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15 Promises of the Rosary - https://dominicanfriars.org/the-15-promises-of-the-rosary/

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Mari dives into the essentials of starting a Bible study or small group. Whether you're a novice or seasoned leader, Mari provides actionable steps and encouragement for building a Christ-centered community. She shares her personal experiences, including the importance of prayer, sending invitations, planning social kickoff events, and maintaining a consistent meeting schedule. Mari also emphasizes the significance of creating a welcoming environment and offers advice for facilitating meaningful discussions and reflections. Tune in to cultivate deeper faith-filled relationships and grow your spiritual journey.

00:46 The Importance of Community and Small Groups

02:17 Ever Be Moments: Personal Reflections

05:59 Starting Your Own Bible Study: Step-by-Step Guide

09:57 Creating a Welcoming Environment

11:53 The First Few Weeks: Building Trust and Sharing Stories

16:24 Structuring Your Bible Study Nights

23:42 Creating a Culture of Engagement

25:26 Preparing for Bible Study

27:36 Choosing Study Topics

29:05 Structuring Your Bible Study Year

32:12 Encouraging Group Participation

35:07 Overcoming Leadership Fears

35:27 Practical Tips for Leading

42:06 Building a Habit of Daily Prayer

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Hey, I am your host, Mari Wagner,

and you're listening to The Ever Be

2

Podcast where Faith Meets Lifestyle.

3

I'm so excited you're here.

4

Whether you're a new listener

or a longtime follower, I know

5

there's something here for you.

6

Pull up a chair and listen in for

insightful, real life conversations and

7

actionable steps on how to claim the.

8

Full life God created you for.

9

If you're a woman desiring to live

a Christ-centered life in today's

10

modern world, then this is for you.

11

Welcome to ever be.

12

mw-host888_3_10-07-2025_154139:

Hey everybody.

13

Welcome back to the Ever Be podcast.

14

Happy Wednesday.

15

I have gotten so many questions from you

lately about how to start a Bible study or

16

a small group and I got really fired up,

but I kept getting this question 'cause

17

I'm like, this is what I love to do.

18

I've led so many of these in the

past and I love equipping other

19

people and empowering them to

go out and do the same thing.

20

'cause so much evangelization

happens when we.

21

Host a small group and live

life with other people in a

22

Bible study or a small group.

23

And I know that so many of

you are craving community.

24

I mean, we all are, we are all made

for relationship, made for community,

25

and I know that so many of us lack it.

26

Maybe you haven't found it in your area.

27

Maybe you've been waiting for

somebody else to start something, but.

28

Either way, I wanna encourage you

to be the one to start something,

29

and especially if you feel that

nudge, the Lord is probably already

30

inviting you to take that step.

31

So in today's episode, I'm gonna

share both encouragement and some

32

really practical step-by-step

for starting a Bible study.

33

Um, think of this, if we

were literally sitting.

34

Together over for coffee.

35

And you asked me, Mari,

how do I actually do this?

36

This is literally the exact things that

I would tell my friend in real life.

37

Like it is an actual step-by-step

replicable process that you can use and

38

implement in your life to get a small

group started, um, or a Bible study

39

started, whichever one you wanna call it.

40

It's essentially the same thing.

41

Um, and I promise you it's foolproof.

42

It'll work.

43

But first let's dive into ever be moments.

44

I am very excited to share my

ever be moment for the week.

45

So this past week was the Feast of St.

46

Theres and she is a saint

that I really admire and I

47

have read her story of a soul.

48

Um, but she's never been

a saint that I'm like.

49

Oh, yeah, she's a hundred percent my girl.

50

Like, I don't, I definitely think I have

done a novena to her, but I never felt

51

like I had really gotten a rose from her,

or even like, particularly, spent a lot of

52

time just increasing my devotion to her.

53

I'm more of a St.

54

Faustina girl.

55

Um, but I want to grow in

a relationship with zinter.

56

S You're still awesome.

57

Um.

58

But my ever be moment was tied

into her and I have, I feel

59

like she gave me two roses.

60

And it's interesting 'cause I'm like,

I didn't even pray for anything.

61

So are you just telling

me that like you're here?

62

I'm like, okay, great, thanks.

63

Um, the first one is we had this

huge photo shoot for West Coast

64

Catholic a couple weeks ago.

65

Um, and well, it was right

before the feast day and.

66

I can't reveal too many details of

what it was for, but one of the parts

67

of the photo shoot, we needed these

like pink flowers for a bouquet making

68

kind of like a shot that we were doing.

69

And so I had all these pink

roses for that part of the photo

70

shoot, and then the next day.

71

Was the Feast of St.

72

Therese and I was hosting actually a

bouquet making party for my Bible study to

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kick off Bible study for us this season.

74

And I didn't even plan it

to have all these like roses

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on her feast day in my home.

76

And so I felt like.

77

We basically celebrated st.

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Theres really intentionally with

all these gorgeous roses in our

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home, but it wasn't even on purpose.

80

So I love that that was

something that had happened.

81

And then a few days after her, um, feast

Day, it was just like two days later,

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I was out with friends celebrating.

83

Someone's birthday and she

actually shares a birthday with St.

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Torre's Feast Day.

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So her birthday is October 1st and

we went out to drinks just a couple

86

days later to celebrate her birthday.

87

And we told the bar it was.

88

Her birthday and that's why

we were here celebrating.

89

And they brought us a little, like bubbly.

90

I have been to this bar before and

so I always tell them when it's a

91

birthday, 'cause I know that they

do this, they bring you like a free

92

champagne, um, or a free bubbly

Prosecco or something like that.

93

I.

94

And when she, when the waitress brought it

out to us, there was a red rose petal in

95

every single one of the champagne flutes,

which had never happened to me before.

96

Like they don't usually drop

rose petals in these drinks.

97

And so I just, I was like,

this is literally st.

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Theres also, because my friend

Ali shares a birthday with St.

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Theres's Feast Day and she loves St.

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Therese.

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So I was like, there's no way this

isn't Saint Therese sending us roses.

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Um, and it just felt like St.

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Therese was such a girl's girl.

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Like for both of those events.

105

She showed up for my bible study

and for this like fun drinks night

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for my friend's birthday, and I just

felt like, wow, like Saint theres is.

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A Catholic girl, she's our friend.

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She's just like hanging out with us.

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She's just present with us, interceding

for us, and it just reminded me of

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just how beautiful the community

of Saints are and how present and

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involved they are in our lives.

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So, so that's my ever be moment.

113

I was excited to share that with you guys,

but let's jump into the content for today.

114

Let's jump into how to start a

Bible study, how to start a small

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group, um, and be successful in it.

116

I'm also gonna walk you through, not just

how to start it, but how to be successful

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in it, and just some, tactics that I do.

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To lead well.

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So hopefully it's gonna

be helpful for you.

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Um, let's just get started.

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Step one is start with prayer.

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Surprise.

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It's like, you've never

heard me say that before.

124

You're probably sick of me now, but you

know, you know, that's the first step.

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The very first step is prayer.

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If you can, I recommend for you to go

to adoration, sit before the blessed

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sacrament, and ask Jesus straight up,

who are the people in my life that

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you're putting on my heart to invite.

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And just sit with him for a while and

just allow there to be silence for a

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while and see if the Lord puts anybody

on your heart, brings anybody to mind.

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Maybe certain names come to mind right

away, or maybe over time in prayer

132

they kind of fizzle into your brain.

133

Write those down in a journal

and keep praying with that.

134

I will say don't spend too

much time overthinking.

135

Like, honestly, everybody

needs a Bible study.

136

Everybody needs to be part of a

group, um, and needs community.

137

So the names that come up are probably

really great people to invite.

138

And just trust the Holy

Spirit nudges here.

139

Okay.

140

Number two, you want to

send an invite text, right?

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And pick a date.

142

I guess number two would be technically

pick a date to have your Bible study,

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whatever your frequency is gonna be weekly

or biweekly, and have it be the same.

144

Day, same time.

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So pick, you know, Monday nights

at this time, or Wednesday nights

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at this time, or whatever it is.

147

I personally like doing weekly.

148

I know a lot of people like doing

biweekly, but I like doing weekly

149

because if somebody missed.

150

And you're doing every other week, then

you're basically like gonna miss out on,

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you're gonna not see people for a month.

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Does that make sense?

153

Like if the first week you all

go to Bible study and then the

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next week you don't have it.

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Right.

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And then the next week would be your week

to have Bible study, but someone can't go.

157

And so then they would miss that.

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But then the week after that

you don't have Bible study.

159

And so then when you circle back

to the next one, they'd be able to

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go, I hope you're still following.

161

'cause I'm.

162

You know, I'm pretty sure

you're lost right now.

163

They would've not seen

anybody for a month.

164

So I like to do weekly because I feel

like it creates a more consistent cadence.

165

You're able to get to know each other.

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Quicker share more.

167

You have that weekly night that you're

gathering in community and in prayer.

168

And then if somebody misses, you know

they're gonna see people the next week

169

and you're not gonna miss out on too much.

170

So I personally like weekly, but I know

that might be a lot for some people

171

and some people can only do biweekly.

172

So that's just something to think

about and choose that and then

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create your text and invite the

list of people that you prayed with.

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So once you have your list,

draft up an invitation.

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This is exactly the text that I sent out.

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mw_5_10-01-2025_214404: I

said something like, hi name.

177

It's been on my heart to start

a Bible study and to have more

178

of an intentional community.

179

And as I've been praying about

who to invite, you came to mind.

180

Of course.

181

Uh, we're gonna be meeting and then

I inserted the day and time and the

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frequency starting off on this date.

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Um, to kick it off, I'm hosting

a bouquet making night and I

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would love for you to join us.

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Let me know if you can commit to

coming weekly or biweekly or whatever

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frequency it was that you said.

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I want you to put at the end, let

me know if you can commit to coming.

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The time frequency that you said

answer the time frequency, because

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you want people to commit to that time

and for them to know that, to join

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the Bible study, it's a commitment.

191

You wanna keep it warm, personal,

and like a little prayerful.

192

Um, so people know that

you've been praying about it.

193

Um, they feel thought of.

194

Some people will say no.

195

Some people will say yes, and that's okay.

196

God's gonna put together like

the right group that you need.

197

Now let's talk about kickoff night.

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Kickoff night is all about

building those friendships.

199

So this is one of my biggest tip is you

want to start with a social night, because

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friendship is where trust really grows.

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And without trust, people

won't feel safe to open up, and

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friendships won't really develop.

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So for me it was a bouquet making party.

204

Some other fun ideas could be like making

friendship bracelets or candle making

205

or some sort of craft night or a spa

night, or even just like a cozy like.

206

Potluck of some sort, like something

light and like low stakes where people

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can just kind of do something where they,

while they casually talk at the same time.

208

And at that first gathering, we're

mostly just hanging out, getting to

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know each other most of the time.

210

And then near the end I kind

of ask, what are you hoping to

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get out of this Bible study?

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And that simple question just opens

up the door for some vulnerability

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and sets the tone that this

group is going to be intentional.

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And I'm actually curious and listening

to what people hope this Bible study

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is going to do for them and their

faith, and that might be looking

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for deeper faith-filled friendships.

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It might be actually growing

in formation of your faith and

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learning more about your faith.

219

It might be that somebody has literally

never really opened the Bible before or

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never really read it before, and they just

wanna know scripture better, like know

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different gospels and things that Jesus

actually did when he walked on this earth.

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And the things that he taught, and it

might be that someone is like super

223

solid in their faith and actually has

read the Bible and maybe even has a

224

faith filled friends, but they just want

225

a consistent gathering to be able to

talk about faith, to have an open place

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to share about how God is working in

their life, and kind of process through

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different things that they're struggling

with, um, when it comes to faith or family

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life or personal life or whatever it

is, and know that you're being received

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by a strong faith field group of women.

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So I always ask, what do you

hope to get out of Bible study?

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Um, near the end of

that, uh, social night,

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Then we get into the first few weeks.

233

So the second week is usually

when I do a story sharing night.

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I prompt everybody to share how

they're coming into Bible study,

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like emotionally, spiritually.

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Physically, and then also like what

their faith has looked like and how that

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led them to where they are right now.

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So it becomes a little bit of like a short

testimony sharing that everybody does.

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It's not like the 40 minute version of

everybody's testimony where we go like

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super deep and super vulnerable, but it

shares a little bit about what's your

241

faith story been like and how did you end

up at this Bible study because everybody

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ends up at a Bible study

for a reason, right?

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Like you have some sort of faith

foundation or interest in a faith

244

foundation to even show up to Bible study.

245

And this kind of helps you begin to

understand where everybody's at in

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their faith journey and what level of

knowledge they have or how often, or how

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much they actually practice their faith.

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And you kind of get a gauge for

where everybody in the group.

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And I always try and create a really

like warm and welcoming environment.

250

I always serve tea at.

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I will study or snacks or light some

candles and have some cozy lighting.

252

Um, I try not to turn on the overhead

lights as much as possible and just

253

have like little lamps or just more

ambient lighting and some candles.

254

Um, 'cause I feel like that

just sets The tone for a cozy

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night where people can open up.

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Um, you get it.

257

I don't know.

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It's just an aesthetic, right?

259

And hospitality matters and it

communicates like, I cared about you

260

coming here I wanna be intentional

with our time, and you belong here.

261

You are meant to be in this space.

262

And I cultivated it just for you.

263

So, yeah, so that second Bible

study night, I still leave time

264

for socialization at the beginning.

265

Like I still leave like 15 to 30 minutes

of hangout socialization time before

266

we move on to like the quote unquote

content or like, theme of the night.

267

This is because like, that's

honestly, you could argue.

268

The most important part of Bible study

is for people to come together to grow in

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friendship with other Catholic women or

other Christian women, other like-minded

270

women with similar values and faith

foundations and desire to grow in their

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faith so that these women can share in

that with each other and walk together

272

in the journey of faith and just in

life, and know that they have other women

273

that are cheering 'em on and supporting

them that really align with them.

274

And this isn't gonna happen if you are not

cultivating a space for friendship, which

275

means time to literally just hang out.

276

So I always set my tea out or a snack, and

as people walk in, we start making our tea

277

and eating and chatting and truth be told.

278

7:00 PM is when my Bible study starts,

and that's usually when I eat dinner.

279

And I'm usually not, um, I don't know.

280

I usually just don't have my ish together

enough during the day to have dinner

281

before seven, just because life is crazy.

282

Um, so I always usually end up eating

my dinner around that time too.

283

So we all just kind of gather

around my island or my kitchen

284

table and we all have snacks and

tea and, and Mari eats her dinner.

285

Um.

286

And that's how we start out the night

and then we move to the living room

287

and that's when we actually start like

the content or the theme of the night.

288

I always start with a prayer.

289

And then for this first Bible study,

like I just shared, we kind of go into

290

like storytelling testimony night.

291

Don't like put too much pressure on

yourself to open scripture that night.

292

I always have a passage picked

out in case there's maybe like.

293

Five to 10 minutes at the

end just to end with that.

294

But I don't really plan for a lot of

like bible study discussion time, um,

295

for this second meeting because we're

just trying to get to know each other,

296

learn each other's faith stories, get

comfortable with talking about our

297

faith and sharing about our faith and

being vulnerable and, and personal.

298

So that's what I do.

299

And depending on how much, people

talk and share and how long people

300

share or how many people you have

in your Bible study that night might

301

spill into two weeks, and that's okay.

302

And maybe that second week it

only goes halfway, and then you

303

can do like lexio or something to

304

wrap up that meeting.

305

So that's the second week.

306

Then for the next four to eight weeks, I

recommend sticking to just Lexio Divina

307

instead of like a specific Bible study

that really dives into kind of more

308

intricate content or specific content.

309

Um, I just wanna start with Flexio

Dina, because I just want people to get

310

comfortable with opening their bibles

with talking about what resonates with

311

them, with sharing more about their

faith openly with the whole group.

312

So let's talk about the structure of a

Bible study night in these first four

313

to eight weeks that you're leading it.

314

This is what a typical night would

look like, for a Bible study that.

315

I would host.

316

First you have that 15, 20, maybe

30 minute social time chat, pour

317

your tea, settle in, hang out, hear

about people's lives, all that stuff.

318

Very casual building friendship, right?

319

Then we move to the couch

where it's more cozy and deep.

320

And I start with a check-in question.

321

I always start with a check-in

question because I actually

322

wanna know how are people doing?

323

How are they coming into

Bible study tonight?

324

And just opening up the space and the room

for people to share something on their

325

hearts if they wanna bring it to the group

326

and just share more about their life.

327

So that check-in question might look

different every week, maybe one night.

328

It's, how are you coming

into Bible study tonight?

329

Other weeks, it's what is the highlight

and low light of your week where you

330

basically share, you know, something great

that happened and something that sucked

331

or share a God moment from this week.

332

Um, or if we're short on time, maybe I'll

do something like kind of creative and

333

say, describe your week in three words.

334

Um, or if we have more time,

I'll say, describe your week

335

in three words and then.

336

Explain why those three words

represent your week and then we

337

do a little bit more sharing.

338

Um, these prompts just help to keep it

kind of like fresh and inviting people to

339

share more vulnerably than just, I'm good.

340

'cause if all you ask every single

week is, how's everybody doing

341

every single week, it can kind of

fall flat and it can kind of fall

342

like a little bit stale over time.

343

And, and honestly, some

people might just need.

344

More prompting, more specific

prompting, um, to know what to

345

share, like they wanna share.

346

But some people, it's just hard to

kind of dig through their brains and

347

come up with something to share about.

348

But if you have a little bit more of

a specific prompt, it can help people

349

open up more because they'll have more

specific idea of what to be sharing.

350

After we do a check-in, I

start with an opening prayer.

351

I always lead the prayer at the beginning

because I want people to see and to

352

hear prayer out loud in an example

of what it's like to pray out loud

353

so they know it doesn't have to sound

fancy or special or you don't have

354

to like read a written prayer that.

355

Pre-written, right?

356

It's just about talking to God

and offering that time to God.

357

So I always am the one to start in prayer.

358

As a leader, you want to, to lead,

you want to set that example and give

359

people the confidence, that this is a

space where they can do that, and that

360

there's no judgment and that it doesn't

have to be this perfect, fancy prayer.

361

Um, and it can just sound like

you talking to God, right?

362

After that opening prayer, then

we jump into our scripture time.

363

So I'll pick a passage ahead of time.

364

Um, I always recommend starting

with a gospel story because those

365

are much more easy, I feel like,

to digest and to discuss than

366

something in the Old Testament.

367

There's a lot more context that's needed

for the Old Testament and a lot more

368

translation that's needed of understanding

how ancient Greek or Aramaic words.

369

Actually, you know, what they actually

mean and translate it to, so my, my

370

recommendation is start with the gospels.

371

Start there and start with Jesus's

words , that he spoke and that he taught.

372

So Flexio Divina is reading a passage

multiple times and then reflecting

373

and praying with it and seeing how

God is speaking to you through the

374

passage and then taking it to prayer.

375

So we do.

376

A version of that in Bible study

by reading, you know, I'll pick

377

out a passage and then reading

it slowly, multiple times.

378

Usually I'll start out and I'll

read it once out loud, and then I'll

379

give a little space for silence,

and then I'll have everybody read

380

it on their own a second time.

381

Um, so usually I just prompt that, right?

382

So I say, okay, we're

gonna read this passage.

383

Um, and then I read it once I leave

a little space for silence, and then

384

I say, now read it a second time, and

really just let that sink in right then.

385

I leave time for silence for

people to read it on their own.

386

Usually I'll read it on my own in silence,

so I know about how long it takes, um,

387

for people to read, and I know about

how long of, silence to leave there.

388

So.

389

I do that and then we

wanna read it a third time.

390

Sometimes I ask someone else to read

it out loud too, for that third time,

391

just to get people comfortable again

with talking in the group, reading

392

scripture, all that kind of stuff.

393

Um, I really like doing that.

394

And that way I'm not the only one.

395

Talking and people get used

to other people talking.

396

And so I'll usually choose someone

before I read the first time.

397

I'll be like, okay, this is

the passage we're gonna read.

398

Um, I'm gonna read it once out loud,

then we're gonna read it on our own

399

and then we'll read it a third time.

400

Does anybody want to

volunteer to read it.

401

Aloud that third time.

402

And there might be a little of a pause.

403

Just get comfortable with the pause.

404

Wait for someone to volunteer, or

you can ask somebody if nobody's

405

volunteering and be like, Hey, Becky.

406

Would you like to read it?

407

Usually people won't say no.

408

So I don't think I've ever

really had to call on someone.

409

I think someone eventually, eventually

offers, so then for the third time

410

they go and I always tell them

like, I'm just gonna leave silent.

411

You pick when you wanna jump in and read.

412

Feel free to leave as much, you

know, space in between as you want.

413

And then they'll go in and

read the passage a third time.

414

And then after that we start the

discussion and I usually ask, what's

415

standing out to you in this passage?

416

Like, what's resonating?

417

What's lingering in your heart?

418

These questions, I feel

like are a low intimidation.

419

Type of question.

420

People don't need to

know the right answer.

421

They don't need to know

scripture like the back of their

422

hand to answer this question.

423

They don't need to have any sort of

theological training or knowledge

424

or know how to interpret it.

425

They just need to share what

strikes them and everybody can have

426

and can form an opinion, right?

427

So it should be pretty low

stakes to ask that question and

428

to get the conversation going.

429

And especially if this is your first

time leading a group, I just wanna say

430

that one of the best skills is getting

comfortable with silence and realizing

431

that you don't need to rush to fill it.

432

You need to let it sit and

it's okay to let it sit.

433

And if you struggle with this and

you kind of just like wanna jump in

434

in the silence or like answer the

question yourself, I encourage you

435

to just like pray a slow hail Mary in

your head and give people that space.

436

I think usually someone will

eventually speak, right?

437

If not on the off chance

set, nobody speaks.

438

You are free to jump in and be like, I

have something, I'm happy to go first.

439

Um, and just say that like calmly

and, and, and casually, right.

440

No judgment that nobody's talking,

but just kind of be like, it's okay.

441

Like, I have something I can share

and, and I can go first and by

442

you just saying I can go first.

443

It just communicates like, I'm gonna

go now I'm gonna go first, but like.

444

Someone's gonna go second,

you know what I mean?

445

Like more people are gonna go after me.

446

But I'll take that

brave step and go first.

447

And if your group's a little bit more

quiet or a little shy or not comfortable

448

with each other yet you doing that will

give them more confidence and I almost

449

can guarantee you that after you do that,

someone else will step in and speak.

450

And then when someone shares,

I want you to affirm them.

451

I want you to engage with what

they shared, because this helps

452

create a conversational culture

instead of everybody just

453

going in a circle or just like.

454

Popcorning somebody else, and just

having it be kind of this more like

455

structured thing where someone says

something, then there's a lot of silence,

456

and then someone says something else,

like someone says what stood out to

457

them, and then the next person goes,

and then it's just silent like you.

458

Kind of interjecting after they've

shared to affirm what they've said

459

or add on to what they've said or

offer, additional perspective to what

460

they've said or just engage with it.

461

Just be like, oh, like

that was really good.

462

Thank you for sharing.

463

That creates a culture of engagement

and conversation in the group.

464

And it helps to kind of train your

small group and show an example of

465

what it looks like to engage with

another participant's thought or

466

opinion and what they were sharing.

467

Um, and by you.

468

Responding to them, you're showing people

like we can all respond to each other.

469

We can have this be a conversation.

470

It doesn't have to be like a presentation.

471

It doesn't have to be you presenting

and then prompting people to talk

472

and then you presenting again.

473

Right?

474

You're setting that culture of like,

we can all chat casually about this.

475

This doesn't have to be this,

like really, you know, stiff

476

conversation with a lot of structure.

477

And I just encourage you

to come prepared yourself.

478

I want you to pray with the passage

ahead of time and have like two to

479

three points that stuck out to you

and two to three reflections ready to

480

go so that if the conversation slows.

481

You can keep it going and you should

definitely be sharing what stood out

482

to you as well in the conversation.

483

And if people are having a hard time

keeping the conversation going or if

484

what they're sharing is just really short

and you're like, oh crap, we still have

485

like 30 minutes left of bible study.

486

What am I supposed to say?

487

Having two to three.

488

Points that you, that stood out to you.

489

We'll just continue to keep the

conversation going so as there's

490

a little bit more silence, you can

jump back in and say, oh, you know,

491

like there's another part that

stuck out to me in, in this verse.

492

Here's what stuck out

to me and here's why.

493

What do you guys think about that?

494

I love to end with the question after

I share a reflection because it invites

495

the participant to engage once again and.

496

Hopefully your Bible study like

wants to be there and wants to

497

engage, and I think most of the time

if you're showing up to that, you

498

do, but also as human beings like.

499

We're just naturally lazy, right?

500

And if we have the choice to sit

back or engaged, I think a lot of

501

the times we opt for sitting back.

502

And so if somebody, AKA, the leader is

just like chatting the whole time without

503

ever prompting space for conversation,

it can be really easy as the participant

504

to just kind of sit back and listen and

just be like, wow, this is super nice.

505

I heard Mari talk for 35 minutes

today about X, Y, Z in the Bible.

506

Ending your reflections with

like a question that prompts the

507

participants to join in again, is

really good to keep conversation going.

508

Some things you can ask are, you

know, after you say your reflection

509

and what do you think about that,

or how does that strike you, or

510

how does that sit with you or.

511

You share something that relates

to your life and then ask, how does

512

this relate to your guys' life?

513

Can you relate this back to your own life?

514

And the more you meet, the more

these Bible studies accumulate,

515

the more comfortable everybody's

going to get sharing with each

516

other, opening up and entering into

discussion, which is, which is amazing.

517

You grow with time.

518

So be patient at the beginning.

519

Once your group is more comfortable, then

you can move into more of a structured

520

study, um, maybe a specific book of the

Bible you wanna learn more about, or

521

a study guide from a trusted ministry.

522

Um, something that's a little bit

more like catechetical or educational.

523

And you can even pull your

group and let them help choose

524

what you're gonna do next.

525

And that's really great to do because

you wanna know , where is the group at?

526

What are we feeling?

527

Um, you wanna also kind of take note of

do you have all Catholics in your group?

528

Do you have kind of a mix of

Christian denominations and Catholics?

529

Um, and kind of know your audience and

know like, okay, if I have a mix, is

530

there gonna be a lot of openness to do a.

531

Bible study on the catechism

specifically about what the Catholic

532

Church teaches, maybe, but I would

check in with people to see, right?

533

Maybe people wanna learn more

about the Gospel of John.

534

Maybe people wanna learn more about.

535

The mass and what we do in the mass

and the different parts of the mass.

536

I know that there's incredible Catholic

Bible studies that dive into topics like

537

that, and I think you just have to know

your audience and see where they're at and

538

what they're really ready to jump into.

539

So, poll your audience.

540

Maybe picking two or three that you

have done research beforehand and

541

that you'd be comfortable leading.

542

Send a little poll out or

after a Bible study night.

543

Share a little bit about each and

then have people share kind of what

544

they'd be interested in doing next.

545

And I like to split the year up into two.

546

So I start my Bible studies in

October, and then we go through May,

547

and then we have a summer break.

548

So October through January-ish, I will do

more low key things like Lexio, Davina, or

549

maybe a book of the Bible that we're just

reading different chapters on, but not.

550

A super educational

study and that's just me.

551

There's not truly a

rhyme or reason for that.

552

Um, I'm not saying that not

doing that is the wrong answer.

553

You gotta know your group

and know what they need.

554

But I think for me, that last

quarter of the year, I say quarter

555

'cause I'm thinking about it in

like business terms, um, that.

556

Those last three months of the year

are insanely busy for a lot of people,

557

but especially for me and what I do for

work, it's the craziest time of the year.

558

So I need to have like the easiest least

amount of prep during those months.

559

Um, which is why Alexio Dina

is really amazing because

560

it's just really easy prep.

561

Versus a more content heavy Bible study

or educational Bible study is definitely

562

going to require the leader to spend

more time with the content beforehand

563

to really know the information, to

be able to lead on it well, right.

564

Also, I just feel like that fall and

wintertime of the year is just like.

565

Cozy, right?

566

Everybody just wants to be cozy.

567

And so that is setting the scene for,

for me, for my group, I feel like

568

we get deep, we build relationship,

um, we, you know, share prayer.

569

We just pray together.

570

We just re.

571

Scripture and pray together and have space

for peace in the middle of our weeks, um,

572

which at the end of the year during the

holidays as well, gets really busy and

573

I think people really appreciate that.

574

And then in the spring, usually

January through, um, may, I'll

575

do more structured Bible studies.

576

So, let's see.

577

Last year we did the crux from

focus, which is a really good, I

578

would say beginner bible study, but.

579

Anybody can do it because it's

just reiterating the truth of the

580

gospel and the story of the gospel.

581

Um, and going even deeper into that.

582

So we've all heard the gospel.

583

Well, that's actually not true.

584

I didn't hear the gospel

actually like be shared with

585

me until I became a missionary,

which was way later in my life.

586

Um, I was born Catholic and nobody had

ever shared the gospel with me, so, um.

587

Maybe not everybody has

heard, has heard the gospel.

588

I would, I would bet to differ that

most Catholics probably haven't.

589

And this Bible study shares the

message of the gospel and presents

590

these fundamental faith, foundations

and teachings and truths that we might

591

have heard growing up that we probably

didn't in our Catholic formation.

592

But as adults, we come to see it with

new eyes, and with deeper understanding.

593

So.

594

Anyways, I'm getting sidetracked.

595

I'll make sure to link different

bible studies that I recommend

596

in the show notes, so I'll make

sure to link that one as well.

597

Um, but yeah, then in the spring I kind of

jump into more content heavy Bible study.

598

So anyways, you check in, you

pray, you get into your content.

599

You discuss and then at the

end of each night, I encourage

600

someone else to close in prayer.

601

I want everybody to have practice

praying out loud and get comfortable

602

with it because it's a skill that as

Christians, we need to be okay with.

603

And I feel like.

604

Catholics in general that I

have encountered are a little

605

bit more intimidated by it.

606

Um, I don't know.

607

I just feel like it's not the

culture we really grew up in, but

608

I think it is really important.

609

I think a lot of us grew up in a culture

where religion and prayer is like really.

610

Private thing.

611

Um, and so it's uncomfortable

or awkward to say out loud.

612

Um, but we wanna get rid of that.

613

We wanna be able to pray out loud.

614

It's so powerful.

615

Um, Jesus says, we're two or more,

gather in my name, I am with you.

616

And so in this opportunity, you have

to be gathered with multiple people.

617

Pray, pray out loud.

618

It is, it's so powerful and it's really,

it just builds you up and it builds up

619

the church and it builds up community.

620

So.

621

Encourage someone to close in

prayer at first, no one will

622

probably wanna do it because people

will be nervous and that's okay.

623

Okay.

624

Give a little space for silence again.

625

And sometimes if nobody, if nobody

volunteers, you might gently ask

626

someone like, Hey, would you be

open to praying us out tonight?

627

Becky?

628

I'm just, I don't even

have a friend named Becky.

629

You guys, I just keep

using Becky as an example.

630

Um, and always remind them when you

prompt them to pray or when you're asking

631

someone to volunteer to pray, always

remind them that there's no judgment.

632

It doesn't have to sound fancy.

633

You're not looking for anything specific.

634

There's no right or wrong way to do it.

635

You just wanna encourage them

to talk to God like a friend.

636

Over time, your group will get

more confident, women will get more

637

confident, and that's just part of

the formation and the discipleship

638

that is happening in this group.

639

'cause this group isn't just about

showing up and leaving, it's about

640

growing as disciples and even

building up leaders in your group.

641

Right?

642

Because the, the point of

bible study is one to have.

643

Faith-filled community

in your life, right?

644

To have those sisters in Christ that

you can walk with because community

645

is so important for our walk of faith.

646

Two, is to grow in our own faith

and be strengthened in our own

647

faith and knowledge of the faith.

648

And then three, to be built

up and to be sent out like.

649

What is the purpose of growing in faith

and fervor for your faith if you are

650

not gonna go out and share it, right?

651

Like of course your relationship with God

is important, but also we want that to

652

set a fire in our soul so that then we

can go out and share about that incredible

653

relationship with God, with other people.

654

So that.

655

Everybody can have that.

656

So the purpose of this Bible study

as well , for you as a leader, is

657

to build people up and help them

grow as disciples and leaders.

658

Now, don't let that scare you.

659

Don't let that think that you're not

capable of leading a Bible study, okay?

660

The Lord's going to equip you, and if

he's calling you to lead a Bible study,

661

and if you feel that nudge, he's going

to give you the tools that you need.

662

To be able to lead well and

to be able to build people up.

663

And there's a lot of resources

that I can share too.

664

Um, and I'll link them in the show notes.

665

So just some practical things.

666

Plan for one to two hours,

depending on your group.

667

I feel like when I led.

668

College students, usually 60

minutes was kind of the max

669

time that we allotted for it.

670

If it was a really good group that

was really engaged and bought in,

671

sometimes it would go 90 minutes or

people would just stay late and chat.

672

That's awesome.

673

Try and get through your content in the

first 60 minutes and then spend time

674

hanging out with anybody that wants

to stay, um, for women in that next.

675

Stage of life after college,

maybe twenties and thirties.

676

I feel like two hours

usually works really great.

677

Um, my group meets for about two

hours, sometimes two and a half hours.

678

And that's usually because we spend

the first 30 and the last 30 minutes

679

just hanging out because this is

also like our weekly friend time.

680

So, um, feel free to just have it go

longer if you feel like that's what

681

your group needs and is open to.

682

But you wanna start and end on time

because it builds consistency and

683

it builds trust, and you want to

be consistent with doing it in the

684

timeframe that you said that you would.

685

Right.

686

If you said it's gonna be a

weekly Bible study, you need

687

to commit to doing it weekly.

688

If you said that you're going to do

a biweekly study, stick to biweekly.

689

Really try not to miss something.

690

If you can't make it, ask someone

else to host or lead that night

691

instead of just canceling.

692

I try to rarely cancel a Bible study

because I want this to be a consistent

693

space people know that they can go to.

694

Um, so I usually ask someone else

in the group if they're willing to

695

host and lead Bible study for that

night, and that way people can keep

696

meeting without skipping a beat.

697

And if I'm outta town for some reason, on.

698

A weekday night, Bible

study doesn't stop right.

699

And people know that they can rely on

that in that space and in this group.

700

Um, I think that's all I've got for you.

701

I think those are all my tips right now.

702

I know leading can feel intimidating

at first, or you might feel

703

like, who am I to do this?

704

I don't know the Bible well, I

don't know my faith good enough.

705

I'm not a missionary.

706

Look, when I first led

a Bible study, I was.

707

A sophomore in college and I didn't know

everything I know about the faith now.

708

I was never trained in how to

lead a Bible study and I felt very

709

under equipped, and I felt very

underqualified to lead a Bible study.

710

I was like, I'm just a girl that really

loves Jesus, but I don't know the Bible

711

and I probably don't know church teaching

as well as maybe this other person.

712

Um, but it's not about.

713

Being the one who knows the most in

the room, it's literally just about

714

being someone who has a heart for

God and a heart for God's people.

715

Like you wanna have a heart for God.

716

You wanna know, and love, and

serve the Lord and make an effort

717

in your life to be growing in

your relationship with the Lord.

718

You guys know, I say this literally

almost every podcast, but you need

719

to be praying every day, especially

if you're leading a Bible study or

720

if you're hoping to lead other people

or preparing to lead other people.

721

You need to be praying every day.

722

You need to be cultivating a prayer

life, 15 to 30 minutes a day where

723

you are talking to God, where you are

journaling your prayer, where you are

724

reading scripture, where you are leaving

space in silence for God to talk to

725

you where you are going to adoration.

726

This is going to make it so that you

are pouring out from an overflow of

727

what the Lord is pouring into you.

728

You can't serve people well if

it's not coming from the Lord.

729

Right?

730

And you can't evangelize well

if it's not coming first from

731

what God is pouring into you.

732

And so let God equip you.

733

He will.

734

He will equip you.

735

You don't need to be a theologian, you

don't need to have all the answers.

736

Um, people literally are

just craving a friendship.

737

People are craving community.

738

People are craving

honesty and authenticity.

739

And people are very interested to open

up the word of God because it's an

740

intimidating book, um, that a lot of

people haven't actually read through.

741

Even if they are Catholic or Christian,

they've maybe read snippets here

742

and there or just really heard it

in mass, um, or at church, but.

743

They really just want a space to

build friendships and to finally open

744

this holy book that they know can

be so powerful in their lives and.

745

And just lean in.

746

Just lean in to the

process and edit as you go.

747

If something didn't work out, if you

know, maybe the questions you were asking

748

were too broad or not specific enough

or whatever, like you just edit as you

749

go and you kind of take note of like,

wow, that was a really good Bible study.

750

Like, why was that so good?

751

Or, Ooh, this one fell short.

752

Like this one kind of felt

a little awkward, like.

753

Why was that?

754

You know, kind of do audits

afterwards, um, just to yourself to

755

be like, okay, how can I improve?

756

How can I grow?

757

But don't wait to be, quote unquote,

the perfect leader before you

758

lead, because leading is what's

going to make you better at it.

759

And so you just gotta jump in.

760

Bible study.

761

is amazing you guys.

762

Small groups are amazing.

763

Some of the most life-giving friendships

I have ever had has come from small

764

groups, women who know my heart,

who know my faith, who walk with

765

me through both joy and suffering.

766

And I want that for you too.

767

And I know that you can create

that in your community too.

768

So if you've been waiting for it.

769

Or if you've been waiting for a sign,

this is your moment, this is your sign.

770

Just start.

771

Start by inviting a few women,

even if it's two other women

772

and it's just three of you.

773

Don't think that you can't do bible

study 'cause you don't have a huge group.

774

Start with whoever can

come and just do it.

775

Just open the doors to your home.

776

Pray with each other, build

friendship, open scriptures, and

777

trust that God is gonna do the rest.

778

Okay?

779

Pray about your Bible study.

780

Surrender to him and trust all to him.

781

And trust that he's going

to take care of the rest.

782

Oh man, that was a good one.

783

Thanks so much for joining

me today, you guys.

784

I really hope that this gave you

good encouragement and a game plan.

785

Okay, now you have a game

plan to move forward.

786

So if you do start a group

after this episode, you know

787

that I wanna hear about it.

788

Send me a message on Instagram and

tell me how it's going, or feel free

789

to DM me and ask me any questions

of like what to do or tactics or.

790

Whatever questions you

have, ask me on Instagram.

791

I'd love to help you.

792

And if this episode was helpful, share

it with a friend who might be ready to

793

also step out and start a group too.

794

Or if you're like, I really can't start

one by myself, which I know you can,

795

but if you really feel like you can't

find a buddy to start it with and you

796

share the responsibility and you switch

off hosting , and you can both listen

797

to this episode and then get coffee

and plan your Bible study together.

798

Okay.

799

Now we're gonna move into the last segment

of this episode, which is ever be answers.

800

This is where I answer one of your

questions every single episode, and then

801

at the end I'll let you know what the.

802

Other questions are that our Patreon

community, the Kingdom Club is asking,

803

and then we'll answer the rest in the

after party episode, which is our bonus

804

episode for our Kingdom Club community.

805

So if you wanna be a part of that, the

link to join will be in the show notes.

806

But let's kick it off with the question.

807

This is very fitting for

the month of the rosary.

808

The question is, how do you make

praying the rosary a daily habit?

809

I used to think praying the rosary daily

was impossible or just way too much

810

because I used to feel like the rosary

just was a super, super long prayer.

811

I thought it took like 30 minutes

and that there was no way I

812

could fit that into my day.

813

And you know what?

814

I was wrong and.

815

It's funny, I, when I started praying

the Rosary Daily or building it as

816

a Hobbit, it just happened like one

day to the next, and it was because

817

I read the 15 Promises of the Rosary.

818

When I read those those promises,

and I can't even remember

819

where I came across them.

820

I came across 'em somehow

and I read 'em and I.

821

Realize that these promises were

so good were just way too good

822

for me not to lean into that.

823

Um, I will make sure to link these also

in the show notes so you can read 'em.

824

And I read those and I was like, you're

telling me that if I pray the rosary every

825

day with, with real faith and devotion,

Mary promises these 15 things to all

826

those who'd faithfully do this, I'm so in.

827

So first step is to go read those

so that you can have conviction of,

828

of praying the rosary every day.

829

And then two, once I realized I could pray

the rosary in 15 minutes, I could give

830

15 minutes of my time to the Lord, right?

831

I spend.

832

At least an hour scrolling

on my phone, if not more.

833

or I spend an hour watching a show at

the end of the day or something, right?

834

Like we spend time on some sort of

screen, whether that's social media

835

or YouTube or TV, every single day.

836

So I knew I can give 15 minutes of my

day to the Lord, and I, I allowed that

837

to be a truth in my heart, um, and a

promise that I wanted to make to the

838

Lord that he was worthy of my time,

and even 15 minutes of my entire day.

839

Two.

840

I know that to build a habit, you need

to be doing it consistently every day.

841

And when I was first starting, I

wasn't doing it consistently every

842

day, and it wasn't a habit in my life.

843

And so I needed to somehow

make it something that I

844

could go back to every day.

845

And to do that, I habit stacked.

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So I chose an action that I already had

as a habit in my day-to-day life, and

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I stacked the rosary on top of that.

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When I started to do this, I

had a 15 minute commute to work.

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Um, this is when I was a missionary,

and that happened to be the

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perfect time to pray my rosary.

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So every single day while I was

driving to work, I prayed my rosary.

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Right now, what it looks like for me

is getting ready for bed, taking off

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my makeup, doing my skincare, brushing

my teeth, getting all tucked into bed.

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That usually takes me

around 15 to 20 minutes.

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And so I will play my rosary on

hallow or just pray it on my beads.

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Um, and I stack that with

my nighttime routine.

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So for me, that has been the

most helpful thing to, to

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consistently pray it every day.

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Um, I.

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I would love, honestly, to get to

a point in my life where I just sit

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down and, and pray the rosary and just

get on my needs and pray the rosary.

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And so, um, I think I'm gonna

try and do that this October.

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'cause this October I'm praying a daily

rosary for the month of the rosary.

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but anyways, yeah, habit stack.

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Habit stack is basically like my hack

for praying the rosary every day.

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And after a while it just

becomes second nature.

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And the day that you don't do

it, you're gonna notice and

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you're kind of gonna miss it.

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You're gonna feel that like hole,

that not praying the rosary had left

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in your day and in your heart, and

you're gonna wanna go back to it.

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So

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that's my advice for you.