In 2012, CCW began to lead what we have called “Bible Intensives.” The idea came as a convergence of new personal experiences in the Scriptures. It was the result of much soul-searching about how to effectively involve other believers in a powerful and mutually stimulating experience with the Bible that would last. The aim was to see people at all stages of Bible knowledge and skill encounter a new level of experience with the word.
What is a Bible Intensive and how does it work?
A Bible Intensive is typically a time when a small group dives deep into a short book or section of the Bible. At least one CCW communicator (typically with an assistant) comes to your venue to lead the meeting. Before arriving, we decide on a passage (or passages) of Scripture and print off formatted copies so that we are all working with the same text. The whole retreat then centers on this particular passage.
As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, our time together revolves around the three core steps of inductive Bible study: observation, interpretation, and application. Under each heading, using ideas and methods that we’ve learned throughout years of Bible study, we guide the group to wrestle with the text together. Our goal is not to lecture or teach, but to facilitate group discovery. In this way, we hope to create a deeper understanding of the text and provide methods for Bible study that the participants can use for years to come.
We don’t believe this is the only way to study the Bible, but it’s one we have found richly rewarding and impactful, both personally and in group settings. In some ways, our intensives are similar to other applications of the inductive study method, and in others, they differ.
What should I expect at a Bible Intensive?
The size and makeup of the group, the duration of the gathering, the passage under consideration, and even how the study is going all impact what may or may not take place at a single intensive. Over and above all of that, the CCW communicators are prayerfully seeking to facilitate the meeting as the Spirit of God leads. So, in a real sense, each intensive is a unique experience. At the same time, you can expect to encounter at least some or all of the following during a Bible Intensive:
- Repetitive reading and rereading of the text with the group, engaging our eyes and ears for a multi-sensory immersion
- Time devoted to memorizing key verses from the passage being studied
- Copious marking of the text as a way to interact with it more closely and remember what we have discovered
- Consideration of literary features relevant to the passage we are studying
- Deliberate analysis of the structure to grasp the big idea(s) being communicated and the way the author organizes his thoughts
- Careful attention to the text with freedom to read it apart from preconceived theologies dominating our view of the passage
- Guided work and discussion in small groups to comprehend the meaning of words and phrases, as well as their relationship to one another
- Robust whole-group interaction, seeking as comprehensive an understanding as possible, even if it completely changes our view of the passage
- Large amounts of individual and group meditation on the text, in prayerful dependence on God for insight into his word
- Thoughtful application of the passage to our lives and churches
- Warm fellowship centered around the Scriptures
- Staring at the passage, listening, big smiles and laughter, wild gestures to make a point, people talking enthusiastically, and relief as eyes open to difficult passages
- Simple, reproducible tools for Bible study that can be used in the future, both individually and in groups
How long is a Bible Intensive?
Bible Intensives vary in length. The shortest have been 2 to 3 hours, and the longest have been 4 to 5 days. The typical timeframe for an intensive is 1.5 to 2 days. The most common take place on a Friday evening and all day Saturday. The duration of an intensive is flexible and can be determined by the size and makeup of the participants as well as the purpose of the gathering.
Where does a Bible Intensive take place?
Bible Intensives have predominantly taken place in the United States. We have also had the joy of leading them (in English) in numerous other countries outside of the US. Over the years, meetings have been held in various venues, including personal homes, lodges, retreat centers, Christian camps, hotels, school campuses, training centers, organizational offices, church buildings, and a coffee shop. We are willing to travel wherever we believe the Lord is directing us to facilitate an intensive and to have it anywhere we can have an undistracted time of study and discussion in the Bible.
Who attends a Bible Intensive?
The gatherings take many forms. Often, they have been composed of a group of leaders from a single church or from various churches in an area. We particularly enjoy leading groups of pastors. At other times, they extend beyond church leaders to the men of a church or churches. Some churches have used this for their annual elders’ or men’s retreats, for example. Sometimes we do more than one intensive in a row. For instance, we might have a group of local pastors meet mid-week, followed by a men’s retreat on the weekend.
On numerous occasions, we have done mixed groups of men and women from the same church. Our local church’s yearly women’s retreat has often included a Bible Intensive as part of their time away together. A few times, we’ve facilitated intensives for the youth of one or more churches. Christian organizations have asked us to do one for their annual leaders retreat. And we have led numerous intensives for students at Christian high schools, Bible Colleges, and seminaries.
Usually, we like to keep the number of participants low, typically around twenty or fewer. We have at times had intensives with larger groups, but have found a smaller size to be more conducive to promoting the best interactions and the most effective learning experience.
What are the benefits of participating in a Bible Intensive?
Attending a Bible Intensive can be an enriching experience. The following is a list of benefits we and others have enjoyed from participating in one or more of them.
- Increased personal confidence in God that by prayerful, extended study, you can accurately understand the Bible and rightly apply it to your life
- A rewarding experience of discovering life-changing truth from God’s word first-hand, rather than mediated through the writings of others
- Enlarged love for the Scriptures, appreciation for the beautiful truths they reveal to us about Jesus Christ, realization of their immense depth, and an excitement to read the Bible and meditate more upon its words
- Realizing the unique value of group study of, meditation upon, and discussion over the Bible
- Enhanced freedom and ability to express your thoughts as you talk about God’s word with other people, including your own pastors and leaders
- Multiple perspectives that come together to give us a clearer and fuller comprehension of the meaning and implications of the passage
- A better understanding of the text we’re studying, being encouraged by the specific truths we discover, and challenged by the instructions given
- A simple, yet meaty and deep method of study that may prove helpful for your own personal or group study of the Bible
- Reproducible tools for training people in your church or others to be able to discover God’s truth for themselves in the Scriptures competently
How can I set up a Bible Intensive?
We strongly believe that God desires these intensives to take place. To remove any financial obstacles, we have decided to pay for our own transportation to your venue. We’ll trust God for the trip if you will treat every moment seriously. It will be worth all we spend, as far as we are concerned.
Naturally, we ask that you organize the retreat by inviting the people and providing the venue and food. We can meet anywhere, as long as we have undivided time together. We would also be grateful if you would provide us with food and a place to stay while we’re there. We are also available to speak at churches most Sundays before or after the retreat. For more details, contact us at info@ccwtoday.org and let’s start a conversation.
Additionally, once or twice a year, we aim to lead a two-day local pastors retreat that leaders can travel to. Periodically, we also lead local retreats for others in and around Kansas City. If you would like to participate or receive information when those are happening, please get in touch with us.