An Overlooked Part of Discipleship

If you lead a Bible study group, thank you. Leading others to discover the truths of God’s Word and applying them to their lives is an incredible responsibility and wonderful privilege. I’ve discovered over the years that meeting with others for mutual encouragement, as we pour over God’s Word, is an indispensable part of my own discipleship and spiritual growth. Your role as a group leader is important, but would you like to take the discipleship of others to the next level?

Discipleship goes to the next level when the individual is invested in his or her own discipleship. I’m sure you’re a wonderful group leader, but just sitting under your own teaching isn’t enough. No doubt discipleship can occur when someone just shows up and listens to someone talk, but if that same person invested time and energy in his or her own study, it becomes far richer.

You can help those in your group invest in their own discipleship by giving them a book to read that’s tied to the study. Most Bible study group resources include a book or resource for those in the group. Take advantage of that opportunity. There are several benefits to this.

• Discipleship doesn’t happen just once a week. A book used during the week leads the participants to think through the passages on their own. This is critical! It also helps them process and consider what the group discusses.
• Discipleship becomes more personal. In the quiet of my reading and time alone with God, I’m more focused on how God’s Word speaks to my own life. Questions may arise as I read, but I can bring those to the group when we meet. Those questions won’t arise if I haven’t taken the time beforehand to dig into the passage.
• Discipleship in the group setting is enhanced. When I lead a group, I can tell who has invested the time to read and study before the group time begins. They’re more prepared for discussion. They have insights into the passages because they have been thinking through the Scripture before we gather—and they’re often eager to share. Consequently, they make the group time richer for everyone, and they enjoy the group time more!

The objection: I’ve given books to my group before, but they don’t use them.

I’ve got four steps to overcoming that objection.

1. Provide books. OK, that may seem obvious, but let me point out that most people will rarely ask, “Is there something I can do during the week to help me as we study together?” If you don’t give them something to use, they won’t have the opportunity to disciple themselves.
2. Tell them to read the book. In leading conferences, I periodically hear the complaint that people won’t use the books provided, but when I ask, “Did you ask them to read the books?” Uh, no. Too often we assume that, if we just hand them a book, they’ll read it. Nope. Tell them to take it home and read it. Tell them why you want them to read it. Tell them what they will gain or how it will benefit them. If you read ahead yourself, you can tell them something interesting to look for.
3. Review what they read. As you meet the following week, ask them for their insights on what they pulled from a specific section of the book. If the book includes a critical thinking activity (such as the Engage activity in Bible Studiers for Life), discuss their responses.
4. Remind them. When my sons were little, I taught them to brush their teeth. (To their co-workers, you’re welcome.) Learning the procedure wasn’t difficult, but I did have to remind them regularly to do the procedure! It’s the same for any of us learning a new habit. For your group participants to get into the habit of reading for the sake of their own discipleship, they may need regular reminders. This could be done in a variety of ways without coming across as demanding.

• Share something you gained from your reading.
• Point their attention to a particular paragraph or comment in the book and say, “Let’s discuss this when we meet.”
• During the group time, invite individuals to share his or her thoughts from of a section that was read.

You can do this through email, group text, or a social media group posting, but they will more readily respond when you address them individually and personally. A personal contact really doesn’t take much more time but it’s worth it. Remember why you’re doing it: You’re encouraging them to invest in their own discipleship.

Bible Studies for Life offers two resources for those in your group.

1. Personal Study Guide. As the name implies, this is for their personal use. While it can be read after the group meets, encourage group participants to read the book prior to coming to the group. By doing so, they are equipped to join in an engaging conversation around God’s Word.
2. Daily Discipleship Guide. The Daily Discipleship Guide is intended to be read after the group meets. The intent is for the group participants to continue the study, spending time with the passage and its truth over five daily readings.

“We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me” (Col. 1:28-29, CSB).

Lynn H. Pryor is the publishing team leader for Bible Studies for Life, one of the ongoing Bible study curriculums produced by Lifeway. He blogs weekly at lynnhpryor.com.