Small Group Toolbox: Handling Wrong Ideas about God and Salvation
Summary: When we let the Holy Spirit speak through scripture, we keep relationship with the person and make room for the word of God to correct and transform their ideas.
In the “Toolbox” series of blog posts, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about leading Small Groups. If you have questions you’d like answered, drop us a message!
What if someone misunderstands or misinterprets a Bible passage?
People sometimes “read into” a passage what they have heard others say or what they wish it said. When we notice this taking place, we can stay calm and refrain from immediately correcting. The Holy Spirit speaks through scripture. We can gently guide the person back to the passage of scripture or verse being studied. We can say, “I noticed verse ___has something to say about that. Let’s read it again. What do you notice it says?” When we let the Holy Spirit speak through scripture, we keep relationship with the person and make room for the word of God to correct and transform their ideas.
We may wonder if we should let a misinterpretation pass by without comment and move on with the Bible study. Here are a few questions to guide our actions: “Is this person’s ideas having an influence on the rest of the group? Is this person a follower of Jesus yet? Is this person’s ideas keeping them from following Jesus?
It is good to remember that the person in our bible study is on a journey. Therefore, we do not need to correct every false idea. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern what to pass by and what to guide them through.
Above all, it is important to be unafraid while gently guiding the person to the scriptures. In this way we are giving opportunity for the person to think rightly about God and salvation, so that their own ideas are not a hinderance to their growth in Jesus.
