Digging Deeper

LOOK BACK: What’s a high or a low for you from this week? (Optional, come up with an icebreaker question.)

LOOK UP: Open in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak through His Word.

Review ground rules:
1. Stick with the text.
2. Participate, but don’t dominate.
3. Let the scripture be the teacher.
Read the designated passage slowly out loud. Then reread it silently on your own focusing on what was the author's intent for writing this.
As a group, summarize the passage. Take turns summarizing a section, and others add insights.
Share what stands out as most important and why?
Time permitting, ask additional questions such: Are there any commands to obey, promises to claim, or examples to follow? Is there anything being taught about God or people? What questions do you have about this passage?

LOOK FORWARD: Discuss possible applications. What is one thing you want to remember or apply to your life from today’s discussion?

CLOSE WITH PRAYER

Facilitate, don’t teach.
Stick with one passage.
Don’t fear silence, allow time for a response.
Let the group try and figure it out rather than answering yourself.
Save distracting or difficult questions for later.
When a strange or wrong interpretation comes up, ask, “Where is that found in this passage?”