Bible Study

Lecture Five: Bible Study

Welcome back! This is Lecture Five, and my name is Steve Elzinga. I'm leading this youth ministry course, and whether you're thinking about starting a youth ministry or are already involved in one, I hope you're learning some things that will ultimately make a difference.

Dealing with Your Own Fear of Leading a Bible Study

Step One: Acknowledge Your Fears

Leading a Bible study can be intimidating. Many youth ministers experience common fears, such as:

1. Fear of Not Being Able to Relate or Connect

  • The Bible was written in different cultures, languages, and historical contexts.
  • Now, you’re trying to make it relevant to today’s youth, who have their own unique culture and experiences.
  • Will they understand? Will they engage? Will I even be able to relate to them?

2. Fear of Misleading Others

  • Studying the Bible on your own is one thing, but teaching others adds greater responsibility.
  • What if I misinterpret something?
  • What if I unintentionally mislead young people?

👉 The stakes feel higher when you are responsible for others' understanding of God's Word.

3. Fear of Not Knowing Enough

  • “I’m not a Bible scholar!”
  • "What if someone asks a question I can’t answer?"
  • “I should probably study more before I teach…”

📌 Reality Check:

  • If you feel this way, welcome to the club!
  • Everyone in ministry feels this at some point because there’s always more to learn.

4. Fear of Being Boring

  • Maybe you’ve sat through boring sermons or Bible studies before.
  • Maybe you’ve experienced youth group leaders who didn’t engage well.
  • What if I end up being one of those leaders?
  • What if the kids are bored? What if I'm bored?

5. Fear of Not Being Able to Lead Young People

  • Cultural gaps between adults and youth can feel huge.
  • Will I actually connect with them?

📖 Example: Teaching Seventh Grade Catechism
When I was 20 years old, I taught seventh-grade catechism for a year.

  • I had no idea if I was connecting with the students.
  • Years later, when they were in 12th grade, a former student approached me and thanked me for what they had learned.
  • I had no clue I had made an impact.

👉 Sometimes you’re connecting—even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Overcoming Your Fear of Leading a Bible Study

1. Admit Your Fears

It’s okay to be nervous! Everyone struggles with this.

2. Maintain Your Own Walk with God

📖 Before you teach the Bible, you must be personally engaged with it.

  • Do you have a daily Bible reading habit?
  • Do you pray regularly?
  • Are you personally growing in your faith?

👉 If your relationship with God is vibrant, you’ll have something real and relevant to share.

3. Learn How to Be an Effective Bible Study Leader

  • You don’t have to be perfect.
  • You just need to create a space where youth feel safe to explore and engage with God’s Word.

Dealing with Youth’s Fears in Bible Study

Young people have fears too, and these fears often prevent them from participating.

1. Fear of Looking Stupid

  • Kids don’t want to say the wrong thing.
  • They fear judgment from their peers more than from the leader.

2. Fear of Being Judged

  • "What if people think I’m wrong?"
  • "What if I say something dumb?"

3. Fear of Being Discovered

📖 Genesis 3 – After sin entered the world, Adam and Eve hid.

  • We all have insecurities—especially youth.
  • They present a filtered version of themselves online, but deep down, they fear rejection.

👉 If they reveal their true thoughts in Bible study and feel judged, they may never open up again.

How to Overcome These Fears

1. Establish Ground Rules

Many Bible studies fail because expectations aren’t clear.

Set These Rules from the Start:

✅ No fixing unless asked – If someone shares a struggle, the group listens rather than immediately trying to "fix" them.
✅ No sharing outside the group – What’s said in Bible study stays in Bible study.
✅ No wrong answers – Even "bad" answers help move the conversation forward.
✅ No arguing – Discussions should be about discovering truth, not winning debates.
✅ Encourage participation – "Good insight!" "That’s an interesting thought!"
✅ Invite responses – Ask a question, have everyone write down an answer, then share.

How to Study the Bible in a Youth Group

1. Study by Topic

Choose a relevant topic, then explore what the Bible says about it.

  • Examples:
    • Identity
    • Honesty
    • Relationships
    • Faith
    • Doubt

📌 Pro Tip: Instead of picking topics yourself, let the youth choose topics they want to study!

2. Study by Book or Passage

Pick a book of the Bible or a specific passage to study together.

  • Examples:
    • The Book of Ruth
    • John 3:16
    • The Prodigal Son

📌 Pro Tip: Instead of using a pre-made study, let the youth help create the study.

The Easiest Bible Study Format (That Works Every Time)

1️⃣ Read the Passage
2️⃣ Have students underline anything that stands out.
3️⃣ Go around and ask what they underlined and why.
4️⃣ Ask: "What do you think God might be saying to you through this?"

📌 This method works even if students have never read the Bible before.

How to Get Beyond Surface-Level Answers

Most Bible studies ask questions that are too broad and too personal too quickly.

📌 Example: Elijah’s Depression (1 Kings 19)
❌ Bad Question: "When have you been depressed like Elijah?"
❌ Too Broad, Too Personal – No One Will Answer.

✅ Better Approach:

  1. Name three school subjects you took last year.
  2. Which did you enjoy most and why?
  3. Which did you dislike most and why?
  4. Did you ever feel overwhelmed or discouraged in school?
  5. How does Elijah’s story relate to that?

📌 By easing into the discussion, youth feel more comfortable sharing.

Final Challenge: TRY THIS!

You will not get anything from this lesson unless you actually do it.

  • Try it with a friend, a spouse, a small group—anyone.
  • Don’t just listen—put it into practice.

📌 If you apply this, it will change the way you lead Bible studies forever.

Final Thoughts

  • Bible study doesn’t have to be intimidating.
  • Create a safe space for youth to engage.
  • Ease them into deep discussions rather than jumping in too fast.
  • Encourage participation and let them take ownership.

📌 You can do this. I know you can. Just try it.

👉 See you next time! 🚀


Last modified: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 5:26 AM