Synergy Resources

Teaching and communicating God’s Word is both a privilege and a responsibility. While not everyone feels naturally gifted to teach, in a new church setting, there will be many opportunities to serve — whether it’s leading a kids’ class, facilitating a small group, or discipling someone one-on-one. Regardless of the context, it’s essential to be prepared to teach the Bible well, because through it, people come to know and love God.

Here are four tips to help you as you teach or facilitate a small group.

1. Prepare To Facilitate Small Groups

Small groups are a vital part of church life today, and good facilitation requires thoughtful preparation. Once you’ve studied the passage and material your church provides, organize it into a clear, cohesive lesson. Think through how to present the Scripture and how to draw others into meaningful discussion. Mixing teaching with conversation encourages deeper understanding and helps participants connect the truth of Scripture to their lives. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, explore related verses, and guide the group to discover the message of the text for themselves.

Tether your own small group back to sermons or lessons from church, as repetition helps those concepts stick in each of their minds. Particularly, focus on a big idea that you would like to convey from the passage so that they walk away knowing how to both share and apply the content to their lives.

2. Pray

Pray before, pray during, and pray afterwards. Pray without ceasing. When it’s time to lead, stand before your group with confidence, knowing that that the Lord will work through you as you seek to lead the group in the Scriptures. Present the prepared lesson with clarity, trusting in the power of God’s Word. As Isaiah says, His Word does not return void — it accomplishes all that He intends.

Your role isn’t just to present information but to open up Scripture and help others see God more clearly through it. Listen carefully as your group speaks to discern their understanding, then guide the conversation accordingly.

3. Develop a Framework for Teaching

To teach effectively, it’s important to approach the task with a clear framework. Start by studying the passage and any materials your church provides. Then think through how you’ll structure the teaching. Ask yourself: will the lesson be inductive, where you work through the text and build toward the main idea at the end? Or will it be deductive, where you start with the main point and use the passage to support it throughout? Note if there are contrasts, main characters, and/or other key aspects you would like to observe and discuss. Be mindful of any verses that are difficult to understand. Use cross references within your Bible and other tools to analyze all that God has said in His Word.

Consider your teaching style. Look to structure the passage according to the basic framework that fits best. Will it be mostly a monologue, or will you include dialogue, inviting the group to respond, ask questions, and explore Scripture together? Dialogue often makes lessons more engaging and helps others see truth for themselves.

4. Love Your Bible and Love Your People

This is the heart of teaching: love your Bible and love your people. Teach the whole counsel of God, from Genesis to Revelation, because it’s all part of His story and purpose. Every book has value and speaks to the lives of those you're teaching. These are the people that God has assigned to you as a responsibility, so love them well and lead them well.

Whether it’s a classroom, small group, or individual conversation, see each person as someone God has entrusted to your care. Teaching is a stewardship — both of the Word and of the people receiving it.

Action Steps

1. Immerse yourself in Scripture. You cannot lead people where you haven’t already gone. Let God’s Word dwell in you richly so you can teach from a place of depth and conviction. Love and delight in the Lord!
2. Invest in your people. Know their names. Ask about their families, work, and lives. Build real, Christ-centered relationships. Teaching is most effective in the context of authentic community.

The combination of the Word of God and the people of God with a godly teacher is unbelievably powerful. Steward your responsibility to teach the Word of God with joy and purpose, watching as transformation takes place in the lives of those you lead.

Dr. Jeremy Kimble, Professor of Theology and Director of the Synergy Initiative at Cedarville University, is passionate about teaching college and graduate students the truth of God’s Word. He is committed to teaching in the classroom, mentoring students, and speaking in church, camp, and conference settings. He served in pastoral ministry for eight years and is currently an active member and minister at University Baptist Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. Dr. Kimble's academic interests include biblical and systematic theology, ecclesiology, preaching and teaching, and the mission of the Church.

Synergy is the combined power of a group working together that is greater than the power of individuals working separately. The Synergy Initiative aims to help students plan strategically to graduate from Cedarville, go together with others from this place, and invest their energies, talents, and efforts in planting, revitalizing, and multiplying churches. As Cedarville graduates join up with other church members who are equipped to do the work of ministry, the combined effect of their efforts will accomplish, by God’s grace, abundantly more than only a couple of pastors in a church doing all of the work on their own. Thus, the goal is to equip students to leave Cedarville University ready to help establish and strengthen local churches throughout the nation and around the world.