How to Start a Group Bible Reading Plan: Luke and Acts
On the day of Pentecost the Church exploded adding 3000 new believers in one day! How did this budding movement cultivate these new believers? Luke explains in Acts 2:42 in simple terms:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”
For the new believers in the first century they rallied around the sermons and teachings of the disciples. However, for us the “apostles’ teaching” is the Bible. There is incredible power when God’s people meditate and reflect on God’s Word together.
By leading a Bible reading group you have a tremendous opportunity to:
fall more in love with Jesus
cultivate the spiritual lives of others
move God’s kingdom forward
Here’s how to start a reading plan through Luke and Acts!
the Bible App | A Simple Format
The YouVersion Bible App has become the most downloaded Bible App in the world. Over the years this company has really upped their game as they’ve allowed creators to create hundreds of different Bible reading plans with an emphasis on reading scripture with friends.
I would suggest leveraging technology and using the Bible App for your group Bible reading plan. The Luke and Acts study you’ll read below is what my students and I will be using this summer but you can choose any plan.
Pro tip: be sure to choose a plan with relatively large chunks of scripture reading and a simple devotional. Some of the plans are relatively shallow (which is great for some people). However, my goal for your life is not simply to read one verse of scripture and a 400 word devotional. I want you reflect and meditate on God’s Word!
Bible Project | Luke and Acts
52 Devotionals
4 Devotionals/wk
13 Weeks
This plan is perfect for a group of college students staying in God’s Word over the course of a summer. I love that this plan has relatively large chunks of scripture reading with engaging videos from The Bible Project scattered throughout.
How To Start a Group with the Bible App
Context: This section is written for Morehead State Cru students for our Summer Reading plan. However, you can use this guide and sample texts for your own plan.
Step By Step | Using the Bible App
Save the phone number of each person in your group (roughly 5 people)
Create a Bible App profile
Go to “More” (on the bottom right) and click “Add friends” or “Friends”
Invite each friend by sending them a invitation link via text
Make sure your each individual responds to your invitation and you accept their friend request
Find the appropriate Bible Reading Plan
Click “Start Plan”
Click “With Friends”
Set start date for March 13
Click “Invite your friends” in the bottom right corner
Choose the friends for your group
Follow up and make sure your friends accept the invitation
Cultivating Group Communication
We are using two platforms of communication:
the Bible App
Imesssage group or Groupme
The Bible App doesn’t have a group messaging function which I feel would be helpful for a small group of Bible readers. As a leader it would be huge for you to have a group message where you can easily write some encouragement and give others an opportunity to share what God is teaching them.
Here are some examples of texts that are motivating:
“Loved this verse today!” (Short and sweet)
“I had trouble understanding this verse and this commentary was helpful. I figured I’d put it in the group.” (Shows vulnerability and prioritizing time in the Word)
“Life has been so crazy this week! I have a 10 minute break from my shift at work and I’m finally sitting down to read in my car. Would you all pray that I can manage my time well this week?” (Shows that even though your a leader, it’s sometimes hard to find time to read)
Pro Tip: Don’t overuse the group with too much one on one conversation. That is a surefire way to have other people checkout and mute the group. Try to keep the conversation engaging for everyone. This is why we suggest that a reading plan group only have 5-10 people.
Choose Your Words Wisely | Sample Texts
How you talk about this reading plan should be strategic. You are calling your friends a deeper relationship with God… this is a spiritual process! Don’t forget to take some time to pray for the people you invite into your group.
When inviting your friends remember that you can’t make them join and you’re not a failure if they say “no” or if they stop reading the plan.
You are responsible for taking initiative, in the power of God’s Spirit, and leaving the results to Him.
Your First Text | Inviting Your Friend to Your Group
“Hey so and so, this is Johnny. I’m really excited about this Summer Reading Plan. Patrick said that over 50 people expressed interest in the reading plan! If we had a core group of believers who have been reading the word consistently all summer, can you imagine the cool things that could happen on our campus this fall?!
Are you in? The people in our group are Joe, Sam, Byron, Archibald, you, and me.
If everyone has an iphone then we’ll be having a group chat but if there are some android users in our group we will be using GroupMe. Is that cool?”
**Start Group Chat
Your Group Chat Text | Introducing the Bible App
Okay guys, here’s the plan. We will be using the Bible App for this study. Everyone needs to download the Bible App and create a profile. This is kind of like Facebook, I will be sending you a friend request. Post in the group when you’ve got your account created. If you can do this ASAP that would be a huge help!
**Make sure every person in your group makes a profile
Setting Up the Plan
Almost there! I just accepted everyone’s friend request. I’m going to be sending everyone a link to join the plan via text.
Let me know when you all are on the plan.
Introducing the Content | Setting Expectations
Now we’re ready to get started! We will start this plan next week on Monday, May 13th and it will go through August 9th.
Here’s what to expect 15-30 minutes 4x/week… that doesn’t sound too hard. At the end of each devotional you can type something in the “Let’s Talk About It” section for everyone to see. Feel free to post some encouraging thoughts in this group.
Big picture, our goal is to help each other spend time in God’s word on days we feel like it and on days we don’t. When you feel like bailing on this plan there will be someone here to encourage you. When you are excited about this plan there will be someone here that needs your encouragement!
Really excited about spending the summer reading the Bible with you all!
I’m Praying for You!
Jesus,
Please use the leader reading this guide for your kingdom. Fill him or her with your Spirit and work in his or her life through your Word. Help them to be winsome as they invite and challenge others to engage in Your Holy, ancient truths.
I pray that this 13 week Bible reading plan can be a launchpad for a lifetime of consistent time in Your Word for the leader and for the others in the group.
Amen