Page 2 of 2

1. Length of study. How many weeks will the study take? Most groups get antsy with more than a six or seven week study. The old standby of 13 week studies just does not seem to work anymore. Shorter always seems better, but discuss this with your group first.
   
2. Length of time in each study. How much time will you spend in Bible study in each session? Are there too many questions for the time allotted by the group?
   
3. Good questions. Will the questions in the study lead to discussion and lively interaction, or do the questions sound like a pop quiz, looking for one-sentence answers? A number of books as well as articles on SmallGroups.com have been written about asking good questions. Read them here!
   
4. Open or closed. A long study or series may inadvertently close your group. Do sessions build upon each other or are they somewhat independent, so that new people can easily join at anytime?
   
5. Cost. Discuss with your group how much members want to shell out for Bible study guides. The price of some curriculum choices may be prohibitive for some participant's budgets. You can often get studies at a fairly significant discount by buying online, though SmallGroups.com's bookstore at smallgroups.com/bookstore/ or at ChristianBibleStudies.com.

5. QUESTION: What are your own capabilities and limitations? PRINCIPLE: Know yourself. Don't get in over your head.

1. Functionality. How easy is the study to use? Does it include everything you need? Does it have a leader's guide in the back and other leader helps included? Is it organized so that it is easy to follow? Does it include suggested times for sections and activities? Does it provide options so you can make choices based on your leadership style and your group's personality and interests?
   
2. Prep time. How long will it take to prepare for meetings? Do you have to spend an inordinate amount of time finding materials for the study, or is everything self-contained? Will you have to spend a lot of time trimming the study down to fit your group's schedule? Will you have to do a lot of work making the studies fit your group?
   
3. Cost. How much is this going to set you back personally? Will you have to purchase a separate, and more expensive, leader's guide?
   
4. Passion. Do you like the study? Can you get excited about it each week?
   

Answer all five of these questions and follow these principles, and you can navigate the sea of curriculum choices successfully. Better yet, you can lead your group to the destination God desires for you.

2003. Used by permission from www.SmallGroups.com.