How would YOU make a group Bible study be the most productive? (details please)?

Maybe make it more inductive...by that I mean ask them what they think. And don't worry about any "schedule"....sure you might want to get a lot more accomplished, but if the discussion gets interesting, don't worry about moving on to the next question.





I also try to do my best to play "devil's advocate".....by that, I mean, if the answer is too 'sugary and Christian perfect", I"m going to call them on it.





Don't be afraid to push your group to step farther than you think they are ready. You might be surprised.





And remember...a teacher doesn't need to impress on others that he or she is the "expert".... it's about getting everyone to be honest. By that I mean a lot of folks are afraid to say what they are really thinking because they think others will condemn them..but if the teacher starts with a more realistic confession of how they have dealt with life...you might see a different response.

How would YOU make a group Bible study be the most productive? (details please)?
Have everyone participate and don't let one person take over the whole study. Also having a study topic that people can relate to and that's interesting. Some pastors I've seen really know how to make topic boring.
Reply:Have a leader. This person will direct the study and keep it on track.





Make sure that there is a goal during the study. Try to keep it to about an hour and have a group of scriptures assigned before hand so the group can come to the study prepared.





The most important part is to always stick to the scriptures. Avoid giving opinions. By sticking to the scriptures you will stick to the only authority that matters, God's.





Jesus himself stuck to the scriptures by always saying, it is written. He quoted from the Bible (the scrolls during his time.)
Reply:Include others in the group that are skeptical if not downright unbelievers. Then you would get interpretations from a variety of different points of view which would greatly enrich the discussion.
Reply:Look for errors. It's a treasure hunt; there are hundreds to find.
Reply:this is how I do it;





Start with prayer and leave it open for anybody to contribute needs or requests. Don't go around asking first or you'll be going over this stuff twice. Just get to praying.





Follow up with a couple of common worship songs, have the lyrics printed up.





You might ask if there is any news or catching up to do, then after a few minutes of getting that out of their system, ask a question that starts them talking about situations or how they would react in a certain circumstance. They don't know where it's going at this point.





Then you read (or everyone takes turns reading) the passage of Scripture or chapter, and then you make the connection between the opening question and the study.





Now you start asking questions as you go along the text, and look to have people personalize things. Encourage them with "explain further" and watch for blabbermouths. When you spot one, look for a place to jump in and move on. If you have this happen, then next Bible Study, begin by laying down some kind of brevity rule.





We usually do ours in about an hour and a half (or more if everyone is okay with that). Two hour episodes will have to include a lot more socializing. One hours will have to be snappy and pushed along, but 90 minutes is just about right, in my estimation.





Conclude with brief prayer (you or someone you ask)





The end.
Reply:heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the poor


like jesus said
Reply:we have a leader in our church that guides us through. we usually meet in a place where we can talk.


1. Start with a prayer.


2. The leader tells beforehand what scripture they should discuss.


3. Have the members read the verses.


4. Discuss the scripture and how it affects our daily lives.


5. Asks everyone if there is some guidance that they need that they can relate to with the scripture.


6. Offer a prayer or have all the participants pray for all.
Reply:2 easy steps:





1. Open the Bible





2. Read the Bible





How is that not the maximum efficiency for production?
Reply:Pascalian here, so take this with a grain of salt.





A Bible study is not going to be productive. The Bible has been studied and analyzed for centuries. You're not going to find anything new.





Instead, focus on the people in your group. Figure out what it is they already know about the Bible. Then cover their gaps.
Reply:Give them a short homework assignment for five days of the week. Also memorize one scripture verse a week that applies to the study.
Reply:Toga
Reply:Daily Meetings
Reply:If you really want people to get into a serious discussion about faith and God I would suggest going over the entire book of Job. When people honestly confront the book of Job they honestly confront what faith is about. Insight is the name of the game when you read the book of Job.
Reply:Put words into actions....





When studying about God's love, compassion, etc...for the less fortunate...you should end the Bible study by going out into the community...and doing good works...have everyone bring food, and then everybody, go and distribute it...have everyone give up their weekend to go work in a woman's shelter/homeless shelter, etc....





It is easy to talk about God, and his love...it is quite different to actually do something about it.
Reply:When I participate in any bible study, we have one person as the 'leader' so that they keep things on track and not allow things to get off subject.





When using a 'study guide', we usually have an assigned amount of work each week and then we stick to that for the time we are meeting. we dig deep and get the most we can from that lesson.





when we meet to discuss general 'how to apply the Word to our lives' topics, we bring up the topic and each person finds scripture that can help with that area. It helps each person to get to know how to find things in the bible, and also how to glean from those around them wisdom in specific areas of life. Learning to apply basic knowledge as found in the bible to daily life problems and choices has been a great help to me and my friends. we meet with a mentor with kids our age, but who has not forgotten how to listen and encourage us, and can help us find things by using our concordance and other literature that helps group things together based on similar lines.
Reply:If this is for a small group, make the bible study an activity so that everyone is involved and they will all participate. Have everyone sit in a circle this way everyone is close to each other and it feels more like family.
Reply:Chuck the Bibles and do something productive.
Reply:im agnostic but i would like to answer anyway.





a bible study should be YOU conversing with those in your group over verses and chapters.





it shouldnt be you reading a book that some other guy wrote about how to interpret the bible. it should be YOU doing the interpretting.





perhaps read a chapter and reflect. outline some key points, make a small summary so that during the next meeting you can have a recap and then continue with the next chapter or something.





a bible study should be about learning the bible, not learning what john doe thinks the bible is.