Women's Ministries Handbook for Leaders includes information to assist churches in developing a ministry to women. The Handbook is under revision and will be posted as a downloadable file, hopefully, by mid-summer. Until then, here is information from Chapter 4.
Bible Studies and Prayer Groups
Editor’s note: When the Council decided to include a chapter on how to lead Bible Studies and prayer groups, I naturally turned to the woman with experience in leading both groups, Aletha Hinthorn, to write this chapter.
Prayerfully Prepare
If you would like to lead a Bible study, consider this desire to be a gift from God. Psalm 37:4 tells us, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” God never gives you a longing to do a task for Him without providing all you need to accomplish that task. And this is true for leading a Bible study. Your most important qualification for this role is a sense of dependence on the Lord for His perfect provisions.
Lorne Sanny said, "Prayer is the battle; witnessing is taking the spoils." It's just as true to say, "Prayer is the battle; leading a small group is taking the spoils." You lead with more confidence if you have prayed until you are trusting God to work in the class. Through prayer you gain a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit so you can allow Him to guide the discussion according to the group’s needs.
As you study, seek to find a truth from the Word that excites you. Your excitement for the Word will be contagious. The psalmist wrote, "Blessed is the man . . . who finds great delight in his commands" (Ps. 112:1). The Living Bible adds that such a person "shall have influence and honor" (v. 9).
If the truths you share have only reached your intellect, they will probably only reach the intellect of those in your group. But if the truths have reached your heart and changed your life, then those truths are more likely to reach the hearts of the participants and change their lives, too.
Rely upon the Lord to be the teacher, because spiritual truths must be taught by the Spirit. Isaiah 55:10 promises that the Word will be "seed to the sower, and bread to the eater" (KJV). Your role is simply to sow the seed. As you do, God promises to provide the miracle of turning it into bread for those who receive it. Before every group meeting, ask God to provide spiritual bread for each person coming.
In the Tabernacle, bread was always to be sitting on the table, ready for those who entered (Exod. 25:30). As you trust Him, God will always provide the exact bread each person needs that day. When you're tempted to think your supply of seeds is exhausted, claim 2 Cor. 9:10: "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness."
Lead with Confidence
Be willing to share how God has worked in your life. Paul asked his listeners to follow him as he followed Jesus: "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice" (Phil. 4:9). As you let group members see how you follow Jesus, you not only show them how to follow Him, but also provide the motivation. Many times Christians know what they must do to follow Christ, but simply need the leadership of one who is wholeheartedly committed to obedience. Be that person for those in your group.
Make sure you keep the Bible study alive and friendly. Your own attitude is a key factor in the group's enthusiasm. Develop a genuine interest in each person's remarks, and expect to learn from them. Concentrate on developing acceptance and compassion in the group.
Don't be afraid of silence after asking a question. Give everyone time to think. Use "What do you think?" questions. These can help keep the discussion from seeming pressured or unnatural, since these kind of questions have no wrong answers.
Remember that your goal is not simply to lead an interesting discussion but also to help your group understand and apply God's Word so it becomes life to them. As Deut. 32:27 says, "These are not idle words for you; they are your life."
Occasionally suggest, "Next week, let's bring to class the verses that have especially ministered to us." Usually a verse becomes special when it meets a personal need, so class members will often share needs as well. Studying Scripture develops bonds of true friendship.
Remember Mal 3:16 when enjoying the breaking of spiritual bread that occurs in group Bible studies: "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name." The Hebrew word for "listened" paints a picture of a mother bending over to listen to her children. Imagine God listening to you speak of Him and telling His recording angel to note your conversation in a heavenly journal!
Remember, "The lips of the righteous know what is fitting" (Prov. 10:32). Lead with confidence, because the Lord will help your words to be appropriate as you learn to depend on Him.