Foundations for Effective Studies

Every member of The Crossings Church works through these studies — including people transferring in from other churches. The point is a shared foundation: one culture, one set of convictions, and a common language for what following Jesus asks of us. Adapted from Kerry Cox’s session on leading evangelistic Bible studies.

Action Items

Study two-on-one, with a third person present to learn how to lead.
Schedule studies consistently, and avoid long gaps between meetings.
Address any area where life change is not happening before moving toward baptism.

Why These Studies Exist

Put every member through the same studies, whatever their background, so no one is working from a different set of assumptions.
That includes people coming from other churches — this is how they learn this church’s culture and convictions.
The result is a unified church: everyone teaching the same things, speaking the same language, and clear on their own role.
Other churches would do well to take the same approach.

Aim for Transformation, Not Information

The goal is to change a heart and a life from the inside out, not to hand over facts.
Look for inward repentance — the kind that shows up in changed behavior and a closer walk with God.
1 Timothy and James press the same point: the word has to be applied, not merely heard.
Where life change is not happening, that is the thing to address — not the next lesson.

Be Honest About the Commitment

These studies are demanding by design. That is what following Jesus asks.
They call for radical transformation, and some people will decide it is not for them.
Many who heard Jesus teach did not follow Him. Expect the same.
The demand weeds out those who are not serious, and teaches everyone else what being a disciple actually means.

Asking Someone to Study

Keep the ask simple and straightforward. It is a conversation, not a pitch.
Be upfront about what the studies involve and what they will require.
Set expectations at the start rather than letting them surface later.
Be confident, and trust God with both the conversation and the relationship.

Lead Relationally

Discipleship has always been relational. Build a real connection, not a delivery schedule.
Love works like a plow: it breaks up hard ground so the study can take root.
Stay connected between meetings, not only during them.
Without that relationship, the studies lose most of their effect.

Pray, and Keep a Rhythm

Pray for yourself, and pray for the person you are studying with.
Studies done in love and covered in prayer carry more weight.
Do not let too much time pass between meetings — a relationship with God is urgent.
The consistency itself teaches something: that God comes first.

Run the Study from the Bible

Do not teach from a book. Chain the references in the Bible so the concepts are internalized.
Study two-on-one with a third person learning to lead. That is how the practice multiplies.
Personalize the notes to the person in front of you — their life, their struggles.
Ask questions that land on their actual circumstances.
The aim is that they grasp the concept and apply it, not that they finish the page.

Keep It on Track

Staying focused is genuinely hard. Hold to the key concepts.
If they are struggling, break the idea into simpler terms rather than pressing on.
Be flexible about the route while keeping the structure and the destination.
Be patient, and make sure they understand before moving forward.

When Someone Resists

Handle resistance with love and understanding.
If they stop studying, keep the relationship and stay available if they change their mind.
Be patient when they are not ready to apply something yet.
Adjust the studies to meet real needs and address the struggles actually in front of them.

Model It Yourself

Live what you are teaching. They should be able to see it in you.
Show them what following Jesus looks like day to day.
Your sincerity is what makes the teaching credible.
Be honest and consistent in your own walk with God.