How to run a bible study

A youth Bible study is an awesome way to invest in the discipleship of your young people. It creates space for them to grow in their faith, build real community, and learn how Scripture connects to everyday life.

How to Get Started

• Know your group
  Think about their age, faith background, group size, and how they learn best. This helps shape your approach.

• Choose a format
  Will you meet weekly? Fortnightly? Online or in person? Keep it consistent and realistic.

• Pick a space
  Find somewhere that’s comfy, welcoming, and free from distractions—whether it’s a lounge, classroom, or café corner.

• Leaders
  Who’s helping run it? Make sure they’re Keeping People Safe compliant and feel confident in their role.

Choosing a Study

There are heaps of ways to explore the Bible together. You can check out our discipleship resources for ideas, or start with one of these approaches:

• Book of the Bible – e.g. walk through Philippians together.

• Thematic – e.g. forgiveness, identity, justice.

• Topical – e.g. relationships, purpose, anxiety.

Resources like Youth Alpha and RightNow Media are great places to start—they’ve got ready-made content and discussion guides.

Planning a Session

Some studies come with full session plans, but if you’re building your own, here’s a simple structure that works well:

• Welcome & catch-up (5–10 mins)

• Prayer (open or guided)

• Bible reading (read aloud or silently)

• Discussion questions (3–5 open-ended ones)

• Reflection or activity (journaling, creative response, prayer stations)

• Wrap-up & prayer requests

Tips for Leading Well

• Be prepared, but stay flexible.

• Ask open-ended questions.

• Listen more than you speak.

• Create a safe space—no question is too small or too weird.

• Encourage participation, but don’t force it. 

Troubleshooting some common challenges:

What if no one talks?

It’s totally normal for a group to take time to warm up. Don’t rush into deep discussions straight away—use the first few sessions to build trust and get to know each other. If things still feel quiet, try mixing it up:

• Break into pairs or small groups to chat about a question.

• Give everyone a few minutes to jot down their thoughts before sharing.

• Ask each person to bring one idea or question to the group.

Sometimes it just takes a little creativity to get the conversation flowing.

What if someone dominates the conversation?

It’s great when people are keen to share, but it’s also important to make space for others. Try using different discussion formats—like round-robin sharing or small group chats—to help balance things out.

If one person keeps taking over, have a gentle chat with them outside the group. Let them know their input is valuable, and invite them to help you encourage others to speak up. You’re not shutting them down—you’re inviting them to lead in a new way.

What if someone asks a tough question?

You don’t need to have all the answers—and that’s okay! Here are a few things you can say:

• “That’s a great question. Let’s chat more about it after the session.”

• “What do you all think?”

• “I’m not sure, but let’s both look into it this week and talk about it next time.”

Tough questions are a sign that people are thinking deeply. Lean into that curiosity and explore together.

Extra ideas:

• Look at our icebreaker resource, and include some icebreakers in your sessions.

• Prepare some prayer prompts to wrap up your sessions.

• Get creative with how you reflect on the session, add some art, journalling, music.

If you’d like to chat more about this or bounce around some ideas, feel free to reach out to Sarah Opie—she’d love to connect.