How to Have Bible Studies with Inmates Via Mail

Having a bible study with an inmate allows the two of you to focus on a project, an agenda and a common goal. This stretches your faith while helping another person stretch theirs. The inmate gets to read what you wrote through your letter, perform any written exercises and really think about the content material, giving the inmate something productive to do with their time behind bars.

Getting Started
To have a bible study, you need nothing more than paper, stamps, envelopes, a writing utensil and a bible. It's helpful to ask the inmate what he or she has already been studying in the Word, if any. Use this as spring board to add, clarify or expand on what he's been studying. If the inmate is open to suggestions, pick a topic you would like to study and start from there.

Steps
Find two to three scriptures, (more is always helpful), that deal with the topic at hand. Use both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Read the content before and after the verses you choose to make sure the versus you pick are not taken out of context in their original meaning. For example, when speaking about the topic of hate, anger or revenge, do not use the Old Testament verse of "an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth." Instead, use "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." This way you are not endorsing that a Christian should voluntarily seek revenge or hurt other people outside of legitimate self-defense.

Write down what you think each verse means to you and why. Then encourage the inmate to ponder the verses and tell you what they mean to him in his own words. Ask for other examples the inmate may know of.

This way, the letters go back and forth and you start a dialogue on it. From your end, research other resources you might find on Christian websites that discuss the topic for even more commentary and versus. Pick part of one to discuss with your inmate pen pal.

Advanced
Some Christians enjoy studying the Word in its original Greek and Hebrew languages, using concordances to find related terms or versus and study commentaries written by preachers that lived and worked during the late 19th Century. If you have access to any of these resources either on your computer, through the Internet or via the library ask if the inmate is interested in hearing about what is contained in those resources. Some will take you up on it, finding it very interesting.

When you feel you've exhausted one subject, either one or both of you mutually, start on another. Always be considerate of where the inmate is at spiritually and emotionally and only talk about subjects he or she is comfortable with. Never "preach at" the inmate. None of us can change our past. Instead, come along side the inmate in a spirit of "learning together" and discovery. Stay consistent in your letter writing and if you don't know the answer to a question, be honest and say "I don't know." Remember, if it feels like chore, you're pushing yourself too much! For more tips on sharing your faith with inmates, click here.