As LifeGroup Leaders, we want to walk with others as they grow spiritually. And if we’re honest, we grow a lot in that process, too. It’s a win-win for everyone.

One way to help those in your LifeGroup grow spiritually is by engaging with the Bible together. After all, there’s a difference between reading Scripture and engaging with Scripture. We know this might feel like an intimating step to take, especially if your LifeGroup hasn’t had much experience engaging with Scripture together—which is totally okay!

Here are a few ways to incorporate Scripture with your LifeGroup this week:

1. Start with The Bible: Explained. If this is the first time you’re diving into the Bible with your LifeGroup, this series is foundational. Even if Scripture is a regular part of your time together each week, this will help you experience the Bible in a new light. After going through this study, your LifeGroup will have a deeper understanding of what the Bible is, what it’s not, how to use it, and how to help others in the world read it.
2. Reflect on a verse or Scripture from the weekend message. Consider which verse stuck out to you the most from the message. What made it stand out? Was it a specific word or the way it was introduced to reinforce a point? The weekly Talk It Over can help you get started because it already has a verse for you to read and talk about. Remember that context is key to reading the Bible, so don’t just read the verse by itself. Take some time to read the full chapter together, then explore what you learn.
3. Choose a chapter to read together. Once you’ve decided what you want to read, there are a few ways you can guide the conversation. Begin reading the chapter, and stop when you reach a new heading. Then, take time to discuss what you’ve read. This can help break the chapter into more manageable, bite-sized pieces.

Another option is to read the chapter three times, asking one of these questions after each time through:

• • What did you like? What did you not like?
  • What do you learn about God and His character?
  • How can you apply this to your life this week?

If you’re not sure where to start, try one of the gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And if your LifeGroup loves this, consider going through the next chapter of the book the next time you meet.

4. Watch a Bible Project video and talk about what you learn. This is a great strategy if you want to explore the Old Testament—after all, there’s a lot going on there that could be confusing. A few questions you could consider is: What did I learn that was surprising? What do I learn about God through this explanation? What new questions do I have now?

For bonus points, you could read the Scripture that corresponds to the video you watched.

These tips are great ways to get started as you incorporate Scripture in your LifeGroup time, but use your imagination! There’s countless ways to engage with the Bible together, so we hope this jumpstarts some more ideas for you and your LifeGroup.