Conducting an Effective Home Bible Study
By Bro. T. W. Massengale
HOW TO TEACH:
1. Pray and fast before going. — for a purpose, for a need — start prospect prayer list
2. Obtain chart (personalize it!), study sheets, good reference Bible. – Anyone can teach it 1, 2, 3.
3. Take a lot of love (study and pray). — starved for love (ask God to give it to you!) — soul reason for going.
4. If possible, a couple should go together to teach a couple and a man to teach a man. — not a hard, fast rule — find something to have in common! (age makes no difference.)
5. The most dedicated Christians should be teaching (like begets like).
— Lord is calling you to a deeper walk!
— Like the responsibility you felt when you made your first child!
6. Go into their Home.
a. They are more comfortable. — Puts them at ease (must relax to be saved!) — watch how stiff they are when walking into service — too easy to cancel if at your house
7. Be on time — ALWAYS. — They watch you to see how important study is!
8. Be faithful — DON’T MISS A LESSON. — need to set right priorities! — pay price.
9. Use Chart and Bibles (preferably their Bible).
a. They MUST read along with you. — even Catholic “duay” Bible
b. Emphasize the Bible (not the chart). — often must wait for them to find it.
10. Take worksheets (lesson leaflets).
a. Distributed at the end of each lesson.
11. Dress nicely — (smell good). — casual “didn’t know you were real!”
12. Be very informal — relax — pray. (describe mock-formal lesson)
13. Take a miniature chart (if possible) let them write scriptures and
notes on it. — hand-out loose-leaf chart (see No. 10)
14. Get into the kitchen (not in the living room).
a. Something to set chart on.
b. gets them close – eyes contact.
c. informal, comfortable.
d. won’t go to sleep – old man, easy chair.
15. Take refreshments if they don’t provide their own. — need to feel they return something – break bread
16. Plan to make friends with them. — invite them into your social life.
17. Ask for a small towel to set chart on, they way it won’t slip. Set on end of kitchen or dining table.
18. Always open and close in prayer. — Pray for home, sick, children, Aunt Bess, ect…
19. Be prepared.
a. Notes on corner of chart
b. Teach without book-Bible only
c. Use own words
d. Use personal experience — make exciting! — don’t be afraid to show emotion.
20. Be POSITIVE. — no problems — no controversial subjects
21. At beginning of each session ask a few questions about last week’s lesson (review).
22. Establish rules
a. Bible – sole authority – study it independently of all religions.
— No Pentecostal doctrine — Word of God!
23. Understand you objective – (to bring true salvation to them).
24. Recommend helpful books – creation, church history, biographies of great Christians.
25. Try to continue the study until completion even if they disagree. — give word time to work — Ill. Bro. Yants – told not to come back on second session.
26. Plan to teach the lessons in their given order (as the Bible was written). — Don’t skip any! — Would be alright to go 15-20 lessons (too long? how long is eternity!)
27. Encourage them to invite friends, but don’t let the number become too large. — don’t shut down if in revival.
28. Plan on hour studies.
a. 45 minutes teacher (all questions written but not asked). — stop at gripping point — you want them wanting more!
b. 15 minutes to answer questions (or more as student desires).
29. Complete the course (even if they have received the Holy Ghost). — one teacher had 5 students that got H.G. — lost most all!
30. Disciple the student (emphasize the word). — called, chosen, faithful, repeat S.F.T., takes 1 year, baptize in normal service.
31. Arrange time for next lesson.
32. Watch God transform their lives through you — Entire families (man will get saved first). — Men saved first (intellect) — In church, women save first (emotion)
33. Handouts: 1. Lesson 5 — Matthew Handout
“Divisions of New Test.”
2. Lesson 6 — Who is Jesus Christ
“Wheel of Prophecy”
“When God Became Man”
3. Lesson 7 — Water Baptism according to the Bible and History
4. Lesson 8 — Why God Chose Tongues
5. Lesson 9 — The First church (at beginning of lesson) Time line drawing – at signs of the times.
34. Send a “Thank you” note at end of completed study.
35. Follow up.
a. Make spot calls.
b. Involve them in social life with you.
DON’TS
1. Not more than 3 studies per week. (you must not neglect the people you teach).
2. Don’t try to read all the scriptures in the lesson.
3. Don’t take too long (45 minutes). If not through quit and take it up next week.
4. Don’t make it heavy (in depth). Keep it simple. (The objective is to get them saved).
5. Don’t allow yourself to answer judgement questions.
6. Don’t run down their church.
7. Don’t run down any church (be positive).
8. Don’t poke fun at churches.
9. Don’t push YOUR CHURCH DOCTRINE (present Bible truths and allow God to do the rest).
10. Don’t push your church attendance, but encourage their attendance. (You can relate exciting happenings);
11. Don’t answer questions that will be answered in subsequent lessons (ruins the punch).
12. Don’t argue (absolutely none).
13. Don’t allow interruptive questions.
14. Don’t be too authoritative (leave that to the ministry).
15. Don’t lose your temper.
16. Don’t be sarcastic.
17. Don’t teach baptism at tabernacle study unless you are sure they are ready.
18. Don’t be afraid to admit YOU DON’T KNOW. (Tell them you will bring the answer back next week).
19. Don’t carry the days trouble into your lesson.
20. Don’t let your faith weaken when it looks like they are not responding.
(The above material was prepared and published by Bro. T. W. Massengale.)
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