Attending group Bible studies

[NotTheRock]

Can you imagine all of us getting together for a Bible study? In 5 minutes it would be a massive argument.

Do any of you participate or lead them? Is there a way to lead it so that it doesn't devolve into a doctrinal debate? Have you had positive or negative experiences with them?

 

[Lambano]

Can you imagine all of us getting together for a Bible study? In 5 minutes it would be a massive argument.

Do any of you participate or lead them? Is there a way to lead it so that it doesn't devolve into a doctrinal debate? Have you had positive or negative experiences with them?

I've participated in several group Bible studies. Most were quite respectful of diverse views; one was, dare I say, mutually caring at a time when I really needed it. One, though, involved two strong-willed personalities, the leader being very orthodox in his doctrine, the other with some idiosyncratic views based on his own personal spiritual experience. It didn't degenerate into name-calling like some of the p!$$ing contests in here (they were actually friends), but it was contentious to the point that the leader's wife got upset and asked him to cancel the whole thing after only two sessions.

What works? Some were led by pastors or others who knew how to de-escalate conflict. Most of the good ones involved people who knew each other and for whom maintaining relationships was more important than winning an argument. In the one that didn't work, the leader himself was one of the ones involved in the conflict.

 

[Bob]

Thank you for your post.

Actually, every day in this forum I see a new Bible study, and yes, massive arguments.

On the other hand, in a church setting, birds of a feather tend to flock together. Although one might could learn a lot there if led by a knowledgeable leader, it could also be a stale session.

Blessings.

 

[PS95]

Can you imagine all of us getting together for a Bible study? In 5 minutes it would be a massive argument.

Do any of you participate or lead them? Is there a way to lead it so that it doesn't devolve into a doctrinal debate? Have you had positive or negative experiences with them?

Yes. I have never seen anything like what happens here. I've seen a differing of opinions during studies, but those are settled calmly and some over time. Always respectfully.
After all, it isn't about our opinions, or cherry picking- which is where most issues come from. The scriptures resolve themselves IF you use ALL of scripture that pertains and not just half of it. That's what I see on here . Cherry picking, stubbornness, arrogance, and an I can't be wrong attitude. Seems everyone is a teacher here, but teachers should be patient & able to teach. Can you imagine your teacher calling you names? How about a demon?
If we really seek truth from God only- and if we walked in the spirit- and allowed God to teach us- there would be none of what we see here. Some just seem to come here to be divisive, and that's too bad.
We ALL are growing. We should have patience with each other. But first we should all HAVE to agree to Basic Christianity.
Did Jesus' blood pay for OUR sins? YES
Is Jesus the Son of God & son of man? YES
Is Jesus the Word who became flesh? YES
Is the Word, God? YES
Are you saved by grace alone which then produces good works? YES
Does the Holy Spirit teach you to live godly? YES
Should we treat others as we want to be treated? YES
Should we give false teachers/false prophets a platform? NO

-Those are totally undeniable biblical BASICS-

Then......... there are the cults, and I am out of patience with their lies. They do not belong on here.
But hey- Why take the bible's counsel on that? They are here purposefully and specifically to sew division. They've heard the gospel a zillion times. They reject it and call you antichrists. In their minds, they are the ONLY true teachers and you will not dare teach them. We are not required to appease FALSE TEACHERS / FALSE PROPHETS who bring a different 1914 gospel. <- That is the definition of JWs.
Let them be accursed! He said it TWICE. But why listen to someone who has experience in their world? This isn't about sour grapes as I have been accused by the accusers. --It is about basic simple pure Christian truth.
But here? Sure- they can play... what a joke. Bible tossed to the wind...
Are new believers, or weak ones, or seekers even considered? Should they be tossed around by a cult members who lied and continue to lie to gain access here? Allow the wolves to attack the sheep? Do you not see any danger? Should we not love the members of the household of faith even more than the world? Isn't that what the bible says?

I would imagine that if we agreed to the kindergarten biblical basics above- we would have much less arguing other than the dreaded Calvinist vs Armenian bickering, and in eschatology. We would see a lot more peace and perhaps exhortation, iron sharpening iron, and fellowship. Obviously, that isn't the goal. Some prefer divisiveness. They think it's from God- between believers- which is utter rubbish. .
It sells more popcorn though.

Thanks for letting me vent. I will not be long on this forum if nothing changes. It's a real mess.

 

[NotTheRock]

Thanks for letting me vent. I will not be long on this forum if nothing changes. It's a real mess.

Doctrinal discussions almost always result in hard feelings, but I am nonetheless glad that we can have them.

In polite company I believe it's best to stick to "Love Jesus, obey his commandments, and love one another".

My impression is that most people don't care all that much about doctrine. Many believe and know the basics and want to be a "good" Christian but have no understanding of, let alone interest in theology.

 

[Taken]

Can you imagine all of us getting together for a Bible study? In 5 minutes it would be a massive argument.

Probably so.

Do any of you participate or lead them? Is there a way to lead it so that it doesn't devolve into a doctrinal debate? Have you had positive or negative experiences with them?

Online? Positive and Negative.

In person…face-time, Family Bible studies and discussions nearly daily. Positive.

Visitors here, often an impromptu discussion, favorable results.

With strangers, (shopping, beach, waiting lines. airports, visiting rest homes, bars, etc. impromptu, favorable.)

Common ground, Principles, Standards, keeps discussion favorable.

Debating “specifics” (like so often on this forum), can quickly get too broad, deflecting, heated.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Taken]

Bible study for example…set;
Every Tuesday, 4 o’clock? No.

 

[PS95]

Doctrinal discussions almost always result in hard feelings, but I am nonetheless glad that we can have them.

In polite company I believe it's best to stick to "Love Jesus, obey his commandments, and love one another".

My impression is that most people don't care all that much about doctrine. Many believe and know the basics and want to be a "good" Christian but have no understanding of, let alone interest in theology.

Here is an example of what I have No patience left for. I was raised in the JW cult and they are not Christian in any sense. Read this carefully and recognize where it comes from. the pit! Do they belong here teaching lies? There are two lies in one sentence! They've heard the gospel many many times and utterly reject it. They reject that Jesus' blood pays for any ones sins. You die to pay God your wage..
I just did a thread on these where the JWs refused to come and reply. I was called a slanderer! Yet, here it is - exactly what I said they teach!
I suppose it doesn't matter how evil they can act in this life, since all they have to do is die to have no sins.

TheHC said--
This judgment of the unrighteous, is judging how they act / behave after their resurrection. Not the bad things they did before they died. They paid for their previous sins with their death. - Romans 6:7,23)

Looking at the Statement of Faith

I understand that the Bible doesn't explicitly state whether Adam and Eve went to heaven or hell after their death. If you think otherwise I like to see scripture about that. We do know what God told Adam: “If you eat from that tree, you will die.” And that’s it! No explanation of what death...

www.christianityboard.com

 

[The Gospel of Christ]

Can you imagine all of us getting together for a Bible study? In 5 minutes it would be a massive argument.

Do any of you participate or lead them? Is there a way to lead it so that it doesn't devolve into a doctrinal debate? Have you had positive or negative experiences with them?

How can we expect to have Bible studies together when posts directly related to the topic are deleted here on this very forum thread?

 

[PS95]

How can we expect to have Bible studies together when posts directly related to the topic are deleted here on this very forum thread?

what do you mean?

 

[The Gospel of Christ]

what do you mean?

I posted 10 reasons why Bible studies don't remain "peaceful" and it was deleted within 3 min.

 

[NotTheRock]

I posted 10 reasons why Bible studies don't remain "peaceful" and it was deleted within 3 min.

In this thread?

 

[The Gospel of Christ]

In this thread?

Yep. At 8:07 AM...

 

[NotTheRock]

Yep. At 8:07 AM...

Are you sure that your post actually posted? I think you would have been informed if your post was removed by a moderator.

 

[The Gospel of Christ]

Are you sure that your post actually posted? I think you would have been informed if your post was removed by a moderator.

Yes it posted and was up for a while.. Then my post about why people disagree and get upset with each other at Bible studies was deleted for being "off topic". And I literally quoted you --

"Can you imagine all of us getting together for a Bible study? In 5 minutes it would be a massive argument.
Do any of you participate or lead them? Have you had positive or negative experiences with them?" -- and then answered.

 

[talons]

Can you imagine all of us getting together for a Bible study? In 5 minutes it would be a massive argument.

It would come down to this , what is your attitude . Are you there to learn or there to pontificate ? In a face to face situation things will be said with more manners and not only that we can see the facial expressions of who we speak to which is important , we will get cues as how to proceed the conversation .

Most of the good ones involved people who knew each other and for whom maintaining relationships was more important than winning an argument.

There you go .