Bible Study Curriculum- Make It New

In our bible study curriculum class we are working through a study on the fruits of the Spirit. I will be honest.  The first thought that came to my mind was, "Hasn't this been done already?" If we were honest we all have felt this way at one point or another with some study.  But this is unfortunate. All scripture is God breathed and is fresh and new each time we read it.  We need to view it this way and regardless of the topic we need to find a way to make the truth in it new and fresh for us. We then need to do the same thing for the people in our group who are in the same boat we are.  This way you are all continuing to learn and grow and your faith is not becoming stale.  Plus, there will be people in your group, new Christians, who these truths literally will be new for and you do not want them to miss out on the joy of hearing them in their full glory. So regardless of the topic, study, learn, and teach it like it is completely brand new.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Is It Really A Problem?

As teachers of bible study curriculum we have a lot on our plate.  We have things that we must do, things that are expected of us, and things that we would like to and hope to accomplish.  Because of all this sometimes we do not accomplish what we expected or what is expected of us. This then leads to frusttration setting in.  I have been right there with you.  But I have begun to ask myself a question and I want you to begin to ask yourself this question also.  Is it really a problem? Here is what I mean.  First of all, is the issue really worth being frustrated over. Some things are trivial and not worth stressing out about.  The other thing I want you to think about is do you have to be frustrated? For example, I was struggling with doing all my home responsibilities, getting my work out in, taking care of my kids, and taking care of my bible study teaching role and I begin to get frustrated.  But then I began to reevaulate and realized that by getting up earlier and being a little more disciplined I could easily get everything done and more.  So I encourage you, before you get frustrated or feel you have a problem, think thorugh is there something you can do or a mindset you can change that will make your problem "go away."  

Bible Study Curriculum- Morning People

As teachers of bible study curriculum we are all unique.  This includes the fact that some of us are morning people and others are night time people.  I have also mentioned before I believe that I am definitely a morning person.  I also want to encourage you to be one too. You may think that you cannot or you were not designed to be, but I used to be the same way. It took time and discipline but eventually I changed. The reason I feel that being a morning person is important is because there is something powerful about the sunrise.  There is something powerful about getting up in the quiet and seeing the day begin. I cannot begin to tell you the many spiritual insights you can receive and the wonderful conversations you can have with God. Yes you can have these at night too and should, but believe me, there is something powerful about the morning.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Staying Connected

One of the keys to being an effective teacher of bible study curriculum is staying connected to people living real life and who have real hurts and needs.  Too many teachers, writers, and speakers stay on the stage or in their offices and never actually make contact with people.  This removes power and effectiveness from their teaching as they are not able to empathize with those they teach and make sure that they share truth that speaks into the lives of each member of their group.  You need to evaluate your life and decide if you are one of these people? Are you out there doing real ministry or are you cooped up in your office or study all day?  If you fall into the latter category you need to make this wrong right. Get out there and do actual ministry.  Meet people where their needs are.  Do what it takes to stay connected to the world around you.   

[adultbiblestudycurriculum] Re: Bible Study Curriculum- Putting the Work in

Our new bible study curriculum follow is almost here. It is in the final stages of artwork and packaging and then it will be ready to go.  I encourage you to keep checking the site or sign up for our newsletter so that you can be one of the first people to receive a new sample of our study.  It is a wonderful eighteen week study about what it truly means to be a follower of Christ.  Too many of our churches are full of people who claim to believe in Jesus while not truly following Him. We have been called to lives of obedience and action and I believe this study will begin pushing you and your church in that direction.  I am really proud of this study.  I also know that if you want your small groups to be challenged, if you want to see your church challenged, see it grow, and see your world changed, this is the study for you.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Putting the Work in

As a teacher of bible study curriculum you need to make sure that you are putting the necessary work in for your teaching to be powerful and effective.  You want to make sure that you are putting the work in it takes for your group to grow and for the members in your group to experience life change.  You also want to put the work in to ensure that the members of your group are taking that life change and sharing it with the world around them so that others can experience life change too.  Even if this is a volunteer position for you it does not mean you can play this role half way.  That is not Christlike.  You need to go all out and above and beyond the call of duty in order to fill this role in a manner that honors God.  This means studying as much as needed. This means taking time for prayer.  This means getting out and serving with your group and building relationships with them.  This means doing whatever it takes to see God's work done. Do not be a teacher who just shows up and teaches.  Be one who plays whatever role is needed for the members of your group to experience life change and become life changers. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Band For Your Buck

Most bible study curriculum lessons usually have a single focus that each lesson is geared to sommunicate. This is good because there is only so much that we can communicate in the time that we have and there is only so much that the members of our small group can learn in a given week.  But sometimes there are little lessons and extra truths that can and need to be shared in a lesson. Sometimes these will become obvious as you study the lessons.  Sometimes they will come up naturally through conversations in the lesson.  Either way I encourage you to take the opportunity to teach those little extra lessons and truths so that you and the members of your small group get more bang for your buck out of the the lesson.  Plus you will have the opportunity to meet the needs of more people that come and visit your small group. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Sunday or Monday Focused?

Most of us teach our bible study curriculum on Sunday mornings. There is nothing wrong with that.  My question though is where does that teaching bring the focus of the members of your group to.  It is it to Sunday or Monday? Many churches and small groups teach and minister in such a way to make sure that people think their lives are all about being at church and attending and nothing else.  So everything they do and say is about coming to church and bringing others to church.  There are good important things in that but our lives happen everyday of the week.  Therefore truly effective teaching should help people focus on how they can live on Monday morning and beyond.  We have to step out and realize that life is not just about coming to church but instead about being the church in our community each and everyday.  We need to begin to live this out and then make sure that our teaching follows along accordingly.  Then we will be able to see great transformation in our lives, the lives of those we teach, and in our community.

Bible Study Curriculum- Fighting the lull

As teachers of bible study curriculum we have ups and downs just like everyone else. Those downs can especially come this time of year.  I am a firm beliver that seasonal effective disorder is a real thing.  Ths is the phenomenon where peoples are moods are effected based on the seasons. This is most often talked about in the winter time when people deal with depression like symptoms because of the cold and lack of sunlight.   I believe that this also happens in the summer although quite differently.  In the summer there is the tendency to want to relax and slow down. There is no room for this in the Christian life though. We must fight through this tendency. Instead we mus pray harder and look for more ways to serve. We must look for accountabillity that will push us to do what we are called to do.  I have set this many times recently but it is because I believe it is important. Summer is an opportunity for great things to happen because every day we are given is a gift from God. Let's make sure we don't way these days. Do what you must do to fight the lull and live out what you have been called to. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Thinking Ahead

When you are teaching bible study curriculum you need to think ahead. Yes we need to live in the moment and enjoy life but we always need to be trying to be visionary and thinking about where God might be leading us and the members of your group.  If you merely think about the present you may miss out on the needs of your group.  Then when you finally become aware of them it may be too late.  There is a delicate balance of course.  Again, if you are always thinking ahead as a leader people will eventually get annoyed and exhausted and you might seem distant and disconnected.  If you think too much in the present though your ministry might seem irrelevant.  So keep a balance but be a visionary leader and think ahead. This way you can truly lead your small group where God wants you to be.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Bridging the Generation Gap

Usually our classes that study bible study curriculum are divided into age groups.  This makes sense as we usually share common interests and have common needs with people our age.  But we also miss out on a lot of things when we follow this pattern of age segragation.  We miss out on the wisdom of those who have lived years of life, served faithfully, and gone through the same things we have.  We miss out on the youthful exhuberance and free willing passion.  We miss out on the balance that comes from those who are in the middle of their life and are trying to juggle all their responsibilities. And all these things bring a unique perspective to how we see the bible.  Granted some things are not up to interpretation, but depending on our life stage parts of scripture speak to us in different ways and we are able to speak truth out of that.  So I encourage you to work to bridge the generation gap.  Have times where you all study scripture together, regardless of age, and share the wisdom and insight that you have.  You will be amazed at how it strengthens your church community and your study of the scriptures. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Reading A Commentary

As a teacher of bible study curriculum have you ever read a commentary?  I do not mean read excerpts of a commentary.  Most of us have done that. I mean reading one from cover to cover.  I have just recently done this for the first time and it was a wonderful experience.  It really gave me some great insight into God's word and was a wonderful time of growth.  Now, granted there are some commentaries where this would truly be a beating.  But there are others that make it a little easier.  There are commentaries by many writers such as John Phillps and Warren Wiersbe that write commentaries that are very reader friendly while still giving you all the biblical background that you desire.  They also usually include the full text of each verse instead of just the reference which is an added bonus.  I encourage you to choose a book of the bible and read through one of these.  I think you will find it to be a wonderful experience and another step towards you becoming a better student of the word of God.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Fight The Urge

In teaching bible study curriculum and in life in general the tendency is to slow down and relax this time of year.  You must fight that urge though.  You need to push yourself to work just as hard, study just as deeply, and pray just as hard as you do the rest of the year.  You need to look for ways to minister, new and better ways, to reach out to the community around you.  This will take some discipline as our cultural norms have trained us to act this way.  But we can overcome this.  And by overcoming this you can help others lives be changed to.  We can help them see that their lives need to be different too and that there are new and unique ministry opportunities this time of year.  Let this be a time of renewal and revival in your church instead of a time of vacation and slowing down.  Push through the urges that are in your nature and allow God to work through you to live as He has called us to.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Finding the Right Commentaries

As a teacher of bible study curriculum you really need some commentaries in your personal library.  These will expand and deepen your study of God's word.  But finding the right ones can feel like an intricate and difficult process.  There are a couple of things you can do though.  One of these is to start with a commentary that has the entire old and new testament in one or two volumes.  This will give you a great starting point and will be more affordable.  Then as you are ready to expand your library you can purchase other books of the bible as needed.  The other thing you want to consider then is the quality of the commentary.  Yes there are bad commentaries out there with flawed theology.  You can avoid falling into the trap of buying one of these though by doing a little homework.  Do some background research on the author, read reviews, and ask people you trust what their opinions are.  These steps will get you on the right track to buying the right commentaries and building your personal library.  

Bible Study Curriculum- In Their Shoes

When preparing to teach bible study curriculum you need to take the time to put yourself in the shoes of others.  This can mean a couple of things.  First of all you need to put yourself in the shoes of those you are studying.  Think about the cultural and historical context.  Think about what it would have been for the people to hear or share the truths that are in the passage.  Think about what it was like if this was the first time these things were ever shared.  Think through what it was like to live in their world and the scripture you are studying would have meant for them.  Next, you need to put yourself in the shoes of those you are going to teach.  What are their interests? What are they going through each day? What are they dealing with? In light of that, what will this scripture passage mean to them? What do they need to hear? These questions and putting yourself in the place of others as you study will make you a better teacher and a better student of the word.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Late Start

As a teacher of bible study curriculum I like to get off to an early start in the morning.  This leaves plenty of time to excercise, pray, and study God's word.  But today I got off to a late start.  That inevitable moment came where I have no recollection of my alarm going off.  So when I woke up I was faced with a choice.  Sleep even later or force myself out of bed to still get a few things done. I chose the latter and I am glad I did.  The circumstances were not perfect or how I had hoped they would be but I knew I still had a job to do. The Christian life is the same way some times.  We have an ideal picture for how things should look or how we want things to go. But this does not always work out. Even when this is the case though we still have to persevere and remember that we have a job to do.  Remember this lesson and share it with those around you. Wow, it is amazing the things you can learn just by sleeping too late.  I hope not to make a habit out of this though.  The sleeping late that is.  Have a blessed day.  

Bible Study Curriculum- No Vacation

As a teacher of bible study curriculum you have probably seen the same phenomenon I have.  Many people around this time of year start thinking about summer vacation.  This is not bad altogether but the problem is that they also tend to take a summer vacation from church too.  We must realize there is no vacation in the Christian life. We always have some ways that we could be growing and something that we should be doing.  You need to live this idea out and model it for your group.  You need to begin speaking this idea clearly to each and everyone one of the members of your group.  You need to see this season as not a time of vacation but a time of growth. Instead of slowing down look for ways to grow.  Look for ways that you can fellowship, dig deeper into God's word, and find ways to do outreach in this summer season.  Let this be a season of growth and change for you instead of a season where you just sitting back and wait for the next one. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Studying Through A Book

As a teacher of bible study curriculum I of course try to study the bible as much as possible.  There are a lot of different plans for doing this. There are many plans that help you read through the bible in a year.  A lot of people also will read five psalms a day, a proverb a day, or just a random chapter in the bible every day.  I have done many of these reading plans but I find all of them put me in a rush. I like to complete things and get to the end and in studying the bible I am often the same way.  Because of this I have failed to really digest thing in the past. This is why I have been trying something new, or new for me at least.  I am reading through one book of the bible.  Everyday I read the whole book or 5-10 chapters of it depending on how long it is.  Then I also read commentaries on it.  Until I have read the book several times, read a few commentaries, and digested the truths I do not move on.  It may take me longer to get through the whole bible but I find this option allows me to really digest the truth that is in God's word and take it to heart.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Discipline

Being a teacher of bible study curriculum takes discipline.  That can play out in a lot of different ways.  Some of you have a lot of free time and you need to discipline yourself to use it wisely.  Some of you are busy with kids and a demanding job and you have to work hard to block out time to study.  All of us need to discipline ourselves though.  We need to be intentional about turning off the technology, getting away, and studying.  We need to not sleep the day away and instead get up and extend our day so that we have more time to study God's word and pray.  We need to make sure that we are taking care of ourselves so that we can be prepared to minister to others. We need to let God show us where we need more discipline in our lives so that we can be fully developed followers of Him.  In short, discipline is a part of the Christian life.  We need to have discipline and then model that discipline for those in our small group so that they can develop the same discipline.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Teach Them To Fish

As teachers of bible study curriculum we probably have all heard the old saying about feeding someone fish vs. teaching someone how to fish.  In fact we have probably used it in an illustration or two.  But how often have you applied it to your teaching practices.  I think for far too long many of us have enjoyed the fact that people "need" us to  teach them the bible. Because of this we may not have done as good a job as we needed to in teaching them how to study the bible for themselves.  I encourage you to teach them how to fish.  Show them how to unpack a passage.  Show them the supplementary aids you use like commentaries and other reference materials.  Show them where they can find these things online for free.  There are enough resources out there that there is no excuse for anyone for not being a student of the word.  Provide them with what they need so they can fish for themselves and teach others to do the same.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Fellowship

Most of us who teach bible study curriculum are good at two things, teaching and studying.  But if you are like me you struggle in another area, fellowship.  This may seem like a waste of time or not part of your job but neither is true.  Fellowship is what builds community in your group.  Then through this community your group begins to open up and share which makes your teaching and discussion more powerful and effective.  Also, as community is built your group begins to grow.  Therefore fellowship must be a vital part of your small group if you want it to grow.  This may mean that you have to get out of your comfort zone a little but that is okay.  It won't hurt too much.  You just need to take the time to plan an event here or there or a moment in your lesson where people can fellowship.  You could also delegate this responsibility but make sure you are still a participant.  Either way you go just ensure that fellowship becomes a part of what your small group does and is about. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Acts

I was sitting around thinking about bible study curriculum this morning as I dug through the book of Acts. I am beginning to outline a study on this book. In the book of Acts is so much power and inspiration as we see how the early church spread and grow.  We see how they lived in community with one another.  We also get to see how much that they sacrificed for the sake of following Christ.  Unfortunately this is one of the more neglected books in the bible when it comes to teaching and studying.  Maybe I just go to the wrong church but I never hear much mention of it. I wonder why.  I mean the mere fact that thousands were gettting saved a day should be enough to make people want to study it and read it regularly.  I encourage you to dig into this book and consider teaching some on it in the near future.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Be discerning

When teaching bible study curriculum it is key that you show discernment in all situations.  Whether it is following the leading of the Holy Spirit in what you say or should no say or just being sensitive to the emotions those around you may be feeling, you as a teacher must have the utmost level of discernment at all times. Sometimes people will be hurting and you need to ensure they are comforted. Other times people will be hanging onto sin and you need to speak truth into their lives so that they can come to repentance.  I know that some of us are gifted in this area spiritually.  But just because we are not gifted in this area does not mean that we are excused from practicing this.  It may just mean we have to work harder at it than others. But if we pray without ceasing and keep our eyes focused on God I believe He will honor our efforts, give you the discernment you need, and allow you to effectively minister to the small group you are in charge of.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Inspirational stories

As a teacher of bible study curriculum I find it powerful to read inspirational stories about the lives of other followers of Christ.  But even before I began teaching I found this practice to be important in valuable to my life.  Reading is an important discipline for a follower of Christ but we should not just read anything. We should read things that inspire us to live more fully committed to God and that help teach us and grow.  We need to model this as teachers and hold those in our small group accountable to do the same. For example, I just finished reading the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  It is a powerful story of one man's commitment to following God in this face of intense evil and persecution. I learned so many powerful lessons that I look forward to living out and communicating to my small group.  So let me ask you, what are you reading? Are you reading anything? I know we are all busy but you need to block time and have the discipline to make this a discipline in your life.  You will benefit from it and those aroung you will benefit from it.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Transformation

The longer I teach bible study curriculum, study scripture and do ministry the more I become a firm believer that God is in the business of transformation.  He desires to come in and drastically change our lives.  Look at the disciples.  They went from scared individuals to passionate preachers of the Gospel.  Look at the early church.  They became a tight knit community and caring individuals like the world has never seen.  And look at your own life. Who were you before you came to Christ? I know I was a lazy, selfish, hateful individual.  Now I am passionate and accomplishing things I never though possible. We need to remember this principal and make it very clear to those in our small group that God is in the business of transformation. We need to firmly belive that God can change the lives of everyone in our group and speak that truth with boldness and confidence. Then we need to make sure that we put the necessary work in to see that this happens. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Restoration

The people you are teaching bible study curriculum to are in need of restoration.  There are probably many people in your group whose lives are broken in many different ways. How do I know this? One is just playing the odds. In my experience there has always been a broken life in every group I have taught.  You could also look at statistics to see the sin and effects of sin in our world and assume that someone in your group's life is broken. Or, and this is what you should do, you can look at scripture.  You can see that we are all guilty of sin and sin destroys our lives.  But we also see that in scripture is the story of restoration.  It is God's story of redeeming sin and everything sin has touched.  That is the story of hope people in your group need to hear. Whether they are struggling with addictions, broken relationships, or whatever they need to hear that God is God who loves them and wants to offer them hope and restoration.  Look for opportunities to do that today. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Discipleship

They key focus of any bible study curriculum shoud be discipleship.  Jesus has called us to be disciples and make disciples.  This takes a relationship and a long term investment.  I say this because I want to be clear that a curriculum cannot be the sole tool used in discipelship.  But it is a great starting point.  You see the people in your small group need to be being discipled.  They need to have that relatioship where they are being invested in and growing in their walk with Christ.  The curriculum you study can be a launching point for those relationships and conversations. That is if the curriculum is written the right way. Some curriculums are only about gaining knowledge but the best curriculums are also about living life and specifically how we are to be living life differently. Our curriculum, Follow, is written this way.  So make sure that the people in your group are being discipled and ensure that the curriculum you are studying is helping in that process.

Bible Study Curriculum- Follow

Hey everyone, I wanted to let you know that our new bible study curriculum follow is in its final stages of production.  It should be out by the end of May. You will not want to miss out on this great study and all that it will offer your group. I firmly believe that the lessons it contains will radically change your lives, your communities, and our world.  It's all about how we are not supposed to just be a body of believers but actually followers of Christ.  This is a message the church desperately needs to hear.  I hope you will sign up for our email list to get word when it is finally available. Also, be on the lookout for samples and other news.  I hope you have a blessed and that you continue to diligently do the work that God has laid out before you.  We will be talking to you soon. 

Bible Study Curriculum- What Now?

At a teacher of bible study curriculum you probably noticed a spike in attendance this Easter Sunday.  I also hope that with that the Gospel was clearly preached. I pray that God moved and that lives were changed.  But what now?  For far too long we have seen the phenomenon that everyone comes to church on Easter and instead of doing something about it we just accept it.  This should be a launching time into a new area of ministry and in your small group. Take time this Sunday to talk with your group about last weekend, the message that was preached, and what they now need to be doing because of it.  Maybe get a hold of the visitor list and find the ages that would be in your small group and give them an opportunity to get connected.  They are obviously seeking something so why not write them a letter or give them a phone call so that you can have the opportunity to show them what they are seeking.  Either way you and your small group need to do something with the opportunity you have to impact the fresh harvest God has brought your way. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Studying

When it comes to teaching bible study curriculum you really need to study.  The material we provide gives you a lot of commentary and biblical background information but I encourage you to look for even more.  You need dig into God's word and own it. I used to be afraid of this feeling that it would make me a cold hearted academic. But I have found that actually the more that I study the more I end up understading what a passage means and I am ready to live it out. I also find that as a teacher the more I study the more prepared I am to teach. I can answer any questions that might come my way. I can also speak with confidence truths that are in a passage and be prepared to go wherever the Spirit may lead our group in that session.  So I encourage you to study hard and be the best student of the word that you can possibly be.  

Bible Study Curriculum- Sacrifice

When it comes to teaching bible study curriculum it takes sacrifice. You sacrifice your time to be prepared to teach and you also sacrifice certain things in your life in order to make sure your heart is right to present God's word.  But sacrifice is not just limited to us as teachers.  It is something we are called to do as followers of Christ. Jesus told us to take up our cross. We must remember this and make it a part of our lives. Also, we must call the members of our group to do the same. This may not make us popular or make some people but it does not matter. The Christian life and teaching God's word is not about a popularity contest. It is about speaking and living out truth. So I encourage you, no matter how much it goes against the flow of cultural norms, to live a life of sacrifice for Christ and call the members of your small group to do the same. 

Bible Study curriculum- Humility

As Christians, but especially as teachers of bible study curriculum, one key characteristic that we must possess is humility. When we are in a leadership position it is easy for us to get our attitude and priorities out of whack. It can quickly become about us drawing attention to ourselves instead of us having the heart of a servant.  As this happens we will lose influence in our classes and effectiveness in our teaching.  Those of us who teach and lead our held up to a higher standard than other so we need to take extra care that we are living up to those standards. You need to constantly be in prayer and have accountability to make sure that you are thinking and living like a servant and not like a celebrity or a dictator.  Follow Christ's example and humble yourself. Those whom you teach and lead will notice and appreciate what you are doing and will see exponentially greater effectiveness in you teaching and work. 

Bible Study Curriculum- Book Studies

When it comes to choosing a bible study curriculum there are a lot different kinds that you can choose from. Which one you choose has a lot to do with the needs and makeup of your group.  But one particular style that I like is a book study.  This kind is where you and your group take a book of the bible and just walk through it piece by piece. 

Like with any bible study there are a few things that you want to be aware of.  You want to make sure that the author is credible.  You want to make sure that they are a good writer but more importantly that they have solid beliefs and theology.  Often this can be found out by doing some quick background research online and through informal questioning with those that you trust.  You also want to make sure that you choose a bible study curriculum that covers a book that works well for your group.  While each book has beautiful truth to share there may be some truths that are more pertinent to your group.  For example, if they are struggling with the basics of their faith you may want to start with one of the Gospels or Romans.  If they are struggling with trials you may want to choose a book like James.  You know your group though and that knowledge combined with prayer will direct you to what God would have you to study. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Engaging the Culture

If you are going to be an effective adult bible study curriculum teacher you must engage the culture around you.  There is a lot of study on what this means and how to most effectively go about it but I will try and keep it simple. For me engaging the culture means to understand what is going on around you.  What is happening in people's lives? What is consuming them. You could do this in many ways.  You could watch TV, you could listen to talk radio, but these can cause issues in your life on their own. I find the best thing to do is to be out among people.  If you are a volunteer and work full time this is probably not an issue.  You may just have to readjust how you view each day and be more aware of people's thoughts, feelings, and outlook on life. If you work full time at a church you may have to make more of an effort to get out of the office and go be among what is actually happening in the world.  Either way, make an effort to go engage the culture and see people's hurts and struggles. It will empower your teaching in a way you never dreamed possible. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Stage of life relational needs

In teaching adult bible study curriculum there is one more thing you need to take into consideration when considering how to meet the relational needs of your group.  This is the stage of life that your group may be in.  Depending on how your groups are divided this may be clear.  For example, if you are broken down by ages your group may be called singles and under 30 which makes it pretty clear. Other times there may be more freedom for people to choose groups so yours may be more eclectic. You just need to get a feel and if need be find ways to more diverse in how you meet those relational needs.  If your group is single those are things you can take into consideration as you plan events.  If you have young married couples you may want to focus in your activities on helping them strengthen their marriage and getting to build relationships with other young married couples.  If your group has kids that might change things.  Also, if they are empty nesters or retirees that could change things. Regardless we need to realize that the stage of life effects the needs that the members of our groups have and we should adjust accordingly to meet those needs. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Women's Relational Needs

If you are teaching adult bible study curriculum and you have women in your group you need to realize that they have unique needs just like the men in your group do. If you are a man teaching the class you need to be especially aware of this.  I encourage you to find a strong Christian woman to be in charge of this part of the ministry to your small group.  This is for two reasons. One is because there will be better understanding and better connection in a woman to woman relationship.  Two is to protect you. Strong feelings and bonds can be built in doing the type of ministry we are talking about so you want to be careful.  As far as specifics the needs are much like men's needs in the sense that women need relationships and connections. They may just realize it a little easier.  Also, do not be afraid to speak the truth in love.  With men and women we may have a general understanding of our calling but may be half way doing things or possibly not doing them at all. So push and challenge the people in your group to live up to what God is calling them too. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Meeting Men's Relational Needs

As a guy, growing up hearing adult bible study curriculum lessons, I honestly got tired of hearing how men needed step up. Then I finally realized why. It wasn't that I did not want to step up it was that people were saying I should without giving me the opportunity to do so. Men have a desire in them to do something great. That just needs to be cultivated. One of the ways that happens is by having guys meet together. The biggest struggle I  have found in this though is helping guys realize that this is what they need.  Part of the battle is finding the common interest that guys have. I think many times we think we all want fellowship when really we want to get together and wrestle through the word.  Another struggle is I believe many guys just want to be with their families and feel guilty leaving to go "hang out." This guilt can spring up for many reasons.  But either way meeting the relational needs of men in your group is vital for it to grow and for their families or future families to stay strong. I think the key things to making this happen are giving them opportunities to step, giving them more than just fellowship, and selling the importance of this facet of their spiritual walk.  

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Relational Needs

Your small group is about more than just teaching adult bible study curriculum.  It is also about people getting the relational needs that they have met.  God has called us to love Him first and then also to love people. He has said that it is not good for us to be alone. And most of us have figured out that we can not make it alone in life.  We need community and accountability.  You need to create opportunities for this to happen. Over the next couple of blogs we will discuss how to do this because there are different strategies depending on the age group you teach or if your group is single or married.  Gender also plays a role in this.  All I will say for today though to kick this mini series off is that the biggest thing is convincing people they have these needs.  A lot of people will not get involved in anything else because they do not think they can afford to give up any more time. When in fact they can't afford not to be a part of this part of the ministry.  You have to sell the importance of meeting together and the fact that the sacrifice of their time is worth it.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Doctrine

This blog is more for those of you that are in charge of choosing and adult bible study curriculum and running your adult bible study ministry.  The tendency is to just let anybody who is willing to teach your small groups. This is probably because there is often a shortage of volunteers and people just want to accept anyone who is willing to serve.  While I like this willingness to let anyone to be a part in the sense that we should not have a picture of the proper volunteer, this practice can be dangerous.  This is especially true when it deals with finding teachers. You need to make sure that the people that you choose to teach understand scripture and believe in the same doctrine that your church does.  Then if they do not you need to make a choice. Are they belief problems that can be corrected?  Is it just a matter of terminology? Do they have a good heart and just a lack of training and education? If these are the problems then you might be able to train and nurture them and then allow them to teach. If these are not the case then you may need to consider having them serve somewhere or possibly leaving altogether until either they can be reached with the truth of the Gospel and/or see the truth and have a change of heart.  Either way be careful of who will be teaching in your church and training your flock.

Adult Bible Study curriculum- A Last Ditch Effort

In teaching adult bible study curriculum I have found that there is a real spiritual battle going on.  It seems that when things get toughest it might quite possibly be because you are onto something. This is not always true but more often than not I have discovered that when I begin to get frustrated and have to jump through hoops to do what I do, it is often because I am on the verge of truly reaching someone for the Gospel and the spiritual battle ensues.  I want to encourage you to be sensitive to the spiritual battle that is going on around you. And one things get difficult and the emotions inside of you boil and rage I want you to consider that it might just be because you are on the verge of seeing someone's life changed for all eternity and there are forces in this world that do not want that to happen. They are making one last ditch effort to stop you. Do not let them. Battle. Go to war in prayer. Persevere and see the fight to the finish and see life change happen in your adult bible study group. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Ice Breakers

In teaching adult bible study curriculum we have talked many times about the importance of building community in your group. One of the great ways to do this are ice breakers. If you are not sure of what these are they are those little get to know you games that you might have to play at the beginning of trainings or seminars at work.  They are of wonderful benefit because they are simple to plan and usually do not take much time to implement. They could be as simple as would you rather watch baseball or football. They get people talking though and give people an opportunity to begin attaching a name and some identifying things to people. They also begin to "break the ice" so that people can feel more comfortable discussing and opening up in class. If you are really a go getter you could  come up with one that actually ties in with your lesson for the day.  One word of caution. Many people cringe at the word "ice breaker." So if you are going to use these do not say that is what you are doing. Just jump into the activity and people will be much more inclined to get involved.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Wrestling

When you are teaching adult bible study curriculum or if you are leading an adult bible study ministry you are going to face some tough times. Groups might not grow. People may become disinterested. You may face a personal crisis. I want you to know this is natural. I also want you to know that I see these times as great times to wrestle with things. I think the wrestling is so important because you have to decide if this is just a time spent in the valley or if there is something you need to change. These changes could be small or they could be drastic. I honestly cannot tell you which. Each situation is unique. And to be honest sometimes no changes may need to be made it all. It may just be one of those times that you just have to push through.  Regardless the wrestling time is necessary and worth it. In it your prayer times will be strengthened, your faith will be strengthened, and you will develop that ever needed perseverance.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- A Time For Everything

I'm sure if you have been teaching adult bible study curriculum for long, or just reading the bible in general for long, you have come across the passage in Ecclesiastes that talks about how there is a season for everything.  I am also sure that you have discovered this to be very true in your life.  I also have found this to be true in many facets of my life.  But lately I have seen it play out in its own way in smaller portions of what I do.  For example, in my role as leader of my small group.  I have set a goal for my self to read one book a week.  I feel this is very important for my spiritual well being. But sometimes I can get too focused on this and miss out on what God is wanting me to do or what He is wanting to tell me.  Some days He might rather me stop and pray.  Other times He might want me to write.  So I encourage you to be sensitive to this.  Take time for things that will help you become a better teacher and leader, but do not get focused too much on one thing.  Realize it is a hole range of practices that help us grow and do each of them in their time as God leads you. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Take a Time for Rest

As teachers of adult bible study curriculum we are not immune to the command to take a Sabbath day of rest.  We need this to refresh and refocus.  Because if we get too tired and run down then we lose focus and power in our teaching and we are not as effective in our spiritual walk with God. We are designed this way. It is okay to stop every once in awhile.  Granted some people rest too much but  this does not mean that we should put an extra day in to make up for it.  I am sure that you have a lot going on on top of taking on leading your small group. But if you will follow this principle and plan your time well, you will find times for rest and be much better off. If you check out our training center you will see we have a video about this.  There is a study plan that if you follow you can actually have an entire day, maybe two to purely rest.  So do not over do it and end up burning yourself out. Take time for rest so that you can stay in this for the long haul. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- cleaning house

Before you begin to teach adult bible study curriculum from week to week you need to make sure that your own house is clean first.  The bible talks about someone being able to handle their own family before they can even begin to think about leading others. Because of this we need to make sure, that as much as in our hands, we are doing things right at home. Now we could discuss exactly who is family and all of those things but I find them to be fruitless arguments.  I firmly believe that you in your spirit know what you need to be doing to make things right with your family and the other relationships in your life.  I also believe that all of this starts with you cleaning house on the inside of yourself.  Hopefully I didn't try to be too poetic there. What I mean is that making sure that your heart is right, that your sin is confessed, and that all anger and bitterness is removed from you.  If you strive to make things right with God, then the other relationships will either fall into place or at least you can be at peace with what you have done, and then you can teach adult bible study curriculum to your small group with power and integrity. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Take Time to relax

As you study your Adult Bible Study Curriculum this week, how do you feel?  Are you excited?  Is the anticipating building as you prepare for this next opportunity to teach?  Or are you just exhausted?  Are you feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of having to study again.  I find myself there sometimes.  I know I am battling those feelings this very week.  I love what I do and look forward to it each time.  But know matter how much we love what we do and look forward to it we are all still susceptible to the same emotions.  We all can get worn down.  As we get worn down we run the risk of forgetting why we do what we do.  We run the risk of doing things half-heartedly or just quitting altogether.  Don't let this happen to you.  If you are battling these emotions slow down for a bit.  Take some time to relax and recharge and then dig back in to the Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  Not only will you benefit but so will all the people around you. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Adjust on the fly

When teaching adult bible study curriculum don't be afraid to adjust on the fly, pull away from your plan, and do what the situation warrants to meet the needs of the people in your small group. 

Adult bible Study Curriculum- Backup Plan

Part of preparing to teach your Adult Bible Study Curriculum is having a backup plan.  This is two fold.  One you need to have a backup plan in case there is anything unexpected in class.  Perhaps you have a PowerPoint.  What if the projector breaks or the computer malfunctions?  If you have a video what if the DVD player breaks?  You need to prepare for the unexpected.  Maybe you have an activity that requires multiple groups and not that many people come to class.  These things are all small and trivial in the grand scheme of things but if you are unprepared they can completely derail a lesson.  It is not that we need these things to be an effective teacher but we need to be prepared for them to not work properly.  The second part of this is you need to have someone else ready to teach at any moment.  You are probably a volunteer and you have many responsibilities in life.  We all have those unexpected moments that throw a kink in our plans.  You need to have someone you trust who you can call at any moment if need be that can teach the Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  Do not assume everything will run smoothly all the time.  Be prepared with a backup plan or two. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Discipleship

One of the things that often missing from the Adult Bible Study Curriculum that is out there and from the church in general is discipleship.  We are great at evangelism and sharing the Gospel but discipleship is so much more than that.  Discipleship is the long term relationships that we build with others in order to train them in being a follower of Christ.  In that relationship we also model for them what it looks like to be a follower of Christ.  This is not only what we are called to do but it is also what Jesus modeled for us while He was on earth.  Yes He reached out to thousands of people while on earth but most of HIs time was devoted into investing in 12 people.  We need to remember this model.  As we teach our Adult Bible Study Curriculum we need to do more than just share the Gospel or teach. We need to build relationships with others and train them in what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Then they can turn around and do the same.  It does take more commitment on our part but it is necessary.  

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Vision

In order for your bible study and your Adult Bible Study Curriculum to be fully effective, you need to have a vision for what it all needs look like.  You need to pray and figure out what God's goals are for the group.  You need to then work with the end in mind and try to decide exactly what you need to do to get to your goals.  Then once you have that vision it should drive you every week and every day.  But there is another step.  You need to cast that vision for your group.  Maybe not all at once but steadily they need to hear your goals for the group.  Then they will be able to know exactly where the group is heading and what role they can play.  They will know what the expectations are from week to week as they come to the group and they will what they are working towards.  Also, work the vision into your Adult Bible Study Curriculum teaching each week since it should all coincide together anyways.  Plus this will keep the vision fresh on the minds of those in your group and allow new people to catch the vision.  

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Support

An important part of being an effective teacher of Adult Bible Study Curriculum is support.  Teaching is not always easy and can become discouraging.  You need people who can lift you up and keep you going.  Another benefit of having a support system is that the people around you can make you better.  They can be a sounding board for you to bounce ideas off of and they can tell you whether or not you need to tweak or change them.  They can also push you.  I try to keep a few people in my life who I feel are better at what I do than I am.  They push me because I always want to try and keep up.  I still am myself but I always try to work as hard as possible at being creative.  Do not try to mimic them but see the relationship as iron sharpening iron.  We are not designed to do life alone and teaching Adult Bible Study Curriculum is not exempt from this. Bujild a support system that can push you and challenge you.  

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Patience

As a teacher of Adult Bible Study Curriculum one of the most difficult yet most important parts of my job is to have patience.  I love the material we are talking about and enjoy studying it.  Often though people do not undedrstand the things I am teaching as quickly as I would like them too.  You have probably found yourself in this same situation from time to time.  It is very easy to become frustrated and ask yourself why people can not learn or what their problem is.  This is where patience becomes key.  You have to slow down and first examine yourself.  Could you communitcate or illustrate the point a little differently.  You also have to remember that the people in your group have not studied the material in the Adult Bible Study Curriculum as much as you have.  Many times we have known things for so long that we forget we had to learn them at some point just like the people in our class do.  I know teaching is not always as rewarding and easy as we would like it to be.  But if you will be patient it will all work out in the end.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Head to the Cross

Alot of Adult Bible Study  Curriculum is geared towards helping people who are already Christians grow deeper in their faith.  This is wise because often times the people who come in to your bible study are taking their next step not only in your church and minstry but also in their personal walk with Christ.  But we can never be certain of this.  We can never be sure of what the background is of the person who is coming in to our class or where they are spiritually.  For all we know everyone in our bible study in a given week may be lost.  Because of this I always like to make a point to put the Gospel in to each lesson.  I just feel we should never speak or teach without sharing it.  We sjhould never pass up the opportunity to help someone experience life change.  This may mean you have to put in some extra time tweaking the lesson but the possibility of someone being changed for all of eternity makes it completely worth it.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Watch the Church Lingo

As you are preparing to teach your Adult Bible Study Curriculum you really need to watch the church lingo.  You have probably heard this repeatedly and I have also.  But it is something I have to remind myself of daily and each week it seems like I have to add something new to the category of church lingo.  You really need to avoid throwing around words that people will not understand and "inside" jokes that will only make others feel left out.  Now there is some church lingo that can not be avoided.  Just today I was talking about the King James Version and other versions of scripture.  To my surprise someone in the group did not know what I was talking about.  It led to a great conversation but also a very important lesson that I needed to learn.  Obviously I should not take these words out of my vocabulary buy I do have to be sensitive to explain them when necessary.  We can not assume that everyone has been to church before.  We also can not look down on people if they are not a part of the church culture.  Not all of it is a good thing anyways.  Just a few things to think about as you prepare to teach your Adult Bible Study Curriculum. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Building Community

As a teacher of Adult Bible Study Curriculum you probably love teaching.  We have talked about this love and how important that love is. You have an important role to play as a teacher.  We have also talked about how it is hard to fit everything in.  With those two things at the forefront of our minds we usually battle to figure out how to use that time to its fullest.  This is good.  Again the role you play as a teacher is important.  But you also have to play a role of minister and group builder.  Often times the best way to build a group and to ensure that people are ministered to is to stop talking.  Occasionally you need to look at a lesson and realize that even though it is all important and there does not seem to be enough time for it all, some of the material must be sacrificed.  Some things must be left out so that you can put time in for people to get to know each other.  You mus allow time for you to challenge others to be a community, pray together, and minister to one another.  This will be a challenge but it is a necessity. So in the next few weeks as you study your Adult Bible Study Curriculum take time to look for ways to give up some of your moments and put in moments to build community. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- How Much is Enough?

When I talk to people about teaching Adult Bible Study Curriculum, one of the most often asked questions that I get is how much studying is really enough.  It is a valid question and one I love.  It shows that people really want to be prepared and do a good job.  But it is not a question where there is one straightforward answer.  It depends on a number of factors.  What is the topic?  If it is not one you are familiar with you probably will have to prepare more.  If it is something deep like the Trinity you definitely want to study more.  How experienced are you?  If you have taught for a long time it might be easier for you to wing it a little more if you have to.  But if you are a novice teacher you definitely want to invest more time in studying. Even if you are an experienced teacher never get cocky.  Make sure you are ready.  You may also want to ask how comfortable do you feel?  I have found for me I like to study until I feel I will not have to look at the outline and/or until I do not fear any question that might come up.  You may not be an expert on the topic that the Adult Bible Study Curriculum is covering but you need to at least appear to be one.  So study hard, and if you think you are ready study a little more. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Network

We have talked before that while your Adult Bible Study curriculum is an important part of your bible study there are people in your group coming in with real needs that are far more important.  As a part of meeting those needs you have to create a safe environment where people can share their needs and step up to meet them.  But what if other needs arise?  What if pressing matters come up in the middle of the week?  What if for whatever reason people can not make it to the group for a while?  You need to create some type of network up where people can tell others when they are struggling.  You need to have people in place who know how they can step up and meet needs.  Far too often I see churches set up in a way where only a limited number of people are actually in a position to have their needs heard and met.  If you are not highly connected you may be left out on a limb.  I also see a lot of situations where people do not know what to do once something happens. They do not know how to reach out.  You need to remember that you are more than just a teacher of Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  You need to be a trainer, mentor, and manager who builds a network that is ever ready to do ministry and meet needs. 

Adult Bible Study curriculum- Time Crunch

When it comes to Adult Bible Study Curriculum we have all run in to this issue at one point or another.  The dreaded time crunch.  There is so much information to cover and so little time to do it in.  Most bible study classes only last for one hour and there is usually way more than an hours worth of info packed in to a lesson.  What can you do? I think there ar e a few very important steps.  One of course would be to not worry about time.  You never know what God has in store so trust his leading and let the lesson go where it takes you.  Besides, regardless of how much you watch the time there will never feel like there is enough.  Piggy backing on that, just look for the teachable moments. Instead of going in with a preconceived idea about what the learning experience will be during that lesson in the Adult Bible Study Curriculum, just let people ask questions and discuss and go where it takes you.  This can be risky but at the same time very surprising in a positive way.  Finally come prepared.  Nothing can help you out with the time crunch like being well organized and knowing what you can skip or leave out if need be.

Adult bible Study Curriculum- Stay on Track

When teaching an Adult Bible Study Curriculum you can easily get taken off on tangents.  Honestly some of them are good.  Some offer for incredible teachable moments.  But often times they do not.  You as a teacher need to be sensitive and prepared to redirect when necessary.  Usually you can see the tangents coming.  I know often times depending on the current events of the week or the lesson topic where I am going to have to mindful of keeping the class on topic.  There are a couple of reasons why this is so important.  One is that tangents can effect  the learning process.  Even as adults there is only so much we can remember from an Adult Bible Study Curriculum lesson each time.  Tangents can detract from gaining the necessary knowledge that needed to be gained from a lesson.  Secondly, tangents can be hurtful. A prime example are the midterm elections that were help today.  Not all of us agree and that is okay.  But what will often happen is people will assume they all agree and often get very passionate about trivial things.  Imagine if someone does not agree and is sitting quietly while they are being demonized? Or what if they are not Christians and that is the picture they are getting of Christianity?  There can be a great danger.  So as you teacher your class you be the leader of the class.  Let it go where it needs to go but stop it when it needs to be stopped.  This way each lesson in the Adult Bible Study Curriculum will have its full effectiveness.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Be Sensitive

As a teacher of Adult Bible Study Curriculum you need to be sensitive that people may walk in to the room with a variety of varying viewpoints.  This is not always a bad thing.  Some view points will have to change and I believe as God works in their lives they will.  What usually happens though is we either freak out when someone disagrees with us or we do not even consider that someone might disagree with us.  Then we go off on tangents assuming everyone in the room thinks they way we do and people end up getting hurt over some trivial soapbox moment we wanted to have.  I do not mean that you should back down from what you believe in if it lines up with scripture.  But do not turn people off to the Gospel over an issue that does not even matter.  It will render your teaching of the Adult Bible Study Curriculum useless.  It will also do great damage to the reputation of Christianity as a whole.  So think things through before you say them. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Listen

In talking about teaching Adult Bible Study Curriculum, this a principal that I have mentioned before but I was reminded today that it cannot be stressed enough.  You have to give the people in your group a chance to talk.  Not only that you have to listen to what they have to say.  It will give you incredible insight into the prior knowledge they are bringing into the class and what is going on in their lives.  This will make you a much more effective teacher and will make your time in your class more meaningful.  I would also encourage you, within reason, to divert from the Adult Bible Study Curriculum on occasion to fill in the gaps in the knowledge and spiritual walk of the attendees in your group.  This is what I had to do today.  I used the term follower of Christ and several people did not know what that meant.  I realized that was a far more important issue to discuss than what was the intended topic for the day.  I did not act shocked, nor did I get angry.  I do not know whether the church failed them. they have never strived to grow as a Christian, or if they have never spend that much time in church at all. All I knew is that there was a serious gap that needed to be filled so they could become a fully developing follower of Christ and realized the need for me to step up and fill the gap.  I hope you will do the same as you teach your Adult Bible Study Curriculum and the opportunities arise. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Real Change

I can not begin to tell you how many times I have taught an Adult Bible Study Curriculum and not felt that anyone experienced real change.  This could be for any number of reasons.  It could be your teaching style, it could just be a bad day or a bad curriculum, or it could be any number of other problems.  While each instance of this is occurring is unique, I have to believe that I am not alone in this experience.  You probably have felt this same problem.  While I believe this boils down to a spiritual matter, I believe there is a practical step we can take to remedying this situation.  Too often the Adult Bible Study Curriculum that we use does a great job of giving us knowledge but it does not challenge us to live differently.  And most of the time we like this.  Knowledge is something we are comfortable but living differently often pushes us farther than we would like to go.  We have to live differently though or everything we do is meaningless.  Here at Adult Bible Study Curriculum we want everything we write to work towards us living differently.  Because as we have continued to work and serve in the church and the community, we have seen this as the major issue.  We have a lot of people who know a whole bunch but do not live much differently than anyone else. Let's work together to remedy this problem and help others experience real life change. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Share Your Time

Part of being an effective teacher of Adult Bible Study Curriculum is not dominating all of the conversation.  You may not have this issue, but I know I love teaching and because of this I often find myself talking the entire hour that I have with my bible study group.  This is not good teaching practice though.  For one, even adults can only focus in for so long.  But also, I find some of the best teaching moments come when I allow others to share their hearts and feelings.  They may have experience with the topics at hand.  Also, letting people in the group share makes them feel valued along with allowing you hearing where people are at and what gaps you may need to fill in.  Your time with your group teaching the Adult Bible Study Curriculum is about more than you just sharing your knowledge and your teaching gifts.  These things are important and are part of the reason why you are in the position that you are.  But more importantly your time with your group is about helping them grow, allowing them to express how they feel and where they struggle, and building a safe environment where people can minister to each others. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Focus

Adult Bible Study Curriculum should always have a focus.  Something that drives the study so that every week people know a general idea of what they are going to learn.  It also makes it easier for them to think on the lessons each and every day.  Does your study have a focus?  Is there a clear idea and purpose for each lesson?  I am sure your Adult Bible Study Curriculum does have a focus, you may just have to stop and think about what it is.  I encourage you to figure out what it is.  Make sure to mention it from week to week.  Also, form your activities inside and outside of class around that focus.  This will just make the impact the lessons have on the lives of others much more effective.  People have a lot going on in their lives and you are having to battle against all those distractions.  If you can have one main idea to focus on, it makes it easier for your teaching to shine through and it makes it easier for people to take that teaching and apply it to their lives. 

Adult bible Study Curriculum- Training

You have probably put a lot of time into researching and choosing your Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  But it is also very likely that you will not be the one communicating it.  You may be the education or small group minister and merely in charge of finding the curriculum, but the responsibility of teaching it goes to others.  If this is the case, do your leaders know why you chose the curriculum?  Do they know what your hopes are for it?  Do they understand the finer points of teaching it?  These are important questions.  You chose the Adult Bible Study Curriculum you did for a reason, and it is important that you give your teachers training so that the reasoning you had comes through.  Plus the time spent in training will make your teachers and leaders feel valued.  Yes no one really likes meetings.  But if you do it properly it can be a wonderful, refreshing time where you can build relationships and spur one another on.  Besides, the people who will be leading the Bible Studies may be brand new to teaching and have some concerns.  And even those who have been in it a while always have something to learn.  Train and invest in your leaders.  It is on of the most worthwhile investments you can make in your ministry. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- It's Not About You

Remember, teaching adult bible study curriculum is not about you. It's about the people in your group learning and experiencing life change.

Adult Bible study Curriculum- Eternal impact

Teaching adult bible study curriculum isn't just about changing people's lives for the weeks and years to come but for all eternity. 

On Feb 7, 2011, at 7:18 AM, Posterous <post@posterous.com> wrote:

Your email has been posted!   Click to view your new post   Do you want to edit or remove this post? Click here to edit or remove     Sent by Posterous. Change your email settings or unsubscribe Other questions? We'd love to help.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Eternal Impact

Teaching adult bible study curriculum isn't just

Adult Bible Study Curriculum-Don't Assume Anything

One of the toughest things in teaching an Adult Bible Study Curriculum, or anything for that matter, is trying to gauge the present knowledge level of the people in your group.  And depending on the relationship you have with people, this task can be very frustrating.  I have discovered one good rule of thumb though:  do not assume any prior knowledge.  This rule is great whether you have been with a group for a while or you have not.  If you have been with a group for a long time, you should know them pretty well and do not have to assume what they know or do not know.  If you are with a new group, this rule can be even more helpful as you prepare to communicate the Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  Far too often we and the people in our circle have known certain things for so long that we take the information for granted.  But we did have to learn it at some point.  Whether I am teaching little kids or adults, I am always amazed by the things that people do not know that I think they should.  But it  serves as a constant reminder that I need to make sure and build foundational information into my teaching and not take for granted that they already know it.  Do not harp on the simple things, but if they are necessary to understanding a passage or idea throw them out there and see if people understand or if they are blown away by the new info.  Then you will know where to go from there.  I want the Adult Bible Study Curriculum you use to have it's full impact, and remembering this important part of teaching will go a long way in that.

Adult Bible Study Curriculum-Make A Connection

For your Adult Bible Study Curriculum to be effective you have to make a connection.  Well many connections.  Some of them we have already talked about.  There is the connection with people.  We looked at how important the relationships are that you form in your bible study or Sunday School.  Next, we discussed prayer. If you are not connected with God and you are communicating in your own power and will be weak and ineffective.  There are more connections though.  You need to be connected with the Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  You need to prepare and make it your own so that you can communicate naturally and powerfully.  You need to come as close as you can to becoming an expert on what the topic is.  While it is hard to rank these, and I honestly do not know if you really should, there is another extremely important connection out there that I would rank right at the top.  That is the connection with the community.  Many leaders in the church will teach on Sundays, or whenever you meet together, and never actually get out in the community and make connection with people throughout the week.  It is hard to share lessons that will move people towards life change and lessons that just might change the world around you, if you are not aware of what is going on in the world.  Find some way to make a connection.  You may be bi-vocational or a volunteer and this connection will be easy for you.  But if you are on staff you may have to work extra hard on this.  Either way, make it a priority.  Because being connected will greatly multiply the effectiveness with which the Adult Bible Study Curriculum is communicated and received. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Flexibility

Our Adult Bible Study Curriculum, like any other, does have a calendar and a schedule.  And there is a purpose for each lesson being where it is.  But one of the important factors in any Bible Study or Sunday School is being flexible.  Each group is unique, and each time you get together it will be unique.  Needs will change.  People's situations and interests will change.  Maybe one week someone had a great week and even shared Christ with someone.  Maybe the next week they stumbled in sin or hit a major bump in the road with their health or finances.  There is a good chance that one week the lesson will be easily understood and lived out and the next week your group may be slightly confused or just need an extra week because of time constraints.  The big thing is to be flexible with the Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  If you need to take two weeks on something, take two weeks.  If you need stop covering the curriculum one week and just pray for someone do that.  The Curriculum is good, and I have often found that miraculously what you are covering from week to week is just what people needed.  God is big that way.  But God expects you to listen and to be sensitive to what the needs of your group are.  You do this through the prayer and relationships we have talked about over the past couple of days.  You must do more than study the Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  You must also study your group and spend time building your relationship with God.  Listen to what God wants, and know the needs and situations of your group.  Then adjust accordingly. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Relationships Matter

The Adult Bible Study Curriculum you choose is very important for the success of your bible study.  But it is not the most important thing.  Over the next few blogs I want to look at other things that are of great importance in making your bible study or Sunday school successful.  Today we are going to look at relationships.  People will be drawn in, challenged, and taught by the Adult Bible Study Curriculum that you choose.  But they will come back and truly be transformed because of relationships.  People in our world desire to be connected with others.  Make sure you are offering them that connection.  Build time into your Bible studies for relationship building.  Train your leaders and members to be aware of new people and create a safe and welcoming environment.  Because you can have the most talented teachers.  You can have flashy attractions.  You can also have the best Adult Bible Study Curriculum in the world.  But if you do not offer people the opportunity for relationships, the rest will not matter much to them. 

Adult Bible Study Curriculum- Who are we?

Welcome from Adult Bible Study Curriculum.  Any time I go to a new site or new store I want to know who the people are that run it, what they are about.  I also want to know why I should buy from them and not someone else.  These are valid and good questions.  While you can not answer all of these questions in one posting, I want to try and answer a few of them.  We at Adult Bible Study Curriculum are just people in the ministry like you who have used a lot of different curriculum.  We also are heavily involved in our communities and have begun to see how we can and must build the gap between the community and the church.  Our passion is to provide churches all over world with curriculum that is  high quality and affordable.  As we have spent the past years teaching bible studies and talking with others in ministry, it seems like every curriculum is missing something and some are missing a lot.  We decided to stop complaining about and discussing the problem and find solutions.  We firmly believe that our Adult Bible Study Curriculum is easy to teach, but still give your adults deep truth and knowledge of scripture.  It will also challenge and empower them to get passed just believing and knowing God and move them to start living.  We hope you will look at our curriculum and consider implementing it in to your bible studies.  Please sing up for our email list and check out the site. Also, contact us with any questions and to let us know how to better support.  Let's see how we can partner together to work towards fulfilling the great commission and inspiring others to do so.