Every small group has a different DNA made up of interests, needs, desires, passions, and perspectives. Selecting a curriculum is not as easy as slipping on a one-size-fits-all t-shirt. In fact, choosing a Bible study can be the most difficult part when launching any small group.
Here are 5 steps to take when it comes to selecting a Bible study curriculum for your small group or Bible study:
1. Commit the decision to prayer.
Ask God to give you direction and courage as a leader. Lean into the sacred echoes He whispers. What is he teaching you recently? Is there a specific theme you’ve heard again and again? Remember, God has so much to teach you as you lead, too.
2. Don’t feel like you need to make the decision on your own as the “leader.”
Connect with other small group leaders or pastors at your church. What types of curriculum have they used and loved? Does your church have a library of curriculum you can rent?
3. Talk to potential and committed participants.
Do they tend to be spiritual seekers, veteran believers, or a combination of both? What are their goals for the time together? What do they hope to get out of a study? For those who have done studies before, what characteristics of previous studies did they like and dislike?
4. After you develop a general idea of what the group desires, focus on more of the specifics.
How many weeks will the group meet together? Does the group prefer a DVD-based curriculum or book-based curriculum? Do participants want a study with or without homework? How much? Are there budget concerns?
Here’s a quick checklist of things to consider:
- Topic-based versus Scripture-driven
- DVD-based versus book-driven
- Number of weeks to meet (including one for service or purely social)
- Time available for each meeting
- Homework options (yes/no and how much)
- Budget
5. Search online for free samples of DVD Bible studies—including PDF’s of participant’s guides and video lessons—before making a purchase.
Share the links with key members of the group and then receive their feedback before making a decision. The more your group takes ownership in the study you choose, the more likely they’ll be to engage, enjoy, and invite others along.
Can I extend a simple thank you to you?
Thank you for stepping out in faith to lead. Thank you for sacrificing time, funds, your home, and your heart to pouring into those in your community. Thank you for praying for, loving on, and reaching out to others. Thank you for leading or co-leading or dreaming-of-leading a small group, Bible study, or book club.
Trust that no matter what curriculum you choose, God is going to do big things in and through your small group.
God will reveal himself in new ways, wow you with his wonder, and astound you with his love.
Our team would love to be praying for you as you launch into the spring as a Bible study leader or participant. Go ahead and leave a prayer request in the comments below so we can lift up and pray for one another.
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If you are interested in looking into a Margaret Feinberg DVD study for your spring study, including Wonderstruck 7-Session DVD Bible Study or Scouting the Divine 6-Session DVD Bible Study, we’d love to give you access to the online DVD Sampler.
Click HERE to receive access to the PDF samples and sample DVD lessons from all DVD Bible studies from MargaretFeinberg.com.
What is your biggest concern when selecting a Bible study for your small group?
**Original photo found here
After hearing Margaret at lifeway women’s conference in Nashville, I prayerfully asked God to show me what study our women’s group would do next and He lead me to Wonderstruck! I am SO excited about what God has for our group!
Wahoo! Thrilled you’ll be diving into Wonderstruck this spring. Snap a photo of your group– I’d love to pray for you all as you journey. Hug to you, Tracie!
Hello, thanks for a valuable information and encouragement to my calling for leading a bible study. Please for 2 of the groups my son and I lead/host for youth and adults at our home. Pray for boldness and courage for both of us to be God’s mouthpiece and choose the right topic and have the participants according to HIS will.
Thanks so much for your dedication and pray God will keep using you. Many blessings!
We are praying! Thanks for reaching out, Monica.
These are great thoughts on leading small groups. Thank you so much. I needed to hear #2. I’ve always appreciated your heart for leaders. You provide the best leader material out there with lots of resources to choose from not only promoting your stuff but other ideas and that is so refreshing. And you totally took me back to my childhood through coloring – how could I not love you? Ha!
Thank you for the sweet response, Melody! Happy coloring! Hugs!
I am going to be leading a small group for young women, ages 17-24, in my home beginning in February. We will be going through material based on Beth Moore’s “So Long, Insecurity” book and leader guide. Please pray that Abba would send the specific girls that He has chosen to be touched and blessed by His love through my leadership, hospitality, and mentorship in this season. I am also using this as an opportunity to mentor and train my own 18-year old daughter (Mackenzie) in ministry. Please pray for us! 🙂
So exciting, Carla! Prayers for your Bible study and all those that attend. I pray for rich times of ministry and openness. Hugs!
It’s a pleasure to find someone who can identify the issues so clearly
[url=http://www.gowatchs.com/brand-202.html]好易通の「流体力学」を提供し、新モードの観覧好易通の頭蓋骨–2015と今後2バージョン。もしあなたは少し戸惑いをどのようにブランドの最新の腕時計、そんなに心配しないので、私が。あなたが知っているのは、好易通頭骨ダイヤル表示の時間、秒、そして電源準備指標。これは正しいが、好易通の頭蓋骨必要のない分。 スーパーコピーローレックス 何、あなたは急いでは何ですか?あなたの腕にある未来の頭骨![/url]
“Jeździ gostek po caÅ‚ym Å›wiecie i coÅ› tam o tym pisze, lepiej czy gorzej – o co Ci biega? Å»e miaÅ‚ tatusia, który mu pomógÅ‚? No miaÅ‚.A co on robi zÅ‚ego niby?”No nic. Ale juz mlody Tusk czy brat Millera sa niedobrzy, bo tak nam pasuje. Nieprawdaz?
You’d never know it now with me hobbling around on my cane. Knee surgery, here I come. Thanks for reading this, James. Don’t forget to check out the contest on Angelic Knight Press to win some great reads for your Kindle.Blaze
[url=http://www.bagkakaku.com/vuitton_bag/2/N51263.html]スーパーコピーモンクレール 長年にわたって、ブランパンのトゥールビヨンとの間を揺れ動くカルーセルの時計を作っていたと考えられ、2013年に、ブランパン、単に同じ運動の両方のメカニズムを含んだヴィルレカルーセルのトゥールビヨン(ここでは実際のリリース)。長い話を短くするために、私はカルーセルブランパンで選り抜きの贅沢な合併症としてのトゥールビヨンを打つことと思いません、しかし、ブランドは限られた数の両方を生産し続けます、少なくとも、それが来るとき、カルーセルへ。口径2322などの動きはとても面白いと集められるが、私の考えでは、彼らはブランドから専用の運動愛好家の選ばれた数への声明として作用するためである。私は実際に見て、新しい近代的な2322v2 2015年までにおける2322運動の復活を見て非常に驚きました。[/url]
[url=http://www.newkakaku.com/gb11.htm]展示ホール内を泳いで一時間後も、そもそもブランドを知らない人も知って:この百年の号は持つ遠見卓識知者ハンス・ヴェルス多夫(ハンス!Wilsdorf)に創立され、彼は真っ先に予見懐中時計を名目に歴史舞台、腕時計は取って代わってRolex(ロレックス);二十世紀発売多くの重要な技術革新(例えば密封性、自動的に最適化メカニズムなど)を持って完備、精良な生産ツールとして、その製品の信頼性抜群抜群;ブランドが巨大な規模のアフターサービスネットワーク、全体のタブ業し、それが長いと多くのスポーツ界や文化界のセレブに協力ロレックス終始独立運営、この点とみなされてその特色。[/url]