Home Small Group Leaders Small Group Leaders Blogs When to Use and When Not to Use DVD-Driven Bible Studies

When to Use and When Not to Use DVD-Driven Bible Studies

Monday and Tuesday the blog focused on the pros and cons of DVD Bible studies. These were simply facts. Today, I’m going to give my own opinion on when it’s appropriate and when it’s not appropriate to use DVD-driven studies.
 
Do Use DVD-driven Bible studies when…
 
1.     You’re a new church plant and a few people are doing a massive number of jobs.
 
2.     You have no one in the small group with the spiritual gift of teaching.
 
3.     Your group wants to cover a topic that demands an expert and there is no expert in the group.
 
4.     You have a fast growing small group ministry and you don’t have adequate time to train small group leaders well.
 
5.     You have a fast growing small group ministry and you need leaders. People are more apt to sign up to lead/host a small group if they don’t feel the pressure of teaching the Bible or equipping and empowering someone else to.
 
Don’t Use DVD-driven Bible studies when…
 
1.     The people in your group need to learn to use their Bibles.
 
2.     Your group has someone with the gift of teaching in the group.
 
3.     Your church is a disciple-making church. The best way to learn is to teach and by allowing group members to teach you also allow them to grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and how to motivate others to depend on God’s Word.
 
4.     Your small group pastor has adequate time, is capable of, and is training training small group leaders and Bible study leaders to teach the Bible in a conversational setting.
 
5.     Your group system has as a primary objective for small groups to multiply. In a healthy church each time a small group multiplies young believers are apt to join a group. Young believers need the biblical discussion that takes place in a conversational Bible study. 
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rhowerton@churchleaders.com'
Rick has one passion… To see “a biblical small group within walking distance of every person on the planet making disciples that make disciples.” He is presently pursuing this passion as the Small Group and Discipleship Specialist at LifeWay Church Resources. Rick has authored or co-authored multiple books, studies, and leader training resources including A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic, Destination Community: Small Group Ministry Manual, The Gospel and the Truth: Living the Message of Jesus, Small Group Life Ministry Manual: A New Approach to Small Groups, Redeeming the Tears: a Journey Through Grief and Loss, Small Group Life: Kingdom, Small Group Kickoff Retreat: Experiential Training for Small Group Leaders, and Great Beginnings: Your First Small Group Study, Disciples Path: A Practical Guide to Disciple Making. Rick’s varied ministry experiences as an collegiate minister, small group pastor, teaching pastor, elder, full-time trainer and church consultant, as well as having been a successful church planter gives him a perspective of church life that is all-encompassing and multi-dimensional. Rick is a highly sought after communicator and trainer.