Articles for tag: Bible Teaching

September 28, 2020

David Faust

Are We Making Progress? (Oct. 4 Lesson Application)

This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Oct. 4, 2020: Teach (1 Timothy 4:6-16) ________ By David Faust Ronald Reagan quipped, “Status quo is Latin for ‘the mess we’re in.’” We won’t get out of this mess without God’s help. That’s why we need teachers who communicate God’s grace and truth with reverence and relevance. Progress Requires Intentional EffortPaul urged Timothy to carry out his ministry “so that everyone may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15). That verse compels me to ask, Would others say I’m communicating God’s Word more effectively today than I did five years ago?

November 2, 2019

Christian Standard

Children’s Ministry Best Practices (Small Church): Versailles (Ind.) Church of Christ

‘A Love for Watching Young People Grow in Christ’ By Melissa Wuske JR and Debra Stephen have been volunteer leaders in the children’s ministry at Versailles (Indiana) Church of Christ since the mid-1980s. It’s a small congregation with “more older people than younger” right now, JR said. About 20 children regularly attend, and he described the church as “a close-knit family.” As a children’s leader, that closeness is an asset: “Everybody pretty much knows everybody, and you get to know the parents well.” The couple have been through many seasons of ministry with the church: Families have moved into town

October 18, 2018

Christian Standard

How the Bible School Was Used to Build the Church at Canton, Ohio

I’ve heard anecdotes about P.H. Welshimer and how he used Sunday school to build attendance at First Christian Church in Canton, Ohio, so I was interested in this article he wrote for the October 24, 1953, Christian Standard. It’s a longish article, so without further ado . . . _ _ _ How the Bible School Was Used to Build the Church at Canton, Ohio By P.H. Welshimer WHEN I BEGAN my ministry in Canton, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1902, there were 120 persons in the Bible school that Lord’s Day morning. There was no adult class. The second Lord’s Day

September 19, 2018

David Roadcup

‘Feed My Sheep’

By David Roadcup  It was probably one of the most impactful moments of Peter’s life. John 21 tells the story. After Jesus’ resurrection, while the disciples are fishing from a boat, Jesus appears on the beach, starts a fire, and fixes breakfast for them. After another fish-producing miracle, Jesus calls the disciples in for breakfast. After they eat, Jesus engages Peter in a powerful discussion. Three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Three times, Peter emphatically states that he does. Three times, Jesus exhorts Peter to fulfill a specific task. Jesus concludes round one of this exchange by

June 21, 2016

Mark A. Taylor

Three Ways Churches Can Address Biblical Skepticism

By Mark A. Taylor Americans are less engaged with the Bible than ever, according to research released by the Barna Group last week. The trend is “toward biblical skepticism,” Barna President David Kinnaman reported. The report shows, for example, that only a third of Americans agree strongly with the statement, “The Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches,” down from 48 percent in 2011. Only 45 percent agree with this statement: “The Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life,” down from 53 percent in 2011. “With each passing year, the

April 16, 2016

Christian Standard

WHAT’S NEXT?: Look and Act Like Jesus

We asked several Christian leaders, “What should churches served by CHRISTIAN STANDARD strive to be or do or look like in the next decades?” ____ By Jeff Metzger I think the ultimate answer to this question is simple. The church should always strive to be and do and look as much like Jesus as possible! For 20 centuries, the church has always been at its best when it was most like Jesus. That will always be true. Our goal as disciples is to be like our teacher, Jesus. Here are some ways we can continue to make that happen. Jesus loves the nations.

October 26, 2014

Christian Standard

Books for Bible Students: Bible Teachers CAN Be Better Teachers

By Teresa Welch Whether you are a seasoned teacher or just starting to host a small group, I recommend the following resources for help with guiding students toward maturity in Christ (see Colossians 1:28): Heart-Deep Teaching by Gary Newton (B&H Academic, 2012) is a resource for teachers concerned about the lack of biblical knowledge and understanding among adults. Newton trains teachers about the process of learning so they can engage students to discover and obey God”s Word. His book is filled with practical ideas for preparing the heart of the teacher, designing deeper learning experiences, and structuring Bible lessons. Effective

May 14, 2014

Christian Standard

Five Things Every Bible Teacher Must Do

By Jim Eichenberger Tell“”At a very basic level, the teacher is called to deliver information precisely and accurately. In doing that, leaders often ask themselves certain questions: Am I pronouncing that name correctly? Do I understand the point of this Bible book? How accurate are the resources I am using? Only when those questions are answered can a teacher speak with confidence. Explain“”After delivering content, the teacher is called to ensure that learners understand it. The lesson material a teacher uses will have good content, but what if learners ask questions not “in the script”? Teachers need to have reliable information at

May 14, 2014

Christian Standard

A Bible for Teachers: Introducing the ‘Standard Lesson Teacher’s Study Bible’

By Jim Eichenberger There are many study Bibles for individual and devotional use. But what about the special needs of a teacher or Bible study group leader? Standard Publishing has addressed that question by releasing the unique Standard Lesson Teacher”s Study Bible (SLTSB). The SLTSB complements lesson materials by putting tools at the fingertips of teachers while they are leading lessons. Here are some features that do just that:   Enhanced Introductions Bible book introductions abound to help the reader understand the book. But our introductions are designed to help the leader teach that book. What to review””Some issues addressed

March 1, 2014

Christian Standard

Tips for Teaching the Bible at Home

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). By Dan Burton When you sit at home. Our family sits together for dinner at least five times a week. This doesn”t just happen . .

February 28, 2014

Christian Standard

Making the Most of Opportunities

By Teresa Welch   Educators call them teachable moments. They can happen more frequently than you might imagine. And they give us the greatest chance to help children see and remember Bible truths. A group of 40 elementary children had just settled into chairs when Nathan raised his hand. I should have known by the twinkle in his eye that Nathan was up to something, but I called on him anyway. “Miss Teresa,” he began, “if Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden and Heaven is supposed to be like the Garden of Eden” (you can see

February 27, 2014

Christian Standard

What I”ve Learned About Teens and the Bible

By Curtis Booher   What will it take to turn the tide of biblical illiteracy among young people? I contend it will require us to listen more than we talk. We should listen well to young people from every point of the illiteracy to literacy continuum. I have tried to listen to the students sitting in my Bible survey classes, and this is what I”ve heard:   Model a Love for Scripture It”s not that students can”t read the Bible; they can. But really, why would they want to? When was the last time they saw their parents read the

February 24, 2014

Christian Standard

Teach Your Students to Be Students of the Bible

By Paul Potter Imagine the anxiety of traveling to a distant land. Everything is different from the way it was back home. The people you encounter have plenty to say to you, but they are speaking a language you have never heard. The language isn”t the only thing you don”t understand. Almost nothing is familiar to you. The architecture, clothing, foods, and customs are all strange and intimidating. This is the experience of many millions today, but they haven”t traveled to the other side of the world. They have come to the pages of the Bible. Like tour guides, Christian

February 23, 2014

Michael C. Mack

Six Methods for Wrestling with Scripture

By Michael C. Mack 1. Use a reading plan. A wide variety of daily Bible-reading plans are available in churches and on websites. Have your group choose a plan and agree to use it. That way, everyone is on the same page, so discussion can be more dynamic. 2. Focus. Some groups focus on less Scripture, say one to three chapters a day, and read through books of the Bible. I like this method for groups who want to commit together to reading through certain Bible books and getting more in-depth than the previous option. 3. Intently focus. An even

February 23, 2014

Michael C. Mack

Wrestling with the Scriptures Together

By Michael C. Mack How do small groups best engage in Bible study in order to grow as followers of Christ? If you asked Jesus” original disciples to describe discipleship, they would talk about their yeshiva. Rabbis taught in groups of disciples called yeshivas that would have passionate discussions over different aspects of life and what the Hebrew Scriptures said about them. They would wrestle with the texts together in order to understand God”s view on how they should conduct their lives. Rabbis used no written curriculum or agenda for their multiyear discipling experience. Their curriculum was life itself. The

February 21, 2014

Christian Standard

Sir Richard and the Dragons

By Daniel Schantz   I used to think there was one, well-guarded secret to good teaching, and if I could just figure out what it was, I could become a Socrates. Now, after a lifetime of teaching, I can see that good communication is more about the practice of a few basic principles of leadership. Take my Sunday school teacher, for example. His college students call him “Mister K,” and he is as gentle as Mister Rogers, smarter than Mister Chips, and more fun than Mister Magoo. Most people just call him “Dick,” but I call him “Sir Richard,” because,

February 20, 2014

Christian Standard

The Big Little Book

By Daniel Schantz   This compact Bible commentary from Standard Publishing has been helping teachers since the days of President Eisenhower. I had no idea how big Sunday school was until I read Robert Lynn”s book, The Big Little School. Turns out, some very big names were once Sunday school teachers, including Francis Scott Key and General Robert E. Lee. Several U.S. presidents were Sunday school teachers: James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter. Numerous business tycoons were teachers, including John D. Rocke- feller (Standard Oil), William Colgate (toothpaste), James Kraft (cheese), and H.J. Heinz (ketchup).

February 10, 2014

Christian Standard

Fix It!

By Teresa Welch   “What”s wrong with education in the church today?” As a professor and practitioner of Christian education, I have posed this question in workshops and classrooms and received no shortage of replies. Inexperienced teachers. Antiquated methods. Lack of organization. Bland curricular materials. The question often riles up the room. There”s something cathartic in complaining about how the church bungles education. At some point, however, I end the conversation. I look straight at the group, and I share three simple words: “Then fix it.” You have probably heard complaints about the lack of biblical literacy in today”s congregations.

February 7, 2014

Christian Standard

How to Teach the Bible

By Terry O’Casey Biblical illiteracy is as great a problem inside the church as out. But preachers””and preaching””can make a difference. An unchurched neighbor heard me preach about David and Goliath. Afterwards, she said, “Great talk. No stem, no seeds, no sticks, just good stuff!” Baffled, I thanked her and turned to an elder who was doing a miserable job of suppressing laughter. My elder translated, “She was complimenting you by saying your sermon was like the best marijuana.” Ah, the joy of being culturally illiterate! What is our world coming to? A recent British newspaper lamented our lack of biblical

October 20, 2012

Christian Standard

Google Is My Best Friend: Resources for Bible Teaching (Part 5)

By Chuck Sackett “What”s in a name?” “What does the Bible say about God”s honor?” “Taking God”s name in vain.” Those recent searches resulted in an abundance of usable illustrative materials. Which is my way of saying, I don”t use the web for the substance of the sermon, I use it for developing creative means of communicating what the text has revealed through the hard work of Bible study. Google is not the only search engine, but it represents a category of tools every preacher must become adept at using. The fact that the web abounds with material is both bane

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