We’ve done this over five times, and this plan is proven and practical.
Starting a men’s Bible study is easier than you think. You only need two leaders to get started. These leaders help keep the group on track and share the responsibility. Over time, it works best to have 3 to 5 core leaders who can rotate leading and praying. This helps with consistency and gives others a chance to grow.
The perfect group size is 6 to 12 men. If your group grows beyond that, it’s best to split into two separate meeting times or locations. Smaller groups stay more personal and give every man a chance to speak. Large groups often lose connection and make it harder for men to open up.
Pick the Right Place and Time
We prefer not to meet in churches. There are many men who simply won’t step back into a church. Some have been burned or hurt and just won’t show up there.
Restaurants with a back room work well, especially for lunch meetings.
The best times are usually:
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Pick the Right Starting Point
Start simple. Begin with the Book of James—it’s short (just 5 chapters) and packed with wisdom for daily life. Read 1 chapter per week.
After James, move on to Philippians (4 chapters). These short books keep men engaged. If someone misses a week, they won’t feel like they need to “catch up.”
Avoid long books like Matthew (28 chapters) early on—it can overwhelm new groups. Once your group is established, you can explore longer books together.
Keep It Simple and Respect Time
Meetings should last 1 hour max. Start and end on time. It’s fine to hang out afterward for fellowship or come early, but be respectful of time. Stop at 60 minutes. You can even ring a bell or set a timer to keep it light but firm.
Basic Meeting Flow:
Open with prayer. Read the chapter aloud together. Go around the room, letting each man read a few verses. It’s powerful to hear men reading God’s Word aloud. Use any Bible version. If there’s confusion, just call out the next verse and keep moving. After reading, spend the rest of the time in discussion. Discuss the passage and apply it to real life. End with prayer.
Advanced Tips:
Don’t let one guy dominate the discussion. Never cancel near holidays. Some guys need the group even more during those times. Even if only two men show up, meet anyway—the Lord is still there.
✅ Action Steps to Start Your Group
Pick 2 men to lead and set a start date and meeting place. Invite 8-12 men and clearly explain it’s just 1 hour weekly. Start with the Book of James—1 chapter per week. Stick to a simple format: Pray → Read → Discuss → Pray. Watch what God will do through the group!
The Lords Work 