Speaker:
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Hey, I am your host, Mari Wagner,
and you're listening to The Ever Be
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Podcast where Faith Meets Lifestyle.
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I'm so excited you're here.
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Whether you're a new listener
or a longtime follower, I know
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there's something here for you.
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Pull up a chair and listen in for
insightful, real life conversations and
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actionable steps on how to claim the.
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Full life God created you for.
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If you're a woman desiring to live
a Christ-centered life in today's
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modern world, then this is for you.
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Welcome to ever be.
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mw-host888_3_10-07-2025_154139:
Hey everybody.
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Welcome back to the Ever Be podcast.
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Happy Wednesday.
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I have gotten so many questions from you
lately about how to start a Bible study or
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a small group and I got really fired up,
but I kept getting this question 'cause
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I'm like, this is what I love to do.
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I've led so many of these in the
past and I love equipping other
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people and empowering them to
go out and do the same thing.
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'cause so much evangelization
happens when we.
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Host a small group and live
life with other people in a
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Bible study or a small group.
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And I know that so many of
you are craving community.
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I mean, we all are, we are all made
for relationship, made for community,
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and I know that so many of us lack it.
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Maybe you haven't found it in your area.
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Maybe you've been waiting for
somebody else to start something, but.
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Either way, I wanna encourage you
to be the one to start something,
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and especially if you feel that
nudge, the Lord is probably already
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inviting you to take that step.
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So in today's episode, I'm gonna
share both encouragement and some
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really practical step-by-step
for starting a Bible study.
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Um, think of this, if we
were literally sitting.
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Together over for coffee.
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And you asked me, Mari,
how do I actually do this?
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This is literally the exact things that
I would tell my friend in real life.
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Like it is an actual step-by-step
replicable process that you can use and
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implement in your life to get a small
group started, um, or a Bible study
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started, whichever one you wanna call it.
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It's essentially the same thing.
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Um, and I promise you it's foolproof.
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It'll work.
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But first let's dive into ever be moments.
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I am very excited to share my
ever be moment for the week.
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So this past week was the Feast of St.
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Theres and she is a saint
that I really admire and I
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have read her story of a soul.
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Um, but she's never been
a saint that I'm like.
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Oh, yeah, she's a hundred percent my girl.
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Like, I don't, I definitely think I have
done a novena to her, but I never felt
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like I had really gotten a rose from her,
or even like, particularly, spent a lot of
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time just increasing my devotion to her.
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I'm more of a St.
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Faustina girl.
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Um, but I want to grow in
a relationship with zinter.
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S You're still awesome.
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Um.
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But my ever be moment was tied
into her and I have, I feel
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like she gave me two roses.
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And it's interesting 'cause I'm like,
I didn't even pray for anything.
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So are you just telling
me that like you're here?
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I'm like, okay, great, thanks.
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Um, the first one is we had this
huge photo shoot for West Coast
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Catholic a couple weeks ago.
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Um, and well, it was right
before the feast day and.
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I can't reveal too many details of
what it was for, but one of the parts
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of the photo shoot, we needed these
like pink flowers for a bouquet making
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kind of like a shot that we were doing.
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And so I had all these pink
roses for that part of the photo
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shoot, and then the next day.
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Was the Feast of St.
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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.
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And I didn't even plan it
to have all these like roses
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on her feast day in my home.
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And so I felt like.
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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.
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So I love that that was
something that had happened.
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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.
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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
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days later to celebrate her birthday.
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And we told the bar it was.
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Her birthday and that's why
we were here celebrating.
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And they brought us a little, like bubbly.
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I have been to this bar before and
so I always tell them when it's a
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birthday, 'cause I know that they
do this, they bring you like a free
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champagne, um, or a free bubbly
Prosecco or something like that.
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I.
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And when she, when the waitress brought it
out to us, there was a red rose petal in
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every single one of the champagne flutes,
which had never happened to me before.
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Like they don't usually drop
rose petals in these drinks.
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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.
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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.
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I was excited to share that with you guys,
but let's jump into the content for today.
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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.
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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.
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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
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they kind of fizzle into your brain.
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Write those down in a journal
and keep praying with that.
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I will say don't spend too
much time overthinking.
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Like, honestly, everybody
needs a Bible study.
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Everybody needs to be part of a
group, um, and needs community.
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So the names that come up are probably
really great people to invite.
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And just trust the Holy
Spirit nudges here.
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Okay.
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Number two, you want to
send an invite text, right?
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And pick a date.
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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.
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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.
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I personally like doing weekly.
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I know a lot of people like doing
biweekly, but I like doing weekly
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because if somebody missed.
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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?
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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.
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And so then they would miss that.
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But then the week after that
you don't have Bible study.
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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.
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'cause I'm.
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You know, I'm pretty sure
you're lost right now.
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They would've not seen
anybody for a month.
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So I like to do weekly because I feel
like it creates a more consistent cadence.
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You're able to get to know each other.
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Quicker share more.
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You have that weekly night that you're
gathering in community and in prayer.
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And then if somebody misses, you know
they're gonna see people the next week
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and you're not gonna miss out on too much.
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So I personally like weekly, but I know
that might be a lot for some people
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and some people can only do biweekly.
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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.
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It's been on my heart to start
a Bible study and to have more
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of an intentional community.
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And as I've been praying about
who to invite, you came to mind.
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Of course.
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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.
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You wanna keep it warm, personal,
and like a little prayerful.
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Um, so people know that
you've been praying about it.
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Um, they feel thought of.
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Some people will say no.
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Some people will say yes, and that's okay.
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God's gonna put together like
the right group that you need.
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Now let's talk about kickoff night.
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Kickoff night is all about
building those friendships.
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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.
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Some other fun ideas could be like making
friendship bracelets or candle making
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or some sort of craft night or a spa
night, or even just like a cozy like.
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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.
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And at that first gathering, we're
mostly just hanging out, getting to
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know each other most of the time.
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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.
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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
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solid in their faith and actually has
read the Bible and maybe even has a
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faith filled friends, but they just want
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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.
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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
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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
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foundation to even show up to Bible study.
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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.
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I always serve tea at.
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I will study or snacks or light some
candles and have some cozy lighting.
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Um, I try not to turn on the overhead
lights as much as possible and just
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have like little lamps or just more
ambient lighting and some candles.
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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.
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I don't know.
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It's just an aesthetic, right?
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And hospitality matters and it
communicates like, I cared about you
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coming here I wanna be intentional
with our time, and you belong here.
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You are meant to be in this space.
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And I cultivated it just for you.
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So, yeah, so that second Bible
study night, I still leave time
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for socialization at the beginning.
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Like I still leave like 15 to 30 minutes
of hangout socialization time before
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we move on to like the quote unquote
content or like, theme of the night.
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This is because like, that's
honestly, you could argue.
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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
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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
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in the journey of faith and just in
life, and know that they have other women
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that are cheering 'em on and supporting
them that really align with them.
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And this isn't gonna happen if you are not
cultivating a space for friendship, which
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means time to literally just hang out.
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So I always set my tea out or a snack, and
as people walk in, we start making our tea
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and eating and chatting and truth be told.
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7:00 PM is when my Bible study starts,
and that's usually when I eat dinner.
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And I'm usually not, um, I don't know.
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I usually just don't have my ish together
enough during the day to have dinner
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before seven, just because life is crazy.
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Um, so I always usually end up eating
my dinner around that time too.
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So we all just kind of gather
around my island or my kitchen
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table and we all have snacks and
tea and, and Mari eats her dinner.
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Um.
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And that's how we start out the night
and then we move to the living room
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and that's when we actually start like
the content or the theme of the night.
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I always start with a prayer.
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:
00:15:07
And then for this first Bible study,
like I just shared, we kind of go into
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:
00:15:10
like storytelling testimony night.
291
:
00:15:13
Don't like put too much pressure on
yourself to open scripture that night.
292
:
00:15:17
I always have a passage picked
out in case there's maybe like.
293
:
00:15:20
Five to 10 minutes at the
end just to end with that.
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:
00:15:23
But I don't really plan for a lot of
like bible study discussion time, um,
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:
00:15:30
for this second meeting because we're
just trying to get to know each other,
296
:
00:15:34
learn each other's faith stories, get
comfortable with talking about our
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:
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faith and sharing about our faith and
being vulnerable and, and personal.
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:
00:15:41
So that's what I do.
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:
00:15:42
And depending on how much, people
talk and share and how long people
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share or how many people you have
in your Bible study that night might
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:
00:15:49
spill into two weeks, and that's okay.
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:
00:15:51
And maybe that second week it
only goes halfway, and then you
303
:
00:15:54
can do like lexio or something to
304
:
00:15:56
wrap up that meeting.
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:
00:15:57
So that's the second week.
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:
00:15:59
Then for the next four to eight weeks, I
recommend sticking to just Lexio Divina
307
:
00:16:04
instead of like a specific Bible study
that really dives into kind of more
308
:
00:16:08
intricate content or specific content.
309
:
00:16:11
Um, I just wanna start with Flexio
Dina, because I just want people to get
310
:
00:16:14
comfortable with opening their bibles
with talking about what resonates with
311
:
00:16:20
them, with sharing more about their
faith openly with the whole group.
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:
00:16:25
So let's talk about the structure of a
Bible study night in these first four
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:
00:16:30
to eight weeks that you're leading it.
314
:
00:16:31
This is what a typical night would
look like, for a Bible study that.
315
:
00:16:35
I would host.
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:
00:16:36
First you have that 15, 20, maybe
30 minute social time chat, pour
317
:
00:16:42
your tea, settle in, hang out, hear
about people's lives, all that stuff.
318
:
00:16:46
Very casual building friendship, right?
319
:
00:16:49
Then we move to the couch
where it's more cozy and deep.
320
:
00:16:52
And I start with a check-in question.
321
:
00:16:54
I always start with a check-in
question because I actually
322
:
00:16:57
wanna know how are people doing?
323
:
00:16:59
How are they coming into
Bible study tonight?
324
:
00:17:02
And just opening up the space and the room
for people to share something on their
325
:
00:17:06
hearts if they wanna bring it to the group
326
:
00:17:09
and just share more about their life.
327
:
00:17:11
So that check-in question might look
different every week, maybe one night.
328
:
00:17:14
It's, how are you coming
into Bible study tonight?
329
:
00:17:17
Other weeks, it's what is the highlight
and low light of your week where you
330
:
00:17:20
basically share, you know, something great
that happened and something that sucked
331
:
00:17:24
or share a God moment from this week.
332
:
00:17:26
Um, or if we're short on time, maybe I'll
do something like kind of creative and
333
:
00:17:31
say, describe your week in three words.
334
:
00:17:33
Um, or if we have more time,
I'll say, describe your week
335
:
00:17:36
in three words and then.
336
:
00:17:37
Explain why those three words
represent your week and then we
337
:
00:17:40
do a little bit more sharing.
338
:
00:17:42
Um, these prompts just help to keep it
kind of like fresh and inviting people to
339
:
00:17:47
share more vulnerably than just, I'm good.
340
:
00:17:49
'cause if all you ask every single
week is, how's everybody doing
341
:
00:17:53
every single week, it can kind of
fall flat and it can kind of fall
342
:
00:17:57
like a little bit stale over time.
343
:
00:17:58
And, and honestly, some
people might just need.
344
:
00:18:02
More prompting, more specific
prompting, um, to know what to
345
:
00:18:06
share, like they wanna share.
346
:
00:18:07
But some people, it's just hard to
kind of dig through their brains and
347
:
00:18:12
come up with something to share about.
348
:
00:18:14
But if you have a little bit more of
a specific prompt, it can help people
349
:
00:18:17
open up more because they'll have more
specific idea of what to be sharing.
350
:
00:18:23
After we do a check-in, I
start with an opening prayer.
351
:
00:18:27
I always lead the prayer at the beginning
because I want people to see and to
352
:
00:18:32
hear prayer out loud in an example
of what it's like to pray out loud
353
:
00:18:36
so they know it doesn't have to sound
fancy or special or you don't have
354
:
00:18:40
to like read a written prayer that.
355
:
00:18:43
Pre-written, right?
356
:
00:18:44
It's just about talking to God
and offering that time to God.
357
:
00:18:48
So I always am the one to start in prayer.
358
:
00:18:51
As a leader, you want to, to lead,
you want to set that example and give
359
:
00:18:57
people the confidence, that this is a
space where they can do that, and that
360
:
00:19:01
there's no judgment and that it doesn't
have to be this perfect, fancy prayer.
361
:
00:19:06
Um, and it can just sound like
you talking to God, right?
362
:
00:19:10
After that opening prayer, then
we jump into our scripture time.
363
:
00:19:14
So I'll pick a passage ahead of time.
364
:
00:19:17
Um, I always recommend starting
with a gospel story because those
365
:
00:19:21
are much more easy, I feel like,
to digest and to discuss than
366
:
00:19:26
something in the Old Testament.
367
:
00:19:28
There's a lot more context that's needed
for the Old Testament and a lot more
368
:
00:19:32
translation that's needed of understanding
how ancient Greek or Aramaic words.
369
:
00:19:38
Actually, you know, what they actually
mean and translate it to, so my, my
370
:
00:19:43
recommendation is start with the gospels.
371
:
00:19:45
Start there and start with Jesus's
words , that he spoke and that he taught.
372
:
00:19:50
So Flexio Divina is reading a passage
multiple times and then reflecting
373
:
00:19:56
and praying with it and seeing how
God is speaking to you through the
374
:
00:19:59
passage and then taking it to prayer.
375
:
00:20:02
So we do.
376
:
00:20:03
A version of that in Bible study
by reading, you know, I'll pick
377
:
00:20:07
out a passage and then reading
it slowly, multiple times.
378
:
00:20:11
Usually I'll start out and I'll
read it once out loud, and then I'll
379
:
00:20:15
give a little space for silence,
and then I'll have everybody read
380
:
00:20:18
it on their own a second time.
381
:
00:20:21
Um, so usually I just prompt that, right?
382
:
00:20:23
So I say, okay, we're
gonna read this passage.
383
:
00:20:26
Um, and then I read it once I leave
a little space for silence, and then
384
:
00:20:30
I say, now read it a second time, and
really just let that sink in right then.
385
:
00:20:35
I leave time for silence for
people to read it on their own.
386
:
00:20:39
Usually I'll read it on my own in silence,
so I know about how long it takes, um,
387
:
00:20:44
for people to read, and I know about
how long of, silence to leave there.
388
:
00:20:48
So.
389
:
00:20:49
I do that and then we
wanna read it a third time.
390
:
00:20:52
Sometimes I ask someone else to read
it out loud too, for that third time,
391
:
00:20:56
just to get people comfortable again
with talking in the group, reading
392
:
00:20:59
scripture, all that kind of stuff.
393
:
00:21:02
Um, I really like doing that.
394
:
00:21:04
And that way I'm not the only one.
395
:
00:21:06
Talking and people get used
to other people talking.
396
:
00:21:09
And so I'll usually choose someone
before I read the first time.
397
:
00:21:13
I'll be like, okay, this is
the passage we're gonna read.
398
:
00:21:16
Um, I'm gonna read it once out loud,
then we're gonna read it on our own
399
:
00:21:20
and then we'll read it a third time.
400
:
00:21:22
Does anybody want to
volunteer to read it.
401
:
00:21:24
Aloud that third time.
402
:
00:21:26
And there might be a little of a pause.
403
:
00:21:28
Just get comfortable with the pause.
404
:
00:21:30
Wait for someone to volunteer, or
you can ask somebody if nobody's
405
:
00:21:33
volunteering and be like, Hey, Becky.
406
:
00:21:37
Would you like to read it?
407
:
00:21:38
Usually people won't say no.
408
:
00:21:40
So I don't think I've ever
really had to call on someone.
409
:
00:21:43
I think someone eventually, eventually
offers, so then for the third time
410
:
00:21:49
they go and I always tell them
like, I'm just gonna leave silent.
411
:
00:21:52
You pick when you wanna jump in and read.
412
:
00:21:55
Feel free to leave as much, you
know, space in between as you want.
413
:
00:21:58
And then they'll go in and
read the passage a third time.
414
:
00:22:03
And then after that we start the
discussion and I usually ask, what's
415
:
00:22:07
standing out to you in this passage?
416
:
00:22:09
Like, what's resonating?
417
:
00:22:10
What's lingering in your heart?
418
:
00:22:13
These questions, I feel
like are a low intimidation.
419
:
00:22:17
Type of question.
420
:
00:22:18
People don't need to
know the right answer.
421
:
00:22:21
They don't need to know
scripture like the back of their
422
:
00:22:24
hand to answer this question.
423
:
00:22:26
They don't need to have any sort of
theological training or knowledge
424
:
00:22:29
or know how to interpret it.
425
:
00:22:32
They just need to share what
strikes them and everybody can have
426
:
00:22:37
and can form an opinion, right?
427
:
00:22:39
So it should be pretty low
stakes to ask that question and
428
:
00:22:43
to get the conversation going.
429
:
00:22:46
And especially if this is your first
time leading a group, I just wanna say
430
:
00:22:49
that one of the best skills is getting
comfortable with silence and realizing
431
:
00:22:54
that you don't need to rush to fill it.
432
:
00:22:56
You need to let it sit and
it's okay to let it sit.
433
:
00:23:00
And if you struggle with this and
you kind of just like wanna jump in
434
:
00:23:04
in the silence or like answer the
question yourself, I encourage you
435
:
00:23:07
to just like pray a slow hail Mary in
your head and give people that space.
436
:
00:23:13
I think usually someone will
eventually speak, right?
437
:
00:23:17
If not on the off chance
set, nobody speaks.
438
:
00:23:19
You are free to jump in and be like, I
have something, I'm happy to go first.
439
:
00:23:26
Um, and just say that like calmly
and, and, and casually, right.
440
:
00:23:29
No judgment that nobody's talking,
but just kind of be like, it's okay.
441
:
00:23:32
Like, I have something I can share
and, and I can go first and by
442
:
00:23:36
you just saying I can go first.
443
:
00:23:38
It just communicates like, I'm gonna
go now I'm gonna go first, but like.
444
:
00:23:42
Someone's gonna go second,
you know what I mean?
445
:
00:23:44
Like more people are gonna go after me.
446
:
00:23:46
But I'll take that
brave step and go first.
447
:
00:23:49
And if your group's a little bit more
quiet or a little shy or not comfortable
448
:
00:23:53
with each other yet you doing that will
give them more confidence and I almost
449
:
00:23:57
can guarantee you that after you do that,
someone else will step in and speak.
450
:
00:24:01
And then when someone shares,
I want you to affirm them.
451
:
00:24:05
I want you to engage with what
they shared, because this helps
452
:
00:24:09
create a conversational culture
instead of everybody just
453
:
00:24:14
going in a circle or just like.
454
:
00:24:17
Popcorning somebody else, and just
having it be kind of this more like
455
:
00:24:20
structured thing where someone says
something, then there's a lot of silence,
456
:
00:24:23
and then someone says something else,
like someone says what stood out to
457
:
00:24:26
them, and then the next person goes,
and then it's just silent like you.
458
:
00:24:31
Kind of interjecting after they've
shared to affirm what they've said
459
:
00:24:34
or add on to what they've said or
offer, additional perspective to what
460
:
00:24:38
they've said or just engage with it.
461
:
00:24:41
Just be like, oh, like
that was really good.
462
:
00:24:43
Thank you for sharing.
463
:
00:24:45
That creates a culture of engagement
and conversation in the group.
464
:
00:24:51
And it helps to kind of train your
small group and show an example of
465
:
00:24:55
what it looks like to engage with
another participant's thought or
466
:
00:24:59
opinion and what they were sharing.
467
:
00:25:01
Um, and by you.
468
:
00:25:03
Responding to them, you're showing people
like we can all respond to each other.
469
:
00:25:07
We can have this be a conversation.
470
:
00:25:09
It doesn't have to be like a presentation.
471
:
00:25:11
It doesn't have to be you presenting
and then prompting people to talk
472
:
00:25:15
and then you presenting again.
473
:
00:25:16
Right?
474
:
00:25:17
You're setting that culture of like,
we can all chat casually about this.
475
:
00:25:20
This doesn't have to be this,
like really, you know, stiff
476
:
00:25:24
conversation with a lot of structure.
477
:
00:25:26
And I just encourage you
to come prepared yourself.
478
:
00:25:29
I want you to pray with the passage
ahead of time and have like two to
479
:
00:25:33
three points that stuck out to you
and two to three reflections ready to
480
:
00:25:38
go so that if the conversation slows.
481
:
00:25:40
You can keep it going and you should
definitely be sharing what stood out
482
:
00:25:44
to you as well in the conversation.
483
:
00:25:45
And if people are having a hard time
keeping the conversation going or if
484
:
00:25:49
what they're sharing is just really short
and you're like, oh crap, we still have
485
:
00:25:53
like 30 minutes left of bible study.
486
:
00:25:55
What am I supposed to say?
487
:
00:25:56
Having two to three.
488
:
00:25:58
Points that you, that stood out to you.
489
:
00:26:01
We'll just continue to keep the
conversation going so as there's
490
:
00:26:04
a little bit more silence, you can
jump back in and say, oh, you know,
491
:
00:26:07
like there's another part that
stuck out to me in, in this verse.
492
:
00:26:11
Here's what stuck out
to me and here's why.
493
:
00:26:14
What do you guys think about that?
494
:
00:26:15
I love to end with the question after
I share a reflection because it invites
495
:
00:26:20
the participant to engage once again and.
496
:
00:26:23
Hopefully your Bible study like
wants to be there and wants to
497
:
00:26:26
engage, and I think most of the time
if you're showing up to that, you
498
:
00:26:29
do, but also as human beings like.
499
:
00:26:32
We're just naturally lazy, right?
500
:
00:26:34
And if we have the choice to sit
back or engaged, I think a lot of
501
:
00:26:37
the times we opt for sitting back.
502
:
00:26:39
And so if somebody, AKA, the leader is
just like chatting the whole time without
503
:
00:26:43
ever prompting space for conversation,
it can be really easy as the participant
504
:
00:26:47
to just kind of sit back and listen and
just be like, wow, this is super nice.
505
:
00:26:50
I heard Mari talk for 35 minutes
today about X, Y, Z in the Bible.
506
:
00:26:57
Ending your reflections with
like a question that prompts the
507
:
00:27:01
participants to join in again, is
really good to keep conversation going.
508
:
00:27:05
Some things you can ask are, you
know, after you say your reflection
509
:
00:27:09
and what do you think about that,
or how does that strike you, or
510
:
00:27:12
how does that sit with you or.
511
:
00:27:15
You share something that relates
to your life and then ask, how does
512
:
00:27:18
this relate to your guys' life?
513
:
00:27:19
Can you relate this back to your own life?
514
:
00:27:21
And the more you meet, the more
these Bible studies accumulate,
515
:
00:27:25
the more comfortable everybody's
going to get sharing with each
516
:
00:27:29
other, opening up and entering into
discussion, which is, which is amazing.
517
:
00:27:33
You grow with time.
518
:
00:27:34
So be patient at the beginning.
519
:
00:27:36
Once your group is more comfortable, then
you can move into more of a structured
520
:
00:27:40
study, um, maybe a specific book of the
Bible you wanna learn more about, or
521
:
00:27:44
a study guide from a trusted ministry.
522
:
00:27:47
Um, something that's a little bit
more like catechetical or educational.
523
:
00:27:51
And you can even pull your
group and let them help choose
524
:
00:27:55
what you're gonna do next.
525
:
00:27:56
And that's really great to do because
you wanna know , where is the group at?
526
:
00:27:59
What are we feeling?
527
:
00:28:01
Um, you wanna also kind of take note of
do you have all Catholics in your group?
528
:
00:28:06
Do you have kind of a mix of
Christian denominations and Catholics?
529
:
00:28:11
Um, and kind of know your audience and
know like, okay, if I have a mix, is
530
:
00:28:15
there gonna be a lot of openness to do a.
531
:
00:28:18
Bible study on the catechism
specifically about what the Catholic
532
:
00:28:22
Church teaches, maybe, but I would
check in with people to see, right?
533
:
00:28:27
Maybe people wanna learn more
about the Gospel of John.
534
:
00:28:32
Maybe people wanna learn more about.
535
:
00:28:34
The mass and what we do in the mass
and the different parts of the mass.
536
:
00:28:38
I know that there's incredible Catholic
Bible studies that dive into topics like
537
:
00:28:42
that, and I think you just have to know
your audience and see where they're at and
538
:
00:28:45
what they're really ready to jump into.
539
:
00:28:48
So, poll your audience.
540
:
00:28:50
Maybe picking two or three that you
have done research beforehand and
541
:
00:28:54
that you'd be comfortable leading.
542
:
00:28:56
Send a little poll out or
after a Bible study night.
543
:
00:29:00
Share a little bit about each and
then have people share kind of what
544
:
00:29:03
they'd be interested in doing next.
545
:
00:29:05
And I like to split the year up into two.
546
:
00:29:07
So I start my Bible studies in
October, and then we go through May,
547
:
00:29:10
and then we have a summer break.
548
:
00:29:12
So October through January-ish, I will do
more low key things like Lexio, Davina, or
549
:
00:29:22
maybe a book of the Bible that we're just
reading different chapters on, but not.
550
:
00:29:28
A super educational
study and that's just me.
551
:
00:29:30
There's not truly a
rhyme or reason for that.
552
:
00:29:33
Um, I'm not saying that not
doing that is the wrong answer.
553
:
00:29:37
You gotta know your group
and know what they need.
554
:
00:29:39
But I think for me, that last
quarter of the year, I say quarter
555
:
00:29:44
'cause I'm thinking about it in
like business terms, um, that.
556
:
00:29:48
Those last three months of the year
are insanely busy for a lot of people,
557
:
00:29:52
but especially for me and what I do for
work, it's the craziest time of the year.
558
:
00:29:57
So I need to have like the easiest least
amount of prep during those months.
559
:
00:30:03
Um, which is why Alexio Dina
is really amazing because
560
:
00:30:06
it's just really easy prep.
561
:
00:30:08
Versus a more content heavy Bible study
or educational Bible study is definitely
562
:
00:30:13
going to require the leader to spend
more time with the content beforehand
563
:
00:30:17
to really know the information, to
be able to lead on it well, right.
564
:
00:30:22
Also, I just feel like that fall and
wintertime of the year is just like.
565
:
00:30:26
Cozy, right?
566
:
00:30:27
Everybody just wants to be cozy.
567
:
00:30:28
And so that is setting the scene for,
for me, for my group, I feel like
568
:
00:30:33
we get deep, we build relationship,
um, we, you know, share prayer.
569
:
00:30:39
We just pray together.
570
:
00:30:40
We just re.
571
:
00:30:41
Scripture and pray together and have space
for peace in the middle of our weeks, um,
572
:
00:30:47
which at the end of the year during the
holidays as well, gets really busy and
573
:
00:30:51
I think people really appreciate that.
574
:
00:30:54
And then in the spring, usually
January through, um, may, I'll
575
:
00:30:59
do more structured Bible studies.
576
:
00:31:01
So, let's see.
577
:
00:31:02
Last year we did the crux from
focus, which is a really good, I
578
:
00:31:06
would say beginner bible study, but.
579
:
00:31:08
Anybody can do it because it's
just reiterating the truth of the
580
:
00:31:13
gospel and the story of the gospel.
581
:
00:31:15
Um, and going even deeper into that.
582
:
00:31:17
So we've all heard the gospel.
583
:
00:31:19
Well, that's actually not true.
584
:
00:31:20
I didn't hear the gospel
actually like be shared with
585
:
00:31:23
me until I became a missionary,
which was way later in my life.
586
:
00:31:28
Um, I was born Catholic and nobody had
ever shared the gospel with me, so, um.
587
:
00:31:32
Maybe not everybody has
heard, has heard the gospel.
588
:
00:31:34
I would, I would bet to differ that
most Catholics probably haven't.
589
:
00:31:38
And this Bible study shares the
message of the gospel and presents
590
:
00:31:42
these fundamental faith, foundations
and teachings and truths that we might
591
:
00:31:48
have heard growing up that we probably
didn't in our Catholic formation.
592
:
00:31:53
But as adults, we come to see it with
new eyes, and with deeper understanding.
593
:
00:31:58
So.
594
:
00:31:59
Anyways, I'm getting sidetracked.
595
:
00:32:01
I'll make sure to link different
bible studies that I recommend
596
:
00:32:04
in the show notes, so I'll make
sure to link that one as well.
597
:
00:32:06
Um, but yeah, then in the spring I kind of
jump into more content heavy Bible study.
598
:
00:32:12
So anyways, you check in, you
pray, you get into your content.
599
:
00:32:17
You discuss and then at the
end of each night, I encourage
600
:
00:32:21
someone else to close in prayer.
601
:
00:32:24
I want everybody to have practice
praying out loud and get comfortable
602
:
00:32:29
with it because it's a skill that as
Christians, we need to be okay with.
603
:
00:32:35
And I feel like.
604
:
00:32:37
Catholics in general that I
have encountered are a little
605
:
00:32:41
bit more intimidated by it.
606
:
00:32:43
Um, I don't know.
607
:
00:32:44
I just feel like it's not the
culture we really grew up in, but
608
:
00:32:47
I think it is really important.
609
:
00:32:48
I think a lot of us grew up in a culture
where religion and prayer is like really.
610
:
00:32:54
Private thing.
611
:
00:32:55
Um, and so it's uncomfortable
or awkward to say out loud.
612
:
00:32:59
Um, but we wanna get rid of that.
613
:
00:33:00
We wanna be able to pray out loud.
614
:
00:33:01
It's so powerful.
615
:
00:33:03
Um, Jesus says, we're two or more,
gather in my name, I am with you.
616
:
00:33:07
And so in this opportunity, you have
to be gathered with multiple people.
617
:
00:33:10
Pray, pray out loud.
618
:
00:33:12
It is, it's so powerful and it's really,
it just builds you up and it builds up
619
:
00:33:17
the church and it builds up community.
620
:
00:33:18
So.
621
:
00:33:20
Encourage someone to close in
prayer at first, no one will
622
:
00:33:23
probably wanna do it because people
will be nervous and that's okay.
623
:
00:33:26
Okay.
624
:
00:33:27
Give a little space for silence again.
625
:
00:33:29
And sometimes if nobody, if nobody
volunteers, you might gently ask
626
:
00:33:33
someone like, Hey, would you be
open to praying us out tonight?
627
:
00:33:36
Becky?
628
:
00:33:37
I'm just, I don't even
have a friend named Becky.
629
:
00:33:40
You guys, I just keep
using Becky as an example.
630
:
00:33:43
Um, and always remind them when you
prompt them to pray or when you're asking
631
:
00:33:47
someone to volunteer to pray, always
remind them that there's no judgment.
632
:
00:33:50
It doesn't have to sound fancy.
633
:
00:33:52
You're not looking for anything specific.
634
:
00:33:53
There's no right or wrong way to do it.
635
:
00:33:55
You just wanna encourage them
to talk to God like a friend.
636
:
00:34:00
Over time, your group will get
more confident, women will get more
637
:
00:34:04
confident, and that's just part of
the formation and the discipleship
638
:
00:34:08
that is happening in this group.
639
:
00:34:09
'cause this group isn't just about
showing up and leaving, it's about
640
:
00:34:13
growing as disciples and even
building up leaders in your group.
641
:
00:34:17
Right?
642
:
00:34:18
Because the, the point of
bible study is one to have.
643
:
00:34:23
Faith-filled community
in your life, right?
644
:
00:34:25
To have those sisters in Christ that
you can walk with because community
645
:
00:34:28
is so important for our walk of faith.
646
:
00:34:30
Two, is to grow in our own faith
and be strengthened in our own
647
:
00:34:34
faith and knowledge of the faith.
648
:
00:34:36
And then three, to be built
up and to be sent out like.
649
:
00:34:40
What is the purpose of growing in faith
and fervor for your faith if you are
650
:
00:34:45
not gonna go out and share it, right?
651
:
00:34:47
Like of course your relationship with God
is important, but also we want that to
652
:
00:34:52
set a fire in our soul so that then we
can go out and share about that incredible
653
:
00:34:56
relationship with God, with other people.
654
:
00:34:58
So that.
655
:
00:34:58
Everybody can have that.
656
:
00:35:00
So the purpose of this Bible study
as well , for you as a leader, is
657
:
00:35:03
to build people up and help them
grow as disciples and leaders.
658
:
00:35:07
Now, don't let that scare you.
659
:
00:35:08
Don't let that think that you're not
capable of leading a Bible study, okay?
660
:
00:35:12
The Lord's going to equip you, and if
he's calling you to lead a Bible study,
661
:
00:35:15
and if you feel that nudge, he's going
to give you the tools that you need.
662
:
00:35:18
To be able to lead well and
to be able to build people up.
663
:
00:35:22
And there's a lot of resources
that I can share too.
664
:
00:35:25
Um, and I'll link them in the show notes.
665
:
00:35:27
So just some practical things.
666
:
00:35:31
Plan for one to two hours,
depending on your group.
667
:
00:35:35
I feel like when I led.
668
:
00:35:36
College students, usually 60
minutes was kind of the max
669
:
00:35:40
time that we allotted for it.
670
:
00:35:42
If it was a really good group that
was really engaged and bought in,
671
:
00:35:46
sometimes it would go 90 minutes or
people would just stay late and chat.
672
:
00:35:49
That's awesome.
673
:
00:35:50
Try and get through your content in the
first 60 minutes and then spend time
674
:
00:35:54
hanging out with anybody that wants
to stay, um, for women in that next.
675
:
00:35:58
Stage of life after college,
maybe twenties and thirties.
676
:
00:36:00
I feel like two hours
usually works really great.
677
:
00:36:04
Um, my group meets for about two
hours, sometimes two and a half hours.
678
:
00:36:07
And that's usually because we spend
the first 30 and the last 30 minutes
679
:
00:36:11
just hanging out because this is
also like our weekly friend time.
680
:
00:36:14
So, um, feel free to just have it go
longer if you feel like that's what
681
:
00:36:18
your group needs and is open to.
682
:
00:36:21
But you wanna start and end on time
because it builds consistency and
683
:
00:36:25
it builds trust, and you want to
be consistent with doing it in the
684
:
00:36:30
timeframe that you said that you would.
685
:
00:36:32
Right.
686
:
00:36:33
If you said it's gonna be a
weekly Bible study, you need
687
:
00:36:36
to commit to doing it weekly.
688
:
00:36:37
If you said that you're going to do
a biweekly study, stick to biweekly.
689
:
00:36:42
Really try not to miss something.
690
:
00:36:44
If you can't make it, ask someone
else to host or lead that night
691
:
00:36:48
instead of just canceling.
692
:
00:36:50
I try to rarely cancel a Bible study
because I want this to be a consistent
693
:
00:36:54
space people know that they can go to.
694
:
00:36:57
Um, so I usually ask someone else
in the group if they're willing to
695
:
00:37:00
host and lead Bible study for that
night, and that way people can keep
696
:
00:37:04
meeting without skipping a beat.
697
:
00:37:06
And if I'm outta town for some reason, on.
698
:
00:37:09
A weekday night, Bible
study doesn't stop right.
699
:
00:37:11
And people know that they can rely on
that in that space and in this group.
700
:
00:37:16
Um, I think that's all I've got for you.
701
:
00:37:18
I think those are all my tips right now.
702
:
00:37:21
I know leading can feel intimidating
at first, or you might feel
703
:
00:37:24
like, who am I to do this?
704
:
00:37:26
I don't know the Bible well, I
don't know my faith good enough.
705
:
00:37:29
I'm not a missionary.
706
:
00:37:30
Look, when I first led
a Bible study, I was.
707
:
00:37:34
A sophomore in college and I didn't know
everything I know about the faith now.
708
:
00:37:38
I was never trained in how to
lead a Bible study and I felt very
709
:
00:37:42
under equipped, and I felt very
underqualified to lead a Bible study.
710
:
00:37:46
I was like, I'm just a girl that really
loves Jesus, but I don't know the Bible
711
:
00:37:50
and I probably don't know church teaching
as well as maybe this other person.
712
:
00:37:54
Um, but it's not about.
713
:
00:37:57
Being the one who knows the most in
the room, it's literally just about
714
:
00:38:01
being someone who has a heart for
God and a heart for God's people.
715
:
00:38:05
Like you wanna have a heart for God.
716
:
00:38:07
You wanna know, and love, and
serve the Lord and make an effort
717
:
00:38:10
in your life to be growing in
your relationship with the Lord.
718
:
00:38:13
You guys know, I say this literally
almost every podcast, but you need
719
:
00:38:17
to be praying every day, especially
if you're leading a Bible study or
720
:
00:38:20
if you're hoping to lead other people
or preparing to lead other people.
721
:
00:38:23
You need to be praying every day.
722
:
00:38:25
You need to be cultivating a prayer
life, 15 to 30 minutes a day where
723
:
00:38:29
you are talking to God, where you are
journaling your prayer, where you are
724
:
00:38:32
reading scripture, where you are leaving
space in silence for God to talk to
725
:
00:38:37
you where you are going to adoration.
726
:
00:38:39
This is going to make it so that you
are pouring out from an overflow of
727
:
00:38:43
what the Lord is pouring into you.
728
:
00:38:46
You can't serve people well if
it's not coming from the Lord.
729
:
00:38:50
Right?
730
:
00:38:52
And you can't evangelize well
if it's not coming first from
731
:
00:38:55
what God is pouring into you.
732
:
00:38:57
And so let God equip you.
733
:
00:39:00
He will.
734
:
00:39:01
He will equip you.
735
:
00:39:01
You don't need to be a theologian, you
don't need to have all the answers.
736
:
00:39:05
Um, people literally are
just craving a friendship.
737
:
00:39:08
People are craving community.
738
:
00:39:10
People are craving
honesty and authenticity.
739
:
00:39:13
And people are very interested to open
up the word of God because it's an
740
:
00:39:17
intimidating book, um, that a lot of
people haven't actually read through.
741
:
00:39:21
Even if they are Catholic or Christian,
they've maybe read snippets here
742
:
00:39:25
and there or just really heard it
in mass, um, or at church, but.
743
:
00:39:30
They really just want a space to
build friendships and to finally open
744
:
00:39:34
this holy book that they know can
be so powerful in their lives and.
745
:
00:39:40
And just lean in.
746
:
00:39:41
Just lean in to the
process and edit as you go.
747
:
00:39:45
If something didn't work out, if you
know, maybe the questions you were asking
748
:
00:39:50
were too broad or not specific enough
or whatever, like you just edit as you
749
:
00:39:54
go and you kind of take note of like,
wow, that was a really good Bible study.
750
:
00:39:57
Like, why was that so good?
751
:
00:39:58
Or, Ooh, this one fell short.
752
:
00:40:00
Like this one kind of felt
a little awkward, like.
753
:
00:40:02
Why was that?
754
:
00:40:03
You know, kind of do audits
afterwards, um, just to yourself to
755
:
00:40:07
be like, okay, how can I improve?
756
:
00:40:08
How can I grow?
757
:
00:40:09
But don't wait to be, quote unquote,
the perfect leader before you
758
:
00:40:13
lead, because leading is what's
going to make you better at it.
759
:
00:40:18
And so you just gotta jump in.
760
:
00:40:20
Bible study.
761
:
00:40:20
is amazing you guys.
762
:
00:40:22
Small groups are amazing.
763
:
00:40:23
Some of the most life-giving friendships
I have ever had has come from small
764
:
00:40:27
groups, women who know my heart,
who know my faith, who walk with
765
:
00:40:31
me through both joy and suffering.
766
:
00:40:34
And I want that for you too.
767
:
00:40:35
And I know that you can create
that in your community too.
768
:
00:40:38
So if you've been waiting for it.
769
:
00:40:40
Or if you've been waiting for a sign,
this is your moment, this is your sign.
770
:
00:40:44
Just start.
771
:
00:40:46
Start by inviting a few women,
even if it's two other women
772
:
00:40:49
and it's just three of you.
773
:
00:40:52
Don't think that you can't do bible
study 'cause you don't have a huge group.
774
:
00:40:55
Start with whoever can
come and just do it.
775
:
00:40:58
Just open the doors to your home.
776
:
00:41:01
Pray with each other, build
friendship, open scriptures, and
777
:
00:41:04
trust that God is gonna do the rest.
778
:
00:41:06
Okay?
779
:
00:41:07
Pray about your Bible study.
780
:
00:41:08
Surrender to him and trust all to him.
781
:
00:41:10
And trust that he's going
to take care of the rest.
782
:
00:41:14
Oh man, that was a good one.
783
:
00:41:16
Thanks so much for joining
me today, you guys.
784
:
00:41:18
I really hope that this gave you
good encouragement and a game plan.
785
:
00:41:22
Okay, now you have a game
plan to move forward.
786
:
00:41:25
So if you do start a group
after this episode, you know
787
:
00:41:28
that I wanna hear about it.
788
:
00:41:30
Send me a message on Instagram and
tell me how it's going, or feel free
789
:
00:41:33
to DM me and ask me any questions
of like what to do or tactics or.
790
:
00:41:39
Whatever questions you
have, ask me on Instagram.
791
:
00:41:42
I'd love to help you.
792
:
00:41:43
And if this episode was helpful, share
it with a friend who might be ready to
793
:
00:41:46
also step out and start a group too.
794
:
00:41:49
Or if you're like, I really can't start
one by myself, which I know you can,
795
:
00:41:53
but if you really feel like you can't
find a buddy to start it with and you
796
:
00:41:58
share the responsibility and you switch
off hosting , and you can both listen
797
:
00:42:01
to this episode and then get coffee
and plan your Bible study together.
798
:
00:42:06
Okay.
799
:
00:42:06
Now we're gonna move into the last segment
of this episode, which is ever be answers.
800
:
00:42:11
This is where I answer one of your
questions every single episode, and then
801
:
00:42:16
at the end I'll let you know what the.
802
:
00:42:18
Other questions are that our Patreon
community, the Kingdom Club is asking,
803
:
00:42:23
and then we'll answer the rest in the
after party episode, which is our bonus
804
:
00:42:27
episode for our Kingdom Club community.
805
:
00:42:29
So if you wanna be a part of that, the
link to join will be in the show notes.
806
:
00:42:32
But let's kick it off with the question.
807
:
00:42:34
This is very fitting for
the month of the rosary.
808
:
00:42:37
The question is, how do you make
praying the rosary a daily habit?
809
:
00:42:43
I used to think praying the rosary daily
was impossible or just way too much
810
:
00:42:49
because I used to feel like the rosary
just was a super, super long prayer.
811
:
00:42:53
I thought it took like 30 minutes
and that there was no way I
812
:
00:42:57
could fit that into my day.
813
:
00:42:59
And you know what?
814
:
00:43:00
I was wrong and.
815
:
00:43:02
It's funny, I, when I started praying
the Rosary Daily or building it as
816
:
00:43:06
a Hobbit, it just happened like one
day to the next, and it was because
817
:
00:43:11
I read the 15 Promises of the Rosary.
818
:
00:43:15
When I read those those promises,
and I can't even remember
819
:
00:43:18
where I came across them.
820
:
00:43:20
I came across 'em somehow
and I read 'em and I.
821
:
00:43:22
Realize that these promises were
so good were just way too good
822
:
00:43:27
for me not to lean into that.
823
:
00:43:29
Um, I will make sure to link these also
in the show notes so you can read 'em.
824
:
00:43:33
And I read those and I was like, you're
telling me that if I pray the rosary every
825
:
00:43:37
day with, with real faith and devotion,
Mary promises these 15 things to all
826
:
00:43:43
those who'd faithfully do this, I'm so in.
827
:
00:43:46
So first step is to go read those
so that you can have conviction of,
828
:
00:43:50
of praying the rosary every day.
829
:
00:43:52
And then two, once I realized I could pray
the rosary in 15 minutes, I could give
830
:
00:43:59
15 minutes of my time to the Lord, right?
831
:
00:44:02
I spend.
832
:
00:44:03
At least an hour scrolling
on my phone, if not more.
833
:
00:44:06
or I spend an hour watching a show at
the end of the day or something, right?
834
:
00:44:10
Like we spend time on some sort of
screen, whether that's social media
835
:
00:44:14
or YouTube or TV, every single day.
836
:
00:44:16
So I knew I can give 15 minutes of my
day to the Lord, and I, I allowed that
837
:
00:44:22
to be a truth in my heart, um, and a
promise that I wanted to make to the
838
:
00:44:26
Lord that he was worthy of my time,
and even 15 minutes of my entire day.
839
:
00:44:32
Two.
840
:
00:44:33
I know that to build a habit, you need
to be doing it consistently every day.
841
:
00:44:38
And when I was first starting, I
wasn't doing it consistently every
842
:
00:44:41
day, and it wasn't a habit in my life.
843
:
00:44:43
And so I needed to somehow
make it something that I
844
:
00:44:45
could go back to every day.
845
:
00:44:47
And to do that, I habit stacked.
846
:
00:44:50
So I chose an action that I already had
as a habit in my day-to-day life, and
847
:
00:44:54
I stacked the rosary on top of that.
848
:
00:44:57
When I started to do this, I
had a 15 minute commute to work.
849
:
00:45:01
Um, this is when I was a missionary,
and that happened to be the
850
:
00:45:05
perfect time to pray my rosary.
851
:
00:45:06
So every single day while I was
driving to work, I prayed my rosary.
852
:
00:45:10
Right now, what it looks like for me
is getting ready for bed, taking off
853
:
00:45:14
my makeup, doing my skincare, brushing
my teeth, getting all tucked into bed.
854
:
00:45:20
That usually takes me
around 15 to 20 minutes.
855
:
00:45:23
And so I will play my rosary on
hallow or just pray it on my beads.
856
:
00:45:29
Um, and I stack that with
my nighttime routine.
857
:
00:45:32
So for me, that has been the
most helpful thing to, to
858
:
00:45:36
consistently pray it every day.
859
:
00:45:39
Um, I.
860
:
00:45:40
I would love, honestly, to get to
a point in my life where I just sit
861
:
00:45:45
down and, and pray the rosary and just
get on my needs and pray the rosary.
862
:
00:45:50
And so, um, I think I'm gonna
try and do that this October.
863
:
00:45:54
'cause this October I'm praying a daily
rosary for the month of the rosary.
864
:
00:45:58
but anyways, yeah, habit stack.
865
:
00:46:00
Habit stack is basically like my hack
for praying the rosary every day.
866
:
00:46:04
And after a while it just
becomes second nature.
867
:
00:46:06
And the day that you don't do
it, you're gonna notice and
868
:
00:46:09
you're kind of gonna miss it.
869
:
00:46:10
You're gonna feel that like hole,
that not praying the rosary had left
870
:
00:46:14
in your day and in your heart, and
you're gonna wanna go back to it.
871
:
00:46:17
So
872
:
00:46:19
that's my advice for you.