Meaningful Lessons

Creative Bible teachers are always looking for different ways to make Scripture current and relevant to life today.  Adults will only learn what is meaningful to them, so the first question to be addressed when presenting a lesson is “What has this got to do with me, with my life, in the context of my world?”  A good Bible teacher leads the students to recognize their need for knowing the material.

The goal of teaching the Bible is not about the mastery of the text, but the discovery of God through the text. For instance, when we look at the Law, as defined in OT scripture, it’s easy to ask ourselves, “what does this mean to me today?”  “Don’t we live by grace?”

Yes, we do.  But the very comprehensiveness of the Law indicates that God is involved in every aspect of human existence.  As much as we might try to compartmentalize our relationship with God, the fact is that we are made to live with God at the very center of our lives, transforming our thoughts, actions, decisions, relationships, vocations, communities and social structures.  (Richard Foster, Life With God)

Also, we can recognize the Law as a gift for enabling the people to maintain relationship with God – and for the nations outside of God’s people to find the way to the one true God. The peoples obedience to these Laws allowed them to experience life with God.

Isn’t the same true for us today?  Doesn’t God want to be the center of our lives?  When we obey his commands, don’t we experience God more intimately?  Is this not the whole purpose of a life in Christ?

A creative Bible teacher brings Scripture into focus, as the students look through the lens of their own life and learn how to make it meaningful to them.  There’s no greater joy than to watch your learners discovery the relevancy of Scripture.

I’d love to hear some of your experiences.  What’s worked?  What has not?  Hope to hear from you soon!