Several years ago, the Willow Creek Church Association did a massive study to examine how churches were doing at developing mature disciples.
They found that the number one influence on a person's spiritual growth was engaging the Bible for personal application.
While God grows our faith through a variety of influences (private disciplines, providential relationships, personal ministry, practical teaching, pivotal circumstances), engaging the Bible is at the top of the list.
The first goal of Community Groups at Northridge is to Apply the Bible.
If helping your group engage the Bible personally will influence their faith more than anything else, how is that going?
Here are 8 ideas to help your group engage with God's word.
Starting Point - (Sunday mornings in-person, Thursday evenings online)
Do your group members have questions about the Bible you don't know how to answer?
Starting Point is designed for those who are newer to faith, exploring faith, or reengaging with faith, to ask any questions they have about God, faith, and the Bible.
Invite a group member to join you in a Starting Point Group (online or in-person). They'll have an opportunity to engage the Bible and ask any question they have!
Equip Class "How to Read the Bible" - (Sunday mornings Online & In-Person, February 7 - March 28)
Many of the people in your group have tried to read the Bible but found it confusing and discouraging as they struggle to understand it.
Invite your group members to join you for this class so you can learn together how to not just read the Bible, but understand and apply it.
RightNow Media
Pick a RightNow Media study on a Book of the Bible and watch and discuss it with your group each week.
Many of the studies include free discussion guides to help you walk through the Biblical text together, understand it and apply it.
Shared YouVersion Bible Reading Plan
The Bible has never been more accessible than now with the YouVersion Bible app.
Search through a list of Bible reading plans and invite your Group Members to join you.
You can see each other's progress, and even share takeaways as you engage the Biblical text together.
Bible Project Home Study
Each email includes a short video (you can watch together with your group), Scripture readings, a short audio message, and discussion questions.
Your group members can watch, listen, and read before the group, and watch the video and discuss the questions in your weekly meeting.
Book of the Bible Study Guides
Here is a list of recommended study guides to read and discuss a book of the Bible together as a group.
Have your group members purchase a study guide, and then read the Bible passage during the week and answer the questions in the guide. You can use the guide to discuss what you learned in your next meeting.
You could also pair one of these study guides along with RightNow Media series on the same book of the Bible.
Here are some best practices from other Group Leaders who have done this.
Sermon Discussion
Help your group not only hear God's Words taught on Sunday, but read them together in group, and learn how to apply them.
Have you had mixed success with this? Review these sermon discussion tips.
Find Sermon Discussion Questions HERE.
Set Bible Engagement Growth Goals
Make Growth Goals a regular rhythm each group trimester.
Set goals on when, where, and what to read in the Bible.
Set scripture memorization goals.
Ask each other about your progress regularly.
Which one of these 8 ideas can you try this winter to help your group engage the Bible?
Upcoming Sermon Series
Here are the tentative dates for our upcoming sermon series:
Silver Linings - (January 10-31)
How to Be Rich (February 7-21)
Amazing Grace (February 28-March 7)
The Courtroom (March 14-April 4)
Trimester Dates
Winter: January 17 - March 27 (10 weeks)
Spring: April 11 - May 29 (7 weeks)
