B.U.I.L.D. Bible Study Leader Packet Acrostic Overview Suggested Scriptures Personal Study Guide Leader Guide Meeting Format Acrostic Overview The B.U.I.L.D. study theme is: The Bible s Blueprint Builds a Blessed Life The B.U.I.L.D. Acrostic Study challenges members to build a life of personal obedience following the blueprint and plumb line of scripture resulting in a blessed life. Just as it is unwise to build a house without a blueprint, to install a cabinet without a plan, or hang wallpaper without a plumb line, it is foolish to build a spiritual life without the Bible s blueprint, the plumb line of truth: The wise man BUILDS his house upon the solid rock. Matthew 7:24 Along with building a strong spiritual foundation, the B.U.I.L.D. Acrostic Study also encourages members to daily identify God s blessings in their lives and to look for opportunities to bless others. The same scripture passage is read for five days. Each day one letter of the B.U.I.L.D. Acrostic and a different learning method are used to discover deeper insights into the passage. The Leader and Personal Study Guides use the following format: B U I L D Big Picture ~ read and summarize Underline ~ key words and phrases I ~ personalize the scripture Life Lessons ~ the Bible s blueprints Do It ~ implement and apply TM ACROSTIC Bible Studies Powerful Impact, Easy To Facilitate TM 1
Suggested Scriptures This Acrostic Study is designed to study the Book of Proverbs. The word proverb comes from the Hebrew word that means to rule or to govern. These short, concise sentences convey divine wisdom for daily life application and provide moral instruction as blueprints for living a blessed life. PROVERBS #1 Week 1: Proverbs 1 Week 2: Proverbs 2 Week 3: Proverbs 3 Week 4: Proverbs 4 Week 5: Proverbs 5 Week 6: Proverbs 6 Week 7: Proverbs 7 Week 8: Proverbs 8 PROVERBS #2 Week 1: Proverbs 9 Week 2: Proverbs 10 Week 3: Proverbs 11 Week 4: Proverbs 12 Week 5: Proverbs 13 Week 6: Proverbs 14:1-13 Week 7: Proverbs 14:14-35 Week 8: Proverbs 15 PROVERBS #3 Week 1: Proverbs 16 Week 2: Proverbs 17 Week 3: Proverbs 18 Week 4: Proverbs 19 Week 5: Proverbs 20 Week 6: Proverbs 21 Week 7: Proverbs 22 Week 8: Proverbs 23 PROVERBS #4 Week 1: Proverbs 24 Week 2: Proverbs 25 Week 3: Proverbs 26 Week 4: Proverbs 27 Week 5: Proverbs 28 Week 6: Proverbs 29 Week 7: Proverbs 30 Week 8: Proverbs 31 2
Personal Study Guide The B.U.I.L.D. acrostic handout is used as a five day Personal Study Guide for the members to complete each week in preparation for the Bible Study discussion. Each week the scripture passage is assigned for the following week s Bible Study discussion. Instruct the members to daily read the passage, pray for understanding, and complete that day s B.U.I.L.D. acrostic letter. The Acrostic Bible Study encourages group members to read and study the scripture passage each day for five days using different methods of discovery. This approach to scripture can be compared to looking at a mountain range from five different angles. From each perspective a more complete picture is formed. Each day the Holy Spirit reveals deeper meaning, new discoveries, and added insights into the passage studied. For example: Day 1: Read the assigned scripture and complete the B on the guide. Day 2: Read the assigned scripture and complete the U on the guide. Each day includes a Blessed to Be a Blessing section. This builds a daily habit of being thankful and encouraging. I am Blessed List several blessings and take time to thank God for each one. I will Bless List to whom and how you will be a blessing each day! The leader can assemble B.U.I.L.D. notebooks with weekly Personal Study Guides and a B.U.I.L.D. cover sheet or simply copy the Personal Study Guide and distribute each week. Leader Guide The B.U.I.L.D. Acrostic Study is designed to encourage group participation, learning, and sharing among the members with the goal of facilitating open discussion and honest sharing. Imagine your group has vacationed at the Grand Canyon. After the trip they gather to tell their stories. Some viewed the canyon from the observation decks, others from the back of a donkey traversing the canyon, others from a raft trip on the Colorado River, and still others from a helicopter fly over. Each brings a unique perspective and as they share their experiences a 3-D panoramic picture of the Grand Canyon emerges. Just as the Grand Canyon is seen in greater detail through many eyes, so will the scripture passage be expanded as the group works through the B.U.I.L.D. Acrostic Bible Study letter by letter. The Leader Guide includes useful questions and ideas that expand the Personal Study Guide for group discussion. The questions are designed to elicit thought from the big idea to the personal. Remember, questions are not for the leader to ask and answer but for the group members. The leader notes are italicized in the right column paralleling the B.U.I.L.D. Personal Study Guide. 3
B.U.I.L.D. Week: Scripture: Read the Scripture, pray for understanding, and complete that day s acrostic letter. Each day list ways God has blessed you, then give Him thanks. Pray for God to show you who and how to bless each day and record it. BIG PICTURE Read and summarize: Read the passage and summarize the main ideas. What is the most interesting thing you read in this passage? Day 1 Weekly begin with the Blessed to Be a Blessing sharing time. Ask: How are you blessed? How did you bless others? Read the passage together. Encourage the group to take turns sharing their passage summaries, main ideas, and thoughts. Additional questions for further discussion: What truths stood out to you in this passage? What impressed you most about this passage? How would you explain this passage to someone else? UNDERLINE Key words, phrases, aha s in the passage Read and underline key words and phrases. List your aha s! Write out what God showed you through what you underlined. Day 2 If some struggle with writing in their Bibles, suggest they print off the scripture passage for underlining from www.biblegateway.com 4 Encourage each person to share what they underlined in the scripture and why it was meaningful to them. As you listen, observe what each participant shares as it will educate you on their needs and desires. These insights can be used in follow-up conversations outside of regular Bible study time, giving you the opportunity to connect with members on a personal basis. What key words or phrase stood out to you? What meaning did they have for you personally? What were your aha s? Why did it have a special meaning for you? How did God speak to you through these verses? Does anyone want to read what they wrote?
I PERSONALIZE The scripture passage Read the passage as though God is speaking directly to you... use your name and first person pronouns. Choose the verses most meaningful to you and write a personal note from God to you. Have volunteers take turns reading through the passage using their name and/or first person pronouns. Although some may struggle with this at first, it is a skill that is developed and enjoyed as the weeks go by and for years to come. Indeed, this exercise can generate some of the most powerful sharing times. For example: When trouble comes [my] way, [I will] let it be an opportunity for joy. When [my] faith is tested, [my] endurance has a chance to grow. So [I will] let it grow, for when endurance is fully developed, [I] will be strong in character and ready for anything. James 1:2-3 NLT Day 3 Discuss the impact of having God speak personally to them. What did they hear? How did it make them feel? What verses in this passage meant the most to them and why? Reading the Bible as if God is speaking directly to you is the difference between reading an article about someone or having a dear friend communicate the same content to you personally and practically. This is a powerful tool that causes the Word of God to come alive in a persons heart and mind. 5
LIFE LESSONS The Bible s Blueprint Read the passage slowly and list principles and life lessons for... Wise Living Foolish Living Circle those you desire to build into your life. Day 4 God gives us specific blueprints for living a blessed life and warnings to keep us from living a foolish life. During this section you may want to divide the members into pairs or break into small groups to answer the questions from Day 4 in their Personal Study Guide. On a whiteboard or large sheet of paper, ask a volunteer to record (list) for all to see the different commands the members share. Discuss together what members discovered about wise and foolish living What contrasts do you see? What comparison is most vivid to you? What benefits are given for wise living? Are there any conditions? Who would like to share one of the principles you circled? DO IT Implement and Apply Read the passage and think about how your life would be blessed if you built according to this week s blueprint passage. What and how will you apply this week s scripture to your life? Day 5 Ask for volunteers to share how they plan to apply this week s scripture in their lives. Use several or all of the following questions to facilitate discussion: How does this passage affect. the way you see God and your circumstances? the way you treat and interact with others? the way you live? What do you sense God is asking you to do in response to your study of this passage? In light of this passage, what do you want to be true in your life? What would that look like? What might be your first step? 6 What is one lesson from this passage that you want to apply to your life today?
Meeting Format Begin with Coffee & Conversation (15-20 minutes) Sharing a cup of coffee, tea, or juice (snack optional) fosters friendship and community. Have group members take turns providing refreshments. B.U.I.LD. Bible Study (30-45 minutes) Leader opens with a simple prayer Remember you are leading a Bible study, not a prayer group. Keep your prayer simple and to the point. For example: Father, we ask that You would be present with us, that You would guide and teach us as we study Your Word, and that our words and discussions would be pleasing unto You. Father, we thank you for every woman here today. In the name of Jesus, Amen. Your NBS members may likely represent a variety of different religious backgrounds or may possibly be un-churched. It is better not to openly share prayer requests or have members pray out loud in order to avoid intimidation, gossip, and/or any unintended offense. Lead the group in reciting the BU.I.L.D. Acrostic Study theme: The Bible s Blueprints Builds a Blessed Life Blessed to Be a Blessing Sharing Time How were you blessed this week? How did you bless someone else? Read passage to be studied Lead the discussion Guide your group s discussion, letter by letter, using the B.U.I.L.D. Personal Study and Leader Guide. It is very important to regularly remind your group of the A,B,C,D s of discussion: A - Audible (be loud enough for all to hear) B - Brief (statements not stories) C - Christ and Content Centered (stay focused) D - Discuss without Division (don t talk about politics, denominations, or controversial issues) Additional questions to keep the group discussion going: What else did you notice? What do you mean by that? What else can anyone add to that? Could you explain that more fully? Can you rephrase that statement? Would you explain that? What reason can you give for that? What do you think it means to...? How would you react to that? What can we learn from...? What impressed you most about...? Assign the following week s scripture passage Handout the Personal Study Guide to the group if not using study notebooks. Leader closes with a short prayer 2013 NBS2go / nbs2go.com 7