I often draw upon Coming to the Table’s “Touchstones,” the conversation guidelines recommended by the Episcopal Church’s Sacred Ground curriculum. This can be a collaborative creation of the group, a list of best group practices that a leader brings, or a combination of the two. freedom to ask challenging questions and not to know what to do with a scriptureĢ | Provide Inclusive, Equitable Conversation GuidelinesĮstablishing conversation ground rules is another beneficial first-day practice for cultivating empowering dialogue.appreciation for differing perspectives on a scripture homogeneity in interpretation is not the goal for me.openness to multiple interpretations and insights into a scripture.Three commitments that I share with the goal of developing a more hospitable Bible study space are: Being explicit about the goals and values that I bring to the study enables me to address potential concerns that participants might bring and to open space for them to share their own goals and values for Bible study. 1 | Share Your Approach to Bible Studyīecause participants can bring a variety of expectations and views about scripture into a Bible study, I find it important to communicate my approach to Bible study at our first session together. I hope that the suggestions below may inspire you as you explore these pivotal ancient writings with adults in your community today. How can adult Bible study leaders be mindful of these challenges and develop spaces for empowering, life-giving Bible study? In this article, I want to share some teaching techniques that have helped me facilitate small-group Bible studies for adults. Some people may view their own confusion about what a passage might mean as a moral or spiritual failure. Disagreements over a book so highly cherished can feel deeply personal. Uses of the Bible that have devalued, excluded, and even condemned various groups of people in church history can continue to inflict wounds. A text by ancient communities that brought comfort, wisdom, and transformative possibilities to people in ancient times and places can bring the same to people today.īible study can also be a source of struggle and pain. Familiar stories can spark fresh insights. Bible study in community can be a profoundly enriching experience for adults.
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