by Dr. Adam Grill

If you are reading this in late July or early August, you are sitting right in the sweet spot of the annual calendar. While the rest of summer is winding down, church leaders, small group facilitators, and everyday believers are already looking ahead to the fall. Fall is the ultimate season of fresh starts, school is back in session, schedules reset, and hearts are wide open for community.

Yet, if you have ever felt the quiet nudge to start a small group Bible study, you likely felt a familiar wave of hesitation: Who am I to lead? I don’t have a seminary degree. What if no one shows up? What if I don't know the answers to their questions?

Take a deep breath. Here is the secret truth that changed everything for me and forms the backbone of how we approach disciple making here at Disciple Maker: The simple trick to starting a Bible study group isn't having all the answers, it’s simply being a faithful facilitator who points people to Jesus.

Let’s walk through how you can step out in faith this fall, organize your group with confidence, and foster life-changing spiritual growth without feeling overwhelmed.

The Seasonal Window: Why Late July and August Are Your Secret Weapon

Every experienced mentor knows that waiting until September to plan a fall group is a recipe for stress. Schedules fill up fast. By starting your planning right now in late July or early August, you give yourself the greatest gift: margin.

When you plan ahead, you aren’t scrambling to find a book the night before your first meeting. You have time to pray over your friends, choose a sound discipleship curriculum, and map out your calendar.

In my book Multiplying Disciples, I emphasize that the heartbeat of Jesus’ ministry was intentionality. He didn't wait for crowds to stumble into discipleship; He called people by name, set a rhythm, and walked with them. Planning your fall group now is your first act of intentionality.

Step 1: Shift Your Mindset (No Seminary Degree Required)

When people search online for how to start a bible study group, they often look for advanced theological guides. But when Jesus called His disciples in Matthew 4:19, He didn't hand them a diploma. He simply said, "Come, follow me."

Colossians 3:16 gives us the true standard for gathering around God's word:

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

Notice the phrasing: one another. A Bible study group is not a lecture hall where you act as the professor. It is a living room where you gather as fellow learners around the feet of Jesus. You are simply holding space for the Holy Spirit to work.

Step 2: Keep the Logistics Incredibly Simple

One of the biggest reasons people give up before they start is logistical complexity. They try to find a time that works for twenty different people, a venue across town, and a twenty-week textbook.

Keep it ruthlessly simple:

• Group Size: Aim for 4 to 8 people. This is the sweet spot where deep vulnerability happens and everyone gets a chance to speak.
• Duration: Commit to a manageable timeframe, say, a 6 to 8-week series through the fall. A defined end date lowers the barrier of entry for busy people.
• Location: Your living room, a quiet corner of a coffee shop, or even an outdoor park. Comfort beats formality every single time.

This is where digital tools can completely transform your experience. Instead of messy group chats and lost paper notes, using the Disciple Maker app allows you to keep all your study materials, schedules, and group communication in one effortless place.

Step 3: Choose a Christ-Centered Discipleship Curriculum

Choosing what to study can feel daunting, but you don't need a massive library. Pick something focused on Jesus and grounded directly in Scripture.

For fall groups, I often recommend walking through one of the Gospels, like the Gospel of Mark, or exploring foundational spiritual habits. In my Real Jesus series, we unpack how truly knowing the person and character of Jesus changes our daily lives.

When evaluating a discipleship curriculum, ask yourself three simple questions:

1. Does it point people straight to the text of the Bible?
2. Does it spark meaningful conversation rather than passive listening?
3. Does it lead naturally to practical application in everyday life?

Step 4: Master the Art of One-to-One Discipleship and Mentoring

While small groups are wonderful, the deepest transformation often happens in the margins, through one to one discipleship and intentional christian mentoring.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds us:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up."

If you are nervous about leading a group of six, start by inviting just one person to meet weekly for coffee over the fall to read a chapter of Scripture together. Once you experience the joy of mentoring one person, you will realize that facilitating a small group is simply doing that same relational ministry in a slightly larger circle.

Step 5: Let Technology Carry the Administrative Burden

Leading a group shouldn't feel like a second full-time job. You shouldn't have to spend hours tracking who is coming, what lesson you are on, or how your members are growing spiritually.

With the Disciple Maker app, you have a built-in companion designed specifically to help you:

• Access structured Bible studies and study notes offline (perfect for areas with limited internet).
• Track discipleship progress and mentoring milestones.
• Share daily lessons instantly with your group members.
• Keep church leaders and co-leaders completely aligned in teaching and vision.

By letting technology handle the organization, you are free to focus on what truly matters: loving your people, praying for them, and watching God move.

Your Action Plan for This Week

Don't wait for the "perfect" moment. Take your first step today:

1. Pray: Ask God to put 3 to 4 people on your heart who could benefit from gathering this fall.
2. Reach Out: Send a simple, pressure-free text: "Hey! I’m hoping to gather a small group of friends this fall to read through a short book of the Bible together. Would you be interested?"
3. Download the Tool: Equip yourself with the Disciple Maker app to keep your group organized from day one.

You don't need to be a seminary professor to change lives. You just need a willing heart, an open Bible, and a desire to follow Jesus together. This fall can be your breakthrough season of disciple making.

Grace and peace,

Dr. Adam Grill
Author of Multiplying Disciples and the Real Jesus series
Lead Expert at Disciple Maker