By David Faust
Some Bible classes and small groups are better than others. Have you ever attended a Bible class where the teacher was unprepared, or the lesson seemed boring and irrelevant? Did a talkative participant dominate the discussion and prevent others from sharing their ideas and questions?
On the other hand, has God ever used a dynamic Bible lesson to deepen your faith and stir you to action? The last chapter of Luke’s Gospel tells about a small group gathering that could be considered the best Bible study ever.
The Best Teacher
Jesus taught the class that day. During the prior three years, Jesus’ disciples heard his Sermon on the Mount, his Sermon on the Bread of Life, and his other memorable lessons and parables. They saw how he responded to questions, criticisms, and interruptions.
And the Master Teacher’s course of study didn’t finish when he died. His students despaired when they saw Jesus nailed to a cross; but after he rose from the dead, he rejoined them for 40 more days of follow-up teaching sessions (see Acts 1:3).
What an effective instructor Jesus was! “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). Every Bible teacher’s goal should be the same. Whenever we teach or preach, we should ask the Lord to open the minds of our listeners so they can understand and apply the Scriptures.
The Best Subject
In this unique Bible lesson, Jesus gave his disciples a comprehensive overview of the Old Testament. The Scriptures, he explained, point to Christ himself. “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms’” (v. 44). This class session must have been lengthy, but it certainly wasn’t boring.
Can you imagine hearing Jesus explain how the creation in Genesis, the Passover in Exodus, and the priesthood and sacrifices in Leviticus all pointed to him? Wouldn’t you love to hear Jesus explain how he fulfilled the prophecies written by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the rest of the prophets? “This is what is written,” Jesus told them, summing up the gospel much like the apostle Paul did in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day” (Luke 24:46).
Today’s Bible teachers should pursue the same goal: To help our students discover how the Scriptures’ sacred pages point to Christ and his saving work.
The Best Outcome
The measure of a great Bible class is not merely what happens when students gather, but what happens afterward. Will the lessons they learned change their behavior? Will they apply God’s Word and share it with others?
Jesus’ lesson culminated with a personal challenge. He called the disciples to action by saying, “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things” (vv. 47-48).
His followers left that incredible Bible class with a renewed sense of purpose, a life-changing message to preach, and hearts overflowing with fearless, sacrificial love. In the book of Acts, Jesus’ students became teachers themselves. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they turned the world upside down.
May God use our own Bible studies to produce the same kind of results!
Personal Challenge:
Do you currently lead or participate in a Bible class or small group? If not, why not? If so, ask the Lord to infuse the group with purpose and power as you study together and apply his Word in your lives.
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