A Tough Choice

Discussion

Darryl's Dilemma

Darryl's group is having a hard time selecting their next Bible study.

Topics:	Cliques, Curriculum, Disagreements, Planning
Filters:	Group Leader, Host, Lead, Teacher
Purpose:	Fellowship
Date Added:	October 05, 2009

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Total Reader Responses: 2 (see below)

Darryl's small group is a relatively new collection of 10 people who seem to fit together pretty well. They just finished their first study—a 12-week discussion guide on the Book of Romans—and everyone is excited to continue the success of the group into the winter and beyond.

But things hit a bit of a snag last week when Darryl suggested that group members present their ideas for what the group should study next. There were four or five suggestions, but two people were particularly passionate about their choices. Jill wanted to tackle another in-depth study, this time on the Book of Ephesians. But Steve advocated going with something lighter—specifically, a DVD-based study on the parables of Jesus. Darryl decided to take a vote to let the group members decide what they wanted, but it ended up being four votes for the Ephesians study, four votes for the DVD study, and two votes for others. Because things were so close, Darryl suggested that the group take the week to think about it and then finalize the decision during the next group meeting.

Later in the week, Darryl received phone calls from both Jill and Steve recommending that the group go with their studies, and Darryl suspects they have called other people from the group, as well. Darryl's afraid that the situation has gotten out of hand and is now threatening the unity of the group.

What should Darryl do?

Posted: October 14, 2009

Chris Ryan (Registered User)

I really like Roger's answer that the group can do BOTH of the suggested paths. Just that one will be done first and then the second will follow after completion of the first. But I would be sure to guide the group away from thiking that one set of material is "lighter" than another. Who would ever think that Jesus' parables were anything but His way of speaking the truth into our lives? Yep, the parables are "light" - they are the light unto our paths. The other thing that I would emphasize with the group is that their relationships are more important than the material. There is plenty of time to study the whole bible. But if the group is not loving each other, then the point has been missed and the study is in vain.

Posted: October 08, 2009

Roger (Guest)

There is nothing wrong with planning beyond the current material...in other words plan to use both study ideas and maybe the two other ideas too. I would go with the "Jesus parables" material first and following that go back to an in depth study using Ephesians. The lighter material of the parables might allow for growth of new group members and the in depth material to follow might draw them closer together as a group.