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.