Anyone who has the love of God in their heart is anxious to share the good news of the gospel with others. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can share your faith. All you need is a willing heart and a burden for souls. We all need a deeper knowledge of the inspired of word of God. God’s word is life to us, It helps us learn more of who He is and of His boundless love for mankind. Here are some suggestions to help you give a good Bible study.
You can study God’s word on just about any topic or theme you like. The Bible has principles and promises to guide you and your study partner into truth. In Christ’s prayer to His Father in John Chapter 17, He prayed that we would be sanctified through truth. His word is truth. You can never go wrong by taking the time to study His word. Studying God’s word will increase your knowledge of spiritual matters. Here are ten tips to help you get started.
1) Find a study partner
You may already know someone whom you would like to study with, but if not pray that the Lord will lead you to a person who is hungering and thirsting for the knowledge of God. He may have already shown you a person who is in need of a study. As you talk to people and get to know them, their need for Christ for a knowledge of Christ will become quite evident. Use these opportunities to explore their interests and offer them a Bible study.
2) Scheduling the Bible study
Set a regular date and time for the studies, and be on time. Be respectful of their time and schedule. If you are running late, be courteous to call and let them know. You will want to plan to do the studies on a weekly basis. This frequency is good because it allows time for the student to process what he has just learned. Think of Bible readings as ingestion of spiritual food. You don’t want to overload them with too much knowledge at one time by coming too often, nor do you want to come so infrequently that they lose interest.
3) Selecting a topic
Here is where you need to make a decision. Discuss with your student as to what topic he would like to study. Do they want to study just a particular topic, such as heaven, or baptism, or faith? Would they like to study a set of pre-printed Bible study guides that are designed to cover a series of Bible topics in a progressive manner? Choose something that is of interest to your student. You can purchase lessons at your local Christian bookstore, or online. There are many websites that offer free online Bible lessons that you can print down and use.
4) Choose a good Bible for your study
In order to discuss God’s word, you must have a good Bible to work from. A good study Bible usually has additional study helps such as marginal references, a commentary, concordance, maps and a dictionary. These extras can enhance your study. Make sure your study partner has his or her own Bible too. It’s a good idea for you both to study from the same version of the Bible but that’s not absolutely necessary. Actually, studying from different versions is helpful as it gives you an opportunity to compare the wording found in a variety of versions. The Bible has been translated many times over time, so try to choose a Bible that comes as close to the original meaning as possible. Try to avoid a paraphrase Bible if at all possible.
5) Find a quiet place to study
If possible, study in an environment that is free of distractions. Interruptions from children, pets, telephone calls and other loud noises will keep you and your student from concentrating. If you are studying in their home, you might choose to study at the kitchen or dining room table so you can have space to spread out your materials. Studying inside is not always needed, however. Opening God’s word outside in the park can also be a blessing.
6) Always pray before you begin your study
Prayer is essential to our relationship with the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit Who leads and guides you as you teach the lesson, so always pray for His leading before you begin. You are God’s vessel, the instrument He is using to touch the heart of your student. His presence will be with you and He will give you wisdom to conduct the study and will give you the words to speak.
7) Stick to the topic
Often during Bible study it is easy for other discussion or idle chatter to lead away from the topic. Keep your focus and gently steer your student back to the subject at hand. If they start talking of things that will be discussed in a later lesson, simply acknowledge their comment and let them know you will study that with them more in depth in a future lesson.
8) Limit your time for study
Keep your study to about an hour. As excited as you are to share the word of God with your study partner, you don’t want to overwhelm them. They can’t digest the entire word of God all in one sitting. Look for signs of boredom, such as restlessness or inattentiveness.
9) Avoid arguments
It does not help to argue with your student. At times there may be differences of opinion; this should be expected. Allow them to express their thoughts but avoid a heated discussion. As they learn new truths they are being exposed to new concepts that may be in sharp contrast to things they learned in the past. Let the Holy Spirit touch their heart as they learn the truth of God’s word. As you allow the Bible to speak for itself, God will help them to understand His word.
10) Get feedback
Always make sure your student understands what they are learning. After each lesson ask them if they have any other questions. Answer their questions to the best of your knowledge and don’t be afraid to admit if there is something you don’t know. You can always research the answer and bring that information back to them at the next study session.
When your study is completed for the day, always pray together before you leave.
Sources:
Personal experience
Amazing Facts: “The Ultimate Resource”
All Scripture reference from King James Version of the Bible
