In recent years there has been a great movement in small Home Fellowship and Bible Study groups. Many Believers feel this movement constitutes a revival of the Church comparable to the great tent revivals in America during the 1900’s. For many it seems to be the only alternative to what they see as oppressive corporate Churches and/or domineering local ministers. Whatever, the cause, the Home Fellowship Revival is becoming a viable alternative for many Believers in both the Seventh Day Sabbath and First Day Christian communities.
      Small Home Fellowships and/or Bible Study Groups are very appealing to those Believers who have had to sit in large congregations every week and listen to a minister deliver a prepared sermon. Now they have an opportunity to ask questions, to express viewpoints, and to search the Scriptures for answers with other Believers of likemind. This type of interaction can create bonds of fellowship that are not possible for some to achieve in a large church setting.
      Along with every positive opportunity comes an equally negative opportunity for the new format to be used to incorrect ends. Some people who have become involved in small group discussions have found them to become dominated by articulate people with strong personalities, but not always by those who are well grounded in doctrine. This can lead to real disappointment for those who have just come out of an abusive large church experience. Unfortunately, when this happens, some people just turn off and go home to study and worship by themselves, (or worse yet, give up on God altogether) while those who remain may be allowing themselves to be led astray by false teachers.

      "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
      "For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
      "Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. ...
      "But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
      "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
(II Tim. 3:1-9,14-17)

      Good solid Bible study is extremely important so the Believer can remain well grounded in the faith. As stated before; do not accept any new interpretation of Scripture, no matter where it is found (including the pages of Hebrew Roots), without thoroughly checking it out for yourself to the very best of your ability. Also, never forget that in the final analysis:

      "... by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
(Eph. 2:8-10)

      And what are the "... good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them..."? Nothing less than the instruction book of God, the Torah.
      With all of this in mind it is our fervent desire that all of our readers might experience small group Bible studies that are doctrinally sound, interactive (so that all feel welcome to participate), spiritually uplifting, allowing for differing views (but not heretical ones) and focused always on our Creator God. To aid in this righteous endeavor we offer the following guidelines for Bible study. We do not claim that this format is the only one that can be used successfully, rather we offer it as one that we hope you will consider. We have seen it used in the past and truly believe it can help to avoid domination by a strong personality while opening up the discussion to all participants.

~ General Guidelines ~

      Method of Study: Following are four basic methods for Bible study.

• Chapter by Chapter. A good example would be to use the weekly Torah readings as the basis for a weekly study (see Hebrew Roots 96-4 for a complete list).
• Word Studies. Choose a key word and have everyone study all usage’s of that word in the scriptures. (This would require everyone to have a good concordance, or the willingness of someone to copy the necessary page(s) for those who do not.)
• Specific Doctrines. This is the most difficult category for interactive Bible study since there may not be any easy way to find all of the appropriate scriptures that apply to a doctrine.
• Character Studies. Exploring the life and character of a specific Bible character to see what can be learned from their example.

      It is our recommendation that a new group begin be using the Chapter by Chapter method of study before attempting any of the other methods. We heartily recommend using the weekly Torah readings. Since many Believers do not have a good grasp of the Torah and therefore do not have the proper foundation for their faith, this is an opportunity for everyone to grow in grace and knowledge.

      Assignments: All participants should come to the Bible Study having not only read, but studied the material to be covered. Assignments need to be long enough to provide a good study, but short enough so that even those people who are pressed for time can at least do cursory study prior to the meeting. After a few studies it will become apparent how long the assignments should be for the particular group.

      Leaders: Bible Study Leaders should be selected based on their ability to lead a study and their desire to do so. it is essential to have more than one Leader so that: 1.) It does not become a burden to any one individual; 2.) There are backups available if the assigned Leader cannot attend; 3.) No one individual can dominate the group; 4.) Leading does not become a head trip.

      Housekeeping:

• It is important to start on time. Do not delay starting if someone is consistently late, it only frustrates those who are always on time.
• Set a time to end the study. If all the material has not been covered, carry the remainder over to the next study. If some want to stay longer and continue the study that is fine, but be sure all material discussed is properly covered next time so those who had to leave will not feel left out. (They will really appreciate your thoughtfulness.)
• Do not allow visiting during the study, that can be done before or after the study. Never allow gossip to take place either before, during or after the study. Gossip has no place in the lives and speech of Believers, If you cannot say something good about a person, say nothing.
• Refreshments can be a distraction during a Bible Study, for both the people serving and for those receiving. If refreshments are needed, because of day long activities, serve them before or after the Study.

~ Format ~

      Prayer: Always open the study with prayer. Have different people offer prayer each time. Ask God to open the eyes, ears, heart and mind of each individual present to His instruction. Pray that God will lead everyone present to live more Godly lives, to draw close to Him, and to come to see Him as He really is.
      Background: When a new book, word or topic is introduced, it is important that all present have a proper understanding of some pertinent background material. For example; who wrote it? When was it written? To whom was it written? Is it primarily a book of history,? prophecy,? instruction in righteous living,? etc.
      Some of the needed background information can be found in various Bible Dictionaries. Some study Bibles may contain limited amounts of information on each book, or even certain topics. It should be the responsibility of the Leader (or someone else who has agreed to do it) to provide the necessary background information before the study begins.
      Each subsequent study on the same book, word or topic should be started by the Leader, or a member of the group, giving a very brief review of the background information plus a brief review of the previous study. This will serve to refresh the memory of those how were present and let any newcomers know where this study will pick up the topic.

      Discussion:

• The Leader should read the scriptures pertaining to the study before any discussion begins. This serves to refresh everyone’s mind concerning the material in case some did their study several days previous rather than just prior to the study itself.
• The Leader will then select one individual to read a few verses (generally one complete thought).
• Discussion will then ensue. Everyone must be permitted to speak if they wish to do so, however comments should be kept brief so that all will have an opportunity to participate. If anyone rambles on too long it is the responsibility of the Leader to gently ask that person to finish up so others can have equal opportunity. Following are some appropriate questions that might be asked concerning the passage under discussion:
  • What is the literal meaning of the passage?
    Are there other scriptural passages that come to mind that are related to this one? (Margin references are often helpful in this case.)
  • Does the passage in any way deal with symbolism? If so, what are those symbols? Does the symbolism override the literal meaning of the passage?
  • Does the passage contain any idioms that might make it mean something other than the literal? (For example; when we say that someone is "beating around the bush" we do not mean they are literally taking a stick and beating the ground around some poor shrub, but rather they are trying to evade making an honest reply.)
  • Is there a deeper meaning to the passage that is not readily apparent from a cursory reading of it.
  • Are there any principles contained in the passage that have a direct application in your life?
  • Can you share a personal experience where this principle directly affected your life? (If this is done, everyone must agree not to share this information outside the meeting. Confidentiality is critical to the effectiveness of this kind of sharing. Also, the sharing must be done voluntarily, never under coercion. There should be no advice given, or problem solving taking place during the study. And above all, there must be NO JUDGING!)

      Wrap-up: The Leader should give a very brief (2-5 mm.?) summary of what was covered and some of the lessons learned. There may be a brief discussion on the effectiveness of the study and ways in which it can be improved.

      Assignment: The next study assignment should be given based on how much it is felt the group can cover. Input from the group is essential. Also, a Leader needs to be picked for the next study.

      Prayer: A final prayer should be offered thanking God for His presence, assistance and instruction in the study. It is also appropriate to ask God for help in applying His principles of living in each persons life.

~ Rules ~

      (The following rules are very important and should be read to the entire group prior to the study each of the first few’ times you meet. Thereafter it would be appropriate to review them at least once each month.)

• The Leader is there to lead, not to teach. This is a group learning situation, not a lecture class. All are encouraged to share (and thereby to teach) and to learn.
• No one person should ever be allowed, or allow themselves, to dominate the study. If this happens on a consistent basis the study group will dissolve. (This is a law of group dynamics.) It is the responsibility of the Leader to see that this does not happen.
• The Leader must have control of the group to keep the study on track. While tangents may be interesting, they can quickly cause the group to lose focus. If a tangent proves interesting enough for the whole group, it can be scheduled as the next Bible Study after the current study is finished.
• Any items of a personal nature must never be shared with anyone outside of the Bible Study group that was present when the individual revealed it. This means do not discuss it outside the meeting, unless totally private, and then only with the individual that shared it.
• If someone expresses a personal need in their life, it is not to be discussed or attempted to be resolved during the study. Anyone moved personally to assist someone who has a need is encouraged (even commanded) to deal with that matter outside of the study. If the individual wishes the group to discuss and advise, that can be done after the Bible Study is completed or at another time.
• Be aware that just because you believe something to be true, that does not make it true. Always be willing to hear another person’s opinion. You may learn something!
• Never argue over scripture!!! It then becomes striving over words and is offensive to God. Arguing never convinces anyone, it only leads to more intransigent positions and ultimately causes division and anger.
• Come to the study with an open heart and mind, willing to learn from the scriptures. Remember that even the least educated, least articulate of those present can have a profound truth to share. God is not a respecter of persons.
• If questions arise, the Leader, and other interested parties, should write them down. During the week they can take it upon themselves to search for the correct answer, reporting their findings at the next study. Be prepared to say; "I don’t know the answer," since some questions may require months or even years before the correct and full answer is forthcoming.
• Above all things, study together in love.

~ Summary ~

      It is our hope that these Group Bible Study Keys will be of help to those of our readers who are participating, or planning to participate, in small group Bible Studies or Home Fellowship groups. Remember, that while Bible Study may be the core, it is not the only part of Home Fellowship. Sometimes it may be more important to just sit and talk with one another. Other times it may be more appropriate to spend significant amounts of time praising God in song or dance. Still other times it may be most important to spend the entire time in group prayer. Still other times it may be most meaningful to take a walk in the woods or on the beach, or picnic in a meadow or a park. Different Home Fellowship groups have different needs, and any single group may have different needs at different times.
      Please let us know what works in your group. We would like to share your positive experiences with our entire readership so that we might all become better prepared for our soon coming Wedding to the Messiah. As each of us grows in love, understanding, peace, joy and grace; we in effect are adding stitches to the wedding dress which is to be worn by the Bride.

      "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints."
(Rev. 19:7-8)

      May your studies be blessed with Shalom (Peace).

                  DEW