While Joy of Living Bible studies are designed so that anyone can start a class, there are responsibilities that come along with being a leader. Here are some tips for improving your leadership, whether you are running a class for two people or two hundred.

• Make certain you are in fellowship with the Lord.
  

  Be excited about the discoveries made by others.

• Make certain you are on time.
• Dress appropriately – always modestly.
• Know your material well.
• Use visuals (graphs, diagrams, maps, etc.)
• Make certain you’ve done your homework (even if your group is doing it together in class).
• Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”
• At the end of class sum up what you’ve covered and what conclusions you’ve come to.
• Be enthusiastic.
• Use your sense of humor.
• Be excited about the discoveries made by others.
• Know your group­—pace your lesson according to them.
• If an individual seems slow to grasp the information, contact them privately. Ask them if they have any questions you could help them with.
• If someone seems to grasp the material more quickly than the others, contact them privately. Ask them if they would like additional resources or materials for their personal study.
• Create an atmosphere of love and acceptance.
  

  Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”

• Always keep personal information confidential.
• Never talk about someone negatively.
• Make time in your class to get to know one another.
• Share prayer requests and praise reports.

If you’d like more tips and suggestions for leading a Bible study, you can download our Leadership Training Guide for free, or order a printed copy. This book provides step-by-step guidelines to help you start, administer, and teach a class, as well as lead a discussion group. Also available in Spanish.