This study aims to serve as an on-ramp for those new to Bible study. These studies kick off relatable but thoughtful conversations in the initial stages of a Bible study. The hope is that because of these early conversations about God, the person of Jesus Christ, and the wisdom of Scripture, a newcomer might be “wowed” enough to desire to come back for more. You are welcome to use as many or whichever studies you believe would most serve the needs of your unique group.

This particular chapter serves to prompt a “spiritual conversation”, even before your group opens a Bible together. What is a spiritual conversation? Spiritual conversations are essential for evangelization. They catalyze great discussions about Jesus, but in an informal and relational way (not in a formal or institutional manner). There are times for formal teaching or institutional formation – like during RCIA classes, homilies, or formation opportunities – but especially at the beginning stages of evangelization, it is important to meet others where they are, even in conversation.

The key here is taking the conversation to a place where meaningful and spiritual things can be discussed, things such as truth, beauty, goodness, hopes, dreams, fears, anxieties… things that you can’t see, touch, or feel physically but are very much a real part of our lives.

Spiritual conversations enable us to connect the Gospel with the felt needs and desires of those people we encounter every day. Practicing this habit, and starting your Bible study with these conversations, could be the essential factor in someone’s realization that God is not only close to them but very much involved in the details of their lives. It could be the beginning of their coming to know that He not only cares about their fears and dreams but also loves them, deeply and personally, and has a specific plan for their flourishing.

Spiritual conversations cultivate the relationship necessary for you, as the leader, to earn the right to be heard. You can learn so much about your Bible study members during this time! Listen attentively to what they are sharing and allow this to form your heart and intercessions for them.

By learning to ask progressively deeper questions, you will gradually lead others to deeper conversation. For example, what is your favorite book? When did you first read it? Why does it stick out as your favorite? Do these elements of this story relate to any other stories you also love? How has this story changed your life or relationships? Etc.

You may choose any of the following prompts for your study. You may also use these prompts as a model for initiating a spiritual conversation on a topic of your own choosing.

DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR YOUR BIBLE STUDY

Prompt #1: Why Bible Study

1. Launching question: What brings you to Bible study?

Allow group to discuss.

2. Have you been a part of Bible studies before? What were they like?

Allow group to discuss.

3. What concerns or worries do you have, if any, about Bible study?

Allow group to discuss.

3. What concerns or worries do you have, if any, about Bible study?

Allow group to discuss.

4. In Bible study, we will be engaging with Scripture which we, as Catholics, consider to be the Word of God. Have you ever heard God speaking in your life before? What was that like?

Allow group to discuss.

Conclude with:

• Gratitude for sharing honestly with this group
• A compelling invitation to return to Bible study in order to dive more deeply into the most important things, by learning about Scripture and engaging in honest conversations – like you did today

Prompt #2: Bucket Lists

1. Launching Question: What is the top item on your bucket list?

Allow group to discuss.

2. What about this item makes it rise to the top of your list?

Allow group to discuss.

3. What will it take to achieve it?

Allow group to discuss.

4. What are you willing to do to achieve this thing?

Allow group to discuss.

5. How will you need to change or what would you need to sacrifice to achieve it?

Allow group to discuss.

6. Are there goals or hopes in your life that would demand so much of you – in time, effort, or sacrifice – that you are afraid to even work towards fulfilling them?

Allow group to discuss.

7. What kind of goal or dream would be worth sacrificing everything for?

Allow group to discuss.

8. It’s pretty intense to imagine sacrificing everything, even for something or someone we deeply care about. As Catholics, we believe Jesus Christ sacrificed everything for us to save us, even when we didn’t deserve it (Rom 5:7-8). Having reflected upon those things that you are willing to make sacrifices for, does this change the way you see Jesus Christ’s sacrifice? Why or why not?

Allow group to discuss.

Conclude with:

• Gratitude for sharing honestly with this group
• A compelling invitation to return to Bible study in order to dive more deeply into the most important things, by learning about Scripture and engaging in honest conversations – like you did today

Prompt #3: Holidays

1. Launching Question: What is your favorite holiday to celebrate?

Allow group to discuss.

2. Which people did you celebrate this holiday with?

Allow group to discuss.

3. What stands out to you in your memories of those celebrations and traditions?

Allow group to discuss.

4. How has your relationship with this holiday and those you celebrate with changed over the years?

Allow group to discuss.

5. How do you hope to keep celebrating this holiday or continuing those traditions?

Allow group to discuss?

6. Why do you think it’s important to pass on traditions and celebrations?

Allow group to discuss.

7. It is so important to pass on our way of life from one generation to the next. By doing so, we can be close to those who’ve gone before us, even hundreds of years ago! Traditions ground us in something greater than ourselves and connect us to our families, even those we’ve never met. We could say that the rituals of the Church and her celebrations pass on to us the way of life of our Christian brothers and sisters, even those who have lived centuries ago, just like traditions we’ve inherited in our holiday celebrations. How does this connection change the way you see something like the Mass? Or the Bible?

Allow group to discuss.

Conclude with:

• Gratitude for sharing honestly with this group
• A compelling invitation to return to Bible study in order to dive more deeply into the most important things, by learning about Scripture and engaging in honest conversations – like you did today

Prompt #4: Admiration

1. Launching question: Who in your life do you most admire?

Allow group to discuss.

2. What about this person makes you admire them?

Allow group to discuss.

3. Have you always admired this person? If not, who did you admire when you were younger?

Allow group to discuss.

4. What is different about the person(s) you used to admire and those you do now?

Allow group to discuss.

5. When and why did your admiration change?

Allow group to discuss.

6. What qualities of those you admire would you want to embody?

Allow group to discuss.

7. What changes would you have to make to become more like them?

Allow group to discuss.

8. If you’d be willing to change to become more like the people you admire, would you be willing to change to become like God? Or to become what God desires you to be? Why or why not?

Allow group to discuss.

Conclude with:

• Gratitude for sharing honestly with this group
• A compelling invitation to return to Bible study in order to dive more deeply into the most important things, by learning about Scripture and engaging in honest conversations – like you did today