Starter: God reveals himself most clearly in Jesus (Heb 1: 1-3). In what ways might friends you know really encounter that revelation of God in Jesus – not just a set of ideas, but Jesus Himself?
What follows is something that may really help in this. Thanks to Jill Spink for such a useful guest blog…
In many countries today, people are finding openings for reading the Bible with friends who are not yet Christians. And God is using this to rescue people and give them new life in Him!
The aim of such a Bible study is that Christians and non-Christians read the Bible together in a small friendly group, to see more of who Jesus is and what it means to be involved with him; interacting with Jesus, and learning from Him – Christians included! It should be
comfortable for all who come
oriented to seekers
objectively based on the Bible
focused on Jesus and His personal encounters
member-involved not leader-centred
dependent on the Spirit to enlighten and convince
STARTING OUT
Before launching out it’s important to realize that there will probably be a time commitment involved, in preparing the studies, in developing relationships, in prayer. There are two kinds of groups:
1 Arising out of natural groupings: for example, a group of people living in the same area. Begin praying with another Christian for specific friends who might come; you will often be surprised how open people are. Then take the plunge!
2 Arising out of other kinds of witness: You can advertise an open group through other forms of evangelism – meetings, booktables, literature distribution, street meetings, door-to-door work. Printed cards and posters can be useful, as well as personal invitation. Choose a relevant topic: if a series is envisioned, it’s often best to have the first one independent of the rest, so that people feel free to come to one without committing themselves further at the beginning.
It is best to start with passages where:
individuals have a personal, provoking encounter with Christ
our friends can identify with the characters and the human problem or conflict
Jesus can be seen as an interesting, appealing, unique person, challenging us today
the verses can be studied in the time agreed.
Stories from the Gospels are obviously ideal (NB their evangelistic purpose, Luke 1:1-4, John 20:31!) When selecting a passage, consider your friends’ background, religious and otherwise, and the questions they’re asking – and also the needs that aren’t always expressed; inner problems of loneliness, guilt, meaninglessness, and anxiety.
PREPARATION
1 Soak the whole project in prayer: for the preparation, for the individuals before and after the study. And praise God for the opportunity to work with him!
2 Make a careful, prayerful study of the text. Become familiar with it.
3 Note technical terms that may be unfamiliar. Put yourself in the shoes of those searching for the truth. Don’t assume anything. Avoid evangelical cliches.
4 Have clear aims (absolutely vital!) One advantage of these EBSs is their flexibility: there can be wide-ranging discussion arising out of the text. But the leader needs to be clear on the passage’s main thrust so that this comes across and so that they can steer the study back on course when necessary.
5 Outline the text into main points and sub points. Formulate questions that will draw these out. The secret is to enter into the passages as deeply as possible, asking yourself questions:
How does Jesus show His interest in people? His understanding of their basic needs? In what ways does his attitude contrast with that of His contemporaries?
How does he meet life’s problems – ignorance, sickness, evil, prejudice, criticism, opposition, death? How does He demonstrate His ability to help people, and His authority over all circumstances?
What unique aspects of His person does this event reveal?
What do you learn about human nature from Jesus’ actions and His explanations?
What does He commend or condemn? What do His life and actions have to do specifically with us today?
Keep a balance of types of questions:
Observation: leading the group to search the text for significant facts and their implications.
Interpretation: stimulating people to determine the meaning of words and verses, and to see the writer’s message for the people of his day.
Application: challenging people to respond to the truth learned. Often this fits in best at the end, when the basic facts and meaning of the passage are clear; especially with narrative passages. Consider carefully what stage the group is at before choosing questions.
6 Test the questions, to see that they are suitable for the group, and stimulating in provoking discussion. Helpful questions should:
Be brief and clear, but not too simple.
Stimulate people to search the text, and not just to react. Also encourage critical thinking and not superficial agreement.
Bring out the main points and progress textually and topically.
Have two or more possible viewpoints and answers.
Help people move towards a practical response to God.
Using a prepared guide can be very helpful; though it should be adapted to suit your personality and the character of the group.
DOING THE EBS
Start on time. Introduce people, and put them at their ease. An informal arrangement of seats helps, where all can see one another… And be relaxed yourself! Have Bibles ready (use only one version, in modern language). It may well not be suitable to begin and end with prayer. End on time (and then chat over coffee!)
Other Christians in the group [and it’s preferable if these are a minority – PL] need to be prepared, as well as the leader. We must completely accept our non-Christian friends, who should feel free to dress as they like, to smoke, etc. We should listen carefully to all comments, praying for discernment to really hear. We can all help our friends make the connections between what they think and are interested in, and the Word of God being studied. So use conversational language, and be relevant in relating passages to today’s world – to contemporary music and literature, current philosophical trends, social problems, etc.
Don’t —
be dogmatic or argumentative (but that doesn’t mean becoming apologetic either!)
go with a sense of spiritual superiority; we are all there to learn.
use cross-references, unless they are necessary; they can confuse.
raise questions that only Christians can answer.
pressurize anyone to `make a decision`. That is the Holy Spirit’s job.
Have a long-term view of the study. It’s part of a process leading people into closer friendship with Christians, and deeper interest in God. Be content with one point of gospel truth as the aim of a study, illustrating and explaining it in many ways.
AFTER THE EBS
Genuine friendship, and willingness to share our lives, will create many opportunities for personal conversation following on from the studies. Be aware of these and use them.
Give friends other opportunities to hear the gospel; arrange an evangelistic meeting, film, or supper party; lend a book or tape. Do things together – a meal, sport, some kind of project. Persevere, and let friendship be authentic; don’t drop the person if they don’t (apparently) show much progress spiritually.
And evaluate your EBS; in its different aspects.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
My IFES teammate Jack McCullars said of his first experience of EBS, `I was a young Christian, with little experience in evangelism, and even less faith in my ability to talk to others. But in an EBS that doesn’t really matter; Jesus speaks very well for himself in the gospel passages! Our main job is in prayer, and then in helping our friends discover for themselves what the Bible says (rather than trying to explain it to them). So even inexperienced believers can start an EBS. The first time I did this I had lacked faith that my friend would want to study the Bible. I knew he didn’t believe it was true. But did many of us really believe the Bible before we accepted Christ? Many people today think religion is irrelevant, but are still attracted to Jesus and His humanness, authority, compassion. So don’t assume your friends aren’t interested in Jesus until you’ve asked them. Do they realise that Jesus has a lot to say about topics like friendship (Luke 19:1-10), hypocrisy (Mark 7:1-23), or individual rights (Matthew 18:21-35)?’
The best way to learn EBS is to go for it! It’s not so terrifying – it’s simply a powerful means of sharing Christ through God’s Word in a relaxed and natural way. I close with a comment from Ada Lum, who has taught so many of us so much about EBS: “Brothers and sisters, look at the people around us with the urgency and compassion of Jesus. Let us not decide for them that they are not interested! There are many whose lives are empty. They would join us in a Bible study about Jesus if only we would make the effort to show we care about them.”
By Jill Spink.
ABSORB TIME: Think prayerfully: What could be better than encountering Jesus through the Spirit’s own revelation of Him! Who might you just possibly be able to read the Bible with, in a group or even perhaps just as individual friends? Then talk to God about these possibilities…
PS HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF AN OUTLINE TO CARRY WITH YOU FOR USE AT ANY TIME…
(Based on first reading the Lost Son story together, Luke 15:11-24)
1 Who do you think Christ is representing by the father in the story? And who is represented by the lost son?
2 What was life like for the man in the distant country? How is that like us?
3 What made the son go back home? Have you had any experience of a similar kind?
4 What was the father’s reaction? What does that teach us about him, and how we will experience him?
5 What is Jesus teaching about how life with him will be not unlike a party?
Perhaps 6: Why did Jesus tell this story to the Pharisees (see vv1-2)? (This question raises the issue that we are all sinners – what the Pharisees failed to see – and there is nothing we ourselves can do to deserve to be saved. So, the way to salvation!)
