Effective Bible Classes: The Teacher’s Responsibilities

CHURCH ARTICLE | William Stewart | Odessa, Ontario

“…the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)

The apostle Paul urged Timothy to teach others so they could teach others, who could teach others, and so on. Teaching God’s word is important, and doing so effectively is essential. No matter what the venue, whether it is a kitchen table or a lecture hall, we want to be successful teachers. Herein we will focus on ways for teachers to make their Bible classes the best possible learning environment.

Respect The Opportunity.
Years ago, I overheard a young man claim that he could be ready to teach a Bible class in under 10 minutes. His claim was not a matter of only having ten minutes available (ie. being called to fill-in for an emergency). He bragged that he could “chat it up” through the Bible class period for 30-40 minutes with little to no preparation. He had the gift of the gab; I’ll give him that. However, such a cavalier attitude towards the teaching of God’s word is repugnant. It makes the occasion about the speaker and his ability to wow people (or more likely himself). That kind of attitude takes the focus away from an intentional and purposed study of the Scriptures.

If the brethren have entrusted us (greater still, God has entrusted us) to lead a Bible study, we owe it to the Lord, our brethren, and ourselves to take the opportunity seriously and humbly. If we want to be a showman, join the circus. We need to check our ego at the door (better yet, long before we ever get to the door) because the occasion is not about us, but about the profitable study of God’s word.

Study. Study. Study.
It is imperative to be familiar with the text or topic that we are teaching if we are to be an effective teacher. Effective teaching requires reading (and rereading and re-rereading). But reading is not enough. If we are going to teach a Bible class, then of necessity we must study to do so. Preparation is key. Paul admonished Timothy:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Or, as the KJV reads, “…study to shew thyself approved…” Get into the text such that the text gets into you. Check out multiple translations. Look into the meaning of Greek or Hebrew words. Make sure you are acquainted with parallel texts. We cannot share what we do not already know, nor can we adequately express it unless we first have a solid handle on the text or topic.

What Is The Point?
Friend, there must be a point, a purpose, a reason, a lesson. A Bible class must have a goal – there must be a useful application for our class. Imagine sitting in a class looking at 1 Chronicles 1-5, reading through genealogy after genealogy, noting this name, and that name along the way. And then, without any application or indication of relevance for your life, the instructor thanks you for your time and invites you to come back next week to study 1 Chronicles 6-9. Are you expected to be in next week’s class?

A class without a point will cause those in attendance to question the point in attending the class. A Bible class without a point is pointless (pun intended).

How is the text pertinent to our current situation? What lessons of faith can be drawn from the text? How did the people in the text succeed or fail in their faith? How can their success or failure instruct us in our walk of faith? That is the goal of Bible study – to help us grow in our faith.

Pay Attention To Structure.
Suppose a brother who is well-versed in the Scriptures is leading a class. His knowledge of the Bible enables him to supplement the primary text of the class with quotes from other places in Scripture. However, his manner is rugged and his class doesn’t flow well. His thoughts and words may make perfect sense to him, but in the course of sharing them with others, the lack of cohesiveness and smooth transitions will impede attendees from benefiting. A teacher may have great points to share with the class, but a muddled presentation will impair his ability to be an effective teacher. Outlining is important.

I’m in favour of taking a leisurely Sunday afternoon drive to get a glimpse of this or that, U-turning here or there, following trails to the left or the right – but don’t do these things in Bible class. Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Plan out your class. Know where you are going, how you are going to get there, and then go there. Leave some flexibility for class discussion, if it is an interactive class, but even then, emphasize the need to stay on track.

Devise an outline that is easy to follow, which is logical and progressive. Regarding textual studies, as we read and reread (and re-reread) the text, what I typically refer to as “God’s outline” will often become apparent. The Holy Spirit was not haphazard in the process of revelation. There is always a flow to the text, a coherent development that leads to the focal point. Let’s find and use “God’s outline.”

Focus On Jesus.
In my “Introduction to Revelation” class, the thought I leave participates with as we embark on the wonderful journey that is the Revelation of Jesus Christ is this: “If our study is not focused on Jesus, then we have missed the focus of the book!” Allow me to illustrate: Revelation 1 makes specific reference to Jesus in verses 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 17, and 18. And then, at the close of the book, chapter 22 refers explicitly to the Lord in verses 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, and 21. If, in the course of our study of the book of Revelation, we get so caught up in the images, numbers, and activity that we fail to see the Lord in the text – we’ve got off track and missed the point.

The same is true about any book or topic we might pursue in our Bible classes. Do not lose the focus on Jesus, who is our Creator, Sustainer, Messiah, Saviour, Advocate, Judge, etc.. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “…I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified…” (1 Corinthians 2:2). That doesn’t mean we don’t talk about or study anything else – but inevitably, all things we study in the Scriptures are going to come back to Jesus Christ and Him crucified. God’s plan to redeem us in Christ has been from the foundation of the world. Foreshadows, allusions, and prophecies about the Messiah are prevalent in the Old Testament. And then, when we come to the New Testament, though the inspired writers address a myriad of topics, they always come back to Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Focus on Jesus.

20.07.07 | GROW magazine