Private Bible study question

[Retired2025]

Hello all, Im a new Baptist member. We have been having weekly bible studies, just a few of us, to "forsake not the assembling together" and also to have some satellite studies in different friends homes, and geographic locations, as well as "rightly dividing the word of truth". Our friend who is usually organizing the studies was recently asked by someone in the church "who authorized him to conduct bible studies", and also "why do you want to study outside of the church, you have everything here". I was just wondering if it is normal within the Baptist circle to try and control our activities outside of church, or is this just an unusual "one-off" situation. I love the congregation and the Pastor, but it seems discomforting to me that some would try and discourage us from studying. It's not easy to drive to the church every time we want to crack open our bibles together. Any perspectives appreciated.

 

[Silverhair]

Was the person who asked just another member of the church or one of the pastoral staff?

If it was the staff then I would be questioning why they thought they were the only ones that could understand scripture as that seems to be what that would imply.

Never heard the we needed to be authorized to have a group study.

Some "Baptist" churches can be controlling as they are more legalistic than others. I would suggest that you speak to the pastor.

 

[DaveXR650]

I was just wondering if it is normal within the Baptist circle to try and control our activities outside of church, or is this just an unusual "one-off" situation. I love the congregation and the Pastor, but it seems discomforting to me that some would try and discourage us from studying.

It is absolutely correct and proper for the church leadership to be concerned about and want to know about bible studies being done among members and without any knowledge of the church leaders. "Control" is the big issue though, and I have seem some leadership come down like a ton of bricks on members who just wanted some extra fellowship and so started a group. If the leadership cannot look into what is going on in a loving way then it may be a case of abusive church leadership and you need to get out of there fast.

But remember that Baptist churches, because of their high belief in personal freedom and lack of specific confessional documents, and because of their being mostly autonomous, are fragile in a sense and easily damaged by factions developing. Try to give your pastor some grace too because you do not know what he may have been through or heard of as far as factions and schisms developing. They have it tough too and while they may act like they think someone is always trying to subvert the church membership - the fact is they are probably right.

 

[atpollard]

Both responses gave good advice.

I have been in a church where someone came to a church to invite people to a home study with the goal of recruiting a core of support to start a new church of their own.

I have also been in a church where the Pastor was the only person that was able to teach “truth” from scripture.

I have also been in a Bible Study attended by members of 5 different churches that all just wanted fellowship and to study God’s word together on a weekday (and would never think of leaving their regular churches).

So there is nothing innately wrong with getting together, and it is something that can be used by those seeking to cause division, and some pastors can be too controlling. The possibilities run the full spectrum so prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit (and a pinch of mercy) will go a long way towards doing what is RIGHT in God’s Sight.

In the end, that is the master that you will be called to answer to for how YOU handled your end of things.

 

[Deacon]

Welcome Retired2025
I retired in 2024

I can’t imaging a Baptist criticizing a home Bible study gathering!
The churches I’ve associated with encourage small group studies.

When I first became a Christian as a teen we began an unsupervised Bible study group, lead by believers not much older (or wiser) than ourselves.

It was a mixed group of young, new believers. Some were Presbyterian, some Pentecostal, and other denominations as too, most (or all) of us, unschooled in any particular theology. A rather interesting mix of theology.

I’m still FB friends with one, who’s in a Berean Fellowship.

It was not the best situation for beginning one’s education in how to study the Bible. There really ought to be someone with an inkling of knowledge about the topic.

I happened to tear a Statement of Faith from a college application booklet and began to memorize the verses for each statement. Thus began my informal education in theology, and the foundation of my Baptist heritage.

Rob

 

[Van]

Cults discourage members from receiving guidance outside the cult. Beware.

As Baptists, we believe in the Priesthood of Believers, needing no human to dictate our beliefs.

On the other hand, when we gather together, we seek unity and discourage factions. The small group bible studies offered by our church were organized by our ministry staff.

 

[JesusFan]

It is absolutely correct and proper for the church leadership to be concerned about and want to know about bible studies being done among members and without any knowledge of the church leaders. "Control" is the big issue though, and I have seem some leadership come down like a ton of bricks on members who just wanted some extra fellowship and so started a group. If the leadership cannot look into what is going on in a loving way then it may be a case of abusive church leadership and you need to get out of there fast.

But remember that Baptist churches, because of their high belief in personal freedom and lack of specific confessional documents, and because of their being mostly autonomous, are fragile in a sense and easily damaged by factions developing. Try to give your pastor some grace too because you do not know what he may have been through or heard of as far as factions and schisms developing. They have it tough too and while they may act like they think someone is always trying to subvert the church membership - the fact is they are probably right.

I see no problem if the Pastor or an Elder requested an outline of what was being taught, just to make sure no heresy or bad theology, but would NOT see it Ok to have them mandate exactly what to say during the study time

 

[Dr. Bob]

Over the years there have been many within Baptist churches that use innocent "Bible studies" slanted to teach doctrine/practice that might be contrary to the doctrinal statement of a church. This is a way Satan uses to attack the "pillar and ground of the truth", the local assembly of believers.

Women's studies are most susceptible (I speak as a pastor of 50+ years experience) as books and now videos of some famous names are fraught with false doctrine or emphasis opposite of what the Word says. Without oversight of the curriculum and leadership of such studies that WOULD be present in a local church, you can have blatant errors go unchallenged and unchecked.

Example: we had a fellow who visited a bit in the church, then invited a few to join a "study". The first weeks it was without issue, but then someone brought a different English translation than this fellow held and he shifted the group focus to why translations they use were "the devil's bibles" or "not inspired". I heard about it from a new believer who was told he wasn't even born again because he used the "wrong" Bible. To say we went ballistic on this fellow and his false teaching is true. But gave us recent to protect and guide our believers against false teaching. All teachable moments used by God.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Scripture presents the church as the primary institution established by Christ for the nurturing of believers and the proclamation of the gospel. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (ESV). The Greek word ekklēsia (“church”) refers to the called-out assembly of believers, under Christ's authority.

A Bible study group composed of church members is an extension of the church’s ministry, not an independent entity. Ephesians 4:11-12 states that Christ gave “pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” The local church, through its elders, is responsible for equipping members, including those in Bible studies, to ensure doctrinal fidelity and spiritual growth.

Scripture assigns elders (or pastors) the role of overseeing the flock and guarding sound doctrine. Acts 20:28 instructs elders to “care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood,” and 1 Timothy 3:2 requires them to be “able to teacb". (“overseer”) in Titus 1:7 underscores their responsibility to supervise the church’s spiritual life, including teaching ministries like Bible studies.

In the first-century church, teaching was centralized under apostolic and elder authority to combat false teaching (e.g., Galatians 1:8-9). House churches (Romans 16:5) were not independent but under the broader oversight of apostolic delegates or elders (Titus 1:5).

A Bible study group, especially one tied to church members, should submit to elder oversight to ensure alignment with sound doctrine. Hebrews 13:17 commands, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.” Independence risks bypassing God-given authority.

I would think generally a church body inquiring after what is being taught to their church members by church members independent of the church itself is a definite concern for any of the elders God placed in authority over the flock.

I have no idea about any abuse, but I do know that when we submit to the authority God has placed over is what we are supposed to do as Christians, certainly we should be discerning and making sure we aren't following our flesh.

Just my opinion of course. I would note, that when we become members of a church we are usually agreeing not to teach against the stated beliefs of that church body openly.

For example, if I tell you I'm a Baptist, I'm telling you I quite likely wont be teaching against the doctrine of baptism by immersion, but if I tell you I'm a Particular Baptist I'm telling you it's likely far more than that I won't be arguing against today. If my face/name is associated with "that church on the corner", they have a right to know what you're saying.

 

[JesusFan]

Over the years there have been many within Baptist churches that use innocent "Bible studies" slanted to teach doctrine/practice that might be contrary to the doctrinal statement of a church. This is a way Satan uses to attack the "pillar and ground of the truth", the local assembly of believers.

Women's studies are most susceptible (I speak as a pastor of 50+ years experience) as books and now videos of some famous names are fraught with false doctrine or emphasis opposite of what the Word says. Without oversight of the curriculum and leadership of such studies that WOULD be present in a local church, you can have blatant errors go unchallenged and unchecked.

Example: we had a fellow who visited a bit in the church, then invited a few to join a "study". The first weeks it was without issue, but then someone brought a different English translation than this fellow held and he shifted the group focus to why translations they use were "the devil's bibles" or "not inspired". I heard about it from a new believer who was told he wasn't even born again because he used the "wrong" Bible. To say we went ballistic on this fellow and his false teaching is true. But gave us recent to protect and guide our believers against false teaching. All teachable moments used by God.

saw this first hand while in College, as one of the assistants to the youth campus Pastor got dragged off into the Way heresy, as well as his girlfriend, and used off campus meetings to have us listen to tapes from that cult leader.
Ended up with him getting kicked out of campus ministry, and excommunicated form local church.

 

[JesusFan]

Scripture presents the church as the primary institution established by Christ for the nurturing of believers and the proclamation of the gospel. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (ESV). The Greek word ekklēsia (“church”) refers to the called-out assembly of believers, under Christ's authority.

A Bible study group composed of church members is an extension of the church’s ministry, not an independent entity. Ephesians 4:11-12 states that Christ gave “pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” The local church, through its elders, is responsible for equipping members, including those in Bible studies, to ensure doctrinal fidelity and spiritual growth.

Scripture assigns elders (or pastors) the role of overseeing the flock and guarding sound doctrine. Acts 20:28 instructs elders to “care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood,” and 1 Timothy 3:2 requires them to be “able to teacb". (“overseer”) in Titus 1:7 underscores their responsibility to supervise the church’s spiritual life, including teaching ministries like Bible studies.

In the first-century church, teaching was centralized under apostolic and elder authority to combat false teaching (e.g., Galatians 1:8-9). House churches (Romans 16:5) were not independent but under the broader oversight of apostolic delegates or elders (Titus 1:5).

A Bible study group, especially one tied to church members, should submit to elder oversight to ensure alignment with sound doctrine. Hebrews 13:17 commands, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.” Independence risks bypassing God-given authority.

I would think generally a church body inquiring after what is being taught to their church members by church members independent of the church itself is a definite concern for any of the elders God placed in authority over the flock.

I have no idea about any abuse, but I do know that when we submit to the authority God has placed over is what we are supposed to do as Christians, certainly we should be discerning and making sure we aren't following our flesh.

Just my opinion of course. I would note, that when we become members of a church we are usually agreeing not to teach against the stated beliefs of that church body openly.

For example, if I tell you I'm a Baptist, I'm telling you I quite likely wont be teaching against the doctrine of baptism by immersion, but if I tell you I'm a Particular Baptist I'm telling you it's likely far more than that I won't be arguing against today. If my face/name is associated with "that church on the corner", they have a right to know what you're saying.

Think that in many cell groups, they become more of prayer meeting than actual bible studies, and think a good check on the issue of teaching in cell groups would be to have a church library with 'approved materials" to teach from, as we have a person in charge of cell groups who handles that in our church library

 

[Silverhair]

A Bible study group, especially one tied to church members, should submit to elder oversight to ensure alignment with sound doctrine. Hebrews 13:17 commands, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.” Independence risks bypassing God-given authority.

That is all well and good if the "elders" & "church leadership" is actually teaching sound doctrine. We are all responsible to be like the Bereans of Acts 17:11. We are to examine the text / study for ourselves.

What comes from the "leaders" may be nothing more than their errant opinion.

When people forgo personal study and depend upon others to tell them what the bible means they leave themselves open to numerous errors.

We will be judged on how we handle the word of God not on how others do.