ICCF Bible Study Leader TrainingICCF Bible Study Leader TrainingFall 2006Fall 2006

Icebreaker: Life Time LineIcebreaker: Life Time Line

Keys to Effective Bible Study Leading

Keys to Effective Bible Study Leading

1. Study the Bible1. Study the Bible

Of course, we should study the Bible. Not opinions or guesses! So, always point back to the passage.

In order to be able to lead others in studying the Bible, you must first study it yourself.

“You can only lead others as far as you yourself have gone.”

Thus, it is critical to have regular Bible reading, study, and prayer in your life.

Of course, we should study the Bible. Not opinions or guesses! So, always point back to the passage.

In order to be able to lead others in studying the Bible, you must first study it yourself.

“You can only lead others as far as you yourself have gone.”

Thus, it is critical to have regular Bible reading, study, and prayer in your life.

Why is prayer important?Why is prayer important?

All the study and preparation in the world does no good if the Holy Spirit is not moving!“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

- John 14:26 (NIV, emphasis mine)“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. “

- John 16:13 (NIV)

All the study and preparation in the world does no good if the Holy Spirit is not moving!“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

- John 14:26 (NIV, emphasis mine)“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. “

- John 16:13 (NIV)

Why is prayer important?Why is prayer important?

“However, as it is written:    "No eye has seen,       no ear has heard,    no mind has conceived    what God has prepared for those who love him"—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.       The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

- 1Cor. 2:9-14

“However, as it is written:    "No eye has seen,       no ear has heard,    no mind has conceived    what God has prepared for those who love him"—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.       The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

- 1Cor. 2:9-14

2. Induction vs. Deduction2. Induction vs. Deduction

Induction means examining the facts, then drawing a logical conclusion from them

Deduction means starting with a statement or ideas, then looking for facts which prove them to be true

“Induction is the logic of discovery, while Deduction is the logic of proof”

Induction means examining the facts, then drawing a logical conclusion from them

Deduction means starting with a statement or ideas, then looking for facts which prove them to be true

“Induction is the logic of discovery, while Deduction is the logic of proof”

The Three Steps of the Inductive Method

The Three Steps of the Inductive Method

1. Observation2. Interpretation3. Application

Which is the most important?

1. Observation2. Interpretation3. Application

Which is the most important?

3. Have a plan3. Have a plan

A Bible Study without a plan may go nowhere, or everywhere: both are bad!

Don’t “enforce” your plan, but have a direction.

However, be open to the Spirit’s leading.

A Bible Study without a plan may go nowhere, or everywhere: both are bad!

Don’t “enforce” your plan, but have a direction.

However, be open to the Spirit’s leading.

Why to have a planWhy to have a plan

People are more likely to feel engaged if they sense there is a direction.

Having a plan allows you to bypass “distracting” questions.

People are more likely to feel engaged if they sense there is a direction.

Having a plan allows you to bypass “distracting” questions.

4. Get people involved4. Get people involved

Your job as a leader is to facilitate discussion, not give answers.

Part of involving others is making them feel encouraged.

Of course, don’t “push” people, but we learn best when we can feel engaged/involved.

Your job as a leader is to facilitate discussion, not give answers.

Part of involving others is making them feel encouraged.

Of course, don’t “push” people, but we learn best when we can feel engaged/involved.

Building trustBuilding trust

1. Refer back to comments made earlier in a positive way.

2. Even if an answer is not quite correct, try and be encouraging.

3. If someone cannot answer the question, don’t just move on – have others help them out.

4. Try and encourage even quiet people to speak. (Two tricks.)

1. Refer back to comments made earlier in a positive way.

2. Even if an answer is not quite correct, try and be encouraging.

3. If someone cannot answer the question, don’t just move on – have others help them out.

4. Try and encourage even quiet people to speak. (Two tricks.)

5. The importance of “application”

5. The importance of “application”

Head knowledge without heart change is not useful.

Our goal as leaders, then, is not only that we study the Bible, but that the Bible studies us.

There are several types of questions to ask in order to do this well.

Head knowledge without heart change is not useful.

Our goal as leaders, then, is not only that we study the Bible, but that the Bible studies us.

There are several types of questions to ask in order to do this well.

Application questions: focus of the passage

Application questions: focus of the passage

Is the teaching local or universal? Is the teaching temporary or

timeless?What area of experience can this

be applied to? In what areas of life should this

truth be applied?Answer: II Timothy 3:16

Is the teaching local or universal? Is the teaching temporary or

timeless?What area of experience can this

be applied to? In what areas of life should this

truth be applied?Answer: II Timothy 3:16

What is Scripture useful for?

What is Scripture useful for?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

- II Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

- II Timothy 3:16-17

Four areas of applicationFour areas of application

1. Teaching: What is this passage teaching me?

2. Rebuke: What am I believing or doing that must change?

3. Correct: What should I believe or do instead?

4. Training in Righteousness: What specifically can I do to live out the truth?

1. Teaching: What is this passage teaching me?

2. Rebuke: What am I believing or doing that must change?

3. Correct: What should I believe or do instead?

4. Training in Righteousness: What specifically can I do to live out the truth?

6. True learning is learning through discovery and experience

6. True learning is learning through discovery and experience

People learn best when they discover things by themselves (with, maybe, a little help).

People remember things best when they can immediately apply them to their lives.

The point: don’t give away all the answers immediately!!!

People learn best when they discover things by themselves (with, maybe, a little help).

People remember things best when they can immediately apply them to their lives.

The point: don’t give away all the answers immediately!!!

Some toolsSome tools

http://www.champaignccc.org/iccf/resources/

blueletterbible.org

http://www.champaignccc.org/iccf/resources/

blueletterbible.org

Reflection timeReflection time

What three things did you learn during this session that were most helpful to you?

How do you feel you might apply some of these lessons?

How important is it to you that you lead Bible Studies well?

What three things did you learn during this session that were most helpful to you?

How do you feel you might apply some of these lessons?

How important is it to you that you lead Bible Studies well?

Take a 5-minute break!Take a 5-minute break!

PracticePractice

I Kings 3:1-15Develop a “plan”/”direction”Develop several questionsConsider possible applicationsPut it into action!

I Kings 3:1-15Develop a “plan”/”direction”Develop several questionsConsider possible applicationsPut it into action!