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1. Decide: Should I start such a group or not? What pros and cons are there?
1. Do I have natural contacts to non-Christians - or could I if I tried?
2. Do I want them to come to Christ and grow in him?
3. Is a small group Bible discussion a good way to accomplish these 2 goals?
4. Do I have the time or can I make the time to prepare studies and to follow people up between
meetings?
5. Do I perhaps know another Christian who can help me?
3. Decide what you should/want to study, where, when and for how long:
1. The Gospel - passages that show real human problems and Jesus' answer to them; especially
dialogue and action narratives.
2. Use passages that answer basic questions about God, humility, Jesus Christ - or specific questions
that have been raised.
3. Meet in a neutral, relaxed atmosphere, in a place that is easy to reach : a private room, a dorm
lounge, a cafe
4. Advertise a specific length (e.g. 1 hour ) and stick to it - you can always talk further after the
meeting officially concludes.
5. Do a series of 3 - 4 studies that can be extended by those who wish, e.g. at the beginning of a
semester or before Christmas or Easter
Be patient. Don't expect to explain everything at once. Repeat and review definitions and explanations
often, perhaps using different images or approaches each time.
When preparing the study, look for 1 or 2 main points which you want to get across. Also, look for
applications for Christians, should your group have mostly Christians.
Be creative in your approach. Role-play, have people write down their reactions to a certain word or divide
the group into pairs.
Always have an introduction which catches the interest of the group. It is best if the introduction is a
question which everyone can answer. If you elicit everyone's opinion on an initial question, shy persons
will be more likely to speak again, having spoken once. The question or introductory statement should have
a direct connection to the main point of the study.
Watch the eyes of group members for lack of understanding, desire to speak, etc. Arrangement in a circle
where everyone can see everyone else is helpful.
Use the Good News Bible, New International Readers Version or New Living Translation. Have a good
reader read the entire passage aloud and then allow time for a second, silent reading. Identify difficult
words and define them.
Review past studies and give necessary background at the beginning. Talk with co-leader if you were
absent.
Don't hesitate to include sharing about your Christian life or to ask another Christian in the group to do.
Begin praying and preparing early. Anticipate hard questions which may arise and seek help if you need to.
However, if you can't answer a question, see if someone else can or admit ignorance and promise to
research it for next week.
Handle tangents by recording them on a flip chart and discussing them after the meeting or in a future
study.