Leader's Companion
Everything You Need to Lead an Ascension Bible Study
Ready to Begin Your Journey as a Bible Study Leader? You Are in the Right Place.
This Leader’s Companion will guide you through everything you need to know to lead an Ascension Bible study with confidence. Below, you will find five clear steps to running a successful study, along with helpful tools, resources, and options to support you every step of the way.
Begin by exploring your free Bible Study Leader Training—created to help you launch, organize, and lead your study with confidence—along with the full range of study programs offered by Ascension.
If you have any questions along the way, please call our customer service team at 1 (800) 376-0520.
The Five Steps to a Successful Bible Study
1. Select Your Study and Seek Support
Pray
Prayer is essential to every part of your Bible study. Start with prayer, stay in prayer, and invite God into every step of the journey. Let Him guide your planning, your conversations, and your leadership.
Keep praying for what your group needs most throughout your study, and trust in Him to provide.
Select Your Study
Now it is time to choose a study that fits your group. Consider factors like your group’s size, age range, faith background, interests, and spiritual needs. Whether your members are new to Scripture or ready to dive deeper, the right study will help everyone stay engaged and grow together.
Ascension offers a wide variety of studies, ranging anywhere from core Catholic beliefs and practices to individual Bible stories.
Many groups begin with one of The Great Adventure foundational studies, such as The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation or Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible. But ultimately, choose the study that best speaks to you and your group.
Click here to browse all of Ascension’s study programs.
2. Plan Your Study
Build Your Team
Every successful Bible study needs a strong support team. As the leader, you will guide the overall effort, but you do not have to do it alone.
Key roles may include a facilitator, prayer leader, hospitality coordinator, promotional coordinator, registration and communications coordinator, logistics coordinator, and child care coordinator.
One person can take on more than one role, but try not to carry everything yourself. Invite others to use their gifts and share in the mission.
The following checklists provide convenient step-by-step lists of the tasks required to run a successful Bible study:
Organize Your Study With Your Team
Now that your team is assembled, it is time to organize how your study will run.
The time needed for each session will vary depending on the video length and how much time your group needs for small-group discussion. Be prepared to adjust for any time or space limitations, and think creatively about how to make the most of the time you have.
Order Study Materials
Your group will need either a DVD set or online access for the study you have chosen. Online access gives participants access to the videos and online workbook for one year.
Every participant—including leaders and facilitators—should have a workbook, a Catholic Bible, and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
We recommend The Great Adventure Catholic Bible and the Ascension Version of the Catechism, which use the same color-coded learning system that forms the foundation of The Great Adventure Bible Study Program.
3. Organize Your Group and Promote Your Study
Spread the Word About Your Study
In general, begin promoting your Bible study about eight weeks before it starts.
Below are ten effective ways to spread the word:
Register Your Participants
Then, it is time to have your participants sign up for your study!
Each study includes a customizable registration form and a study schedule that you can personalize with your group’s dates. Both are available for download at ascensionpress.com.
4. Run Your Study
Prepare Small-Group Facilitators for Their Role
Let your small-group facilitators know that the keys to leading a successful discussion are simple:
- Create a welcoming, positive environment
- Keep the discussion focused
- Manage the time well
- Make sure everyone has a chance to participate
Set Up Easy Communication With Participants
Once participants register, use their contact information to set up an email list or group text. These are great tools for sending reminders, updates, and scheduling details.
You might also consider creating a Facebook group. It is a helpful space for sharing prayer intentions, Bible verses, and reflections on the readings. A Facebook group can help your participants stay connected, even after the study ends.
Maintain Group Participation
You can ensure participants return week after week by focusing on two key elements:
- Friendly Hospitality - Participants come to Bible study to learn, but they also come to feel part of a community. The more welcomed they feel, the more likely they are to return. Hospitality does not have to be elaborate—it can be as simple as a warm smile, a kind word, or a personal invitation to come back next week. What matters most is that people feel they belong.
- A Positive Small-Group Experience - One of the main reasons people return to Bible studies year after year is the connection they build within their small groups. Friendships grow, trust develops, and participants feel supported by a caring and faith-filled community.
Celebrate and Continue On
At the end of your study, celebrate the time you have spent together in Christ. This could be as simple as cake and punch after your final session or a potluck the following week. If your group is small, consider setting aside time for participants to share how the study has impacted them personally.
If you have created a Facebook group, encourage participants to continue posting prayer requests, Scripture verses, articles, podcasts, videos, songs, book recommendations, or anything else that supports their faith journey. Staying connected online helps the community continue beyond the study.
You can also keep growing together spiritually by attending Mass or Eucharistic Adoration as a group. This is a great time to invite others by offering an open invitation to join.
Finally, talk with your group about what is next. Ascension offers many options for continuing your journey and deepening your understanding of the faith.
5. Select Your Next Study
Your Next Study Awaits
Don't stop with just one study. Keep sharing the beauty and joy of the Catholic Faith with others in your community.
Ascension offers many ways to continue your faith journey. You can explore our full catalog of Bible study programs here.