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For small group leaders

How to lead a Bible study.

You don't need to be a Bible expert. Leading a Bible study is mostly three things: choose a chapter, ask good questions, and listen well. Here's a simple way to do it, week after week.

Start a small group study

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Before you meet

Choose one chapter, and read it first yourself.

  1. Pick one chapter for the week. One book, a chapter at a time, keeps everyone together and makes it easy to catch up after a missed week.
  2. Set a time and invite people. A regular day and time, with a reminder the day before, does most of the work of getting people there.
  3. Read the chapter and answer the questions yourself. You'll know where the conversation might go, and where people might get stuck.
  4. Pray for the people coming, by name.

At the meeting

A simple shape for an hour together.

  • Welcome (about 10 minutes)

    Catch up and ask how everyone's week went. Newcomers should know someone's glad they came.

  • The chapter (about 10 minutes)

    Read a key part aloud, or ask someone to sum up what happened. What stood out? What surprised anyone?

  • Three questions (about 30-40 minutes)

    Ask, then wait. Silence is people thinking. Take one question deeply rather than rushing through many.

  • Prayer (about 10-15 minutes)

    Share requests and pray for each other. Write them down so you can follow up during the week.

Good questions

Ask questions that open the text, not close it.

  • Point back to the chapter. “Where do you see that in the chapter?” keeps the conversation on what the text actually says.
  • Ask open questions. “What”, “how” and “where” questions get people talking; yes-or-no questions end the conversation.
  • Let the quiet people go first, or ask everyone to think of an answer before anyone speaks.
  • You don't have to fix every answer. Thank people for sharing, and let the text and the group do the correcting.
  • Where Christians disagree, say so. Lay out the main ways people read a passage, and keep the group together.

After the meeting

A short recap keeps everyone together.

Send a few lines on what the group talked about and what you're praying for. It helps anyone who missed it catch up, and it reminds everyone what next week's chapter is.

How Favor helps

Favor does the preparing, so you can lead the people.

  • Every chapter explained

    As people read, each chapter opens itself up: the words behind the words, what's easily missed, and how it leads to Jesus.

  • Questions ready every week

    Three discussion questions for every chapter, and honest questions people ask, answered from the text.

  • Answers sealed until you meet

    Everyone answers privately during the week; the answers appear together at the meeting, so quiet people are heard.

  • Meeting mode and the recap

    Favor walks you through the meeting step by step, then you send a short recap to the group.

See a week's study: the Exodus 14 Bible study, or try the free Christmas Bible study.

The best way to study the Bible.

Your small group or your church can use Favor for Bible study, or you can read by yourself.

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions

Do I need to be a Bible expert to lead a Bible study?

No. Your job is to open the chapter, ask good questions, listen, and keep it warm. It's fine to say, "I don't know. Let's look at the text together."

How long should a Bible study meeting be?

Many groups meet for about an hour to an hour and a half: a welcome, a look back at the chapter, the discussion questions, and prayer. Keep to the time you promised.

How many people should be in a small group?

Small enough that everyone can talk. When some people stop speaking up, it may be time to split into two groups.

What should a group study first?

Pick one book and go a chapter a week. Genesis, or one of the Gospels such as Mark or Matthew, are good places to begin.

How does Favor help a leader?

Every chapter comes explained as people read, with three discussion questions ready. Answers stay sealed until you meet, a meeting mode walks you through each step, and you can print the week's sheet.

The best way to learn the Bible

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

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