"Aha" Moments in Bible Study

Over many years I’ve heard my wife’s excited stories about faith and Bible discovery in her Coffee Break groups. I was involved in many study groups myself, of course, but not typically using Discover Your Bible materials. Now, for 5 years church planting in Cedar Springs, MI, we have used Discover Your Bible studies as our primary material for men, women, mixed groups and youth group. I am a fan! Here is why:

• Delight. I have never been in a men’s Bible study before that creates so much delight in the text. My Thursday morning group members are engaged and their eyes are eager. This is not about someone else’s writings about the Bible; this is about what my group members are discovering themselves.
• "Aha" Moments. Groups experience “aha” moments where we are stopped and humbled by what we have found together. In this week’s study it was the presence of the Holy Spirit in Mark 13.  We agreed that we don’t give the Holy Spirit enough attention and that we want to love the Spirit more. It was a holy moment. The week before that the youth group connected how the 10 Commandments (four about God, six about our neighbors) go with Jesus’ summary of the greatest commandment in Mark 12. They made that discovery and they won’t forget it, because we remember what we discovered ourselves. It was also a holy moment.
• Study to the Sermon.  We have groups study first with a sermon on the following Sunday. I used to do sermon first and studies second. Studies first is much better. Those who have been in a group come with eagerness and sit forward in their seats. It’s a win-win.
• Group Focus. The hero of a day at Bible study is not the leader. It’s the group. Or maybe we should say it is the Word doing the work. I like how every group member contributes and can bless the group with insight.