Explore the Bible®

Launch Guide for Explore The Bible

by

What dwells in you controls you. What you think about, hear, read, and watch—good or bad—you soak these things up like a sponge. That’s why it is essential that we let the Word of God dwell in us! Explore the Bible is a book-by-book Bible study for adults, students, and kids designed to do just that—to help us know the Word deeply and allow it to dwell in us. Specifically, Explore the Bible helps participants understand each text in the context of the entire Bible, promoting an accurate understanding of the text, and preparing them to live out the text in their own life context.

If you are about to begin Explore the Bible in your church, the information below is intended to help you prepare and spread the word in your church.

What to Communicate About Explore the Bible Before you do anything, familiarize yourself with Explore the Bible. The people you lead, or lead with, will also need to become familiar with everything as well. Here are some essential questions and answers that provide an overview of Explore the Bible.

Why Explore the Bible? For every Christian, a deep knowledge of the Word helps make the difference between a shallow faith and a life of trust and obedience. This intimacy with the Word develops as we dedicate our lives to reading and studying it personally, in community with others, and regularly examining how it should impact us every day.

What is the Purpose of Explore the Bible? Explore the Bible helps small groups and Sunday School classes of all ages go deep into God’s Word through book-by-book Bible study. These studies frame biblical truths within their greater biblical context to ensure a proper understanding of each passage. Participants are then challenged to live on mission in their own life context.

What is the Intended Outcome of Explore the Bible?

To develop people who know Christ and personally exhibit:

  •  Spiritual disciplines •
  • Continual repentance

To develop servants in the community of faith that:

  • Actively participate and engage
  • Serving others with their spiritual gifts

What are indicators that Explore the Bible is working?

  • People and groups grow in their knowledge of and love for Scripture.
  • Families are equipped to grow stronger together as they apply the Bible to their lives.
  • The discussion that takes place within the sessions will build community around the truths of God’s Word.
  • By studying Scripture in context, your people will be equipped to understand the intent of Scripture and better apply it in their daily lives.
  • As a result, your people will begin to share how living out their faith has impacted their daily lives.

How to Effectively Get People on Board with Explore the Bible Once the decision has been made to switch to Explore the Bible, it is important to begin communicating the transition as soon as possible. If you are a pastor or leader begin meeting with ministry and group leaders. If you have several group leaders, host training specifically focused on Explore the Bible. Here are some resources that can help you cast vision and train your leaders as you transition to Explore the Bible Regardless of how long you have until your launch, you will want to introduce Explore the Bible, train your leadership, and then promote Explore the Bible to your church.

Step 1: Introduce We encourage you to introduce these elements in a meeting and follow up with your leaders via email:

  • Share the Explore the Bible Study Plan. (Download by clicking here.)
  • Preview Explore the Bible here and send your team sample sessions.
  • Link them to some Videos from Explore the Bible.

Step 2: Train These elements can be introduced in a meeting or through email. If you decide to send them via email, follow up with a phone call to encourage your leaders to look at the materials, clarify anything that needs to be communicated, and answer any questions they may have:

  • Explore the Bible Training Videos
  • Detailed Schedule for Semester/Quarter (create your church’s own schedule or follow the leader guide table of contents)
  • Teach through an Explore the Bible session

Step 3: Promote Share the news of Explore the Bible with your congregation.

  • Invite your congregation to follow Explore the Bible on Twitter, or Facebook.
  • Share Explore the Bible Videos.

Then, invite your congregation to pray for your church as you step into a book-by-book journey through every book of the Bible! Watch God change lives as people allow the Word of God to dwell in them and transform them. The Word of God does not return void!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. I am having trouble finding the videos for the Sunday School helps such as the Tony Evans introduction to Ezra. I don’t find the Lifeway home page very user friendly.

  3. Need for study Chinese and english wording together when using the Explore the Bible personal study guide.Lifeway adults.
    Do you have this kind of material? If not do you have suggestions as to where it can be obtained.

  5. I am a first time teacher and my lesson is on humanity’s fall in genesis 3:1-7,14-19.
    do you have any suggestions on how I should lead the group

  7. We are just finishing up the Hebrews Initiative on Wednesday evenings, and will devote November-January to a study in the Sermon on the Mount. I just received an email about #prayerActs, but I don’t see an Acts Explore the Bible study book on the Lifeway site. Will one be available? Thanks.

  8. We started the summer kid’s session of the 13 weeks study of the Explore the Bible. I purchased the kit with the leader’s guide, DVD, and enhanced CD. Session 2 suggest a print out of the lampstand for the 10 min. getting started part. This is not included in the picture folder from the CD. Please help me in locating this.

    Thank you,

    • Hi Jyna,

      Someone from our Kids team, or from Customer Service should be in-touch with you in the next few days! God bless you and your ministry. Thank you for ministering to kids!

  10. I am really NEW and I do understand how any of this works. I just want a bible study for myself that I can use here at home. One where I could see some answers and have a question/answer type see. I don’t know. Something where I have more then just my idea/thought.

    Charlotte “CHARLIE” Watkins

    • Hi Charlie,

      Explore the Bible is designed for groups to use together. It seems like you may be looking for a personal devotional book with reflection questions. The Personal Study Guides given to group members that use Explore the Bible can serve as personal devotional material that allows group members to reflect on the previous week’s meeting and prepare for the next week’s meeting. However, these resources may be more along the lines of what you are looking for: http://www.lifeway.com/Product/lcs-custom-100-days-in-the-proverbs-P005790855

  11. Downloaded The fall and spring leader training videos, guide and sermons ideas These have help me become a better teach. The older adults which I am part of teaching appreciate Explore The Bible series. They let me know after class how much they have learned which comes from these lesions you have provided. Thank you and God bless. Keep up the hard work.