Video Transcript: A Few More Important Encouragements Concerning Bible Studies

Hi, Henry and Steve here. Today we're going to talk about the end of the class.  But then we're going to do when we're gonna do one more, because because  we've noticed over the years that you can learn all this stuff right here and do a  really amazing correct Bible study. But we also noticed, over the years, that we  had to be intentional about using metaphors, making something interesting, we  even have a class that we recommend that you attend on how to be interesting.  But we did think after we did this, it was probably good to give like extra, just  another presentation on some of the things that we've learned over the years to  get people to come back to look at a theme or look at some metaphor. So I  wanted to interview Steve. And then of course, I'd probably think of, as well. So  what have been some of your ways that you kept things interesting, over the  years to, to make people want to come back to two ways, I think one way is to  be interesting yourself. So you know, that humor thing. I liked humor, and I like  to I like an atmosphere where people can laugh and have fun. You can, you  know, when it's a special insight that you've learned through studying, let's say,  Christian leaders, and you learn some deep things about a passage, and others  might not know of that. And so in a way, a leader can often have special  knowledge, right. And that's interesting, especially if you, I think presented in  searching for gold manner. In other words, I remember I remember when I was,  I spent a year in the Philippines, as a student at seminary. And, and a friend of  mine, he went to somewhere in Hong Kong. And then he took a ferry, another  ferry, and then he ended up on some island. Anyway. So then he told us all  about. So Marie, and I followed his trip today in the very to the ferry to the island took the bus. Okay, it wasn't that great, right. And the reason one of them that  great is because it was great for him, because he discovered it, didn't know what he was doing. And then he discovered this thing. I'm just following a thing.  There's no mystery, I know where I'm going, I know what it's all about. And so to  when you, when you present an insight, it'd be like, hey, instead of just giving  the Insight all at once, let people fool around with it. Right? What does I thirst  mean, right? When Jesus said, I thirst let's think about this, right? Now you have the answer, right? But let people kind of have fun as they're searching so that  they feel like they're searching with you. So there's two different ways of making  it interesting is, you know, stuff that they don't know. And it's really interesting,  but to help them participate in the finding of it, right. And that's kind of an art to  make people to take people along on your journey. That, you know, how did you  figure that insight out in the first place? Right? Well, whatever it is, take those  people on a journey. Maybe people are on their phones, and people can Google  things and you give them five minutes. Alright, here's the word, what does it  mean? And here's where you can look at the you know, the Hebrew words and  what they mean. And then you have everyone do it, and all they share that. And  they're one of those words is what you're going to bring up, but you led them to  it rather than just right, handed it to them. So I think that's, you know, that 

there's, there's a toss up between making something really interesting. And then making people dependent on you making it interesting, right? So it's more of you can actually find the interesting people in your group, and then give them an  interesting stuff. Yes, like, you know, you're really good at creating games. Will  you be the one that comes in with these games? So we right away hooked up?  You know, that blood? So you got the Wannabe teacher guy, that person, right  answer man kind of person? Well, hey, next week, we're looking at this passage, in those three words, I would like you to give a little five minute little speech,  these words, I want you to get into the background of it. And now. Now they do  that, and hopefully they do a good job with that. But it's like making use of that  person. Now you could do it. Right, right. You could just do the Hebrew word  and so on. But then see now you're becoming the answer, man, and you're  interested But no one else is. So if you can help people sort of be interesting,  and you can do that by example, right? Like, hey, let's tell a story that, that  maybe in your life that relates to this as well, transparency. Yes, the leader is not transparent. Most people are not going to be interested in transparency is more  interesting than, like platitudes. Most Bible study groups last maybe one or two  years, right? And then they sort of peter out. And they do because in the  beginning, people are sharing and it's an insight, but then a lot of times, it gets  the one that gets a little too intimate. So people step back, and they start being  more safe. And safe is fine. But it's boring. are how many times have we've  gotten into something? So you might have, you know, today's Bible study, we're  going to have an argument. And You five are going to be on this side of this  question. Is eschatology thing is something are even I did this in the Philippines, we had people that believe the infant baptism, adult baptism, and I just put them on opposite sides and say, Okay, today we're going to have a debate, a friendly  debate, we're not going to hurt each other. Right. But we're going to have a  friendly debate. And, in fact, now, I know you're an infant baptism person, but I'm putting you on the adult baptism team to argue the argue the opposite. So this is just, you know, this isn't life or death. This isn't a salvation issue. But hopefully,  in the process, we're going to uncover all the relevant verses and, and thoughts  that's in that we maybe understand the other side a little bit better. So it's just,  you know, being the first part, you mentioned that, that in the group, you take  responsibility for interesting environment. Okay, you have to set an interesting  tone. Right? And we talked about you have to be transparent. What are some of  the other things that we've learned over the years that will make you want to  come back, it's gonna be interesting to transparency, I think love the food  throughout, I mean, little superficial, we talked about in this group, but I've  noticed, like, I have over the years, I dropped the foods. And then I noticed from  the groups or anything else that just sort of what I think about for myself. When,  when, when people go on and on and like, you know, a 10 minute speech 10  minute speeches, you know, maybe one out of 10 is really interesting, right? But

then I think about okay, the group's coming over tonight and do I I don't know  why it's so hard sometimes to just listen for 10 minutes, and the person needs  you guys remember to listen, but if you want people looking forward to this  evening, so I think some of the more Yes. Okay, you know, I took a Dale  Carnegie course, you know, and it was 12 sessions. And we had to take what  we learned, there was always like a two minute speech in those like 40 in the  class, so people would get up one by one, and give a two minute speech, which  lasted forever. Right. Right. But it was interesting. And it was interesting,  because people did it in two minutes. There was no, there was no fluff, I mean,  people share their hearts out, they share their stories from one way in a  pantomime something, you know, and the people had to figure out what it was.  And it was just interesting, because people sort of honed it down to what what is interesting, and I learned in that class, that if you were asked the right questions, like what was the most significant thing that ever happened to you in your life?  And and why it was significant time? Well, you're gonna get some real power to  even think the same question on specific topics. If you're doing a Bible study on  Grace, you could say, What's the most? What's the most significant example of  how you received grace in your life? Or the most? What is your favorite verse,  on grace, and why and why isn't your favorite? Or what was your darkest  moment in your life? And what verse in the Bible help you get out of that dark  moment? I'm telling you, you're going to have some stories, and it's going to be  incredibly interesting interest. So so being able to ask some of those questions,  even in a regular Bible study, to ask someone to reflect on that was, you know,  you seem real passionate about this particular thing? Was there anything in your life that relates to this? Right? Now when they share, people are going to be  listening? I want to shift gears, a few things are giving you about how to be  interesting. The question, how do you grow a Bible study? So how do you get?  How do you lead people in? Like increasing? Or have a new leader Come here? How do they get people to come without putting a notice in the bullet was often? Well, number one, if you have 10 people, you're already the size. You can be  anything over 10 You just have another person not talking. Right? So 10 is about the max number. And then there becomes a teaching thing. You know, like, like  a sermon, church service, we can't really house church, which is sort of different than a Bible study. Is that 10 or more? Yeah. And then you have leaders taking  on more responsibility, right? sharing, sharing, if you're gonna have sharing, you can have, you know, once you go past 10, so it let's say you're at eight, well, you still have room for two the problem, often, you bring someone new, and they  don't know all the special rules, they don't, they don't get the agenda, they don't  get the ground rules that you all went over two years ago, a lot of things are  being talked about, they have their own special language that you've all  developed. So, so being aware that this person is new, and how do you onboard them? How do you make them feel welcome? How do you give them enough 

knowledge, so that they can catch up quickly, and explain why we do things. So  that's really important. I think the biggest hindrance is, you know, once you have  your 10, you stay there. And here's the here's the reason why being the answer  

man and doing all the talking and leading in a special manner, because you're  so good at it. No one else will want to take that Bible study over. So the only way to grow is to divide, right? I mean, in the end, if you have 10, you're, you're  done. And so if you're going to grow, you know, either you have to let a few go  off and get some people or not but but if you're if the Bible study is such a  success, because you're such a great leader, no one in the group is going to  think that they can do what you do. Right? So really, so when we're talking about growing, we're talking about reproducing, too. So at 10 is not too difficult in  many ways to get to 10. But to create a movement is to create 10 groups of 10.  So now you started thinking about, rather than awesome, new questions are  raised. So when you set the agenda, you want to set the agenda be a  multiplying agenda for a movement in your church or your community. Unless  you just want to be that person. Again, that's a possibility. And then the group  will go on, and maybe it'll last maybe it won't last. And by the way. Another point, too, is a lot of groups go too far and too late. You know, it's sort of winding down, but no one right here. Yeah, like, how do you end the group. And so it goes  another year, where no one really wants to go. And again, the problem with that  is, then people don't want to be a part of a Bible study, again, they need a  recovery of five years or something. So when you sense as a leader, you're the  leader, right? So you're the one that has to do something about it. So if you  sense that sort of winding down, you bring that up and say, hey, you know, I  think either we should do something different, or we should divide for maybe,  you know, our season is done. And you know, we can figure that out. And there's nothing wrong with that. Or is it a possibility to, like say that, like, We're gonna  do one year maximum? Yeah. Yeah, I mean, even before, yeah, that's the best  time to do it is right before the set the ground rules have been when the word  schedule is that this will be a one year Bible study. This will be a one topic, Bible study here. And there were, and that, by the way, is an easy way to get people  because some people go home, to Bible study, but it's forever. And so I don't  want to commit myself forever. Right? So if you have a six week Bible study, and that's all you're asking someone to do, way more people are willing to say, Yeah, you know, I'll try that. Right. You know, and then after the six weeks, you can say what it might be possible, you know, in the future, but you know, people are  more willing to make a commitment to a shorter time then, you know, it's this  unending thing, right? Is it possible to do like sort of leader incubation Bible  study probably where you could people. What we're going to do is do one year,  and all we're going to talk about how to talk about how to do a Bible study, we're  going to talk, in fact, we're going to have one of us becomes an answer, man. It  makes it fun almost making the game. And then at the end of that year, the 

whole point is all of you are leaders, we're going to help each other recruit  people would be probably the best way to do a Bible study is to put  multiplication right in the middle of it, because the problem is, if it doesn't, the  Bible study doesn't go well. No one wants to be a leader in a Bible study. And if  it goes really well, people don't want to leave that group. Right. So what we did  way back when with Where's Philip? Remember, what we said is, okay, we have this Bible study with everyone, this is training for you to be a leader in the Bible  study. But you don't want to lose this group. But we won't lose this group,  because we will be leaders, and we'll have a leader meeting once a month  where we get together and talk about how our groups are going. So we don't  really we get the best of both worlds. We keep this group that we've invested in  that we, you know, get along so well with and then we we expand it. And that's  really, you know, the problem with all evangelism with church growth period is  we get we get a group of people, we like this group of people, and we don't  really want new people coming in and messing that up. Right? Well, and I feel  there's also inertia that goes against growing after. And if you're not self aware  of it in the beginning, if that's not your goal, the inertia will ultimately lock I mean, there were hours there 1987, 88, 89 planted churches. Today, just six months  ago, I found out that a group that we started in 1988, still meet. Another church  has, you know, migrated into different things. But so I could say that, that 30  years, a small group in that small group is still me now on one level, that's okay.  But I had talked to people on how I got where I really can't leave it. And I'm  willing to want to leave joking about 15 years ago, so but the 30 year group, and they are not really reached anybody else. And again, it sounds like I'm being  critical, because I'm sure that they have been each other and live their lives  together all that. But I don't think I thought 30 years ago, about creating  reproducing groups. But in a sense, you remember, we talked at the very  beginning, that small group, small group thing came into existence, because the  family, the extended family thing was falling apart, right. And the extended family stays together, right? Sort of, right, because at first, you're really close to your  brothers and sisters. But then you get married. And having kids, you have  grandkids, you spend way more time with your own family than you do with the  extended family. So it's sort of it sort of works that but you still do things with the  extended family, it's just once in a while you're talking about things, you can  compare notes on grandkids, and all those things. So there's a built in  mechanism in the family system for growth, because we will keep growing up,  they get married, have kids and that system keeps going. The problem with this  sort of, you know, created extended family small group is you don't have a  natural childbirth thing. You don't have a teenager that wants to leave home  eventually and do his own thing. Right. So the family system has a built in  mechanism for growth in the small group system, we sort of have to the leaders  have to sort of always push in that direction. So So to be a reproducing small 

group is to want that right off the gate. And into raise up leaders and train them  to be the teenager that wants to leave. And that's why it's so important to  encourage people when when they're in your Bible study. Because most people  are thinking well, I can't do what you do. Right. So you have to overcome that  mentality that you may not be as impressive as you could be. Yeah. You have to  be impressive in the fact that you're impressed by your people and you  communicate it all the time. And you challenge and you give responsibility and  even when someone takes the responsibility and fails it's like we know that was  a tough thing but I'm that you even tried is amazing to me. You I see your  potential. So you have to be this cheerleader that's always trying to lift everyone  out, or they will never want to leave their own group. We're probably To probably end here, read the 20 minute mark. If you were to look back at the movement of  Christianity, but you are part of the Bible study, small groups, churches you  planted and everything. Where would someone start? This? I mean, they've just  seen a whole class now. What were they? Well, you know, we always talk about  what you should. If you want to be a Bible Study leader, you're not walking with  God in your own personal life. And you start there, start there and start in your  own family. Timothy? Because we can't manage your own family, why should we put in charge of the church, and it's not like a, you know, a penalty or something  like that. It's just that you learn so much in doing it in your family that all those  lessons lead over. So that then from there, if you have something good going on in your own family, see, you're kind of aware of things, you know, what did we  did, we had four boys were reading the Bible is also aware of the process. Yeah, and your progress, you know, so you're aware of the good thing is, is a good  thing. So now you might be more motivated to start something than when you  start something, it doesn't have to be 10 people, right, you can find just one  other couple. The only thing that's having more helps is than when people can't  make it that night, you have somebody, but you really only need a few people,  right? So start with someone, start sharing your vision of what you want to do  figure out what kind of study you want, you can make make up a little flyer or  something. And I'm thinking of starting to read about it to see if you're interested, start passing them out to whoever and I think people really want to be a part of  something and no one invites people to anything, generally. So if you are you  might start with hospitality. Start, you know, this year, Honey, we're going to do  hospitality, like nobody's business, every week or every two weeks, we're gonna  have someone over after a year of that, you'll have a lot of connections to  people, and you'll be able to see it. In other words, so in this whole class by  saying start with your personal life, if it's not rare, then maybe start with a little  hospitality, try something and then when you start a group we talked about, like,  rules and all that stuff, but then have reproductions be a movement leader. Oh, if he's in a contract, that's fine, too. But in general, the opportunity before us is  pretty incredible. Well, Steve, this has been fun. I really enjoyed doing classes 

with you. And I pray that all of you will find your place your role as a leader and  May Christ be glorified.