My freshman year of college, I attended a bible study in my sorority house led by a Senior in my Sorority. The girl graduated that May and went on to become a Catholic Missionary, leaving the Sigma House without a bible study. I quickly found another study to attend, which was great. I spent two years growing in community with a group of girls once a week, but I still yearned for that type of community within my sorority. I really wanted my sisters to experience what I have through bible studies. I desperately wanted to share the Gospel with them. Or rather, I wanted them to hear the Gospel. I did not necessarily want to be the one to share it.
I didn't know the first thing about leading a bible study. After going 2 years without a bible study in the sorority house, I finally realized that if I wanted this to happen, I would have to see to it. If no one else was going to lead the bible study, I had to be the one to do so.
So after much prayer and discernment, and with the help of a FOCUS missionary, I started up the bible study in the Sigma house after a two year hiatus. The turn out was small, but the response was huge. Leading this study has taught me so much. I learned how to be cheerleader, to encourage even the shyest girl to share her testimony. It was so amazing to grow together with my sisters as we make this race towards Heaven. I know that the Lord has truly transformed each of our lives since we started this study 2 semesters ago.
Remarkably, even those who do not attend bible studies can feel the Love of Christ poured out on them through us. I always like to start out each study with a "happy and crappy", a time of fellowship where we each share the best and worst parts of our week. This allows us to support each other through the hard times and to celebrate the great things with one another. In addition to being a cheerleader, I also became a trail guide by being a bible study leader. I go over the study beforehand, and I know just where to lead the study. This has allowed me to become personally involved with the study and I am able to relate the scripture passages to my own life and to the lives of others.
I've also had to be a traffic cop, which is the hardest part about leading a bible study. I have to direct the conversation and keep one or two members from dominating the time we have together. It is so important that everyone's voice be heard. As a bible study leader, you must be okay with silence. People are often reluctant to answer, especially right away. I always remind my girls that I am OK with awkward and we will sit in silence until someone says something. I remind them that there are really no wrong questions in bible study and everything you have to say is important. It may just be exactly what the girl sitting next to you needed to hear.
Being in a bible study has brought so much fruit to my life, but leading a bible study takes it to a whole new level.
