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Recently during our Sunday morning worship services, we went through the fact that Christ is reigning at the right hand of the Father (Psalm 110), how it is our duty to spread the message (Gen 1:28; Matt 28:18-20), and how God equips His saints for this task (Eph 6:10-20).  Now, you may have agreed with the main points of this series, but are still wondering how you can conduct Bible studies or are worried that you do not know enough to study the Bible with others. This article is intended to give a few tips or ideas to help with these concerns. 

The first tip is to be willing to say, “I do not know.” I know in the past I have looked at other people and thought something along the lines of, “I cannot do a Bible study because I do not know as much as them.” What I have learned during my time in Christian education and in ministry, is the first step in learning or getting better at studying the Bible is being willing to admit your weak spots! There are many things, concepts, and sections of Scripture that I am still trying to grow in and I am sure everyone reading this can relate. I also am sure everyone can relate with the fact that the more you study and live life, the more questions that arise in your mind about Scripture. This is normal! What we, yes me included, cannot do is get comfortable with where we are, admit defeat, and/or think we “now know it all” at some point. When you do study with someone about the Bible, whether that person is a Christian or not, and they ask you a question that you are unsure of, be willing to say something along the lines of, “I am not sure, can I look into it and get back with you?” If you say this politely, it would be very rare for someone to get angry at that response, as long as you are true to your word and do get back to them!

The second tip is to be both direct and loving. Some people like to be blunt or hurtful and use the excuse of “I am just being honest” as an excuse for this rude behavior. When you study with someone, be willing to point out sin or direct someone to the better way of living in Christ, but frame it in such a way that shows you genuinely care about them and their eternal destiny. As an example, if someone asks if a shirt looks bad on them, you can either say, “that is the worst shirt I have ever seen and you look absolutely terrible in it!” or “yeah that isn’t the best shirt for you.” The difference is obvious. Is this meant to downplay the gravity of sin? By no means! What this is, however, is to model how Jesus interacted with sinners, by showing them grace but also telling them to, “go and sin no more!” (John 8:11b). Was there times that Christ got intense with people? Of course, but those were usually with religious leaders that lead a life full of hypocrisy. 

The third tip I would tell someone is to not make your first few Bible studies super complicated or on nitty gritty details of the faith. If you are studying with someone who does not know Christ, it makes more sense to focus on Him rather than on something like denominational errors or the finer details of the restoration movement ideals. While these are absolutely issues that should be dealt with later in a Christian’s walk, Christ, His sacrifice and resurrection, the kingdom, and our hope of a resurrection should all be kept at the core. If I was doing a Bible study with someone who had a limited knowledge of Christ, I would start with the following passages because they keep Christ at the center and show either our hope or how to receive the forgiveness of sins or both. These passages would be John 3, Acts 2, Rom 5-6, and 1 Cor 15. That would be a good four week study with someone unchurched to point them to Christ. 

The final tip I would give is to stay convicted on your beliefs. Do not waiver on the truth of Christ and be willing to withstand those who may curse at your or cut you out just for being a follower of Christ! As my generation says, “stand ten toes down” on Jesus!