Since I have been in bible studies for a long time now (12 years in Australia + 2-3 years in Indonesia), so I thought perhaps I should start blogging on bible study related issues (we don’t seem to talk about bible study much?).
I am starting with this one, is finishing on time for a bible study important or not?
Talking from a bible study leader perspective, I want to argue that finishing on time is important (and the implication of that is, starting on time is important too). Why? I am pretty sure you can name a couple reasons. I can think of one reason: to give structure, stability and predictability to the group members.
I also want to suggest that, on the first bible study of the year, the group should decide what start and end time that will suit the members of the group. Once it’s decided, it’s then the responsibility of the bible study leader to honor the group decision in week to week bible studies.
Things that make bible study goes over time – not comprehensive list of course.
- Discussion deadlock – two or more people in the group are having different opinions on an issue. They are hotly debating the issue and the debate has been going too long. Depending on the issue being debated, you can: ask other people in the group to get involved and hopefully the group can resolve the discussion themselves, you can declare the which side that you think is right (maybe not preferable method), you can ask them to come back on the issue when the group has time later on etc. The important thing is, you need to know whether the discussion is worth making the bible study goes over time and even risking the study to deviate from the bible study goals (some might be worth it).
- The leader let too many (and/or too long) silences. Silence can mean that people are thinking (good), people are confused with your question (bad) or people just not engaged with the study (bad). From experience, I think 2 minutes silence is probably the more than enough for thinking – look around if you see people are looking at you, you know you need to take action :). Break the silence
- Sidetrack, too many joking around. Once in a while sidetracking and joking is good, it’s useful to keep people awake and make people relax a bit – but you need to know when it become too much and not beneficial to the group anymore.
Tips to make bible study running on time or close to being on time:
- Obviously prepare. Know what the passage is about and the study itself.
- Know roughly how much time you want to spend time on bible study questions. Having a watch is handy.
- Take control – it’s not because you are a control freak or because you love the authority but because you are thinking of and mindful for the members of your group. The best outcome from a bible study is when people understand the passage and it will impact on their life.
Having said this, I think it’s not wrong on few studies to go overtime as long as it doesn’t become a norm. I think it’s only proper if you ask the group if they are willing to go a little bit overtime, maybe also offer if some people want to leave on time and the others stay.
If your group is continually goes overtime – it’s worth asking the group whether they want to change the start and end time for the bible study, it might be because the group has set the bible study time too short.
all for not wasting time (not draggy, and cut out questions)… and finishing before time! 🙂
for me, i want the interest in the Bible and discussion with people rather than on the time… well, perhaps, i’m not a dad yet…
also i would love to be allowed to leave people with tension (e.g. unresolved discussions) and, thus, get people to do homework at their interest… though certainly not everybody’s cup of tea… not to the summarizer at least… nor the control freak… nor to the must-come-home-with-applications people (i’m so fine with us not moving to applications if there’s an important hole in exegesis – can always do another day, in the series)…
Hi Vic, thanks for the comment.
I thought by trying to keep on time – we can actually put the Bible and the people’s interest first? That is by not letting much of sidetracking, not starting late too late etc2?
About unresolved discussions to be taken out from the bible study – I think that’s a good idea – I think the bible study leader (or the mmebers) can be more proactive by continuing discussions via emails etc2 – bible study leader needs to make sure that this does happen though.
This might not be a direct response to what you said… =)
I’ve had many discussions with people about BS leading etc over the years, but there is one conversation that I will never forget.
That was the conv I had with Robert D. Not sure if you were there as well, Felix. We were talking about BS leading and there was a discussion about what should be our main aim in leading studies. Should it be to teach people, to facilitate or something else?
Over the years, in various discussions, I have heard many pros and cons for teaching people (and so arguing towards – making sure people leave the BS knowing answers etc – at least conclusion or main points etc) and for facilitating (good group discussions and so it’s ok for the group not to reach any conclusion and let everyone thinks and good discussions etc).
I’m not going to argue for either or say anything about either. I think you guys said enough.
But what I will never forget about what Robert D said was… (something along these lines…) – our church is unique. People won’t stay here forever. And so our main aim in BS should be to teach people to read the BS for themselves. We want to teach people how to read the Bible rightly and how to apply it in their lives. Yes, it is about discussing the passage and talking what it is about and having good discussions and learning from each other. But at the end of the day, it is about teaching people how to read the Bible rightly for themselves. Because that is the only thing they can take away with them – even after they leave us and even after they are no longer with us. And when they are reading the Bible on their own as well.
And to me, ever since that conversation, that has been my personal aim when I’m involved in any BS group – either in co-leading capacity, or as a member, or in one-on-one. At least, that is the main point that would dictate how long I’m willing to spend time on certain things. Of course in a bigger group, it would depend on others, and ultimately on the BS leader…
But yeah, I would not be comfortable having a quick BS or a long BS, when people are not “corrected” or “taught” in their view of the Bible or their way of reading the Bible. Not saying we are the only ones in the right. I still learn from people as well. But yeah, there are right and wrong ways of reading the Bible and right and wrong attitudes in reading / understanding the Bible… And when our thinking is not the same as the Bible, we need to be the one changed (yes, we leaders included) – and I think whatever happens or decided in BS, it needs to always be clearly taught.
Sorry, long comment.
Thanks Lilis,
I like long comments 🙂
If you like long comments, this one is not your fav.
paragraph 4, you said the responsibility lies with teh leader — I think it is a shared responsibility.
re: teaching vs facilitating –> must it be either/or? My approach is always a both/and. The way of teaching is through discussion that was facilitated.
Amen to the comment on preparation.
14-15 yrs of Bible study is a lot. Pray that there will be many more to come.
Thanks Leo, short comment is welcomed too 🙂