Leader's Companion

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.

See below to explore each role in more detail.

"Two are better than one … A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

– Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12

How Many Facilitators Do You Need?

That depends on your group size. A good rule of thumb is to have two facilitators per table of 8–12 participants. This way, you always have a backup if someone cannot attend, and you can also pair newer facilitators with more experienced ones for support and mentoring.

Core Team Member Checklists

The following checklists provide convenient step-by-step lists of the tasks required to run a successful Bible study:

• Bible Study Leader Checklist
• Facilitator Coordinator Checklist
• Hospitality Coordinator Checklist
• Logistics Coordinator Checklist
• Prayer Coordinator Checklist
• Registration and Communications Coordinator Checklist
• Child Care Coordinator Checklist

How Can We Adapt the Study to a Tight Schedule?

If time is limited, have participants watch the video on their own, then meet for a shorter session focused on discussion and fellowship.

What Should I Do When My Group Can't Meet In-Person?

Groups that can’t physically meet can have participants stream the video portion and then plan to meet for discussion using a video chat option, like Zoom. This is perfect for deployed men and women, or for distant friends and relatives to connect.

Order Study Materials

Your group will need either a DVD set or online access to the study you choose. Most workbooks include online registration, giving participants access to the videos 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 Catcheism, which use the same color-coded learning system that forms the foundation of The Great Adventure Bible Study Program. 

How are Catholic Bibles different from Protestant ones?

Catholic Bibles include all forty-six books of the Old Testament, following the Septuagint—a Greek translation that contains the thirty-nine books of the Hebrew canon, plus seven additional books not retained in the Jewish or Protestant traditions. Protestants chose to follow the shorter Hebrew canon. The Catholic Old Testament also includes expanded passages in the books of Esther and Daniel. Both Catholic and Protestant Bibles contain the same twenty-seven books in the New Testament.

“Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”

– Matthew 5:15

Ascension Offers Free Promotional Resources for Every Study

• Sample pulpit announcements
• Posters
• Flyers
• Sample bulletin announcements

Visit ascensionpress.com for links to your study’s resources.

Preview a Study’s Free Introductory Video

In addition to sharing details about your upcoming study, you can offer parishioners the chance to preview the study’s introductory video. Simply share a link to ascensionpress.com.

Once your parishioners register for free memberships at ascensionpress.com, they will be able to preview the first video of any Ascension study for free.

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

To learn more, watch this 10-minute video covering everything facilitators need to know, and review our Suggested Agenda for Small-Group Facilitator Orientation.

“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

– Matthew 18:20

"The Most Important (And Forgotten) Part of Every Bible Study"

Learn how to create a welcoming environment and lead your Bible study with confidence here.

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.

Need a Way to Break the Ice?

Explore these fun Bible study icebreakers to use during your study sessions here.

Looking For More Tips About Running Your Study?

Check out what Jeff Cavins, Sonja Corbitt, and more of Ascension Presenters have to say about running a successful study here.

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 or take a look at some featured options below.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  

– Matthew 28:19

Dei Verbum

(Vatican II, 1965)

Teaches that Scripture and Tradition together convey God’s Word, affirms biblical inspiration, and guides proper interpretation under the Church’s authority.

Providentissimus Deus

(Pope Leo XIII, 1893)

Defends the divine truth, authority, and inspiration of Sacred Scripture, opposes rationalist and skeptical interpretations, and urges reverent, Church-guided study of the Bible.

Vatican

Official Church documents and papal writings from the Holy See.

Catholic Answers

Learn how to explain and faithfully defend the teachings of the Catholic Church.