Bible engagement in small groups …
Ways to strengthen Bible engagement in small groups:
Getting together with a micro-community of believers to read/hear God’s Word is an effective way to get to know God and understand how to live in a vibrant relationship with Him. Here are ten ways to strengthen Bible engagement in small groups:
Bathe everything in prayer.
Pray before, after and during the time spent together. When you begin, pray something like, “God, we will be reading your Word. Please help us engage it actively and listen attentively. You are the Teacher, and we’re your students. Please convict, guide and transform us. Amen.” During the gathering, be prepared to stop the dialogue and pray the Scriptures for personal needs or situations. When you close, pray something like, “Thank you, Lord, for how we’ve met you in and through your Word. Help us apply your Word in everything we say and do. For your honour and glory. Amen.
Get to know each other.
Create time and space for building relationships. Strong relationships are needed for heartfelt/meaningful dialogue. Foster an environment that’s friendly and respectful and builds trust. Look for practical ways to love, encourage, and celebrate life together.
Read the Bible in multi-sensory ways.
Be creative and three-dimensional, i.e., move beyond the printed page. For example, when reading about the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Communion in 1 Corinthians 11, have a fresh loaf baking in a bread maker so that the smell pervades the air. After reading the passage, eat the bread while discussing the text.
Teach public reading of Scripture.
We should aim to read the Bible well when we read it together. Some basic instructions will help people read more confidently and meaningfully. For more information, check out the Bible Engagement Blog post, Reading the Bible Publicly.
Don’t reduce the Bible to a sourcebook for finding the correct answers.
The purpose of a small group Bible study should never be ‘knowledge about the Bible’. Bible knowledge isn’t an end in itself, nor a means to an end. The aim isn’t right answers, it’s knowing the One who is the answer. Interact with God’s Story in ways that our stories (as individuals and as a group) are formed and transformed by His Story.
Use open-ended questions.
Allowing the formulation of any answer, rather than selecting from a set of predetermined possible answers, will help people press into God’s Word. Ask questions like, “What stood out for you?” “Did it raise any questions for you?” “Do you see the Father, Son or Holy Spirit in the text?” or “Why is this in the Bible?” As a discussion progresses, direct people back into the Word. Ask, “Where do you see that in Scripture?” or “Is there something in the text that informed your perspective?”
Make the main thing the main thing.
Spend more time reading the Bible than reading books, commentaries, curricula, or study guides about the Bible. It’s not a Bible study if the main thing is reading someone’s book about the Bible, listening to someone preach/teach on a topic from the Bible, or watching a video series about the Bible! God’s Word, read/heard, should be the primary text/content, and the Holy Spirit should be the ultimate teacher.
Discuss the uncomfortable/difficult passages.
Be prepared to struggle with the ‘hard’ Scriptures, even when you don’t find satisfactory explanations. Wrestle with different points of view respectfully and maturely.
Aim to read/hear the Scripture through the voices/ears of the whole group.
Recognize how your view of Scripture is limited and that the fullness of Bible reading comes into its own when God speaks through different people.
Listen beyond your traditional theological grid.
Allow God’s Word to challenge your presuppositions. Be humble. Be aware of the limitations of your insight and understanding. And be open to how God works mysteriously and powerfully, in and through His Word, to redeem and restore your life and the lives of everyone in the group.
Bible engagement strategies for small groups:
Using different methodologies may also be helpful. Try implementing one of these strategies:
The “Book Club” approach.
Ask group members to read a whole book of the Bible before getting together, or read a big chunk when you are together (an entire story). Then, open it up for dialogue. Discuss the writer’s intent, themes, plot, characters, what people liked or didn’t like, and so on.
The “Visual Arts” approach.
Read a portion of Scripture, then view art forms (from different cultures and centuries), such as ceramics, drawings, paintings, sculptures, stained glass, wood carvings, and such, that illustrate the text. Discuss the artist’s context, how s/he interprets the biblical narrative/event, and how it may or may not be true to the text.
What would you add? Share your tips for strengthening Bible engagement in small groups.
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Summary
To strengthen Bible engagement in small groups, praying regularly, creating space for relationship-building, and exploring the Bible in creative, multisensory ways is important. The goal should be to know God more deeply, not just gain knowledge, through meaningful dialogue and open-ended questions. Small group discussions should focus on God’s Word, not secondary materials, while encouraging respectful exploration of difficult passages. Additionally, incorporating strategies like reading whole books of the Bible or examining visual art can deepen understanding and engagement.
© Scripture Union Canada
