Effective Bible Teaching
Dedicated to improving my teaching, I am. James Wilhoit and Leland Ryken published a book in 2012 (actually, revised that year) entitled Effective Bible Teaching. It would be worth your expense to obtain and read this book.
Expository Bible teaching is the source of strength and stability in the church. It keeps the preacher or teacher from preaching hobbies and responding to every idea and whim that pops up. Paul tells Timothy to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). The more effectively I can do that, the more likely Christians will be prepared to handle the onslaughts of the Devil and the fiery darts of the Evil One.
Wilhoit and Ryken offer some good ideas and good principles in their book. They begin by discussing the “changing landscape of Bible study.” Their background is among denominational churches but it is easy to see the same weaknesses in the Lord’s church. Not only does the Lord need expository preachers in the church but expository teachers. In fact, all Christians need to know how to expose the text!
The driving force behind Wilhoit and Ryken’s approach is to grasp the “Big Idea” of the passage. I believe that is exactly right. Regardless of the author, Old Testament or New Testament, the paragraph, chapter, letter or book has a “Big Idea.” The way you grasp the “Big Idea” depends on the type of literature you are reading and Wilhoit and Ryken offers suggestions on determining the Big Idea from different types of literature, like poetry or narrative.
C’mon! We live in a community, which means that sildenafil tablet viagra we need to work together, and if we’re going to work together, we’ll need to know the main causes as it will help to identify a little bit about what exactly anxiety is and why it happens to end up being inappropriate. The benefits buy sildenafil uk of these generic medicines will remain unchanged. If you are quietly suffering about your small penis size, weak erection issue, premature ejaculation, then VigRx best prices on viagra Plus is the safe and effective ED treatment. Have a full check-up focussing on the risks 100mg viagra of erectile dysfunction. One principle they point out in their chapter “Principles of Biblical Interpretation,” is: “the interpreter should give precedence to biblical passages where the doctrine is clear” (pg. 93). How fundamentally important that point is! Our family is reading through the Bible this year and we have finished Romans. When a 15-year-old or a 12-year-old is reading Romans, you frequently get, “I did not understand a word he said.” How do you summarize a chapter in Romans for a teen or a pre-teen? You highlight the verse(s) that is easy to understand and interpret the difficult verses in light of that verse.
Finally, relative to Bible class teachers, Wilhoit and Ryken offer some good suggestions on how to lead a Bible class that is actually devoted to Bible study. Specifically, they offer ideas on how to ask questions to guide the class in observing, interpreting, and applying the text of Scripture.
It is a weighty responsibility to stand before an audience and declare, “Thus says the Lord.” “We who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). If one is not declaring “Thus says the Lord,” he needs to still down and close his mouth!
Effective Bible Teaching, I believe, will enrich my Bible study and my Bible teaching. It might do the same for you.
–Paul Holland
