Do come up with some good thought-provoking questions which will generate discussion, then have some “follow-up” questions to guide the discussion.
Do have a clear, applicable conclusion. Yes, we want the small group to interact and discuss the topic, but the leader can and should give a brief, concise summation at the end of the study. The conclusion could suggest a few possible applications for people to consider. We’ll see how this sounds as we go through a hypothetical Bible study.
Do Not’s
Don’t you talk too much! Nothing kills a good discussion faster and more fatally than the leader monopolizing the conversation. Sadly, this is an all-too-common problem in small groups. What should be a great opportunity to interact and hear others’ views can become just another 40 minute sermon. I used to somewhat facetiously recommend the 17% rule for leaders; that is, if the whole group meeting were recorded, the leader’s voice would not be heard more than 17% of the time.
Don’t ask obvious or “yes/no” questions. This takes a little thinking about. There’s an old joke about the little boy in a Sunday school class whose teacher asked questions to which the answer was usually “Jesus,” as in “Who loves you the most?” Well, one day, the teacher said, “Okay, kids, what has a bushy tail, lives in a tree, chatters, and eats nuts?” The little boy said, “Well, it sounds like a squirrel, but I know it’s Jesus.” The point is, if your questions are too simple or obvious, discussion will quickly die.
Don’t pick too many topics for a 40 minute Bible study. Limit the scope of the Bible study to one key topic—or at most two, related, topics—and concentrate on that. And by the way, stick ferociously to the 40 minute time limit. It’s far better to have people leave a little hungry than stuffed. Plus, it’s so unusual to end anything on time, that the novelty alone will be pleasing.
Don’t have surprise, or mysterious, conclusions to your study.
Surprise twist endings are great for Agatha Christie mysteries, but not for Bible studies. Interest in the topic is generated by the truth itself, and the application to our lives, not by a tricky revelation at the end of the Bible study.
Doing the Bible study on James 1:1–8
Verse 1 – James . . . to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad . . . Okay, it would be an interesting study to investigate who this “James” is, why the “twelve tribes” are dispersed, and where . . . but probably not for a typical Bible study group. Save an intensive study of these issues for your own Bible study, or for a paper for a seminary class you may be taking.
Verse 2 – Now we’ve come to a applicable statement: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials . . . What questions can you ask about this statement?
What kind of trials do people encounter?
How can people be joyful when difficult things happen?
Is this some special kind of joy? Different from happiness?
Will Christians pretend to be joyful with trials even if they’re not?
Is this phony?
Verses 3, . . . . . knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Questions:
How do trials test our faith?
What does endurance have to do with our faith, or facing trials?
What in the world does that last part mean?? That endurance’s result is that we might be perfect and complete?
Verse 5 – But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously, and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Questions:
Is this lack of wisdom related to the trials? That is, are we asking God for an understanding of what the trial is about? For example, “Lord, please help me understand why I always seem to get passed over for promotion at work.”
Why are we assured by James that God won’t reproach us for asking for wisdom? Why would He? Seems like He sure got angry with Job for asking why all his (Job’s) trials were happening. (Job 38:1,2)
Verses 6,7,8 – But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Questions:
What does it mean to ask without doubting?
Is “asking without doubting” the same as being sure that God will
give me wisdom about the issue I’m asking about? What if He doesn’t? Does this mean I’m weak in faith?
What’s the nature of this kind of doubting?
What does it mean to be “double-minded”?
What does it mean to be “unstable in all his ways”?
Now we have a good feel for the passage, and quite a few questions that will help the group discuss and discover applicable truth. Please realize that we can’t possibly discuss and answer all the questions we’ve thought of. We’ll pick a few key questions and focus our attention on them.
The next step is to see what other verses there are in the Bible that are relevant to this James passage.
Here are a few key questions we’ll ask in the Bible study group. Other verses on this topic (cross references) can be easily found if your Bible has a small-print cross-reference index in the middle column or side margins.
What kind of trials did the early Christians face? How about today? In the first century: the book of Acts gives many instances of the early believers going through trials, including . . .
• Intimidation – (Acts 4:18) And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18)
• Physical beatings –. . . after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus . . . (Acts 5:40)
• Death – And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit!” (Acts 7: 59)
• Persecution of many believers –. . . . great persecution arose against the church . . . Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women he would put them in prison. (Acts 8:1,3)
The list of hardships and suffering goes on at length in Acts. The Apostle Paul’s hardships and torments are frequent and serious. These are alluded to in Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church. You can read his comments in 2 Corinthians 4:8–17; and 2 Corinthians 11:23–30.
What kind of trials do Christians face today?
• Health issues
• Family issues
• Money or job-related problems
• Others . . . ?
How can we be joyful at these times? And why? Here are some powerful verses that help us understand this seemingly difficult question:
. . . they rejoiced they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. (Acts 5:41)
All discipline (from God) for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it,