Leading Effective Bible Studies

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Leading EffectiveBible Studies

• Roots Wings Conference 2006
• Tom Lin
• Web www.tomandnancylin.com
• E-mail tomlin_at_post.harvard.edu

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What is this? What does it mean?
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6 Keys to Leading Effective Bible Studies

• Embrace the Inductive Process
• Recognize Your Role
• Climb One Stage at a Time
• Avoid Common Temptations
• Troubleshoot Trouble-makers
• Prepare Contextually Creatively

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1. Embrace the Inductive Process

• Inductive vs. Deductive processes

• Definition Start with nothing but text, come
  out with something. Application comes from the
  discussion.

• Support from Adult Learning Theory

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1. Embrace the Inductive Process

• During the inductive process, adult students
  feel accountability for their own learning,
  because they themselves take part in shaping
  their learning There is active ownership in the
  product (mission statement, goals, operating
  plan, and so on). They created it so they must
  see to it that it is accomplished.
• Jane Vella, Dialogue
  Education at Work

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1. Embrace the Inductive Process

• Inductive vs. Deductive processes

• Definition Start with nothing but text, come
  out with something. Application comes from the
  discussion.

• Support from Adult Learning Theory

• Practical Tools Same manuscript, lots of
  time, and patience

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2. Recognize Your Role

• Common Misconceptions

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2. Recognize Your Role
Leader as Lecturer
Leader as Teacher
Leader as Facilitator
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2. Recognize Your Role

• Common Misconceptions

• Leader as Leader Toward Both Truth Group
  Participation

• Accomplishing Your Role Successfully

• Ask Good Questions

(b) Encourage Interaction with Text and Others
(c) Balance Knowing and Doing Scripture
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3. Climb One Stage at a Time
The 4 stages

• Observation Looking at the parts, the facts

• Identification Identifying with the parts

• Interpretation Putting the parts together,
  Finding the meaning

• Application Connect the meaning to my life

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Observation Stage
Leaders Goal Begin discussion and encourage
people to see the facts.
Strategy Ask open-ended questions Ask
contrast questions Ask questions with
multiple answers (list repeat words,
contrast the characters, etc.)
Examples What characteristics do we know about
the man? List adjectives that describe the
man. What are repeated words used? Where does
this interaction take place? Set the scene.
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Identification Stage
Leaders Goal Help people put themselves in the
story. (The Word is alive!)
Strategy Help people use their imagination
Contextualize the story to the audience
Ask about the 5 senses Ask questions that
relate live people to the text
Examples In what ways do you identify with this
young man? What would a Taiwanese man like this
look like today?
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Interpretation Stage
Leaders Goal (1) Help people engage with
confusion (2) Bring home the main truth
Strategy Ask questions that create confusion
Ask why? questions When a main truth
is mentioned, highlight it (ask questions
that help people think through it)
Examples Why do you think Jesus asks him to
sell all his possessions? What does this mean
for rich people? Why does Jesus omit 4
commandments? What do the 6 commandments
mentioned deal with?
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Application Stage
Leaders Goal Help people respond to what God
is saying
Strategy Use words and language from the
discussion Ask questions about specific
actions to be taken Encourage
vulnerability Include time for prayer
Examples How has Jesus given you 100-fold?
Lets share our stories. What might Jesus be
asking you to leave behind? What are ways that
you hold on to possessions like the rich young
ruler? Why is it difficult to let go?
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4. Avoid Common Temptations

• Generic Questions like What did you think?

• Binary Questions or Yes/No questions

• Teaching everything
• (Asking ALL your questions)

• Asking questions to fill up silence

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4. Avoid Common Temptations

• Answering every question someone asks yourself
  (QA style)

• Making up answers when I dont know is more
  appropriate!

• Allowing the horse run too far, or
• Seizing the reins too early

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5. Troubleshoot Trouble-makers

• Tangential Tom

• Stubborn Sam

• Silent Stacy

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5. Troubleshoot Trouble-makers

• Over-talkative Olivia

• Inject Energy into the Energyless!

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6. Prepare Contextually Creatively
Personal Study Study the passage alone,
climbing all 4 stages. Apply it personally!
Supplemental Study Do it again, using
commentaries. Collaborate with others for more
background.
Question Formation Consider the 4 stages and
what questions you might ask to bring out points.
Guess potential responses and prepare follow-up
questions.
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6. Prepare Contextually Creatively
Contextualization Contextualize the passage.
How can it better connect with your unique
audience?
Prayer Think about the people you will be
leading. Pray over the passage and the people in
your group.
Creative Teaching Methods Consider potential
group dynamics. How can you encourage
participation?
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6. Prepare Contextually Creatively
Brainstorming
Debate Teams
Reporting Pairs
Role-playing
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Leading EffectiveBible Studies

• Roots Wings Conference 2006
• Tom Lin
• Web www.tomandnancylin.com
• E-mail tomlin_at_post.harvard.edu