If you are new to leading a Bible study or you are starting a Bible study with a new group, this resource is for you. Over the past 25 years, FOCUS has learned several best practices for Bible study leadership. By following these practical instructions, you will have the best chances of success in beginning and leading a great Bible study.

Before Bible Study Begins

Apart from Me, You Can Do Nothing

The primary key to a fruitful Bible study is not your amazing hospitality, your skill at answering questions, or your careful preparation. Those are important, but the primary key to success is God and your own intimacy with Him. Jesus tells us, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” and that with Him “all things are possible” (Jn 15:5, Mk 9:23). Your commitment to growing in holiness, praying for participants, trusting in God, and having zeal for His mission—these are most important.

If you are not already, we encourage you to begin a daily prayer and sacramental life, spend time with other Catholics who can build you up, and study the teachings of the Church yourself. If you need assistance in this regard, please consider studying our discipleship articles, preferably with another leader who can help coach you and hold you accountable. You can find these articles here.

Vision for Bible Study

Next, you need to have a clear vision for your Bible study. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to read our article “Leading a Transformative Bible Study.” This article will help you understand the goals of a Bible study as well as the preparation, skills, and personal investment necessary for leading a group effectively. 

Launching Your Study

As you launch your Bible study, here are some tips for getting started (If you have attended a FOCUS “Bible Study Masterclass” this information will be review.):

• Namestorming: Who should you invite? Who does God want to be there? Write down their names. We recommend thinking of 30 people to invite. You may need to make 30 invitations to get a solid group of 10 regular participants.
• Logistics: When and where should you have your study? Select a time that you believe will be most convenient for your group. Then, think of a location they can easily access and where they will feel comfortable talking and sharing.
• Personal Invitations: Don’t just send out a mass email or text. Meet with people face to face or give them a call and invite them personally. Personal invitations are much more powerful. A great invitation will include the following:
  • A personal reason you want them to be there: “I know you’ve been wanting to learn more, and I thought this Bible study would an exciting opportunity for you.” Or “I know you wanted to get to know more people in the community and I thought this would be a great way to connect.”
  • The day, time, and place that the study will be held
  • A specific question: “Will you join us next Thursday evening?”
• Select a Bible Study: We encourage you to select from FOCUS’s Bible study offerings. New studies should begin with earlier materials like Ignite or The Crux. You can find a study here.
• Be Persistent: Don’t be discouraged if some people don’t come. Keep making invitations. Additionally, it can be helpful to send reminders for the first study and in later weeks also.

Your First Gathering

Time for Fellowship

We encourage you to gather your group for fellowship for your first meeting. Bible study can be very personal, so getting to know each other better the first week will help ensure a dynamic conversation in later weeks. This might include hosting a meal or doing something fun together.

Conversation

At your first gathering, let your group know what to expect from the Bible study and have some initial conversation. An initial Bible study conversation could look something like this:

• Briefly Introduce Yourself: Who are you and why did you decide to lead this study? Feel free to share a bit about your own spiritual journey.
• Participants Introduce Themselves: Invite participants to introduce themselves and share a little bit about who they are.
• Share the Vision for Bible Study: The purpose of this study is to grow closer to God and each other by learning about and discussing God’s Word in Scripture.
• Ease Fears: Let people know that wherever they are in their journey, Bible study will be a great place to grow. Tell them Bible study will be a place of confidentiality and respect.
• Conversation: Have an initial conversation with your group. This conversation could be about why they wanted to come to Bible study or something slightly deeper. You can find examples of what these conversations might look like in the “Spiritual Conversations” section of FOCUS’s Ignite study.
• Pray Together (Optional): If your group is ready, feel free to pray together using a short passage of Scripture (E.g., Psalm 139:1-5) or simply lead the group in a spontaneous prayer. If you don’t think your group is ready to pray together, you can omit this element.
• Introduce Materials and Final Details: Explain to your group the material you will begin covering at the next gathering and mention any other logistical details that need to be addressed (dates, times, location, food, etc.). Be sure to build excitement for future studies.

Final Thoughts

We hope these practical suggestions will help you begin facilitating a great Bible study. God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Thank you for your willingness to collaborate in His work of salvation. Leading a great Bible study will surely require your time and energy. That said, just imagine the impact God’s Word will have on peoples’ lives. Surely, the fruit will be worth the sacrifice. May the Lord bless your Bible study abundantly.