Leading Your Study
Step 3: How to Lead & Facilitate Your Bible Study
Send the Invite & Study Guide
A week before your study, send out a message with the details — time, location, and the passage you’ll be studying. Encourage your group to read the Scripture ahead of time so they come prepared. Don’t hesitate to follow up with anyone who’s shown interest; personal reminders often make the difference in someone showing up.
Welcome & Introductions (First Gathering)
Begin your first gathering by having each person share their name and what they’re hoping to get out of the study. Then give a short overview of how your group will work and what your goals are together. This sets the tone and helps everyone feel at ease. You may want to spend the first week giving some background and context to the book you’re studying depending on the depth of knowledge in the group. Make sure that everyone in your study has a physical bible. If you need extra copies to keep on hand, reach out to us.
Start out by Opening in Prayer
Prayer invites God’s presence and centers the group on Him. Keep it simple and heartfelt — thank God for bringing everyone together, ask for wisdom, and pray that His Word would stir your hearts. Over time, encourage different members to lead the opening prayer so everyone feels involved.
Read the Passage Together
Open the Bible and read the text as a group. You can go around the circle one verse at a time, or read the whole passage yourself if that feels more natural. The goal isn’t speed — it’s participation and confidence in reading Scripture out loud.
Start with Questions and Takeaways
After reading, guide the discussion with simple questions:
“What questions do you have about the text?”
“What stood out to you as we read?”
You don’t need to know all the answers. Instead, use commentaries, cross-references, or trusted study guides to help clarify where needed. The aim is to draw people deeper into God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit do the teaching. Give participants a chance to answer or add thoughts to questions
Discuss the Study Guide Questions
After discussing questions and takeaways from the text, lean into the questions on your study guide. If conversation begins to stall, lean back into the overarching theme of the scripture for that week. Ask general questions that may lead to day-to-day life applications.
Close in Prayer
Wrap up by asking if anyone has prayer requests, and then invite one or two group members to close in prayer. This not only keeps Christ at the center but also helps people grow more comfortable praying out loud with others.
Call to Action
We try to give a call to action each week at our studies that relates to the text. This is a charge for those in your study to become more like Christ each week. Wrap up your time with a reminder about the study guide and scripture for the following study.
