Purpose of Community Bible Studies

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Our English Ministry is providing 3 layers of learning in our online environment:

  1. Sermon / Small Group (SG) (give a fish)
  2. Workshops / Online Courses (teach to fish)
  3. Community Bible Studies (fishing)

In the Community Bible Studies, students have an opportunity to apply the study techniques from the workshops for themselves. They will be able to journey with other Christians so that they can learn from one another as they study together. They could also take these community sessions as opportunities to teach God’s Word to younger believers or even non-believers.

Below are some ways you can use this Community Bible Study: 

  • Evangelistic Bible Study
  • Family Worship
  • Bible Study with Accountability Group
  • Bible Study with members outside of SG
  • Bible Study with SG members

Meeting Times

For your convenience, we will be hosting an online gathering on Wednesdays from 7:30PM-9:00PM (except for the weeks where we have Teacher-led classes). When you enter into the Zoom Room, the moderator will place your group into a breakout room. At 9:00PM, the moderator will close the Breakout rooms. 

You can also choose to coordinate your own meeting times/schedules, but will need to provide your own online forum.

Signing up for Community Bible Studies

Please sign up for our Bible Study through the Google Form.

When signing up, please indicate whether you signing up by yourself or with others

Sign up opens on Saturday, January 30th and will close on February 5th.

Preparing for the Bible Study

Prep Time: 1-2hr

Main Resources

  1. Study Bible
  2. Gospel Coalition Course

Study the Passage on your own

  • Write down the big idea
    • Identify the main verse
  • How does the big idea fit into the overall message of the book?
  • What elements of the Gospel does your passage announce?
  • What elements of the Gospel does your passage assume?

Prepare at least 1 question to ask the group

Types of questions you can ask:

  • LOOK DOWN QUESTIONS (Reading comprehension)
    • Making sure members understand what they’re reading. 
  • LOOK OUT QUESTIONS (Clarification + Contextualization) 
    • Questions that help members to see how these truths could be misunderstood by both Christians and non-Christians alike.
    • Identify obstacles/hindrances that prevent Christians from applying these truths in our current context
  • LOOK IN QUESTIONS (Personal Reflection + Repentance)
    • Help members to examine themselves and their faith community to see whether they have been faithful or have fallen short. 
    • Help members to reflect on what repentance and obedience looks like.
  • LIVE IT OUT QUESTIONS (Application/Commitments)
    • What are the heart changes that are necessary in order for Christians to faithfully live out God’s Word? How will they seek this heart change?
    • Help members to apply God’s Word into their lives in practical ways

Review Gospel Coalition material

  • Choose 1 question you would like to discuss in the group 

Corporate Bible Study

Study Time: 1hr 30min

Sample Format: 

  1. Appoint a facilitator (1min)
    1. The facilitator is merely the one keeping time, collecting questions, and moving the discussion along. He/she is NOT the one providing answers. 
    2. Try to have a different facilitator for each study
  2. Read the passage together (9min)
  3. Big idea / Main verse / Gospel (20min)
    1. Take time for each of you to share your big idea / main verse / elements of the Gospel that are announced/assumed.
    2. Come to a consensus among your group on the above three.

If you want to speed up this process, you can ask each member to have this prepared beforehand so they can paste their work into the chatbox. Doing this will allow you to spend more time in discussion rather than have each person reading their answer.

  1. Work through questions (45min)
    1. Member’s questions (Look Down; Look Out; Look In; Live it Out)
      1. Compile member’s questions via chat
      2. Work to answer/discuss each question
    2. Course questions
      1. Compile questions from course material via chat
      2. Work to answer/discuss each question

You may not be able to answer every question. The facilitator will determine how much time is allotted to each question. He/she can also ask the group if there are questions that are of particular interest to them

  1. Share take home points (10min)
    1. What did you learn from this study?
    2. How does this affect the way you think, feel, and live?
  2. Pray (5min)
    1. Facilitator closes off in prayer.