Let’s just have a moment of real honesty because we’ve all been there… sometimes bible study just sucks. There are times it feels like it’s another box to check, people aren’t opening up, you can sense that no one has that fire or passion for God.

It happens.

And I know… my husband and I have led or been a part of bible studies for years. Some weeks, it’s great. The Holy Spirit is there, and you can feel it. Everyone leaves encouraged. Other weeks, it just feels dead.

Something needs to change. We need to return to the basics… what the bible teaches about what God wants when we meet as a church body.

So I did some research. Here are 10 purposes God has for our meetings:

Philia Love

The greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13:13). So of course, that’s where the list starts. Jesus taught that everything boils down to loving one another, even when we point out sin in a brother, it’s to be done out of a heart of love for that person. Our meetings should be marked with love and encouraging one another to do God’s work.

Key verses: Stir one another up to love and good works… encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). Dwell in unity (Psalm 133). Our love for one another should show non-believers that we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:35).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should be so filled that we go out into the world and spill that love onto others.

Spiritual Learning

When we first become Christians, we have to learn so much about Christianity; the bible says we’re like babies. Bible study should be to teach about the scriptures so that we can learn about God, grow in righteousness, and be encouraged to continue carrying our cross and fighting against our true enemy.  

Key verses: Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again. Solid food is for the mature, who have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:12-14). They examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should know more than when we came in and be excited to learn more on our own.

Gospel Sharing

Bible study sometimes feels like preaching to the choir, and that’s why it’s so important to continue sharing the gospel so that we are making more disciples and teaching new believers about Jesus. The last command that Jesus gave before he ascended to Heaven was to go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to obey his commands (Matt 28:19-20). We should inspire one another to continue with fervor.

Key Verses: Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news (Acts 5:42). They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42-47).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should have taught someone about Christ’s transformational love and leave inspired to share the gospel.

Sharing Reports

There’s something about hearing what God is doing in others that inspires us to do more. Sometimes we speak of God like a historical figure who did this, that, and the other long ago, but God is actively working today! He wants us to tell about what he’s doing. Everyone who is growing in Christ should have something to share. There’s no room for timidity or laziness or taking a back seat.

Key Verses: They gathered and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27). Each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or interpretation (1 Cor 14:26).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should be so encouraged by the testimony of what God is doing in others’ lives that we can’t help but do more for him ourselves.

Perfecting Ourselves

Hearing criticism can be one of the hardest things, but the bible is clear that when we sin, we are actually harming the entire body of Christ. Frequently, we are blind to our sin. That’s why we need to submit ourselves to the reproof of our brothers and sisters, knowing they want the best for us. We are all working towards sanctification after all; no one is without sin.

Key Verses: If someone is caught in sin, you should restore that person gently (Gal 6:1). Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become the mature body of Christ (Eph 4:15). See to it that none of you has a sinful heart, but encourage one another, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:12-13).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should be able to identify the sin in ourselves and be encouraged to turn away from that sin.

Breaking Bread

Communion is something we do in corporate worship but less often in bible study. Jesus clearly gave this as a command, however. If there’s food at your group, that could be a time to work in this practice of prayer and remembrance.

Key Verses: They devoted themselves to fellowship and the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). Do this in remembrance of me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Cor 11:25-26).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should have remembered Christ’s suffering for our salvation, thanking God for this new covenant and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Singing Songs

Like David, we should sing and dance unashamed before the Lord with other believers. Bible study should be a time to worship God and give thanks for what he’s done because he is the one who fills us with joy.

Key Verses: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, giving thanks (Eph 5:18-21).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should have encountered the Spirit, and unashamed praise should flow from us to bless the name of Jesus.

Using Gifts

God has made each person unique with important gifts they must develop and use. During bible studies, we should be using these gifts, opening up space for others to share wisdom, healing prayers, encouraging words from God, etc.

Key Verses: To some people, the Spirit gives a message of wisdom… knowledge… faith… healing… miracles… prophesy… distinguishing spirits… tongues… interpretation of tongues. He gives gifts to each person as he decides (1 Cor 12:8-11).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should feel that the body of Christ has worked as one, giving each person space to use their gift.

Meeting Needs

While we are on earth, there are some very physical needs that we experience. In the early church model, none went without food or shelter. They opened up their homes and dining tables to others selflessly. When people were sick or injured, they prayed for each other and found healing.

Key Verses: The believers sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need (Acts 2:42-47). Pray for one another that you may be healed (James 5:16).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should have given all (whether it be prayer, money, etc.) that the Spirit asks us to so that we can meet the physical needs around us.

Brotherly Help

Along with physical needs, there are spiritual needs that we have, whether it be an unanswered prayer, emotional crisis, or sin struggle. Christ taught us that love means sacrifice. And that’s what brotherly help looks like. Sacrificing our time and energy to come alongside another. In fact, God gives us a church family so that no one gets left behind in faith. Look around and see if there are people who have unmet spiritual needs.

Key Verses: Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-2).

Conclusion: When we leave bible study, we should feel the strength of a spiritual family backing us.

Final Thoughts…

This is by no means a comprehensive list. The purpose of this is to breathe new life into your bible study with things you may not be doing already.

Pray over these items, and let the Holy Spirit reveal where your group is lacking and how you can improve it. If you don’t like something about your group, don’t just take a back seat or complain about it to others. You are a part of this body that we so desperately need! Take an active role within your church body to get involved, and work privately to develop your spiritual gifts for the betterment of the kingdom.

Peace and Love