Reaching the UnreachedAn annual conference for churches trying to reach out in the hard places of our land

Guest post by Neil Robbie

In a setting where reading and study are not the norm, how do we encourage young Christians or unbelievers to engage with God’s Word? Neil Robbie (blogging at transforminggrace.wordpress.com) shares his experience of something called the Swedish Bible Study Method…

We’re launching a network of small groups at Holy Trinity West Bromwich with God’s word at the centre in a way which suits the learning and devotional style of our people. We’ve chosen the Swedish Bible Study Method which appeared in this article in The Briefing a few years ago.

What is this Swedish thing?

The Swedish Bible Study Method, in a nutshell, is self-directed study of a passage with four simple questions:

• Light. What light does this passage shine on God, the world, the church, or me?
• Questions. What questions do I have?
• Change. What should I do or change as a result of reading this passage?
• Speech Bubble. What could I say to someone from this passage? Who will I say it to?

There are several advantages to this method of Bible study. The group does not need a gifted study leader – everyone can learn to spot answers in the passage to the four simple questions. It engenders a sense of learning together instead of being taught (like the Bereans in Acts 17:11). The leader must prepare
but not to the same degree as other studies. People get straight into reading the bible for themselves and answer questions without an intermediary. Everyone feels they’ve made a positive contribution to the group. The group almost chairs itself as answers are given in the round.

The process of sharing answers tends to cover most of the passage, as different people select answers from different parts. Different levels of maturity and education are catered for as individuals answer the questions according to their own ability and level of understanding. This suits the post-post-modern learning environment, where we can hold truth, but at different levels, as Don Carson spoke about in the mid-nineties at this lecture at StAG in Cambridge.

Ten minutes of quiet, reflective reading before sharing answers, gives time for the introverts to process their thoughts and keeps the extrovert thinkers quiet for long enough to gave the introverts the space they need. The discussion almost chairs itself as answers are shared in a circle. Those who are new or don’t want to share can say “pass”.

This is also a model that can be replicated quickly. The ‘DNA’ of this model is easily copied and multiplied, as it does not require lengthy theological training for group leaders.

The main disadvantage that we identified is that until the leader gains theological knowledge, the background knowledge of the bible, and how it fits together, passages are not studied in context. Questions in the group can also be left unanswered at end of study or, worse, the group can think found the answer, but have actually got it wrong.

Our solution to the disadvantages of the method is to use the same passage in the small groups as is preached the following Sunday. The senior teaching elder can do the work of contextualisation and answer questions which can be sent to him after group studies.

Why we are doing it

We aim to see trusted leaders appointed to lead small groups, every member committed to a small group and a small group planted on every street in our parish. Two passages of scripture have shaped what we are doing.

The first is Jethro’s advice to Moses (Exodus 18) when the weight of his ministry was crippling the leader of the Israelites and frustrating the people. Jethro said “what you are doing is not good… appoint trusted men over 1000s, 100s, 50s and 10s.” At Holy Trinity we need trusted leaders over 10s.

The next passage was Paul’s vision for the ministry in Crete under Titus. “I left you there so that you could plant a church, appoint an elder, in every town.” (Titus 1:5) “And Crete is filled with liars, evil brutes and lazy gluttons” (1:12) the implication being Titus would have to convert and train the elders from Cretan culture. We scaled this vision down for our setting, a higher
population density than ancient Crete, so a small group on every street in the parish seems about right. It’s something to aim for; only by the grace of God will it ever come to fruition, in his time.

Setting up a group

We appoint a host and a leader – they don’t have to be the same person. Our groups meet at all sorts of times and in different homes so that people can meet at a time which suits them and there is a degree of flexibility for shift workers. Each small group member is given a bookmark with our mission and vision statements on one side and a small group outline on the other. They are also given a term card with a schedule of bible passages for Sunday sermons. Download our example and see for yourself.

Our groups study the passage which will be preached the following Sunday. The method of study will leave members with unanswered questions, so group leaders are asked to email these to me so that I can address them in the sermon.

At this stage we need to be clear about what we expect our small groups to do. The Swedish Bible study is not about theological precision and getting God right. The small group is a place of belonging, fellowship and transformation. I tell mature believers not to view the group as a place to learn, they should be doing their own reading and study elsewhere, but a place for new believers to meet with mature believers and for all to be transformed by God as we read his word together. The risk of theological imprecision is dealt with by leaders not being expected to know all the answers to questions, but to email them to me so I can address the difficult questions in the sermon.

Transformation

The Swedish bible study questions are designed to give everyone the chance to approach God’s word, reflect on it, then find and give answers no matter what our level of Christian maturity. The greatest theologian and the newest Christian can answer all the questions.

All group members should see the study as a way of helping each other to grow. The opening two questions in the study are factual: the first identifies what we know and the second what we don’t know. The third and forth questions are transformational: first seeking change for ourselves and then transformation in the lives of others as we speak the words of God to each other at church and to our neighbours. Studying the same passage in all groups allows people from different groups to chat about what God has said when they meet in the street.

We want to see transformation in the long term. We dare to imagine what West Bromwich might be like in 5 years, 10 years or 15 years time as more and more people are changed by reading God’s word together prayerfully in the power of his Holy Spirit. That’s the first part of our mission statement.

Being soaked in the word of God

There is a danger in the Christian life of reading too much bible. Before you think I’ve lost the plot, let me clarify. Week by week we can treat the bible either like a buffet or a Sunday lunch. At a buffet we take a little of everything, snacking on a bit of sausage roll, sandwich, pizza, cake, fruit, biscuits. If we eat enough snacks we get a flavour of each.

It is easy to treat the bible the same way, dipping in here and there in our quiet times, reading favourite verses, going to small group for another study and hearing a sermon on Sunday from another part of scripture. We can have snack after snack, leaving us with a shallow faith and just a little flavour of each passage.

If we read the same passage a few times, think about it, pray about it, talk about it with others and listen to a sermon on it, then we dig down deep, the passage becomes more a part of us as God writes it in our heart. This is more like savouring a main course at Sunday lunch, with all the riches the different flavours on one plate. By reading the passage before the sermon in small groups people get a chance to think, reflect and question before Sunday, getting to know the passage and to seek answers. This keeps the preacher on the ball too.

Growth and multiplication

The key to growing the groups is to include invitation as part of each week. Members are always reminded every week to think of who they could give a bookmark to, with details of where the group meets, as well as when and what to expect when they get there.

That’s it. We have five groups at present. We need 46 for one on every street, including our five high rise blocks of flats. Working out the strategy to do that will be a challenge which I pray many men will rise to.

So what do you think? Are you using this method in your church? Leave a comment below.