Hosting a Summer Bible Study
As our schedules shift into summer gear, many of us love to gather with friends or neighbors in ways our school-year routines don’t allow. And at the top of the list for such gatherings? A summer Bible study.
I know I don’t have to convince you of the why behind a summer study—what a joy to know the Lord more in this season! But to make the most of your seasonal study, consider the where, when, what, who, and how.
Where + When
As anyone trying to get together with friends can attest, nailing down the when and the where is half the battle. Paying attention to the way God has shaped our days helps us to more faithfully steward them. Take an honest look at your calendar and your plate and see what you can offer. What space has God allowed? Is it Tuesday mornings at a local coffee shop? Wednesday evenings in your home? Every other Saturday afternoon at the park? If you’re a mom, will you need to secure childcare for that time and place (perhaps a local college kid who’s home for the summer?) or can the kids hang around? Whatever you’ve got, go with it.
What
Once you know your when and where, you’ll be in a better position to figure out your what. What are you going to study? Pay attention to what God calls to mind, and keep your when and where in mind. If you have four weeks, perhaps it’s a good time to deep-dive a psalm like Psalm 139, which has four stanzas. Begin your time together reading through the psalm and investigating its context, and then dig in together by looking up words and cross-references and making a list of everything the psalm reveals about God. Encourage everyone to meditate on the stanza until your next meeting—and maybe even to memorize it!—and invite them to share some of their thoughts when you gather together again. This process is easily adaptable to any psalm or book that piques your interest. Consider the shape of the text you’re interested in and how it might be best accessed within the time you have.
If you’d like to have a resource to aid your study, consider a simple study like Lydia Brownback’s Flourish series. Her study on Esther (one of my favorites of the series) is 10 weeks, and its simple format is manageable and rich.
And of course, there’s great value in a “zoom out” study that helps women orient themselves within the Bible’s big story. My seven-session Bible study, Come Home: Tracing God’s Promise of Home Through Scripture, is video-based, which may help you feel as if you’re not alone in leading the study, and the subject of home may intrigue women in your community. It’s so exciting to watch the theme of home unfold over the Bible’s big story, and I think you’ll cherish the ways it will impact your own story.
The great news is that there’s no bad what when it comes to God’s Word. It never returns void! If you need help discerning what to study, consider reaching out to a seasoned Bible teacher in your church who may enjoy coming alongside you in this decision and even in the study itself.
Who
“Just as you can trust that God shapes your days, you can trust that he shapes the days of those in your community.”
Of course, we’ve also got to prayerfully consider the who. Is this summer a time to reach out or reach in? If it’s a time to dig in deeper with those in your small group or neighborhood friends, that’s wonderful. If it’s a time to reach out, that’s wonderful, too. In fact, adjusted schedules and summer’s natural ending may make commitment feel more accessible than other times of year. So, the neighbor you sometimes wave to? Ask her. The lady at the deli counter you often chat with? Ask her. The woman from church you wish you knew a little better? Ask her. The friends you’ve lost touch with? Ask them! You may be surprised who will join you. Be sure to send a clear text that details when, where, and what they need to bring. The clearer you can be, the easier it will be for people to join you.
And by the way, just as you can trust that God shapes your days, you can trust that he shapes the days of those in your community. That means if someone you ask can’t make it and you’re unable to accommodate their schedule, that’s okay. Perhaps they can lead their own study or join another one. Simply be faithful with what you have. It’s enough! Trust God with the who he provides and excitedly dive into God’s Word with those who can come.
How
Rather than cooking a full meal each week or flexing your top-notch hosting abilities, consider keeping it simple. If you’re hosting the study at your house, make sure your guests know where the mugs are and brew a pot of coffee. If you’re headed to the park, bring a stash of pens for easy note-taking. Your simple approach may protect others from feeling intimidated, freeing them to host a study in another season, and it helps keep the focus on the study itself. However, if you or someone in your group is a gifted hostess or chef or party planner, consider a “closing ceremonies.” Pick an end date for the study, and do it up big! This can be a really fun way to commemorate a season well-spent in God’s Word together. Spend your last session celebrating what you’ve learned about God and about one another.
When you reflect back on summer 2024, what glorious truths from God’s Word will come to mind? What deepening relationships will you rejoice over? What shared memories will you treasure? It’s exciting to imagine! Truly, a summer Bible study is an incredible way to enjoy the Lord and enjoy your community. May God bless you as you seek to know him and his Word more deeply this summer!
A note from the Journeywomen team:
If you’re looking for some helpful resources for studying the Bible, check out our free Bible Study Guide and our Bible Study resources page!
RESOURCES ON STUDYING THE BIBLE
IMPORTANT NOTE
Journeywomen articles are intended to serve as a springboard for continued study in the context of your local church. While we carefully select writers each week, articles shared on the Journeywomen website do not imply Journeywomen's endorsement of all writings and positions of the authors or any other resources mentioned.
