Acknowledgements
Preface
Foundations

1. Being a Christian
Christian leadership is God-given
Christian leadership is Christ-focused
Christian leadership is Spirit-empowered
Christian leadership is Word-centred
Christian leadership is prayerfully dependant
Christian leadership is life-exemplified
Christian leadership is change-demanding

2. Helping People Learn
The group member as a learner
The distinctive elements of adult education
The important role of experiencing Scripture
Principles of adult learning
The adult learning cycle
Bible study groups and the learning cycle
The leader as a facilitator
Individual learning styles
How people absorb information
Summary

3. Learning from the Bible in Groups
The nature of Bible study
The process of Bible study
Skills for observation - What does the text actually say?
Skills for interpretation - What does the text actually mean?
Resources for interpretation
Skills for application- How do we respond to what the text means?
Actually preparing and running a group Bible study
Methods for doing observation with a group
Assisting poor readers
A comment on study guides
Thematic Bible studies
Summary

4. Developing Group Life
Elements of effective groups
The group life bubble
The size of a small group
Group development
Progress through the stages
Establishing group norms
When and where you meet up
Task and maintenance functions
Starting the group well
Finishing well
Intervening when things go wrong

5. Helping People Pray
Modelling
Teaching people how
Encouraging people to pray

6. Sustaining Group Members
The goal of practical care
Deciding where people are at
Basic skills for looking after people
Dealing with conflict
The limit of your responsibility
Confidentiality

7. Continuing as a Leader
Refreshment
Supervision
Peer appraisal process
Reflection and self-appraisal
Some comments for those responsible for supervision

Resources for Bible study group leadership

Karen Morris and Rod Morris are training and development consultants, working as missionaries to university students in Europe. Both hold Masters degrees in Adult Education, and have undertaken theological study in Sydney. Together they have a wealth of experience in both industry and ministry roles. Karen and Rod are committed to training people to study the Bible and lead effective Bible study groups.