Community Bible Classes
Have you considered starting a small group Bible class with friends or co-workers, and wondered how to begin? We spoke with four believers whose combined experiences provide a wealth of ideas and encouragement to “just do it!”
Maggie Stonell [Sundridge, Ontario] has used several methods over many years to find and build relationships with interested individuals around Bible reading and study. Maggie stated, “My inspiration to start Bible classes varied. For some it was meeting people who wanted to know more about God and were not satisfied with what they were hearing at their churches.” Martha Sales and her husband, Chris [Shelburne, Ontario], have three decades of experience helping teach the Learn to Read the Bible Effectively series and following up with small groups to put Bible study tools and techniques into practice as they read Scripture together. Reflecting back on their experience and what it taught them, Chris and Martha said, “We learned to build someone a new house before tearing theirs down.” Bette Winfree [Arlington, Va] started talking about the Bible with friends in high school, and continued conversations with co-workers as an adult, even before she was baptized. Those conversations led to lunch hour Bible classes at her workplace, which have continued for decades. When asked what inspired Bette to start teaching a Bible class, she said, “I heard of a brother who had started a similar class at his work and that people were open to listening. I saw the truth as very important, that it gave people a sense of peace. I felt teaching someone the truth was a good thing to be part of and I had a drive to at least teach one person.” Tim Anderson [Richmond, VA] has been involved with ongoing Bible classes at a local faith-based ministry to the homeless population [RVA Light in Richmond, VA]. As he has built relationships with friends at RVA Light, Tim continues to encourage them to read the Bible and join other believers in study and worship at his local ecclesia. When Tim was asked to give suggestions for those starting something similar, he said, “Everybody’s different. If you’re inclined to talk about the gospel, usually after you’ve determined that others are believers in God, you can slowly build with questions. Don’t tell them what you don’t believe first.”
While each of these folks pursued different methods and used different materials, several common threads run through the fabric of their stories. From their experiences, we have compiled a list of suggestions for getting started.
Before Starting:
“Just do it!” Not all of our interviewees started with great confidence in their abilities to lead a study, but all communicated they started with a desire to share the good news that has blessed their lives.
Inspiration came from many directions, including meeting people who were already committed Bible students, as well as encountering people searching for hope and direction.
Develop a practice of talking about matters of faith in general terms and ask questions that encourage others to talk about their faith. Continue to listen and ask questions.
Getting Started:
Several got started by participating in someone else’s initiative or teaching program. Some have used Learn to Read the Bible Effectively as a springboard to continue Bible reading and discussion with friends they made while attending.
Others began by advertising their own interest in Bible reading and discussion on social media, on local business bulletin boards or in local store windows (with permission, of course).
Some found their workplace relationships and setting were conducive to, or at least not hostile toward, starting a lunch time Bible reading group, sometimes in an office room or outside at a nearby picnic area.
Some ‘tagged onto’ another faith-based service initiative, like neighborhood cleanup, food distribution, or ministry to the homeless. They handed out Bibles or thought-provoking reading material with their local contact information printed on it.
Suggested Bible Class topics of study:
Genesis
Exodus
The promises made to Abraham
The Gospels
The Golden Thread of God’s plan and purpose from Genesis to Revelation
Experience has taught us:
This is a “long game,” so manage your expectations for quick conversions.
Relationship-building is a core component. Form relationships while building a framework of thinking before you ‘tear down’ another’s belief system.
People will surprise you. Some whom you thought would catch on don’t, and some whom you didn’t expect to stick with it ended up pursuing baptism.
Looking back over our interviewees responses, we ask, “How do we measure the success of these endeavors? Is it the number of baptisms, the relationships built, the seeds sown, the amount of personal joy, meaning and purpose derived, or giving honor to God and Jesus?” Our resounding conclusion is, “Yes!” to all of these.
Click here to hear more about Sis. Bette Winfree’s experiences, in her interview on WCF’s podcast A Little Faith.