Something else has occurred to me about Question 3: How can I train others to lead group Bible study?
If you get the opportunity to train a group in a seminar kind of situation, here is a way of doing some of Part Two: Lead wisely.
When looking at the problems that can crop up in a Bible study conversation (see Dealing with the problems, point c, page 40), I have used this role-play exercise: it’s fun and it creates good learning.
Show one person in the group a card with this message, and ask them if they would be willing to do this for you:
Please lead a discussion about different countries in Europe. Try to get everyone involved.
You might ask questions like
- What are your favourite countries in Europe?
- What’s the most beautiful European language?
- What do we like best about different countries in Europe?
I am telling everyone else in the group how I want them to behave during the discussion. Do your best to lead, but failure is almost guaranteed: it’s a very difficult group!
If they say Yes, you have your group leader.
Now hand out the following cards to the rest of the group members, telling them that X is going to lead a discussion about countries in Europe. Ask them not to show what’s on their card to anyone else.
- You try to take over the leadership of the group. So you say things like I think a better question would be about the food in different countries!
- You don’t get on with Phil (write the name of someone else in the group here – but not the leader’s). Whatever they say, you contradict it: eg That’s really stupid!
- All you want to talk about is Italy. You keep trying to get everyone talking about Italy. You might say things like No, Italy’s much better or But Italians are the most exciting people in Europe!
- You’re very shy: you don’t say anything, and you look at your feet the whole time. If you are asked a direct question, give a one-word answer if possible.
- You are the perfect group member! You support the leader and join in with the conversation.
If there are more than 6 people in your group, the others can stand round the outside of the circle and enjoy the show!
After this has gone on for 5 minutes or so (or longer, if the group are doing well with their roles), close the role-play down. Congratulate the leader for coping with an impossible job and lead the applause for them.
Now go round the group one by one, as follows:
- What do we think Alice has on her card?
- What should we do if someone behaves like this in a group Bible study?
Doing this as a role-play is fun, but it also provides the opportunity to talk about all the different issues that can crop up during a Bible study conversation. And the advantage of having different countries in Europe as the topic is that it avoids making fun of a Bible study.