Somewhere I check out that G. Campbell Morgan, the great British pastor and expositor, would go through a book of the Bible at least 40 times prior to teaching it. Any less and he felt unprepared.
We pastors frequently reserve a few days on the church calendar for an extensive Bible study on a particular theme or book of Scriptures. Our denomination– the Southern Baptist Convention– has for several years promoted a “January Bible Research Study” or “Mid-winter Bible Study.” This time– January, 2019– it will be Discovery 2-3,”The Letters to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor.”
I’ll be teaching this for a number of days at a church near Birmingham, Alabama, and hopefully another place or more. Months in advance, I’ve been working on it, trying to discover all I can in order to feel qualified to teach it. Never ever mind that I’ve taught through Discovery numerous times and preached preachings on these 7 churches in the past. None of that means much at the moment. The obstacle is not to remove old notes and rehash ancient messages, however to listen once again for what the Holy Spirit is saying through His always-up-to-date Word. The Word does not change, but its application to our lives is as fresh as it’s possible to get.
I’ve altered. I’m not the same person as decades ago when I pastored churches. So, I open the Scriptures and tackle this delightful project with enjoyment about what the Daddy has in shop.
It’ll be intriguing to see how this Bible research study establishes.
Here are some specifications I’m setting for myself which I advise upon others who go about to teach a part of God’s Word.
1. Hope.
From the start, prayer is the biggest necessity. “Lord, what do you desire these individuals to understand from Thy word?”
I wish myself as I research study. “Lord, you motivated this. You have actually heard every Bible study and sermon from it. Now, be my Teacher, please.”
2. Strategy.
Strategy what to cover and what not to cover. The challenge is not to give individuals so much information as to overwhelm them, nor so little regarding leave them unchallenged. For that, the Holy Spirit will need to guide. It’s so difficult to understand.
Early on I choose on a strategy: “I want to provide background to Discovery and to each of the 7 cities. I will invest most of the time and energy on opening these seven letters in the text. The objective is not to make our people clever, however wiser in the ways of the Lord and to offer more of themselves into His service.”
Consider this a caution, pastor/teacher. It’s possible to overwhelm your individuals with word studies, historic background, doctrinal ramifications, history of the interpretation of this text, quotes from numerous writers and preachers, and your individual viewpoint. Unless you provide advance believed to what you will bring in and what you need to omit, you may find yourself spending excessive time presenting a Scripture and preparing the audience however not leave yourself adequate time to handle the actual text.
That’s why there is no replacement for preparation.
3. Fill your mind with the text.
Beginners incorrectly think they ought to start by checking out commentaries and other individuals’ works on the text. This is backward. Long prior to opening a commentary, the potential instructor ought to check out the appointed Bible once again and again until it is fixed in his mind. Only when that Bible resides in him and he has actually thought it well through must he open the works of others to see what aid they can offer.
4. Think of the text.
Whether you call it studying, meditating, or just “thinking,” after checking out the text enough to repair it in your mind and heart, it’s finest to review it as much as you can. Our guide on this comes from Deuteronomy 6 where God told His people they were to put the Word in their hearts, then to teach them to their boys and talk of them when they being in your house, walk by the way, when they rest, and when they increase up. All of that is to say, Let these Scriptures permeate your mind and heart and every element of your life. Believe and speak about them.
“Because Law (Word) doth he meditate day and night” ( Psalm 1:2).
5. Your objective will determine your techniques.
What do you want to achieve here? Your audience will frequently figure out both the goal and the techniques. Are you teaching seminary trainees dealing with masters degrees? Students in a Bible college? Laypeople in a class setting? Are you teaching high schoolers? Are you in the church auditorium addressing the entire churchgoers or a class of Sunday School teachers seated prior to tables?
Is this going to be a devotional study? If so, your emphasis will be on realities to live by, and you’ll wish to have some excellent illustrations and examples. Tell some stories of individuals who got this right. Or is it going to be academic with you using exegetical method in order to discuss methodical theology?
6. Decide what study assists you will use.
You do not have time to check out whatever written on any Bible or whatever readily available on the web. Unless you are experienced at this, the finest way to choose research study assists is to ask veteran ministers and instructors.
7. Alleviate up on yourself.
Decide in advance that you will never feel effectively prepared. So, set yourself free from the problem of perfectionism.
I suggest you not take too numerous research study helps into the classroom/pulpit with you. Do not take research study books preparing to read large explanatory passages to your people. They desire to hear you.
They wish to hear what God has taught you. Fill your mind and heart with the subject and go in the Spirit of God, and offer it your finest.
When the conference is over, leave it with the Daddy. You did excellent in some things and maybe inadequately in others. But you did your finest. If you plan to teach this once again in another church or with another group, go rapidly to your research study and make notes on what you discovered, where you were weak, and what you wish to improve on.
Have a good time. Smile. Love this. You are so fortunate getting to do this. Take advantage of it, friend.Photo courtesy: ©
Thinkstock/B-C-Designs
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