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In the wake of self-isolation, church life has changed drastically. As active Christians, we have lost our weekly Church services and small group meetings. One way we can still engage and discuss faith with others is through an online bible study group.
Leading, or participating in, an online Bible study offers you the chance to discover something new and exciting in the Bible, or find a new community in a safe and easygoing place. One big advantage is that it’s now easier than ever to bring bible studies into digital spaces.
Whether you are a seasoned small group leader or looking to make a space for community and conversation, here are a few steps to help you set up your own online bible study:
1: Pick the Group
The average small group generally consists of about 8-15 people. But, when sending out invites, aim a little lower than 8-15 to begin with. This leaves you with some space for anyone wanting to invite a friend.
Or, if you want to be a little more intentional about invites, ask your participants to bring along a friend or two. You’ll get to make new connections, share the Bible with more people and maybe even come out of self-isolation with more friendships than when you went into it.
2: Choose a study or Course
It goes without saying that there are a lot of Bible study guides and courses to choose from. Trying to find the right ones for your group requires an understanding of what interests your group. You can also choose ones which work best in group chat.
For a Christian small group, you have a few helpful options when choosing what to read.
If you are looking to create a club that is closer in feel and structure to a small group, or want to explore some big questions in a more focussed manner, then some more the more accessible series would be an ideal choice. This includes study guides series such as Lifebuilders, The Bible Speaks Today, God’s Word for You or any of the Other Small Group Guides. Our Spiritual Growth, Social Issues, and Understanding the Faith categories feature a wealth of smart and engaging books that explore all sides of Christianity and the world around us. Often, these will feature group discussion questions if you want to explore something a little different.
If you would like some suggestions, we’ll put together our pick of Christian Books for an Online Bible Study, as well as small group and online Church resources to help you as a leader.
3: When to Meet
The big benefit of online bible studies is the discussion never needs to cease, but it helps to have designated times for focussed conversations.
The regularity of these is up to your group, but I’d say a weekly space set aside for discussion would be advisable. Having that regular time for participants will help inject a measure of consistency, routine and stability in people’s lives.
4. Which Platform to Choose
There are several platforms you can choose for hosting your online bible study. One is through a group chat. This can be on Facebook, Whatsapp, and Google Hangouts. The advantage of these is that your participants most-likely already have at least one of these on their phone or computer.
You could also try something new. A handy feature that comes with a lot of business moving to online communication and collaborative work is that the software they use is perfect for group discussions. Programs like Slack and Flock were made for teams of colleagues but also offer a clean and easy to use platform for groups of people. You can also set reminders for news and updates on them.
For simply video meetings, apps like Zoom and Whereby offer an easy to use experience that works by invite.
5. Getting it Started
Now that you have gotten everything planned, it’s good to set up an introductory meeting to help everyone get to know each other. This can be a skype call, or on the platform of your choice. This introductory meeting is also a great chance to gather up suggestions for future studies or topics to cover in your new group.
If you have any questions about book clubs, picking something to read, or want something to bring hope during self-isolation, get in touch. We are simply a click or call away.
Return to the list of practices for Christians during Coronavirus: https://www.eden.co.uk/blog/7-practices-for-christians-during-coronavirus-p1784105