Many people feel intimated by the thought of putting together a study group, when really, it can be the easiest thing to do! Your group will be unique as you tailor it to meet the needs of those attending, and no two groups will ever look the same. Mix and match the different ideas in this post to create a schedule that works best for you! Pray and let the Holy Spirit direct you to the women you should invite. Once you know who you will be inviting, you can start planning out how your group will look like!
I. Small and Personal Group— Once or Twice a Month
A study group doesn’t have to be big—it can just be a few people. Smaller settings make things personal, and those attending your group will be able to build deep relationships with each other as you share together. With smaller groups, it can be harder to coordinate schedules—because if one girl can’t come, there may only be one or two others attending! Don’t get too caught up trying to work everyone’s timeframe perfectly. While you all can continue to do one chapter a week on your own, instead of meeting every week you could try to meet every other week, or once a month, to share what you’re learning. Perhaps your small study group will only include family (mother, sisters, aunts, nieces), or a few of your best friends…but I encourage you to stretch yourself and also invite one or two others whom you don’t know very well, but you’d like to get to know better!
II. Large and Dynamic Group— Every Week
The more, the merrier! Consider facilitating a study group for the women your congregation. You really don’t need to fear awkward silence—in a big group, there’s always someone who is willing to talk or share, and likewise, it’s easier to meet every week since there’s always someone who will show up! A group like this is a beautiful and meaningful way to create community and connection within your congregation as well. Often people feel overlooked or left out, so this is a perfect opportunity to take the time to invest in these women who you otherwise might just pass by each week with nothing more than a nod on your way out the door. You all have so much to offer, and you’ll grow so much together!
III. Via Correspondance Group— Throughout the Week
If you have no local community—no friends or family nearby—that doesn’t mean you can’t have a study group! Some of my fondest memories are doing summer Bible studies with my childhood friend Christina, who moved two hours away from me. We picked a study book, and every week we would send letters and emails back and forth with our thoughts, sharing what we were learning. It was a beautiful way to stay in contact and continue to cultivate our relationship over the many miles between us! I would highly encourage you to do the same, especially if you feel like you have no local community and your friends are scattered far away. You can use video calls, group texts, or social media to facilitate your group—or do it the old fashioned way like Christina and I did, through letters and email! At the beginning of the week, send out a message to remind everyone what chapter you’re on, and then invite others to share through the week as they read. You’ll have encouraging texts and messages come through your phone all week long!
With Love from Victoria 