One of the coolest things I have done the past two years in our student ministry is to let the leadership students (those who are going on our summer mission trip and super summer) lead a bible study on a Wednesday night. It is a chance for them to see what it's like to prepare, plan, and process a bible study for others to hear. An unintended but welcomed effect are other students who have volunteered to lead bible studies.
This year I had two students come up to me saying they wanted to lead. One of them led last year, so I knew she would do a good job. The other was relatively new to the group and so I was a little hesitant. But the cool thing about our exchange was the way I could see a bible study develop; and a light of understanding unfold.
On the way to his house after our student meeting, the student began asking questions about the study. His first, and my favorite, was "So how do I come up with a bible study?" This is funny because he had already volunteered, and unless I helped him, it would be an interesting five to ten minutes of blank stares between him and us the audience.
Let me just say this, even though it may already be obvious: Students want to do something. I don't always know why, but it could range from a bunch of different things; a sense of belonging, wanting to be popular, wanting to make someone happy, or maybe God has laid something on their heart that they want to share with people.
In my conversation with the student we talked about the latter: That God may be dealing with him in a certain area or something in his quiet time and bible reading stood out to him. My desire is for him to seek God in what the bible study should be about. And then use stories from his life to make his points relevant.
Sometimes it's important to talk about topics. There are all kinds of things that we can take from the bible and apply to what we are going through at any moment. Ultimately God knows every person who will be in the room when you begin speaking and He wants all of them to know and follow Him. So whenever you are leading from God's Word, first seek His Will in what He wants you to say, and then back it up with the bible. Opinions are great for politics and sports teams, but God's Word stands on it's own.
So pray for our student ministry next Wednesday that God would speak through a willing, yet newbie bible study leader.
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