Hand copying Scripture can be a helpful way to get people in a small group to really focus on a passage. You can either make time for your group to hand copy the passage during your small group or, better yet, have participants hand copy the passage before your group meets.

As participants copy a passage, they will encounter each word individually, slowing them down and giving them more time to focus on what they’re reading and writing. This is a good way to help your group think about a passage before you begin your discussion. Chances are, they will notice more about the passage after they have handwritten it than if they just read it at the beginning of the group.

Have participants jot questions in the margins and underline things that stood out to them as they copy the passage. You can have people compare their thoughts in pairs or small groups of three or four and then have everyone come together as a full group. Another option is to go around the circle and ask people what stood out to them. If you need help with questions, check out the 5 Questions section of BibleGateway.

When choosing methods for your small group, use creativity and choose options that will work best for your specific group.