How long does it take to become a pastor? Some people would answer that an aspiring pastor would first need to have a Bible degree (four years) or a seminary degree (three years) or a doctoral degree (three years) or an internship (two years) or ordination (one year). How long does it take to learn to lead a Bible study? About 10-15 minutes. Here is the simplest approach to Bible study that I know of that doesn’t require advanced education and credentials because it is based in questions and the Bible is the teacher.
Here is the basic pattern of the Discovery Bible Study. Each person answers the questions. It usually takes 60-90 minutes with a group of 6-8 people.
- What are you thankful for?
- Is there anything you are struggling with?
- Read the Bible passage (this can be played from a recording if the people are illiterate).
- The group re-tells the story of the Bible passage together (this shows people understand it).
- What does this teach us about God?
- What does this teach us about people?
- What are you going to do about it?
- Who are you going to tell?
Questions 7 & 8 are specific answers that you write down to ask next time if they did them.
What passages should you study? Well, you can use this Bible study approach to go through any book of the Bible. That being said, I have a lot of appreciation for a set of passages that introduce people to God, his promise of a Savior and why Jesus alone in all of history could be that Savior. Here is a set of passages for that purpose:
- Genesis 1:1-25 – God creates the world
- Genesis 2:4-24 – God creates humanity
- Genesis 3:1-24 – The first sin and its punishment
- Genesis 6:1-9:17 – Noah’s flood
- Genesis 12:1-8, 15:1-6 – God’s promise to Abraham
- Genesis 22:1-19 – Abraham sacrifices his son
- Exodus 12:1-28 – The promise of Passover
- Exodus 20:1-21 – The Ten Commandments via Moses
- Leviticus 4:1-35 – The sacrificial law
- Psalm 23: 1-6 – Praise to God our shepherd
- Isaiah 53 – Isaiah’s prophecy of suffering servant
- Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20 – Miraculous birth of Jesus (Isa)
- Matthew 3; John 1:29-34 – Jesus’ baptism
- Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus tempted by the devil
- Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus calmed the storm
- Mark 5:1-20 – Jesus cast out demons
- John 6:1-37 – Jesus fed 5000
- Luke 5:17-26 – Jesus healed the sick and forgave sins
- John 4:1-26, 39-42 – Jesus met foreigners
- Luke 10:25-37; 15:11-32 – Jesus told about the Way of God
- Luke 18:9-14; John 16:24 – Jesus taught how to pray
- Matthew 6:1-34 – Jesus taught re: alms, prayer and fasting
- John 11:1-44 – Jesus raised the dead
- Matthew 20:20-28 – Jesus taught how to be great
- Matthew 26:26-30 – The Lord’s Supper/prediction of death
- John 18:1-19:16 – Jesus was betrayed and sentenced
- Luke 23:32-56 – Jesus crucified
- Luke 24:1-35 – Jesus conquered death
- Luke 24:36-53 – Jesus revealed self and goes to heaven
- John 3:1-21; Matt 7:13-14 Summary: Do you want to follow the Way of God?
You can lead a Bible study even without specialized training. Go and make disciples…teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us.
