For those of us who are at high-risk of dyeing from COVID if we contract it, we wrestle with the question, “should I go to church or not?” I have opted to continue attending church online for now. However, I miss seeing fellow believers and discussing the sermon with them. I find that I really need interaction with other believers. This is the second year I have joined Bible Study Fellowship. We meet once a week online in Zoom. Even though it’s a bit awkward having a discussion, we are getting the hang of it. In the future we may meet again in person, but for now, meeting online is a good choice for me.
Why Join?
If you haven’t joined a Bible study before, you may think it’s not necessary to be a Christian. And you would be right. However, studying the Bible with other Believers helps each other grow in our knowledge of the Bible. As it says in Proverbs 27:17, Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. It is so enlightening to study with others because we tend to have different points of view on what is being taught. Listening to others’ perspectives, helps us learn from each other, and often challenges our own understanding of scripture.
Being a member of a Bible study also provides a positive social outlet. Bible studies are a good place to meet like-minded people. I have found Bible studies to not only be a place where I can seriously study the Bible, but also a place where laughter is often present. It seems the World thinks Christians are serious prudes who don’t know how to have fun. In reality, the opposite is true. I have met some of the funniest people with fantastic senses of humor in Bible studies. After all, Jesus is our joy, and why wouldn’t Christians be great comedians as we have the creator of humor in our hearts!
Characteristics of a Good Study
It is important to get into a good study. Having a teacher that is interesting and a teacher, not necessarily professionally, but one who can teach is important. I have been in Sunday School classes, which have been excruciating because the person teaching, was not a teacher. Unfortunately many churches dictate that only elders can teach adult classes, but they don’t take to heart what Timothy wrote in his first epistle that one of the characteristics of an elder is they be able to teach (I Tim. 3:2). Being able to teach is so important for a leader, because without this skill, one can’t disciple followers and the future of the church.
Ok, enough of my soapbox, let’s focus on the positive characteristics of a good study. Since I’ve been discussing teachers, find a study whose teacher is thought-provoking and knows the Bible. The teacher should be compassionate towards the members and be willing to go the extra mile. What I mean is, being willing to do extra research to answer her/his members questions. A good sense of humor helps as well.
There are literally millions of studies out there. You can find one as close as your own church or community. Choose a study that fits in with your schedule, or you are able to schedule around the study. If you are just beginning, perhaps a shorter study is good to begin with to get your feet wet. There are studies as short as four weeks long. There are also studies that go on for years and everything in-between.
Another characteristic of a good Bible study is that the study is indeed, Bible based. I was asked once to lead a study and was given the book to look over. As it turned out, the study had very few Bible references and was mostly the author’s opinion on the Bible. I handed the book back and told the preacher I could not lead this study, but if he was willing, I would choose a study I could lead. I chose a study by Marilyn Meberg and the preacher thought it was a good study. God worked through this study to help the women who joined me in the study.
Yet another characteristic is that the Bible study requires its members to do homework. I know, I know, homework. The thing is, the more time we spend in God’s word, the better understanding we have of who He is and what purpose He desires for our lives. Make spending time in the Word every day into a habit. The benefits far outweigh the time spent. The more time I spend studying, the more joy, peace and compassion I have because the Holy Spirit is helping me to understanding what I am studying. Reality is, God’s Word shows itself to be relevant in my life each week I study.
Recommended Bible Studies
Most of the Bible studies I am going to mention are women’s studies. However, the Precept Bible Study by Kay Arthur is an intense in-depth study that is for both women and men.
Studies I recommend are those by Beth Moore, any of the Women of Faith speakers, Kay Arthur studies and Bible Study Fellowship. This doesn’t mean that all the studies by these authors are the same. I like some better than others, but they all are Bible based.
I encourage you to find and commit to a Bible study. I know your spiritual walk will be challenged and grow. Many of us are home more than before COVID. Let’s use our time wisely, and nothing is wiser than spending time in God’s word.
Photo credit: e-Prophetic 2020.
