Encouraging participation during Bible study in a Life Group is key. However, doing it right is also very important, and many people make mistakes. What is the right way to achieve the benefits and minimize the harm? That’s what we’ll discuss today.
Purpose
To help life group leaders encourage participation while avoiding misleading members through misinterpretation of the text.
The Wrong Approach
When some people meet for group Bible study, they make the error of asking each person, “What does this passage mean to you?” And all of them would take turns saying what the passage meant “to them.” Even though some of their interpretations may contradict each other, out of politeness, no one says anything. What you and I think when reading the Bible doesn’t matter much. The most important thing is, what did the author mean?
The Right Approach
The principle behind the right approach is to know which stage of Bible study to open up to everyone and which to reserve for a trained group leader or others with adequate training. The leader should do exegesis and principlization and involve everyone at the application level.
There are three steps to Bible study: Exegesis, principlizing, and application.
- Exegesis. Reserve exegesis for the leader or more mature people.
- Study the text carefully before the meeting
- Consult commentaries
- Determine what the text means in context and communicate it to the group.
- Principlizing. Reserve principlizing for the team leader. This should be done before the group and communicated. More mature people in the group may also be invited to participate in this.
- Application. This is where everyone should participate and should be the longest part of the discussion. Different types of applications
- Ask people how they might apply this to their lives today.
- Ask for any testimonies of how they or others have applied the truths.
- Ask for any consequences they have suffered for not applying this truth in their lives.
- Take turns praying different parts of the text live so that the discussion becomes a Bible study and prayer, not a long series of discussing the Bible and then a short time of prayer. God’s house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. God’s people are people of prayer. Prayer is the most important step in application.
The above suggestions shared in the video aren’t exhaustive. There are many other ways to work on applications during a small group.
Additional Application Ideas not shared in the video are as follows:
Create a Safe Environment
Establish an atmosphere where people feel comfortable sharing openly:
- Emphasize confidentiality and respect for others’ perspectives
- Model vulnerability by sharing your applications first (especially if no one volunteers first or if their applications are shallow).
- Affirm all contributions, even if they seem small or obvious
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Craft questions that prompt personal reflection and application:
- “How might this passage challenge or change your daily life?”
- “What’s one specific way you could apply this truth this week?”
- “How does this teaching intersect with a current struggle or decision you’re facing?”
Use Interactive Methods
Engage different learning styles through varied activities:
- Break into pairs or small groups to discuss applications
- Have participants write down personal applications and share them with a partner
- Use role-playing to act out potential real-life scenarios
Connect Scripture to Real Life
- Brainstorm current situations where the passage’s principles apply
- Discuss potential obstacles to application and strategies to overcome them
Encourage Accountability
Foster follow-through on applications:
- Have participants share one concrete step they’ll take that week
- Create accountability partnerships within the group
- Follow up on previous applications at the start of each meeting
Closing Prayer
Close the application time with group prayer:
- Pray for each other’s specific application goals
- Ask God for wisdom and strength to live out His Word
- Express gratitude for how His truth transforms lives
