study leaders, we would do well to follow Jesus’ example given in the upper room as we lead our small groups, with one qualification: We must remember that we are not Jesus. There are certain things He did for His group that we can’t do for ours. Jesus said to the disciples, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” Nobody could follow Jesus where He was going, because no one else could be the world’s savior. While striving to follow Jesus’ example in every other respect, in this we can only point our group to Him.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Breathing Life into Sunday School by Ken Braddy - https://buff.ly/2LRKYh8

FOR BIBLE STUDY: Bible Studies for Life: 8 guideposts for discipleship development - https://buff.ly/2Yf8x5G

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  Register for a free webinar on the 8 signposts of discipleship and how to use it to develop a strategy for discipleship! https://buff.ly/2VjcxE5

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Discipleship Pathway Assessment (DPA) – an online tool to help your congregation see their strengths and weaknesses in their discipleship - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/discipleship-pathway-assessment-P005216492

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Defined by Alex Kendrick (based on the Overcomer movie) -  https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/defined-leader-kit-P005817742

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Gospel Foundations - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Homegrown: A Parenting Guide - https://buff.ly/2YJbV8Z

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Disciple Her by Kandi Gallaty - https://buff.ly/2yi9CxF

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sacred Holidays by Becky Kiser - https://buff.ly/2GxEmiT

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  20/20 Seen. Chosen. Sent. by Christine Caine - https://buff.ly/2HbMOnk

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Sign up for the LifeWay Men’s Newsletter - https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/ministries/men

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Heroic, The Surprising Path to True Manhood by Bill Delvaux - https://buff.ly/2uCpLw5

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: No More Excuses by Tony Evans - Host a men's event around this streaming event and follow it up with the associated Bible study. https://buff.ly/2HAKgzb

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Defined studies (based on the Overcomer movie); 

for girls by Priscilla Shirer -  https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/defined-teen-girls-bible-study-leader-kit-P005815895

for guys by Alex Kendrick - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/defined-teen-guys-bible-study-leader-kit-P005815899

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Milestones - Use this 6 volume set to establish your youth in 10 key spiritual principles (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Creation, People, Salvation, Church, Family, Community & World). https://buff.ly/2vJmQlS

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY:  Levels of Biblical Learning expanded to 12^th grade - https://buff.ly/2Wj32Sw

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Defined (based on the Overcomer movie) by Stephen Kendrick

Leader Guide -  https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/defined-who-god-says-you-are-leader-guide-P005814776

Older Kids Activity book - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/defined-who-god-says-you-are-older-kids-activity-book-P005814775

Younger Kids Activity book - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/defined-who-god-says-you-are-younger-kids-activity-book-P005814773

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: KidMin Toolbox (for those times when you looking for that something extra to do) - https://buff.ly/2LB2hmx

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Curriculum Comparison Chart - https://buff.ly/2FPKNOh

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: What does it Mean to be a Christian - Here's a brand new resource to help children understand what it means to be a Christian. https://buff.ly/2NVCqBN

http://minofed.blogspot.com/

My feature article this month gives 14 ideas for your church to try out to minister to your community.  Plus there are some resources to help  you in -

- church leadership & training

- discipleship & small group ministry

- student ministry

- kids ministry

- women’s ministry

- men’s ministry

Here's the link to view the blog: http://minofed.blogspot.com/

NOTICE: If you wish to be removed from this extremely exclusive and highly sought after list of recipients for this wonderfully informative and greatly entertaining blog, please email me at richard.edfeldt@lifeway. I will abide by your bewildering wishes with great reluctance and sorrow.  And know you will be missed and when you come to your senses, you will be gladly received in the same way the father received his prodigal son.

Five great insights in growing small groups/Bible study groups. https://buff.ly/1Pa40JX

Provide training for your church security team FREE, using Ministry Grid. https://buff.ly/2RcZm5I

Community Ministry Ideas for the Summer

by Diane Davis

The summer offer churches increased flexibility and different opportunities to reach their community.  Here are 14 ideas your church can use to take advantage of the break from school and warmer weather.

1. School’s Out Celebrations: Host three last-day-of-school parties. Elementary kids’ ice cream party, middle school pizza party and treasure hunt; high school sand volleyball tournament and Christian concert. Provide a summer calendar of church events for each age group.

2. Welcome Wagon: Deliver welcome baskets to people who move into your community. Include baked goods or pantry items, information about your church, as well as coupons to local businesses. The Chamber of Commerce can provide you with the names and addresses of people who recently have relocated to your area.

3. Be Festive: As a church, participate in the town’s annual fair or festival. Wear church T-shirts and have fun. Make a parade float, host a diaper changing station or offer to be the cleanup crew.

4. Neighborhood Cookout: Encourage church members or small groups to host a neighborhood cookout one Saturday and invite their neighbors to church.

5. Cool Comfort: Open your facility to those in the community who may not have air conditioning. Provide play areas for moms with young kids. Set up a workspace for college students with free Wi-Fi access. The summer heat is especially dangerous for seniors. Providing a cool place for them to spend their days may even save a life. You may need to arrange transportation to and from their homes.

6. Student Camp Sendoff: Members of an adult Bible class select a camper, prepare a snack bag for the trip, and pray for them that week.

7. Outdoor Concert: Invite the entire community to a free outdoor concert on the church lawn.

8. Thank Local Heroes: Invite fire fighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and others for a special recognition service and lunch at your church.

9. All-Church Picnic: Plan a fun-filled day of food, games and fellowship.

10. Vacation Bible School is an enormous outreach. Visit LifeWay.com/vbs for ideas.

11. Middle School Summit: Incoming middle school students and their parents rotate through 10-minute topical classes taught by church youth leaders and Christians who teach or work in local middle schools. Afterward, kids have a party and parents eat out together.

12. Back-to-School Backpacks: Partner with a local school or shelter and donate backpacks filled with school supplies to school-age children whose families need financial assistance.

13. Move It: Recruit volunteers to wear church T-shirts and help with move-in day at your local college. Invite students to Sunday worship and a homemade lunch in their honor.

14. Community Movie Night:  Offer the community a free movie to attend (either outdoors or in your gym).  Use this LifeWay website for a list of appropriate movies - https://buff.ly/2VIm8EL

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Breathing Life into Sunday School by Ken Braddy - https://buff.ly/2LRKYh8

FOR BIBLE STUDY: Bible Studies for Life: 8 guideposts for discipleship development - https://buff.ly/2Yf8x5G

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  Register for a free webinar on the 8 signposts of discipleship and how to use it to develop a strategy for discipleship! https://buff.ly/2VjcxE5

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Discipleship Pathway Assessment (DPA) – an online tool to help your congregation see their strengths and weaknesses in their discipleship - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/discipleship-pathway-assessment-P005216492

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Gospel Foundations - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Homegrown: A Parenting Guide - https://buff.ly/2YJbV8Z

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Mom Set Free by Jeannie Cunnion - https://buff.ly/2HcLDEe

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  20/20 Seen. Chosen. Sent. By Christine Caine - https://buff.ly/2HbMOnk

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Sign up for the LifeWay Men’s Newsletter - https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/ministries/men

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: No More Excuses by Tony Evans - Host a men's event around this streaming event and follow it up with the associated Bible study. https://buff.ly/2HAKgzb

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Christ Centered Parenting by Russell Moore & Phillip Bethancourt, addressing cultural hot potatoes with your kids - https://buff.ly/2JuNBm5

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Milestones - Use this 6 volume set to establish your youth in 10 key spiritual principles (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Creation, People, Salvation, Church, Family, Community & World). Pre-order for its June release. https://buff.ly/2vJmQlS

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY:  Levels of Biblical Learning expanded to 12^th grade - https://buff.ly/2Wj32Sw

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: KidMin Toolbox (for those times when you looking for that something extra to do) - https://buff.ly/2LB2hmx

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: The Quest for Kids by Beth Moore - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-quest-for-kids-bible-study-leader-guide-P005802362

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Curriculum Comparison Chart - https://buff.ly/2FPKNOh

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: What does it Mean to be a Christian - Here's a brand new resource to help children understand what it means to be a Christian. https://buff.ly/2NVCqBN

HELPING YOUR GROUP MAINTAIN AN OUTWARD FOCUS

 by Barry McGee

If your group is experiencing staleness and a lack of vitality, take a look at your focus.  While engaging Bible study is a prerequisite to true Christian community, an exclusively inward focus can stunt the growth of most any group.  The inward journey was made to turn outward.  Such a turn usually begins with the leaders.  What can a small-group leader do to encourage an outward focus?

• Get Burdened.  My fire is stoked by reading of others who burned brightly for Christ.  Two of my favorites are David Brainerd and George Whitefield.  Biographies, journals, and diaries of godly men and women are excellent vision-builders.

• Develop Redemptive Friendships.  Help your neighbor build his fence.  Become a reader at a local convalescent hospital.  Challenge the junior high kid across the street to a game of HORSE.
• Model Involvement.  When you do any of the above, take a group member with you.  Don’t treat it like class time.  Just let him see how easy it is to “hang out” with others for Christ’s sake.
• Regularly Highlight Outreach As A Group Fundamental.  Ask for outreach testimonies as often as you ask for prayer requests.  Emphasize a specific opportunity at each meeting.  By giving outreach more than periodic airtime, a leader can counteract the false believe that outreach is optional.
• Facilitate A Group Activity.  Get a list of newcomers who have visited your church and invite a family or individual to one of your small-group meetings.  Or fill a number of grocery bags for a family in need.  Adopt a pregnant teen through your local pregnancy center.  Repair the roof of a widow’s home.  Sponsor, coach, and cheer on a local Little League team.  Work a booth at a community festival.  Join a community softball team.  Just do it together.
• Celebrate Your Group Achievements.  Periodically throw a party to praise God and reward group members for jobs well done.  Remember, Jesus celebrated with the disciples upon the return of the seventy (Luke 10:17-24).

  As the cliche goes, "keep the main thing, the main thing".

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Generosity by LifeWay podcasts: releasing the power of giving - https://buff.ly/2HNH4lN

FOR BIBLE STUDY: Bible Studies for Life: 8 guideposts for discipleship development - https://buff.ly/2Yf8x5G

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  Register for a free webinar on the 8 signposts of discipleship and how to use it to develop a strategy for discipleship! https://buff.ly/2VjcxE5

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Discipleship Pathway Assessment (DPA) – an online tool to help your congregation see their strengths and weaknesses in their discipleship - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/discipleship-pathway-assessment-P005216492

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Gospel Foundations - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Homegrown: A Parenting Guide - https://buff.ly/2YJbV8Z

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Mom Set Free by Jeannie Cunnion - https://buff.ly/2HcLDEe

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Ministry to Women Handbook - https://buff.ly/2q5Grd3

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  20/20 Seen. Chosen. Sent. By Christine Caine - https://buff.ly/2HbMOnk

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Sign up for the LifeWay Men’s Newsletter - https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/ministries/men

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Christ Centered Parenting by Russell Moore & Phillip Bethancourt, addressing cultural hot potatoes with your kids - https://buff.ly/2JuNBm5

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Here are 3 Creative Ways to Engage Men In Congregational Life. https://buff.ly/2XLlEui

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY:  Student Pastor Network - https://buff.ly/2VsvQtY

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Milestones - Use this 6 volume set to establish your youth in 10 key spiritual principles (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Creation, People, Salvation, Church, Family, Community & World). Pre-order for its June release. https://buff.ly/2vJmQlS

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Show Her the Way by Mary Margaret West - https://buff.ly/2V7Pjgo

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY:  Levels of Biblical Learning expanded to 12^th grade - https://buff.ly/2Wj32Sw

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: KidMin Toolbox (for those times when you looking for that something extra to do) - https://buff.ly/2LB2hmx

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: The Quest for Kids by Beth Moore - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-quest-for-kids-bible-study-leader-guide-P005802362

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Settle for Nothing Less Parenting Workshop - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/settle-for-nothing-less-P005810307

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Curriculum Comparison Chart - https://buff.ly/2FPKNOh

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: What does it Mean to be a Christian - Here's a brand new resource to help children understand what it means to be a Christian. https://buff.ly/2NVCqBN

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kid Event Pro – An online Kids Ministry Event Planning system - https://buff.ly/2PaMurS