A small group bible study is a key part of your church’s ministry. Not only does it let smaller groups of similar people connect, it provides a more intimate setting to focus on what Scripture has to say and a chance to learn and grow together. Being in a smaller group setting allows church members to get to know each other better but also encourages members to feel more comfortable and less intimidated when sharing and asking questions.
If you’re leading your church small group, you may be wondering just how to decide exactly what to study. After all, it’s not always as simple as picking a book of the bible and reading it through together. We want to dig in and learn, but also decide how to apply these teachings to our lives.
No worries — you’re in the right place! We’re here to help with bible study ideas for all types of small groups, from kids to adults.
KIDS SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY IDEAS
Similar to Sunday school lessons, when considering bible study ideas for kids, you’ll want to be sure to make the studies interactive to help keep their interest and also help them to better remember the lesson. Yes, it can be a bit like herding cats. You can include activities like coloring pages or puzzles or working as a group on short memory verses as well as singing songs that apply to the verse or lesson topic.
Here are some kids bible study topic ideas to consider:
- God can do all things
- Put on the armor of God
- God’s forgiveness
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Bible story: David & Goliath
- Bible story: Mary & Martha
- Bible story: Apostle Peter
Keeping ideas simple, shortening study time, and including activities will help a kids study go a little smoother.
TEEN SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY IDEAS
Teens are going to want to know how the bible study topics relate to their lives. Helping teens feel comfortable and wanting to keep coming back and engage in a small group bible study may involve snacks, games, and fun icebreaker questions (check out also for Best Bible Apps for Teens). Think back to when you were that age — and how awkward you often felt — to overcome those feelings for your group of teens.
Here are some teen bible study topic ideas to consider:
- Temptation — understanding & overcoming
- Following Christ in today’s world
- Tithing & money
- How to read the Bible
- Ephesians — armor for spiritual battle
- Psalms — comfort in tough times
Including great discussions, and sometimes pizza parties, along with relating topics to real-life teen struggles will help your group to come back for more.
COUPLES SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY IDEAS
Group bible study for couples could include a time of snacks and fellowship either before or after the study. This helps couples get comfortable with each other and provides opportunities for friendships to develop between couples with similar interests.
Here are some couples small group study topics to consider:
- Using your gifts to serve
- Pursuing faithful marriage
- Sharing the gift of grace
- Handling conflict with love and respect
- Glorifying God together
- Different influences on relationships
Consider rotating snack duties between couples. To encourage transparency, ask couples to prepare and then contribute specific examples to the topic of discussion to keep them engaged.
ADULTS SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY IDEAS
Splitting your adult small groups up helps you to cover topics that may be more relevant to each, as well as allowing the chance for bonding and friendships to occur. What can we say, snacks are always appreciated in adult bible study groups! Studies can also be done along with meals — like a soup & sandwich weeknight study or a Saturday morning pastry and coffee bible study group.
Here are some women’s bible study ideas:
- Practicing perseverance
- Dealing with discontentment
- Finding joy
- Bible journaling
- Women of the Bible
- Psalm 107 — steadfast love
Here are some men’s bible study ideas:
- Tool belt of faith
- Biblical money matters
- Overcoming temptation
- Leaders of the Bible
- The book of Jude — finding truth
- Romans 8 — pain to purpose
Be sure to include extra time before or after to allow for fellowship, and you may decide to add on a group activity outside of the study to bond further.
TIPS FOR LEADING A SMALL GROUP
Leading a small bible study group doesn’t have to be intimidating! Remember, you’re not expected to be the expert in all things and have all the answers. You’re there to lead, facilitate, encourage, and coordinate. You can work through the bible study as a group. But leading a small group bible study does include more than just deciding on the topic.
Here are 4 tips to help you as you lead a small group [Link to article on Tips for Small Group Leaders]:
- Know your role: Understand how being a guide and facilitator applies to the age of your group
- Know your goal: Understand how you’re helping people along in their faith journey
- Disciple holistically: Understand how to include 4 spiritual habits in the studies (spending time with God, spending time with others, using our gifts, and sharing our story)
- Keep learning: Understand that you can seek to research and find resources to help you grow in leadership
Help keep the group members connected and invested by asking them to help you. Consider asking people to help plan refreshments, activities, outreach efforts, or leading prayer time. Nobody said you have to do everything yourself! This will make sure they stay involved and keep coming back.
We wish you the best on finding new ideas and leading your small group bible studies. We’re here to help with resources and Grow Curriculum that can ease the burden of you having to do everything on your own.
Grow Curriculum is here to ease the burden of leading and finding ideas for your small group bible study, by providing:
- Activities for kids’ bible lessons
- Small group questions for every week (separate kids, students, and adult curriculums)
- Monthly tip videos on how to be a better small group leader
