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Processing Styles
Completion requirements
The Bible is far more about personal and relational transformation than about processing information.”
- Rev. Victoria Fetterhoff
We have already seen that a Bible study should involve the whole person. Our bodies can have snacks and be comfortable. We engage in relationships with each other – a core purpose for such gatherings. We should have fun and enjoy the time, which is not to say that there shouldn’t be serious moments too. But it’s a voluntary activity. People don’t have to come back. If people start making excuses not to come, we should ask why.
Another important insight is to realize that different people prefer to learn differently. Again, a Bible study is not just about learning. The Bible is far more about personal and relational transformation than about processing information. Nevertheless, for the learning part of it, it is important to recognize that different people have different “learning styles.”
One person might be able to listen to a lecture for hours. Most people begin to lose attention to someone giving a monologue in minutes. You might structure your meeting in terms of 10-15 minute blocks of time to hold attention. Again, there’s no need to be rigid. “Go with the flow.”
If you are reading the Scripture for the week together, you might go around the room and have each person take a verse. If it is a slightly longer passage, you might have each person read a paragraph. You probably don’t want yourself or another person to read a whole chapter alone. If the passage is more than a chapter (or if it is a very long chapter), you might create the expectation that the group has already read the material ahead of time. Then you might only read key portions together when you meet.
Obviously, access to Bibles is important. Depending on their age, some will want to bring a physical Bible. Most people have the Bible on their smartphones using an app like YouVersion. In some cases, you may want to print out the Scripture for the week and distribute it to the group.
Here are some different processing styles to keep in mind:
Some people do just fine taking things in by listening. But we shouldn’t assume that all or even most of those in our Bible study will grow from, let alone enjoy, this approach all the time.
Some people can’t picture what you’re talking about unless they can see it in some way. Images or videos can be very handy in such cases. Your group might watch a video clip together on YouTube or TikTok.
Some people are verbal processors. They have to talk through a topic before they can figure out what they think. This means that the first thing they say is just the starting point of the journey. It’s not necessarily where they will end up.
Similar to verbal processors, these individuals need to have discussion in order to figure out what they think or what they need to do.
Some people can’t tell you on the spot what they think. They’ll need some time to reflect on the topic at hand. They may need to take a question with them to mull over for a while. You can certainly incorporate minutes of silence into your time together for reflection or individual prayer.
Instead of processing by verbalizing their thoughts, some people process best by journaling or writing out their thoughts. One technique you can use is to give everyone a piece of paper and have them write something down in relation to the topic. For example, you could read the Bible passage and then have everyone write down three things they noticed or had questions about in the passage.
Some people need to do something with their bodies in order for something to stick. They need to move around. You might have the group do some puzzle or bring an object lesson. For example, if you were talking about God forming us, you could bring Play-Doh® for people to squish in their hands.
Similar to the kinesthetic processors, many people need to experience something for it to work its way into their bones. “We learn by doing.” Some groups may actually want to go do something together to apply or experience what they are learning.
Depending on the personality, some people will need to integrate what you are discussing into the big picture of the other things they believe before it will stick. The opposite personality will need to break things down into its parts in order for it to stick.
God has made us all different. Knowing who is in your group will give you possible insights into how to best structure your time together. But there is no need to overcomplicate things either. Read the Scripture. Ask questions. Discuss possible answers. That’s good enough. If your group wants to do more, no problem too.