The phone rings, and you’re needed. Maybe there’s been an injury or an illness, or maybe your church has changed plans at the last minute. You need to prepare a Bible study, and you only have an hour.
This may sound more like a Mission: Impossible plot than real life. But these scenarios really do happen! And it’s not too hard in 2020 to imagine an event not working out as planned.
In my previous article I described an ideal setting, where I take an average of 6.5 hours to prepare a Bible study. Today I want to consider a scenario that’s much less than ideal.
Rethink the Bible Study
With such limited preparation time, I suggest rethinking the purpose of this particular gathering. Where most meetings center on discovery guided by a leader who has thoroughly considered the passage, this meeting might be better focused on mutual discovery.
Since you’ll have only a tiny head start on the rest of the group, I suggest treating this study as a workshop more than a traditional Bible study. Together, you and the group can study the passage and move toward the author’s main point.
This approach takes a great deal of humility and trust in the Lord. This approach also rests on the fact that the Holy Spirit is our Bible teacher. During a standard Bible study meeting I find God often brings understanding and clarity (and conviction!) through other group members; this will be even more likely during a meeting with light preparation.
Treat this meeting as an opportunity to teach your friends how to study the Bible as you practice observation, interpretation, and application together. And for those who know the OIA method already—we all need to practice and sharpen those skills.
How to Spend Your One Precious Hour
If you’ve re-framed this last-minute Bible study in the way I’ve suggested, a crucial question still remains. How exactly should you use that one hour of preparation time?
Read the passage as many times as possible for 40 of those 60 minutes. After every time or two through the passage, jot down some notes about the overall structure and themes.
For the final 20 minutes of preparation, do some observation and interpretation work, trying to notice important features of the passage and asking why they are there. Be sure to pray and ask for God’s blessing and help.
You’ll likely have more questions than answers going into the meeting. But this exposure to the passage, along with the God-given wisdom and insight of your group members, may make this an exciting learning experience.
Some may wonder why I haven’t suggested picking up a study Bible or commentary. After all, the reasoning goes, why not spend all 60 minutes of your limited prep time learning from someone who has invested in this passage deeply?
The most fruitful Bible studies are led by those who are deeply acquainted with the text. You will have a more engaged and productive discussion by spending time in the Scriptures instead of any commentary about the Scriptures. Commentary-heavy preparation will likely result in a Bible study that sounds like an extended academic citation garnished with a few courtesy questions. And true application would be unlikely.
An Unlikely Event
It may not ever happen that you’re asked to lead a Bible study on short notice. But if you’re anything like me, there will be times when your ideal preparation time is slashed and squeezed by the circumstances of life.
If that happens, there’s no need to worry. Your Bible study may not look like it usually does, but God is not limited by your standard of normal. Studying the Scriptures alongside your friends may prove more fruitful than you imagined.
Leave a Reply