The purpose of these Bible studies
Tearfund has already produced a Bible study module that is mainly for church leaders, CCT trainers and facilitators, so these Bible studies are mainly for the small groups which it is hoped will be the epicentre of transformation.
The studies in this guide focus on the search for the kingdom of God as reflected in the garden of Eden and in the description of the new Jerusalem in the book of Revelation, chapters 21 and 22. Today, humanity looks back with nostalgia at the lost paradise of Eden and forward with hope for harmony restored in the new Jerusalem.
The Bible studies are all about the restoration of the four broken relationships that were destroyed by sin at the Fall in Genesis chapter 3. They point to the abundant life that flows from restoring our relationship with God, self, one another and the environment.
Their goal is both nurturing a new mindset and building a new character, which will flow into new behaviours and relationships. So we can expect them to lead to a visible, measurable transformation that speaks of peoples renewed fellowship with God (worship), renewed self-acceptance, restored fellowship with others and a fresh commitment to care for the environment. These are the fruits of what Tearfund calls integral mission.
The Bible studies in this booklet are not new! They are drawn from a rich treasure trove of materials already available in Tearfund, but they have been expanded and enriched with more focus and content to make them more digestible, impactful and appropriate for the small groups central to the
CCT approach. They are written in simple, accessible language, avoiding complicated theological terms and jargon.
The studies also reflect the philosophy and content of Tearfund's evaluation tool, the Light Wheel. They are grouped to sync with Tearfund's CCT cycle and to reflect the nine spokes (different aspects of wellbeing) that make up the
Light Wheel.
The format of these Bible studies is designed to reflect the normal practices of the small groups: each study is intended to last only one hour. They also follow the LEARN-REFLECT-ACT model which is already central to Tearfund's
CCT approach.
Bible study steps
We recommend that the facilitator for each Bible study follows these steps:
Step 1: Introduction 10 minutes
Welcome all participants and ask one of them to start the meeting with a prayer. Remind them of the purpose of the Bible study and (after Week 1) revisit the major lessons of the previous Bible study and some of the conclusions that the group reached. Then introduce the new lesson by giving the topic of the day and the Bible passage to be read from the group member's guide.
Step 2: Observation and interpretation 20 minutes
Ask participants questions about the Bible reading. Do not make any comment of your own: simply ask the participants to give their opinions. When there is a pause, you can repeat the question and maybe ask one of the participants directly for his or her opinion. Make sure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to respond, and gently dissuade anyone who tries to answer all the questions or to monopolise the conversation. If there is someone who is trying to dominate, thank them for their participation and politely ask them to hold back and see if someone else has a contribution to make.
Step 3: Application 30 minutes
Read aloud the suggested answers to share with the group. Then invite participants to spend time talking about how they will apply what they have learnt from the passage and from their discussion. Encourage them to make plans for any change they want to see in their personal lives, and the life of their group, their family and their community.
