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How to lead a Bible Study

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HOW TO LEAD A BIBLE STUDY

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Watch & Read 

These videos and articles include
​ helpful tools and suggestions for launching your Bible Study

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PICKING YOUR BIBLE STUDY CONTENT

Starting Points

Just started a Bible Study? Start Here!

DISCOVERY

Want your group to be more of a place for people to just start exploring Christianity for the first time? Here is a set of Bible studies that allow you to have easy Bible discussions that are seeker friendly.

leading a Discovery study

• Discovery Bible Studies (goal: understanding the message of the Bible
• Discovery Pathways (PODS) (goal: understanding foundations of Christian faith)
• PODS Study App

EPHESIANS

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This is a great study covering a variety of topics of the basics of our faith, walking through the book of Ephesians (12 lessons) 

Bible Study guides  

1. To the Praise of His Glory: Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ – Ephesians 1:1-14
   
2. It’s a Real Relationship: Knowing God – Ephesians 1:15-23
   
3. Richly Experiencing Grace: Grace Everyday – Ephesians 2:1-10
   
4. Brought Near: Peace in Relationships – Ephesians 2:11-22
   
5. The Gospel Isn’t Simply for Us: Blessed to Be a Blessing – Ephesians 3:1-13
   
6. Rooted and Established: Experiencing the Power and Love of God – Ephesians 3:14-2
   
7. Unity: Becoming Mature in Community – Ephesians 4:1-1
   
8. A New Country: Living as Members of the Kingdom – Ephesians 4:17-5:2
   
9. Children of Light: Purity – Ephesians 5:3-14
   
10. Imitating God: The Spirit-Filled Life – Ephesians 5:15-21
    
11. Submission: Christ-Centered Relationships – Ephesians 5:22-6:9
    
12. Armor: God Has Prepared Us for Battle – Ephesians 6:10-20
    • Tools for Warfare, by Mark Bubeck

LUKE

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"Teachings on the Way to Jerusalem"
This Bible Study goes through the different teachings of Jesus through the book of Luke. (11 lessons)

Bible Study guides  

1. Follow Me: Commitment – Luke 9:57-62
   • Run to Win, by Howard Hendricks
2. Martha, Martha: Quiet Times – Luke 10:38-42
   • Taking Time with God
3. Our Father: Prayer – Luke 11:1-13
   • Use Your Superior Weapons, by Tim Downs
4. Beware: Eternal Perspective – Luke 12:1-21
   • Eternal Perspective, by Eric Silverman
5. Why Worry: Worry – Luke 12:22-34
   • Jesus and Worry, by Steve Weaver
6. Last Chance: God’s Kingdom Plan – Luke 12:35-13:35
   • Jesus and the Gentiles, by H. Cornell Goerner
7. For Joy: The Lost Sheep and Lost Coin – Luke 15:1-10
8. Sonship or Slavery?: The Lost Son – Luke 15:11-24
9. Grace for Religious Sinners: The Older Brother
   • A Parable of Fisherless Fishermen, by John M. Drescher
10. The Kingdom of God Is Within You: Kingdom Values – Luke 17:1-21
    • Good Old Grace, by Bruce Narramore and Bill Counts
11. Jerusalem: Jesus Enters the City

 

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Next Steps: Training Level

These help us go a little deeper and challenges us to think through what it looks like to mature in our faith

Character Studies

The main intent of these character studies is to help your group become more familiar with the entire Bible & to see how the Old Testament connects to the New, telling one complete story of redemption which reaches its climax in Christ.
(5 lessons)

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Bible Study Guides

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1. Moses: Reluctant Leader – Exodus 2-4
   • The Call of Christ to Leadership, by John Stott
2. Ruth: Loyal Love – Ruth 1-4
   • Compassion Throughout Ruth, by Eric Silverman
3. David: Walking by Faith – 1 Samuel 17:20-50
   • Faith Like David’s, by Eric Silverman
4. Esther: Courage – Esther 4:6-17
   • Safety’s Edge, by Ron Hutchcraft
5. Daniel: Character Counts – Daniel 1
   • Who Are You When Everyone’s Looking?

James

For this study, you will dive deep into the book of James. This book will help you walk through the themes of Maturity, Wisdom, and Integrity.
​(6 lessons)


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Bible Study Guides

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1. Consider it Joy: Trials – James 1:2-4
   • That’s Not Clark Kent, It’s Superman, by Rick James
2. I Made Me Do It: Temptation – James 1:13-18
   • Temptation: Vulnerable Flaw of Weakness, by Chuck Swindoll
3. Faith that Works: Faith vs. Works – James 2:14-26
   • Faith and Effort, by Kenneth Prior
4. Taming the Tongue: Godly Speech – James 3:1-12
   • Taming the Tongue, by Bill Bright
5. Humbly Submit: Humility and Submission – James 4:1-10
   • It’s Hard to Be Humble, by Neil Downey
6. The Prayer of a Righteous Man: Prayer – James 5:13-18
   • Partners in Pursuit of Integrity, by Chris Adsit

1 Samuel

 Samuel records the establishment of Israel’s monarchy, starting with the birth of Samuel through the death of Saul. This all happens during a time when everyone “does what is right in their own eyes” (see Judges 21:25). Learn how God works in and through imperfect people how it points for our need for a true perfect Savior.
​(14 lessons)

Bible Study Guides

1. Abundant Favor: 1 Samuel 1:1-3:21
2. God Alone: 1 Samuel 4:1-7:17
3. God’s Warning: 1 Samuel 8:1-22
4. Renewed Kingdom: 1 Samuel 9:1-12:25
5. Kingdom Transition: 1 Samuel 13:1-15:35
6. Divine Vision: 1 Samuel 16:1-23
7. David and Goliath: 1 Samuel 17:1-58
8. Total Surrender: 1 Samuel 18:1-20:42
9. Rock and Refuge: 1 Samuel 21:1-22:23
10. Seeking the Lord: 1 Samuel 23:1-29
11. Opportunity or Temptation: 1 Samuel 24:1-22
12. God Will Repay: 1 Samuel 25:1-44
13. God Tests David: 1 Samuel 26:1-25
14. Divine Help: 1 Samuel 27:1-31:13

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Next Steps: Action Level

These studies help us see what action steps scripture calls us to.

ACTS

The book of Acts is the sequel to Luke. In Luke 24, Jesus gives the Great Commission to his followers. Throughout the rest of Acts, Luke shows how that command was being carried out. This study with dive deep into this book and challenge us in following that same call. 
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Bible Study Guides

1. The Power to Witness: The Holy Spirit – Acts 1:1-8
2. A Powerful Witness: Evangelism – Acts 4:1-22
   • Lost, by Robert McQuilkin
3. A Powerful Prayer: Prayer – Acts 4:23-31
   • Prayer: Rebelling Against the Status Quo, by David F. Wells
4. A Powerful Persecution: Persecution – Acts 5:17-42
   • Persecution in the Early Church, by Rick Wade
5. Opportunities Abound: Divine Appointments – Acts 8:26-40
   • Evangelistic Strategies, by Eric Swanson
6. Unlimited Patience: Paul’s Conversion – Acts 9:1-30
   • Are the Biblical Documents Reliable?, by Jimmy Williams
7. Paul’s Strategy 1: Broad Sowing and Multiplication – Acts 13
   • Selection, by Eric Swanson
8. Paul’s Strategy 2: Starting Points and Discipleship – Acts 14
   • Reaching Freshmen, by Eric Swanson
9. An Unknown God: Connecting With the Culture – Acts 17:16-34
   • Lessons I Have Learned, by John R. Mott
10. God’s Powerful Presence: God’s Will – Acts
    • How to Know God’s Will

Daniel

"Ministry in the Marketplace"
In this study, you will hone in on 3 underlying realities that enabled Daniel to have such a profound ministry in an entirely secular environment.
​1. Walking with the Lord 2. Developing relationships with colleagues. 3. Pursuing excellence in all his responsibilities.

Bible Study Guides

1. Qualified to Serve: Pillars For Ministry – Daniel 1
   • Real Christians in the Real World, by Dave Sunde
2. Revealer of Mysteries: Incremental Progress – Daniel 2
   • Invest Your Life in Relationships, by Dave Sunde
3. You’re Fired: Priority of Walk Over Work – Daniel 3
   • Sharing Life or Destruction, by Jim R.
4. The Most High God: Culmination of Grace – Daniel 4
   • Challengers to the Godless Grind, by Dave Sunde
5. The Handwriting on the Wall: Decree of Judgement – Daniel 5
6. Whom You Continually Serve: Priority of Walk Over Relationships – Daniel 6
   • Build a Quiet Time into Your Daily Schedule, by Steve Hanawalt

2 Samuel

2 Samuel begins where 1 Samuel left off. The book as a whole recounts David’s reign as king of Israel and it shows David to be quite a different character than we see in 1 Samuel. He is quite fallible. In this study we'll walk through these ups and downs pointing to how a faithful God meets with fallible people.

Bible Study Guides

1. God’s Heart: 2 Samuel 1:1-27
2. David’s Kingship Begins: 2 Samuel 2:1-5:5
3. Moving Up: 2 Samuel 5:6-25
4. David’s King: 2 Samuel 6:1-7:29
5. David’s Reign: 2 Samuel 8:1-10:19
6. Divine Grace: 2 Samuel 11:1-12:31
7. Human Disgrace: 2 Samuel 13:1-39
8. Trouble at Home: 2 Samuel 14:1-33
9. The Word Fulfilled: 2 Samuel 15:1-19:43
10. Success Against Rebellion: 2 Samuel 20:1-26
11. God’s Faithfulness: 2 Samuel 21:1-22
12. Singing Praises: 2 Samuel 22:1-23:7
13. Disguised Mercy: 2 Samuel 24:1-25

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