How to Start a Bible Study with Coworkers

Have you ever wished you had other believers at work to encourage you? Someone who understands both the pressures of your job and the importance of your faith? Or have you wondered if any of your coworkers might be curious about the Bible but have never had a chance to explore it?

Starting a small Bible study at work can be a wonderful way to grow in faith, build deeper friendships with coworkers, and be a light in your workplace. It doesn't have to be complicated or formal. Here's a simple guide to how to start a Bible study at work.

Why start a workplace Bible study?

You spend a large portion of your week at work. For many Christians, work can feel like a place where faith is put on hold until the evening or weekend. A workplace Bible study helps bridge that gap.

Some benefits:

• Encouragement in the middle of the week. Sunday can feel far away by Wednesday. Meeting with other believers midweek can be a lifeline.
• Faith that connects to work. Studying Scripture with coworkers often leads to conversations about how faith shapes your actual work.
• Deeper relationships. Sharing prayer requests and studying together builds friendships that go beyond small talk.
• A light to others. A visible, welcoming group can invite curious coworkers to explore faith in a low-pressure setting.

Check your workplace policies

Before anything else, find out what's allowed. Many workplaces permit employee-led groups during lunch or before work, as long as they're voluntary and don't interfere with work responsibilities. Some companies have formal employee resource groups, including faith-based ones. Others have specific policies for religious gatherings or the use of meeting rooms.

A quick conversation with HR or a look at your employee handbook can save confusion later. Respecting your employer's policies is part of honoring God at work.

If meeting on-site isn't possible, consider a nearby coffee shop, a park, or meeting before work.

Start with prayer

Pray for wisdom, for the right people, and for God to use the study for his glory. Ask a friend or your small group at church to pray with you.

This isn't just a good idea for your schedule. It's a ministry. Bring it to God from the start.

Find one or two others

You don't need a big group. Even two or three people is a great start.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

Matthew 18:20

Start by asking coworkers you already know are believers. A simple invitation works: "I've been wanting to read through a book of the Bible with someone during lunch. Would you be interested in joining me once a week?"

Then consider inviting others who might be curious. Some coworkers who aren't believers may be open to exploring the Bible in a friendly, relaxed setting, especially if they trust you.

Keep it simple and short

Most people have limited lunch breaks. A good format might be:

• 5 minutes: Settle in, eat, and catch up.
• 15 minutes: Read a short passage together and discuss two or three questions.
• 5 minutes: Share prayer requests and pray briefly.

That's about 25 minutes. Meet weekly or every other week. Consistency matters far more than length. A short, regular gathering is better than an ambitious one that fizzles out.

Choose what to study

Choose something everyone can access easily and that doesn't require much preparation or homework. Good options for a workplace group:

• A Gospel, like Mark, read one short section at a time. Mark is fast-paced and focused on who Jesus is.
• A short letter, like Philippians, James, or 1 Peter.
• A topical study on work, looking at passages like Genesis 2:15, Psalm 127, Colossians 3:23–24, and Ecclesiastes 2:24.
• A book about a person, like Ruth, Jonah, or Daniel.
• A short study designed for working women, with brief daily readings and discussion questions.

Use simple discussion questions

You don't need to be a Bible teacher to lead. For any passage, these three questions work well:

1. What does this passage tell us about God?
2. What does it tell us about people (including us)?
3. How might this change how we live or work this week?

You can also add: "What stood out to you?" or "What questions do you have?"

Let everyone participate. The goal isn't to have one person lecture but to discover together what God's Word says.

Be welcoming

If coworkers who don't share your faith join, make them feel genuinely welcome. Don't assume Bible knowledge. Explain terms like "gospel" or "grace." Help people find passages. Let them ask honest questions, even skeptical ones, without feeling judged.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4:5–6

Gracious, patient conversations often do more than any argument.

Keep confidences

Prayer requests in a workplace group can be sensitive. A health issue, a marriage struggle, or a concern about a job shouldn't leave the room. Agree as a group to keep what's shared confidential. Trust is essential.

Encourage one another

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24–25

A workplace Bible study isn't a replacement for your local church. Encourage everyone, especially those exploring faith, to connect with a good local church. But a workplace group can be a wonderful encouragement in the middle of the work week, and a bridge for coworkers to experience Christian community.

Start small, stay faithful

You may start with just two people. That's enough. God often works through small, faithful beginnings. Pray, invite, read, and trust him with the results.

The Called & Capable Monthly membership, launching January 2027, brings one new 4-week Bible study to your inbox each month, about twelve minutes a day, with a Monday encouragement email and a weekly Reflection Guide. In the meantime, our free Monday Reset study is a great place to start.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.