Table of Contents
5WGroup Guidelines
Overview of structure
This section outlines and provides resources for those involved in a 5W Bible Study Group. These resources help you actively participate in the group.
You will find it helpful to watch this short (5 minute) video about our church logo to help understand our church purpose and values which are summarised in the term ‘5W’ which relates to helping make disciples who experience (1) Grace-filled WELCOME; (2) Awe-struck WORSHIP; (3) Joy-filled WONDER; (4) Life-transforming WORD; and (5) Kingdom-building WORKS.
Our group is designed to help us do life together and so works best when every member of the group is actively involved.
Our group normally meets for about 10 weeks and then has a week or two break. During this 10 weeks we normally include at least one night where we have a meal together.
Each weekly meeting normally goes for 90 minutes and is broken up into 5 key sections which are explained below.
Here is a brief outline of the meeting. See further below for more detailed instructions and resources for each of the sections. Normally each section is led by a different person with the group leader guiding the evening.
- WELCOME (10-20 minutes). This includes a light supper and an icebreaker. If you are on SUPPER you provide something simple (like biscuits) for the group to share. If you are on the ICEBREAKER you share a simple question that everyone answers.
- WORSHIP (5-10 minutes). This is a time to help us focus on God.
- WONDER (5-10 minutes). This is a time to share what God is doing in our lives such as answers to prayer of areas of growth.
- WORD (20-30 minutes). This is where we explore a section of the bible and how it applies to our lives.
- WORKS (10-15 minutes). This is where we arrange tasks for the next group, plan future events, and spend time praying for each other and those we are concerned about.
Resources and instructions for leading each section
Supper: (First 10 minutes)
- Provide some light food light supper (e.g. biscuits, fruit).
- Ensure that as people arrive they are invited to make their own drink.
- The person on supper should ensure that provisions for coffee/tea are ready and be available to tidy up at the end of the evening.
Icebreaker: (About 10 minutes)
Normally less than 10 minutes but early on in the life of a group this might take up more time as people are getting to know one another.
This is a short fun question that gets people sharing. Ask the question and then answer it yourself (less than 1 minute) and then go round the group. (Encourage each person to keep their answer relatively brief e.g. 1 minute each). Ensure the question is simple and easily answered. The point is to get people talking and to learn something about each other that is non-threatening. You can either use one of the following questions or one you develop yourself.
- What is the most significant thing that has happened in the last week?
- What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
- If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
- What’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t yet?
- What’s the best book or movie you’ve enjoyed lately?
- If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why?
- What’s your favourite memory from childhood?
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
- What’s your go-to comfort food?
- Do you have any unusual talents or hobbies?
- What’s one thing you’re grateful for today?
- What was the most fun thing you did on the weekend?
- When did you feel most alive in the last week?
- What is your favourite dessert and why?
- Where did you live when you were 12 and what is one thing you liked about that place?
- If you had $50 to buy a present for your closest friend, what would you buy?
- What is one Bible verse that has had a significant impact on your life and why?
- Can you share a time when you experienced a clear answer to prayer?
- Who has been a major spiritual influence in your life and how have they impacted you?
- What is your favourite worship song and what does it mean to you?
- Can you describe a moment when you felt especially close to God?
- What is one lesson God has taught you recently?
- How did you come to know Jesus as your Savior?
- What role does your faith play in your daily life?
- How do you see God working in your life right now?
- What is your favourite parable or story from the Bible and why?
These are questions for a NEW group when first getting to know one another. These will take most of the night so should only be used with permission of the group leader.
- These four questions are known as the ‘Quaker Questions’. (1) Where did you live between the ages of 7 and 12? (2) How did you heat your home then? (3) What or who was the centre of human warmth in your family? Why? (4) When, if ever, did God become more than a mere word to you?
Worship: (5-10 minutes)
This is a time to focus on God. You can use songs, scripture, quiet, poetry, prayer and/or other worship practices. It is important to have a theme and to prepare any resources BEFORE the group.
One worship activity is to focus on a particular name of God. You can find a list of God’s names here.
If you are going to use a song then note:
- If you have a group musician then call them a few days before so they can be ready. Make sure you provide words for the group to follow.
- If you have a video please have it cued BEFORE the group starts so it is ready when you need it.
- For group songs use songs that are regularly used in the church worship service which are available on our YouTube channel here.
Wonder: (5-10 minutes)
Ask: ‘Who has something to share that celebrates what God has been doing in your life recently?’
Examples of things people might share are:
- A prayer that has been answered
- A victory that has been achieved e.g. over an area of sin
- A step of obedience that has been taken
- A word of knowledge or encouragement
- A testimony e.g. about sharing faith with someone.
As the section leader your role is to encourage the group to share, so keep good eye contact with group members and encourage others to share by saying things like: ‘Has anybody else go something to share?’ or ‘X you asked for prayer last week regarding …, how have things gone this week?’ or ‘Has already had any prayers answered?’ or ‘Has anybody had any words of knowledge they would like to share?’ etc.
Word: (20-30 minutes)
The topic should normally be on the sermon message from the weekend unless the group has decided on another topic to cover. (Using the sermon keeps you in the flow of the teaching of the church and may also reduce the amount of preparation required.)
This is an interactive and participative group discussion that is facilitated by the topic leader. The purpose is to get people to explore a biblical truth and how it impacts in their life. The key aim is NOT to impart knowledge so much as to get people to DISCOVER truth and how it impacts their life.
There should be very little, if any, lecture type teaching. It should be more of a group exploration of a theme.
Ask someone to read the bible passage that was used on Sunday or the passage that you as a group have decided to cover.
Ask 3-5 questions to get people to explore the meaning and implication of a biblical passage. Some good questions are:
- What does the passage say? Or What do you think are the key teachings in this passage?
- What is this passage saying to me?
- How can I apply this passage in the next week? OR How do you think this applies to us today?
- Is there anything in this passage that you struggle with, why?
- If you were going to obey the teaching of this passage, what would it mean for you? Are you willing to make this change?
There is a helpful outline of how to study the bible in Ralph Neighbour’s course ‘Cover the Bible’.
FACTS PRINCIPLE:
- Rehearse the story. Get the details in mind.
- What do these facts suggest? a. About the character of the person? b. About the nature of the person?
- How do you identify that person’s character and nature with your own?
- How can you learn from this person’s good trait, or squarely challenge that person’s bad trait which exists in your own life?
REMEMBER that the topic is ALWAYS secondary to what is happening in people’s lives. Therefore, if appropriate, a topic will be left undone so that ministry can happen in a person’s life.
Works: (10-15 minutes)
Complete one or more of the following activities.
- Prayer
- Ministry
- Schedule
Prayer
- Ask group members to share needs they have for themselves, their family/friends, and or unbelievers they are praying for.
- Then spend time in prayer for these needs. Let people know that not everyone has to pray out loud.
Ministry:
As a group it is important that we reach out either through evangelism or service.
Reflect on the list of people for whom we are praying and consider opportunities to invite to our group. Do this by asking questions like:
- Who is currently on your mind and heart in terms of sharing the love of God with?
- Who has a plan to invite someone to our group in the next month? How can we support you in that?
- What social events or service activity we could do that would be appropriate to invite people to? (Lead us to make a plan for the event and plan for inviting people. OR continue our planning from a previous discussion.)
- Spend time praying for those we are seeking to reach out to.
Schedule:
- Plan who will be doing Supper, Icebreaker, Worship, Wonder, Word and Works next week.
- Where will we meet next weeks?
- What social events do we have coming up?
5W Disciple Resources
THIS SECTION IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
The following section provides resources for developing as a disciple in each of the 5W areas.