5 QUICK TIPS FOR FACILITATING A BIBLE STUDY

Are you new to leading a Bible study or have you been teaching for a while and want to grow in your skill set? Or maybe you are training someone new to facilitating a small group. Whatever the case, these 5 quick but impactful tips will help you better serve those you are leading. 

1. Come Prepared: Prayer + Study 

Prayer: We pray because we cannot do anything spiritually good in and of ourselves. We need the work of the Holy Spirit to impact us and the participants who will come. Set time aside for intentional prayer, and pray throughout your study time. Here are a few prayer prompts to help:

  • Pray for those who will participate in the group
    • That they will feel comfortable with one another
    • That they will be bold enough to open up and share
    • That they would grow closer to Christ
    • That they would be able to focus and get deep
  • Pray for the facilitators
    • That you would understand the passage well enough to lead
    • That you would be anointed with the Holy Spirit
    • That you would be able to discern your group’s needs
    • That you would have creativity while leading

Study: You should come prepared if you are a seasoned pro or a newbie at facilitating studies. Preparation helps you to be able to discern the needs of your group and adjust your facilitation style more smoothly. Here are two practical examples of how coming prepared makes a differance: 

  • Confusing Questions – Sometimes, a study question needs to be clarified for the group. If you spend time studying and becoming familiar with the material, it will be easier for you to reword the question on the spot for the participants. 
  • Time Restraints – You may have less time than expected when facilitating. Perhaps your group started later, or you have chattier participants than expected. If you study the passages and questions beforehand, you can quickly assess which questions are most important to cover and which ones you can skip. You will also discern how to give the group a brief wrap-up to consider. 
2. Slow Down

Sometimes, when we get nervous, we talk faster than we should. When you read a passage or ask questions, remember to speak slowly. Many of your participants are processing this information for the first time and need a moment to think. 

Helpful Trick: Have the scripture and questions available for your group so that they can read along or even re-read what you have just said. 

3. Wait and Repeat

As mentioned above, people need time to process what they have just heard. It may feel awkward to wait in silence, but count in your head 7-seconds before re-asking or rewording the question. Refrain from trying to fill the silence by quickly jumping in to answer and then moving on to the next question. Instead, you should participate in the discussion but encourage group members to answer first. However, if it helps to get the ball rolling by you answering first, then go right ahead. 

4. Prompt More Responses

A simple trick to get people to discuss more is to ask, “What else?” after someone has answered a question. “What else?” is an open-ended question and implies there is more to say, but asking “Anyone else?” allows participants to say “no” and end the discussion. 

Using the “What else?” question does come with discernment. If there is only one right answer and someone answers the question correctly, there is no reason to prompt for more answers. If you’re leading a group of 8 and 3, have answered, and you say, “What else?” and no one has anything to add after you count to 7 seconds, it is probably time to move on. The more you practice using this technique, the better you will become at discerning when to use it and for how long. 

5. Become Comfortable with Awkward Silence

Not every group will be chatty and vocally engaged. While you have had time to think and digest the scriptures and questions, many of your group members are hearing this content for the first time, which takes time to process. Your group’s quietness is not a reflection on you, and even through the awkward silence, God is working. So, don’t take the silence personally, and don’t become irritable with your participants. Here are a few tips to make the awkward silence less awkward:

  • Stay positive. Your encouragement, kindness, and reassurance towards the group will go a long way in creating a safe and comfortable environment for them. 
  • Count 7-seconds. Use the seven-second method you learned in the Wait and Repeat section. 
  • Write their answers. Have participants write down their answers and then share. 
  • Call on people. Calling on participants to respond comes with discernment. Ask them kindly to share and be okay if they do not want to, especially if they are new to the group. 
  • Begin with an easy and fun icebreaker question. Starting with an icebreaker that anyone can answer helps get the ball rolling with participation. 
  • Be transparent. If the group knows that you are also wrestling with the scriptures, it helps them know it is okay to have questions or doubts and vocalize them, too. 

I am no pro at leading small groups, but when I do come prepared and practice these tips, I notice how much smoother and more receptive my small group is. God is good, and He will be with you.