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Better Bible ClassesBetter Bible Classes

Presented by Chris Reeves * Adoue Street church of Christ Gospel Meeting * April 6, 2008

Better Bible ClassesBetter Bible Classes

• We live in an age of instant information; we compete with many forms of media

• Christianity is a taught religion (Jn. 6:45), not a fought, bought, or caught religion

Better Bible ClassesBetter Bible Classes

• “Better” does not mean spending more money or renovating the building

• “Better” means changing our…

– Time

– Discipline

– Attitude

Better Bible ClassesBetter Bible Classes( Four Areas of Study )( Four Areas of Study )

• Better Planning (Bible material)

• Better Teachers

• Better Students

• Better Support

Better PlanningBetter Planning

• A balanced diet (Acts 20:27; Rom. 15:4)

• A nutritious, healthy diet (Mt. 15:9; 16:12; Jn. 7:16-17; 1 Tim. 1:3; 6:3; Tit. 1:11; 2 Pet. 2:1; 2 Jn. 9-10; Rev. 2:14-15,24)

• An age-appropriate diet (1 Cor. 3:1-2)

• A flavorful diet (Psa. 19:10; 119:103)

Better TeachersBetter Teachers

• Be conscious of the importance of your role

• Make time for reading the text first before teaching it – preparation, preparation, preparation (1 Tim. 4:13)

Better TeachersBetter Teachers

• Make time for “E-E-A” (examination, explanation, and application)

– “What does the text say?” (examination)

– “What does the text mean?” (explanation)

– What does the text mean to me?” (application)

Better TeachersBetter Teachers

• Make time for “E-E-A” (examination, explanation, and application)

– Deut. 31:12-13

– Ezra 7:10,25-26

– Neh. 8:1-18

– Matthew 5:19; 28:20

– Luke 10:25-28,37

– Acts 1:1

Better TeachersBetter Teachers

• Remember, it’s Bible class not activities class

– Acts 2:42; 18:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2-4

– Activities help to illustrate and apply the lesson, but they should not be the main focus of the time

Better TeachersBetter Teachers

• Remember, it’s Bible class not workbook class

– Acts 17:11

– Workbooks (and Teacher’s Manuals) help to learn the material, but they should not be the main focus of the time

Better TeachersBetter Teachers

• Remember, you are a teacher, not just a moderator or referee

– 2 Tim. 2:2,24

– You are there to instruct (impart knowledge), not simply to “keep order” in the class

– Don’t go into class and “stall for time” or “wing it”

Better StudentsBetter Students

• Be conscious of the importance of what you are studying

• Make time to read the Bible text before going on with the lesson – preparation, preparation, preparation (Acts 17:11)

Better StudentsBetter Students

• Answer these important questions each time you study…– Who? (background, context)– What? (examination, explanation)– When? (time, history)– Where? (geography)– Why? (purpose, aim, goal)– How? (application)

Better StudentsBetter Students

• Be involved in the class

– Ask and answer questions, read the text, make applications

– You get out of the class what you put into it

A student tends to remember…10% of what he reads20% of what he hears30% of what he sees

50% of what he sees and hears70% of what he says as he reads

90% of what he sees, hears, and says as he does a thing

Better SupportBetter Support

• Support from churches in training new and better teachers (Rom. 12:7; 1 Tim. 1:7; 2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 5:11 – 6:1; Jas. 3:1)– Set a good example– Encourage personal growth– Have regular teacher training– Have a good teacher rotation– Ask specific people to teach– Allow ample time for preparation– Have a good curriculum and resources

Better SupportBetter Support

• Support from parents in assisting their children with the lesson (Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15)– Set the right example– See that lessons are prepared in advance– Discuss the lesson with your child– See that the mind and body is prepared– Be regular and on time– Insist on good behavior in class– Discuss your child’s work with the teacher– Volunteer to teach– Be enthusiastic about your child’s learning

Why Better Bible Classes?Why Better Bible Classes?

• Lack of good Bible teaching leads only to ruin (2 Chron. 15:1-7; 2 K. 17:28-29)

Why Better Bible Classes?Why Better Bible Classes?

• Better Bible classes make for better help to the lost (Mk. 6:34; Jn. 6:45)

• Better Bible classes make for a better defense against the world (Psa. 119:98-100)

• Better Bible classes make for better Christians (Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 4:16)