They are thoughtful adults and teenagers who want the language in the workbook to be understandable and clear. Thought-provoking questions and an informal yet structured atmosphere communicate to participants that their intellect, opinions, and questions are being taken seriously. The inductive approach to the scriptures helps them to take the text seriously as well. They will be comfortable with the language level, but they will be challenged with the level of thought.

They are reluctant to answer obvious questions Questions are foundational to any inductive study, but many Bible studies err in asking obvious questions, in asking far too many questions, or in jumping to the application without clarifying its connection to the text. People who are not familiar with a typical Bible study format have little patience for this. In the Bible Exploration Workbooks, participants are trained to observe by initiating their own questions and marking the text in specific ways. This active approach appeals to their intellect and helps them see how the more challenging interpretation and application questions arise from the text.

They have little or no knowledge of the scriptures Participants may be lacking not only basic Bible knowledge but also the concept of a supernatural God. The workbooks address this with an annotated text, background notes, and schema-building activities. Each workbook in the series begins with an introduction to the Bible and God's plan of redemption. In the first Gospel of Luke workbook, the first lesson introduces Genesis 1-3 . In the third lesson, participants compare the temptation of Jesus with the temptation of Eve. Their knowledge base builds as they progress through the studies, especially in the Gospel of Luke where they follow Jesus and his disciples through a continuing narrative.

They have various levels of spiritual interest, and they may be unaccustomed to personal, interactive group discussions. Although the goal of the series is to lead people to Jesus, there is nothing coercive in this Bible study. The tone is exploratory, and participants are not required to publicly declare their own spiritual beliefs. As they encounter Jesus in the Bible, they will be able to decide for themselves what is true. The questions challenge them to think and to respond, but the level of the class discussion is kept comfortable for non-believers.