You have probably felt challenged finding a good Bible study resource for your men.
The reality is that very few new resources are being created for men. The Christian book industry is an industry, and there is simply not enough business in the “Men’s Small Group curriculum” category.
This does create an opportunity for you.
You have access to the best resources possible: the Holy Spirit and the Bible. You don’t always need something a so-called “expert” has written; you can create your own Bible study for your men.
Here are some ideas to help guide you.
Pray and Discern
Spend time asking God for direction on the needs of the men in your church and the type of study that would be most helpful for them. Remember, this is not a general study for everyone. You want to ensure it is especially relevant for the men in your church.
Prayerfully ask these questions:
- Where do men in your church need to grow to become more like Jesus?
- What are some unique challenges the men in your church face?
- Should this be a topical Bible study, or a theological study, or working through a book of the Bible?
Start with the Bible
Once you know the type of study you will write, study the Bible yourself. One of the dangers every Bible teacher faces is that we start with our own thoughts and ideas. You may have some wisdom to share, but the entire point of a Bible study is for all of us to hear from God more than from you.
Remember what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us: there is nothing better you can do than help your men encounter God’s Word. It teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains us so that men can be complete and equipped for every good work.
If you are not used to studying the Bible, many tools are available to assist you. Some of these tools are also free:
- Concordances and Dictionaries: These tools help you look up any word in the Bible and see other Scripture verses where the same word is used. They are an excellent resource for topical Bible studies.
- Commentaries: These help you understand what other wise teachers think God is saying about passages of Scripture.
- Interlinear: This helps you understand the original Greek or Hebrew meaning of certain words translated into English. Blue Letter Bible is a great free website for this.
When studying the Bible, it is also important to remember the context and literary genre. How you interpret a story in the Gospels differs significantly from how you interpret a proverb (wise saying) in books like Proverbs. If you are unfamiliar with different Bible genres and how they influence how we interpret them, read this article from Lifeway.
Bible Study vs. Teaching
When you are creating a study for your group, your goal is to use what you have studied to guide the conversation rather than teach men what they need to learn. Bible studies are not sermons or classes. They are a place for men to encounter Scripture together. Your job is to ask the questions and lead the discussion that allows the men to discover God’s truth as a group. The study you’ve done beforehand will enable you to ensure the conversation doesn’t go beyond what God is saying in His Word.
Bringing It All Together
There are many different formats for a Bible study, but here is how you can help make this a great learning experience for everyone:
1. Getting Started: Have some casual conversation with the men to catch up on their week.
2. Pray: Ask the men to pray for each other as a group. Starting with prayer opens the door to God’s desire for you to talk about something other than just your planned Bible study.
3. Scripture: Read the Bible verses you have studied and ask the men some questions. Questions can be as broad as “What do you believe God is saying here?” to as specific as “What does this phrase or word mean?” You also want to ask questions like, “What do these verses tell us about God?” These questions aim to let God speak first through His Word.
4. Application: Ask the men what applying the learned principles and truth to their lives would look like. The application can speak to a man’s heart (“What needs to be different inside me?”), a man’s mind (“How do I need to believe or think differently?”), or a man’s hands (“What do I need to do to live in obedience to God?”). Many men want to jump to the “hands,” but how we live daily has to be shaped by our hearts and minds first. Don’t let men jump to obedience and action without wrestling with the other inward parts.
5. One Thing: Ask the men to identify one thing they believe God wants them to do in response to their discussion. This is key. We need to focus on just one action step so we aren’t overwhelmed, and we need to focus on what God wants for us rather than anyone else’s opinion.
6. Accountability: Next week, begin with this question: “How did your ‘one thing’ action step go since last week?”
7. Tell Someone: Challenge the men to pray for an opportunity to share what God taught them this week with at least one other man. This will set the tone for your Bible study and help the men begin to disciple other men, even if they don’t realize they are doing it.
These steps will give you a good framework for writing a Bible study that will be effective for the men God has called you to serve.
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