Teaching That's Most Likely to Succeed

Pastor Mark Batterson posted this recently (emphasis mine):

"A study that involved 50+ pastors and 5000+ listeners found that the most successful sermons are built around a clearly stated change-based goal that emanates from Scripture. That is so simple and so basic, but such a good reminder for preachers. The best sermons challenge people to change. And help them identify next steps in that direction! It is the difference between information and transformation. Our sermons need to be more action-oriented and application-oriented. Most of us are educated way beyond our level of obedience. We don't need more information. We need more transformation. We need to stop explaining what people already understand. A little less explanation. A lot more exhortation."

Now if you are teaching people new to the Christian life, that may not be true. Yet.

Teach for transformation -- teach to head, heart, and hands. Teach to the whole person, and inspire them to change. Teach to change lives! It's too small a thing to prepare lessons for anything less than Jesus-powered transformation.

Playing for An Audience of One

Perry Noble shares a great story about playing football for his mother, dying of cancer -- playing for an audience of one. And then he relates this to pastoring/preaching -- for an audience of One. Read it, believe it.

If you're discouraged about any part of your teaching ministry, read it.

Top Ten Issues Facing the Church

Interesting article...do you agree with these top ten issues facing the church?

1) Soteriology
2) The Embrace of Open Theism
3) Homosexuality
4) Ecclesiology
5) The Bible - Absolute truth? Inerrant? Infallible?
6) Social Justice, Global Warming, etc.
7) Red Letter Christians
8) Infighting in the Church
9) Jesus Junk
10) Friend or Foe?

See the article for more details on each.

Three Things to Aim For In Teaching

Scott Aughtmon, a church-gatherer, has a great post about the power of telling stories.

"There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience."

"Pray and ask God, not just for the truth to speak, but also for ways to express that truth that will lock it into people's minds."

Quote of the Week

"Don't just throw the seed at the people! Grind it into flour, bake it into bread, and slice it for them. And it wouldn't hurt to put a little honey on it." -- Charles Spurgeon

He is Risen!

Effective Use of Video in Teaching/Preaching

If you are interested in using video clips (from movies, for example) in your teaching or preaching, I recommend you pick up some tips from this article.

Remember: the audiovideo components need to illustrate, to reinforce, to illuminate -- not distract or confuse your audience from the main points.

What Kind of Disciples?

Do you ever feel like you've had a "whack on the side of the head" experience?

That's how I felt during a lunch conversation earlier this week. I was excitedly explaining to a man in our church how we need to view all our programs and activities through the unifying lens of discipleship. His statement caught me:

"Glenn, we're making disciples. The question is, 'What kind of disciples?' "

I immediately thought about Jesus' harsh statements about the kind of disciples the Pharisees and teachers of the law produced (Matt 23:15) -- "twice as much a son of hell as you are."

So our church efforts are perfectly designed to produce the kind (and quantity) of disciples we're producing. Now I'm wrestling prayerfully, asking our Lord to direct us to make the best (right) kind of disciples in abundance.

Are You In One Of These Groups?

Standard Publishing estimates "11 million adults in the United States ... meet each week with a small group from their church for Bible study, discussion and prayer."

That's great! May our Lord increase that number!

The article continues on to promote their Bible study guides that you can purchase.

I haven't seen their study guides, so I won't comment about their products in particular. They're probably ok.

But are they the best for you and your group? If you've read this far you're interested in maximzing the impact of those precious hours your group is meeting! So don't slavishly follow a study guide written for someone else -- tailor the content and sharpen the questions so they're the best possible for YOUR group at THIS time.

If you'd like learn more about how to tailor content and ask great questions, check out
Teach the Bible to Change Lives and 52 Model Questions.

See the Universe to Scale

Here's a delightful web site designed to help you understand how big the universe truly is. There is an excellent animation to go from sub-atomic levels to the farthest galaxies.

"The Lord reigns; let the nations tremble." -- Psalm 99:1

I pray this will inspire your spirit with a renewed sense of the awe and majesty of our Lord.

Gmail Offers Paper

Google is offering a new service with their free Gmail -- they will send you paper copies of messages (including attachments!) -- free. They cover the cost by putting ads on the back.

I've been very impressed with Gmail and have used it since 2005. It's slick, fast, clean.

Go here to sign up for a Gmail account if you do not have one.

Update: I think I fell for their April Fools day prank! But you can certainly get a gmail account, and I recommend that.

Waffle, Not a Pancake

A great opportunity for Bible teachers: help your people understand what God is doing in His world.

Marvin Olasky has a useful article about Christianity in China. One of the Chinese church leaders told him, "China is a waffle, not a pancake." Let us glorify our Lord for 125 million believers in that country! This is the news behind the news.

Great Quote to Ponder

"We are what we repeatedly do." -- Aristotle

Does Your Adult Sunday School WOW People?

If you have any involvement with adult Sunday School programs -- participant, teacher, leader -- then hop over to the Sunday School Revolutionary site now and soak up the great blog articles there. (This is a great complement to the Josh Hunt materials on how to double your groups.)

I really like the concepts behind their approach to making Sunday School environments warm adn welcoming, and emphasizing quality experience. This maximizes learning when people are present, building stronger connections, and exciting people about returning.

Check it out.

Help Your People Learn to Study the Bible in Depth

One thing that I wish more teachers did was encourage the people God gives them to teach by showing them how to study the Bible themselves.

We are not some special class of citizens, simply fellow disciples of the same Master.

It will not take away anything from your "status" as a great Bible teacher if you share how you study the Word and help people learn to study the Master's Word for themselves. Quite the contrary, in fact!

I'm teaching a six week series on Luke 15 now and each week I'm giving them a strategy they can use to study a Bible passage in depth. So far we have covered:

1. Read the passage out loud.

2. Read the passage repeatedly. (I had someone time me while I read Luke 15:1-7 aloud -- only 45 seconds. It became obvious that everyone has time to read short passages repeatedly over a period of days.)

3. Look up all the cross-references.

So there are three more to go! Point people to simple practices they can do, and you are helping them move further along the path of becoming a mature disciple, able to hear God's word and obey it.

Bed of Nails Principle

Mark Batterson talks about an important communications principle we need to understand:

"If you lay down on a bed of nails they won't penetrate your skin because the pressure is diffused. That is what happens when we try to say too much. But one nail penetrates! That is why I believe in one-point preaching."

Get more across -- in a teach to change lives way -- by teaching less content better.

Hear God's Voice in Scripture

John Piper writes wonderfully about hearing God speak through His living Word.

Fall in love with Scripture all over again -- today!

Your Library

Great Bible teachers are first and foremost students of God's Word, and then students of the world. We need to be (and should be becoming) great readers. Jim Shaddix gives some excellent counsel about building your library (purposefully and economically), and includes specific sources you can consider.

Teaching in a Post-Christian World

The fact is that in post-Christian cultures (and many are now, around the world) people are still drawn to Jesus and yet reject Church. This CT article has some excellent counsel about ministering to people in this situation. It's not explicitly about teaching, but it's important to understand.

The First Few Minutes

You have to grab their attention in the first few minutes. Maybe the first 30-90 seconds. This is why I coach those who read Teach the Bible to Change Lives how to create a compelling "hook" opening.

You know those books that have "Introduction" followed by "How We Started" and then another chapter that seems like a warmup? People either start those and don't finish, or they skip ahead to chapters with more relevant-sounding chapters.

Either way you're wasting time and losing attention. In the affluent world, attention is the scarcest commodity.

I recommend starting with a bang and hooking their attention immediately.

Your Prayer Matters

Check out this classic Discipleship Journal article on prayer. "Your Prayer Matters" will not only encourage you, but could be the basis for a nice lesson or two on prayer.

Teaching "Difficult" People

Every Bible teacher will have the opportunity to teach "tougher-to-love" people:

Talkers
Critics
Complainers
Skeptics
Know-it-alls
Lesson Hijackers

I've started a special blog, just on this topic, and encourage you to check it out.

Tougher To Love

Jesus Isn't Buried There -- Well, Not That Jesus

Kevin Nelstead has a good post on the absurdity of the Jesus Family Tomb "news" -- with links to detailed debunking information if you need it.

Book Recommendation


This is a terrific new book for every ministry leader, not only youth pastors:




Check out my personal review and recommendation.

How to Preach a Worthless Sermon

Nathan Rice gives us fifteen steps toward preaching a worthless sermon. Some of these are uncomfortably close to home for Bible teachers!

Loving God With All Your Mind

Rosalie de Rosset writes on the importance of using our intellect for God. Though writing to women, I think this is a key message for everyone.

Another Stunt -- But Reveals the Hearts of Some

There are plenty of news stories these days about the James Cameron documentary that claims to have found the remains of Jesus Christ and his son.

This is ridiculous stuff. Very common names. Why would they be buried away from the hometown?

But I'm even more disturbed by the 'Christian' leaders who are saying, even if these were proven to be the bones of Messiah Jesus, it would not affect their faith.

Asking Questions

I've created several resources on asking great questions (including 52 Model Questions). Here's another inexpensive resource you should consider:

Asking Great Questions (NavPress)

This one is tailored for small group settings, but a lot of the information applies to other teaching settings as well.

Stories are for Adults

Check out this excellent part 1 article about how to engage adults with biblical stories. Recommended.

Amazing Grace Movie

Nope, haven't seen it, but plan to.

I did want to point you to a useful editorial in the WSJ, "Hollywood's Amazing Glaze." Charlotte Allen points out that the movie script de-emphasizes the Christian motivation for William Wilberforce. She also gives some useful history about the social improvements driven by the evangelical community at the time, particularly the Methodists. (John Wesley's last letter was written to Wilberforce a few days before he died.)

So I am hopeful that people will see the movie and learn more about the events through other sources. Here is a good jumping-point to many sources.

Working From a Manuscript

Here's a short interview with David Crabtree about preaching from a manuscript -- many of the same ideas for teaching from the Bible in other situations (sunday school, small groups, Bible studies).

I don't write out the whole lesson, because I use a question-and-dialogue approach for most of the content. But I do script out the opening (the hook!) and the key questions and practice those in advance.

There are certainly those brothers and sisters who say, "The Holy Spirit will work through me, so I don't need to prepare." I presume then, their preparation is primarily in prayer. I advocate bathing your preparation and teaching time in prayer. I would also point out that the Holy Spirit will work in us and through us as we invest in teaching preparation.

Why Teach This Way?

A Bible teacher emailed me recently. "I'm not interested in 'facilitating question-and-answer' on a Bible passage. My work is to teach them facts and what it means."

I appreciate his candor. I know a lot of people are more comfortable with lecture approach, and not back-and-forth dialogue.

This was part of my response to this man:

"My primary objective is that people learn what God wants them to learn from His Word.

"People will only learn if they are engaged. The spray-and-pray method of teaching is demonstrably ineffective. Common observation tells us that people learn more (and learn in a way that's more likely to result in changes in their lives) when they interact with the Word and with one another -- including the teacher.

"Therefore I will stretch myself into uncomfortable places, as necessary, in order to maximize their opportunity for learning. Yes, I have a LOT I can say. And it's good stuff :-) But if I fill up all the time with what I say, then they're less likely to learn what God wants them to learn.

"My secondary objective is to help people develop the skills to learn from God, and not be dependent upon me. So I coach people on how to do this work. I want them to be able to hear God's voice to them, and encourage them to obey it."

Add Your Sermons and Devotions to Google Base

Google is inviting people to add sermons, devotions, meditations, and other original content to Google Base.

I relay this because I know many readers of this blog have this kind of original material. It would be a good way to share it with a wide audience.

I have not (yet) done this myself.

Vivify

I subscribe to a word-a-day email from dictionary.com. Yesterday's word was "vivify." Here is the content of the email message I received:

* * * *
Word of the DayMonday, February 12, 2007
vivify \VIV-uh-fy\, transitive verb: 1. To endue with life; to make alive; to animate.2. To make more lively or intense.

Vivify comes from French vivifier, from Late Latin vivificare, from Latin vivus, alive.

* * * *

Vivify is a great word for what God asks us to do as teachers! We're helping the Word come alive for people!

Curing Souls

Eugene Peterson writes eloquently about recovering the pastoral work of curing souls, which has largely been swamped with our expectations that pastors run churches. This will warm your heart as you see the essential right-ness of it.

The "Powerful Learning Through Questions" audio lesson is ready for you now!

http://www.teachtochangelives.com/pq

Two early reviewers said this was some of the bestinformation I've put out.

One wrote me this comment:"When you explained how easily distracted people are, and how to use questions that work with their mind instead of against it, I thought 'Yes, that makes complete sense!' And now that I know what to do, I can do it right --intentionally -- every time."

I know you'll get a lot out of this material.

Check it out today because it's only going to be available
through Friday, February 16th. (I explain why on the website.)

http://www.teachtochangelives.com/pq

Are You Ready to Become a Master at Asking Questions?

I'm making great information available Tuesday, February 13th.

It's an audio lesson that is stuffed with the best information available today for Bible teachers on how to use questions effectively.

You'll learn:

* the reality of how our minds work -- so you can work with someone's mind, not against it
* the three key principles about using questions for powerful teaching
* 12 practical strategies you can use right away (with specific examples)

Except for prayer, there is NOTHING more powerful for turbo-charging your teaching than using great questions to facilitate dialogue and learning. That's why it is so important that you absorb and practice what I will teachyou.

In fairness I need to tell you that I have talked aboutsome of this material before.

But... there is also information here that I have NEVER shared before publicly. I'll also explain a special bonus opportunity onTuesday. I've never done this before, but am confident you're going to get a lot out of it.

Ten Deadly Temptations of Preaching

John Ortberg identifies 10 deadly temptations of preaching -- which I think you will see apply to many Bible teachers, as well:

1. The temptation to be inauthentic
2. The temptation to live for recognition
3. The temptation to live in feart
4. The temptation to compare
5. The temptation to exaggerate
6. The temptation to feel chronically inadequate
7. The temptation of pride
8. The temptation to manipulate
9. The temptation of envy
10. The temptation of anger

Read the details.

Using Cartoons in Teaching and Preaching

People enjoy cartoons and fun visuals -- so use them when they're appropriate. (Be sure to give appropriate attention to copyright and credit. )

This cartoon would be fun in a lesson that featured prayer, for example -- or prayerlessness.

I recommend you keep a folder (electronic or paper) where you capture fun cartoons and images you find that might be useful for teaching opportunities.

You'll also find that it's healthy to laugh periodically by paging through it!

Dealing with "Difficult" People

Would you like to learn constructive, godly strategies for dealing with the "difficult" people in your class or Bible study group? You know, the ones who

talk too long
share too much (or the wrong things)
disrupt your lesson
aggressively challenge your point
are know-it-all
or seem to go out of their way to make your job harder?

I'm preparing some helpful material for you, but I'd also would like your feedback.

Please take this brief survey and let me know what you're facing, so I can make sure to address that. I'm interested in hearing your stories!

I've heard from over 400 people so far -- seems like just about everyone has some experience to share! How about you?

Sorry for My Absence

Folk, sorry I haven't been posting recently. I traveled to my grandmother's funeral -- she's Home now after 91 spunky years in the Lord's service. Since then I've been battling the stomach flu. I'll get back to regular postings soon.

John Stott Interview

I recommend this intriguing interview with John Stott. He has some excellent insights into the evangelical church today, biblical preaching, and pride. Stott's book "Basic Christianity" was very helpful for me as a new adult believer.

Great Bible Teachers are Great Pray-ers

You've heard all the stuff about how you need to pray. You know it's true, too. So it's important that I remind you to be praying.

The question is: "Do you actually pray?"

I suspect that most of us are better at talking about prayer than we are praying. Years ago a friend and mentor of mine told me that when the urge came over him to read about prayer, he just went down to his knees and started praying.

Yes, I know you're busy and your time is limited. You have many responsibilities, after all!

I wish I had more fully learned this truth years ago: The more you have to do, the more you have to pray. Martin Luther wrote a letter to a pastor friend and said, "I have so much to do that I cannot get on without three hours of prayer daily."

So purpose today to take just a little more time for prayer. And tomorrow add to it.

What Do Smart People Do?

Looking for helps for a Bible lesson?

Here's a great resource (and free): Biblemaster.com

They have a nice search engine. Just select the name of the book you want to study, and the type of study you have, and go! Very slick.

Now if you want to know how to tailor these lessons for your specific group, I encourage you to check out www.teachtochangelives.com --and you can sign up there to get a free Bible teachers package (three PDF reports, an audio message about using questions effectively, and an online video about structuring a life-changing lesson).

"The Only Reason...is to Change the World"

Nick Morgan points out that the only reason to give a speech is to change the world. The measure of a good presentation is the change of behavior that it creates.

Let's translate that to Bible teaching. Yes, we must inform people, give them basic knowledge. But the measure of effective Bible teaching is changed behavior, changed lives.

Here's your "change the world" acid test (credits to Nick Morgan):

1. Did I give them motivation to do something?
2. Did I give them clear action items?
3. Did I make their new behavior easy to adopt?

The Wicked Witch...A Sunday School Teacher?

I was curious about the history of Sunday School, so I looked it up in wikipedia. They have a nice short history outlining the work of Robert Raikes in the early 1800's in Britain. And curiously, they list some famous people who were Sunday School teachers -- including two presidents, a Supreme court justice, and Margaret Hamiton (better known to us as "The Wicked Witch of the West").

Harmony of the Gospels

If you're looking for a resource to help understand (and teach) the timeline of the four gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry, check out this free resource.

Note: Many study Bible also give you some of this information.

Great Bible Teaching Requires Great Bible Students

Can a teacher be great if he/she has poor students, uninterested students, disengaged students? Isn't the measure of greatness the amount of transformation that occurs in the students?

Does a tree falling in the woods make a sound if there is no one to hear it?

It's critical to pray for your students and participants in your Bible study groups, so that God will open their hearts and minds to the life-changing message He wants them to receive. "Apart from me, " said Jesus, "you can do nothing."

It's also useful to use tactics to warm up a group and incite curiosity and anticipation -- you can give them a teaser preview in advance, or by email ahead of the class time.

Don't ignore this critical aspect to great Bible teaching.

How to Practice a Strong Start

Many of us have weak starts to lessons. Saying "Ok, well, I guess we should start, then, yeah" is not the way to begin.

You're much more likely to deliver a strong start if you practice it ahead of time. But there are some specific steps you should take as you practice.

You must be intentional with your words at the start. This is the hook to grab their attention. I'm not going to go into this in detail in this post, but the content of your opening sentences and questions is critical. Sharpen it!

In addition to specific content of the opening, practice how you will deliver it.

If you teach standing up, practice standing up. Likewise for sitting in a chair. Make the practice physically close to real. Hold your Bible and papers like you will in the real situation.

Sit or stand tall. Posture gives your lungs room and projects strength. 99% of us have to think "tall" posture because it is not ingrained in us.

Quiet practice in your head is ok to start, but be sure to practice out loud. Actually say the words. Don't mumble 'em, say them like you plan to say them. Listen to yourself, and smooth out rough parts. Is the tone and pacing the best possible?

I recommend you memorize the first 2 or 3 sentences you will say. Especially if you are nervous. Go over it enough times that you can speak powerfully, confidently, and not nervous-fast.

Use your imagination to go through it -- make a movie in your mind. See yourself actually doing this opening hook with power, with confidence, with joy! Watch yourself make eye contact with people. See yourself smoothly handling your Bible and papers. Feel the connection that you will make with people who are eager to learn.

(Note: This isn't psychocyberkinetic mumbo-jumbo. I'm not asking you to imagine piles of money landing on your fancy sportcars. But use your God-granted imagination to help you do your best teaching!)

When you play this movie, you'll get new ideas about how to do it better.

Hone the specific words you will say, and practice how you will say them. That's the secret to a great lesson start.

One final point -- if you hear a voice in that committee conversation in your brain that whines about how much work this is, tell him to be quiet. You're teaching to change lives, and you are serving the Best King Ever. Lives are at stake.

What's Your Stretch?

Once you develop a certain level of competency as a teacher, it's easy to plateau there. You can get comfortable with the status quo.

If you're going to grow as a teacher, then you need to keep pushing yourself to improve.

Or God will. He loves you too much to let you stagnate. He loves your students too much to let you get comfortable, because they need fresh bread, not stale leftovers.

What's an area that you can get better at? Is it hooks, illustrations, managing questions for effective dialogue, application, in-between study work? Maybe you need to develop some additional skill and practice in word study or topic study. Perhaps you need to tackle a study yourself on a tough topic. Perhaps you need to teach in a different setting.

If your thought is, "All of that," then pick one -- any one -- and get started.

If your thought is more specific, go with it.

Stretch. Grow. Experience more of God and His Word.

"Expert" vs. Learner

I believe God puts all sorts of information and situations in front of us, a steady stream learning environment, so we can mature and grow.

It's work, but you'll learn a lot more if you take the attitude of "I can learn something from this," rather than "I'm an expert and will pass judgment on this."

I systematically read about teaching, the psychology of learning, how to communicate information effectively (meaning, so it changes behavior), etc. After a while it's pretty easy to become jaded. "Yup, seen that before. Actually, I've seen much better than that. I already know that. I'm beyond that. Oops, there's a grammar error."

Do you think my mind and heart are open to learning, to growth, when I'm passing judgment on a book or article like this? Nope.

There's an informative breakdown for the word 'expert.' Ex means former, and a spurt is a drip under pressure.

The same thing can happen in our Bible reading. "Ok, let's see what the plan says to read today. Ok, Psalm 139. Yes. Ok, that's familiar. Yup, I see I already underlined that verse. No news here, what's next on the reading plan. Psalm 140. Ok..."

Purpose to come at material with fresh eyes, open hearts, and desire to learn.

If it's important material, even if you've read it before, remember Richard Halverson's statement: "It is as important to be reminded as it to be informed." Consider how many times God tells His people to "remember."

Even if it's not the best quality information (e.g., some magazine article), be open to what you can learn. Don't pass judgment quickly, or you will cheat yourself out of something worthwhile. And you put your mind in a warped state that makes it very difficult to learn from outstanding information when it does come before you!

Finally, model this behavior for others. Especially the people God wants you to teach!

Free Reports and Audio Messages

Just a quick reminder -- I've posted many free reports and audio messages for you at this site:

http://www.teachtochangelives.com/reports.htm

Teaching Adults

Check out this very good article about teaching adults in church.

"...many people in churches today have never brought their adult minds to bear on an understanding of the Bible. They tend to assume that Scripture has nothing specific or helpful to say to them about the real world in which they live. For them, the Bible seems like a relic from childhood rather than a living statement of hard-edged truths that demand to be studied and interacted with on a daily basis.
But the Bible was written primarily for adults, to answer adult questions, to deal with adult problems. Finally, then, adult education is vital to the church because it is our opportunity to open the Word of God, the textbook of the church, for people to whom it is ultimately addressed."

Read the whole article here.

Looking Ahead

Celebrating the New Year tends to warm us up to goal setting, and looking ahead. Can you list two or three things that you would like to improve as a Bible teacher? How about a new challenge for teaching? I encourage you to stretch your thinking and try new things.

Bring fresh bread to your students, not stale bread.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I'm going to be enjoying the Christmas week with my family, and not blogging. So we'll see you again in 2007.

Teach to change lives!

Do You Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Teach?

Francis Chan gave a wonderful talk at the Hawaiian Islands Ministry conference, titled "How to Teach Dynamically and Effectively." He organizes the talk around these seven questions which preachers and teachers need to ask:

1. Am I aware of God's presence and want to please Him?
2. Do I genuinely love these people?
3. Am I accurately presenting this passage?
4. Am I depending upon the Holy Spirit's power, or my own cleverness?
5. Have I applied this message to my own life?
6. Will this message draw attention to me, or to God?
7. Do people desperately need this message?

This is an excellent set of questions, and I strongly recommend you take notes as you listen here:

http://www.himonline.org/res_vdo.htm

Click on the title link to this talk to listen to his message (streaming). This opens a new window and the message (about an hour) will stream. I couldn't figure out a way to get it as an mp3, but this is dynamite content, so make the time to listen to it.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Hey, Great Bible Teachers! Thank you for all you've done for your small groups, classes, and Bible studies in 2006. It's impossible to put a value on the lives that have been changed because God worked in and through you as a Bible teacher. Thanks for the decisions and actions you took to cooperate with God's work!

Going into 2007, I'm confident that more lives will be changed as we follow this wonderful teaching ministry, a gift to us from our Lord. There is work to be done! I want to be right here encouraging you and helping you all the way.

Teach to change lives!

Appropriate Vulnerability Gives Credibility

Yesterday some adults in the class I was teaching told me that they paid more attention to what I said because I was open about my own struggles. (I was talking about praying for people that I didn't want to be with myself.) It was a good reminder to me of an important principle:

Appropriate vulnerability gives credibility

Why? Because people can identify with you. You are not talking at them from some ivory tower position, but as a fellow disciple in process.

(Notice that I said "appropriate" vulnerability. Check yourself carefully. There are some weaknesses and sins that you should not discuss with just any group. It is especially important not to put relationships at risk by airing out unresolved difficulties.)

Did Jesus Have Bad PR?

I recently gave a Christmas devotion for the seniors group at our church. I tried to help people think about the terrible public relations job around the birth of the Messiah. From a human perspective, this was a PR disaster! Listen to it here.

Christians in Culture

Pastor Tim Keller makes good suggestions for Christians impacting the culture where they live - especially in urban areas. This article would be good material for group discussion on the topic.

Would You Like That in Mauve or Taupe?

Bible publishers are doing a booming business as they repackage the Bible into a astounding array of formats, covers, and colors. And sales are up! There is a tremendous consumer hunger for the Bible -- that's good news. We're so affluent that you can get a Bible that fits the image you want to project to others. (Reminds me of ladies shoes.)

Soon you'll be able to get a Bible for your ipod -- more good news for those who are ipod-centric.
One part of my brain is celebrating the proliferation of Bibles. Making it interesting and accessible to more people should be a good thing.

Another part of my brain is concerned that we pay more attention to format and show than to absorbing the content. Let us be careful to avoid feeling good about a Bible format, but denying its power. (See 2 Tim 3:1-5)


P.S. To consider for Christmas giving: support the Wycliffe Bible translation ministries. There are over 6000 languages in the world, and over 5000 do not have the complete Bible translated.

Learning from Esther and Jonah

Mark Buchanan writes an excellent article title Preaching in the City of Man. Part 2 is here. He lists some lessons that we can learn from Esther and Jonah about proclaiming truth in a fallen world. His comments about purity being attractive to this current generation are worth reviewing.

Give Because You're Part of the Community

I enjoyed Doug Pagitt's article about The Consumer Trap and how it affects the church in the US. We don't give to the church offering as payment for services rendered to us, but because we're part of the community.

Bible Study on YouTube?!

This is a new phenomenon, I think -- Bible teachers taking advantage of the immense popularity of YouTube, posting videos of their Bible teaching. Here's one on Romans 6, for example.

What do you think? Is this something that might be an effective extension of your teaching ministry? Anyone doing this now, or plan to? Add your comment.

Addressing Questions about the Virgin Birth

This is the time of year when questions surface about the virgin birth of Jesus. Looking for answers on how to address these questions? Start here, and here.

Dealing with Difficult People

Nearly all Bible teachers are also leaders in their church -- and get into situations with difficult people.

One key to success is to understand (and accept) that the Lord has provided a growth opportunity for you. We only learn some lessons from things we didn't volunteer for!

Also, I recommend you check out this article for some useful advice.

Jewish Life in Bible Times

The Blue Letter Bible folks have made some of Eidersheim's articles about Jewish life in the time of Jesus available online. These are detailed guides, very good for study. There are 18 chapters, plus some appendices:

Chapter 1. Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Chapter 2. Jews and Gentiles in "the Land"
Chapter 3. In Galilee at the Time of our Lord
Chapter 4. Travelling in Palestine
Chapter 5. In Judaea
Chapter 6. Jewish Homes
Chapter 7. The Upbringing of Jewish Children
Chapter 8. Subjects of Study (Education)
Chapter 9. Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
Chapter 10. In Death and after Death
Chapter 11. Jewish Views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds
Chapter 12. Commerce
Chapter 13. Among the People, and with the Pharisees
Chapter 14. The "Fraternity" of Pharisees
Chapter 15. Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes
Chapter 16. Synagogues
Chapter 17. The Worship of the Synagogue
Chapter 18. Outline of Ancient Jewish Theological Literature

Recommended.

Thinking about Joseph's Righteousness

John Ortberg has a wonderful essay about Joseph's righteousness, and his decision to sacrifice his reputation to take Mary to be his wife. Recommended. We don't have a single recorded word of Joseph in the Bible, but he is a rich example for us to study.

This article would make an excellent basis for an adult lesson, particularly for a men's group.

Why Ask Questions?

The key to learning is engagement. If the people in your classes and Bible studies are engaged, they will learn. If they're not engaged, it's much less likely that they will learn, and the opportunity for life-change is extremely short.

Asking people questions to stimulate real dialogue is one of the most powerful ways to engage them. Jesus did this frequently. Did he ask questions because he didn't know the answer? No. He asked questions to engage people.

The key to asking great questions is to plan them ahead of time. Your objective is to ask questions so that people move in the direction God wants them to go!

(If you'd like a great resource for helping you ask better questions, check out this ebook, 52 Model Questions.)

Using PowerPoint in Sunday School

Here's a useful article outlining an approach to using PowerPoint in Sunday School classes -- with some cautions.

Make sure the technology supports your key points and promotes discussion. If it doesn't, don't use it "just because." Teaching to change lives is what counts. Everything else, including the presentation medium, is secondary to that objective.

If you're getting more advanced with PowerPoint, and need some tips about master slides, organizing graphics, etc., then check out this article.

Solid. Reliable. No Lies.

John Piper has a nice sermon on the inspiration of the Bible. This will recharge your passion. Recommended.

Must You Have the Spiritual Gift of Teaching?

In my latest audio answer I address a question about the the spiritual gift of teaching -- is it a requirement?

National Bible Week

This is National Bible Week! (It runs annually, Sunday to Sunday of Thanksgiving week in the US.)

Here's a great start: read Psalm 119. (This link is in the Message Translation)

What can you do to help your students take their excitement about reading God's Word up to the next level?

This One Hits Home

But least there's an opportunity with each new day to practice dying to sin!

What's Your Plan to Teach the Christmas Story?

I'm curious about your plans for teaching the Christmas Story this year. How are you going to present the information about the birth of our Savior?

The most interesting approach I've heard recently is to ask the class what's in the story, write it all down on the board, then go back through the actual texts in the Gospel accounts, and identify those things which have been "added" -- but many people think are real. (For example: How many Magi were there? There were gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh (Matt 2:11) but the text doesn't tell us there were three Magi (Matt 2:1) )

Add your ideas as a comment.

Prayer Guide

John Piper compiles a list of what to pray for -- using your wartime walkie-talkie. Great resource, highly recommended!

Great Bible Teacher Collection Available

The Great Bible Teacher Collection is now available. Until November 14th, you can get a complimentary pair of CDs will all the information -- one for you, and one to give away as a Christmas present. If you're serious about teaching ministry, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

How to Use Bible Study Guides Effectively

Check out my latest audio answer where I give you the key principle to using Bible study guides effectively.

It's Jesus' Message, Not Yours

If you're feeling great burdens in your teaching ministry, and struggles with getting lessons put together, then here's an insight to come back to:

Your teaching ministry isn't really your ministry -- it's Jesus' ministry!

You are participating in His ministry work. A lot of burdens come off when we stop hoping that Jesus might come alongside and make our ministry just a little lighter.

I know this is true. I know this is true. But I need reminding, frequently.

I hope you enjoy this story from Steve Seamands. He felt terrible burdens getting a series of sermons and workshops together, under a tight deadline. Listen to his words:

"After several days of fretting, I got up one morning to pray. At the time, I was engaged in a verse-by-verse devotional study of the Song of Solomon. That particular morning, I was meditating on verse 2:8: "The voice of my beloved! / Look, he comes, / leaping upon the mountains, / bounding over the hills."
Mountains and hills in Scripture often represent obstacles that confront us. That day, my obstacle was the sermon I had to prepare for the conference. As I meditated on this verse, Jesus, my beloved, spoke to me: "Steve, why are you so uptight? This is so easy for me. It may seem like a mountain to you, but it's a molehill to me! I can leap and bound over it effortlessly. I have a sermon I want to preach to the people who will be gathered there. I'm going to preach it through you. In fact, it's going to be fun! Come on, let's run together."

You see, dear teachers, the lesson and class time are easy for our Master. It's going to be fun to run together with Jesus!

Four Prayer Requests for Teachers

Though writing about preaching, I think these four key prayer requests from Joe McKeever are ideal for Bible teachers who want to see changed lives:

1) I never want to stand up to preach again without a good grasp of the Scripture. I'm tired of not being clear about the text in front of me.

2) I want the message from God to have a firm grasp on me, to grip my heart. I want to preach with genuine passion.

3) I want a good rapport with the congregation. I'm tired of that " glazed-over " look on the people's faces. I want to make contact with them, to communicate effectively.

4) I want to see lives changed. If the point of preaching is for the Word of God to make a difference in people, then it must be in order to ask the Father to give me success in doing it.

May each of us strive for a solid grasp on Scripture, an irrepressible grip of God on our hearts, growing skill as communicators, and for God to unleash his power in changing the lives of men, women, boys, and girls. Amen!

How to Be Spiritually-Minded

John Piper gives us excellent counsel about turning our minds toward God.

Open Question

I'm curious, folks -- Do you use a Bible study program that runs on your PC (or Mac), and what software are you using?

Create a Learning Environment

Here's a YAC (Yet Another Column) decrying teaching methods in Sunday School classes, and advocating more electronics, less lecture.

I partially agree.

I agree that dumping kids into rows of chairs and Blah-Blah-Blah lecture isn't going to help them learning. But it's not because the lecture method can't be effective, per se. You can bore them to tears with PowerPoint, too. (All of what I'm saying is true for adults as well.)

Learning -- which I think of as the transfer of information that changes the way we think and behave -- requires that you have an engaged brain. If your brain isn't engaged in the material, you aren't learning from the presentation of the information.

Now you can influence learning (brain engagement) by how you set up a room, how you present information, how much individual interaction happens, etc. -- and you should make every effort to do these things better and better. But it's not enough.

So what's required?

First, prayer. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. This is spiritual work, and all spiritual work must begin and be sustained and completed in prayer. Pray for open minds, open eyes, open hearts. Without this spiritual openness, the best you can do is entertain or annoy people.

Second, passion. "A student will be like his teacher." Love Jesus, love His Word, and this passion will engage people.

Third, relevance. You cannot engage a person's mind unless he/she perceives this information is relevant to their lives somehow.

Eestablish these three things, and even weak teaching methods and presentation can still lead to life-changing learning.

If you are interested in learning more, including the practical how-to aspects of teaching the Bible, check out www.teachtochangelives.com .

Is This Dream from God?

Because you are teaching people the Word of God, you're likely to be asked for counsel. People will share a dream or vision from you, and ask you "Is this from God? How can I know?"

Tommy Barnett has two dream tests:

1. It's bigger than you
2. You can't shake it

Tips for Researching Facts and Illustrations

PreachingToday.com (a good resource) has a free article available here -- excellent tips for researching facts and illustrations. Search smart, save time, be accurate!

"The Great Bible Teacher Collection" Almost Ready!

I have a new product coming -- I call it "The Great Bible Teacher Collection." I'm making practically all the information I've created for Bible teachers available as one package, PLUS some never-before-released videos. Since Christmas is coming, there's a special bonus available if you purchase by Nov 14th. I will send you all the information on two complimentary CDs; one is for you, and one is to give away as a Christmas gift!

You can get more information here, including a free bonus of the audio message from a seminar I did recently on "Bible Teaching to Change Lives." I encourage you to sign up today!

New Audio Answer -- Which Bible translation?

I've posted a new audio answer to the question "Which Bible translation should I use?" Enjoy!

Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?

There is an excerpt from Philip Yancey's new book on prayer available here. Check it out. There is enough information just in this excerpt to create a powerful devotion or part of a Bible study on prayer.

Illustrations -- Part III

You can find part III of this series on teaching using illustrations here. The key idea is to break down an observation or story into its component parts, and then attach or extract meaning from it. Worth your time.

Some people seem to be able to do this effortlessly. I believe this has been a useful series because it lays out the process so that anyone can improve their skills.

"Marketing" Bible Studies

We live in a culture where people's attention time is scarce -- there are THOUSANDS of things competing for their attention. So it's increasingly helpful to market your Bible studies at your church or in your neighborhood.

Marketing just means getting people excited about your product. (Sales is closing the deal.)

Now you may be saying, "If poeple aren't excited about studying the Bible, then it's not our problem." WRONG. Many of the people who could get very excited about diving into the Word with you simply don't know it's a possibility. Help them out!

This article lists 7 ways you can increase the 'buzz' for Bible studies.

Need further motivation to do this kind of effort? Here's a fact: excited people learn more.

Finding Illustrations -- Part 2

The article continues here. I liked the strategy of building a story around your observations. Remember, there's neurological evidence that our brains are hard-wired to be more open to stories and images. So use words that paint strong images, and you are more likely to engage your listener's brain!

Keep Looking Forward

Satan heaps on the guilt -- that is not our job as teachers. The Holy Spirit convicts the hearts of people (see John 16:8-11); we are not the Jr. Holy Spirit.

Mark Batterson has some good counsel about teaching on topics that might trigger guilt: keep looking forward.

"When I talk on a tough topic that I know might send people on a guilt trip I try to focus on the future. I don't want to bury people with guilt. Our messages can actually cause unintended consequences like defeatism if we aren't careful. That's what happens if we focus on the past. People just wallow in their past. So when I preach on a tough topic I try to remind our congregation that what you did yesterday isn't nearly as important as what you do tomorrow!For example, if you're talking about sexual purity there is a danger of sending people on a long guilt trip. But that isn't the goal. The goal is to help people reestablish godly sexual boundaries. I've found that when I say I'm not as concerned about yesterday as I am about tomorrow, it's like our congregation breathes as sigh of relief. Keep it future-tense!Isn't that what Jesus did when he said: 'Go and sin no more.' "

Here's a Challenge for Great Bible Teachers

Mark Batterson writes:

"Here's my New Year Manifesto:

Grab life by the mane. Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop criticizing and start creating. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Laugh at yourself. Keep making mistakes. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. And remember: if God is for us who can be against us? Unleash the lion chaser within!"

The Word Implanted Bears Fruit

Working with children's ministries? Check out this short article about helping children understand Bible verses, memorize, and apply them.

Not working with children's ministries? The advice will be helpful for you, too!

Getting Past Boredom

A friend simply despises it when his young boys come to him and say, "I'm bored." So he cured them of this by replying, "No, you're not Bored, you're Johnny." :-)

There are two situations where boredom kills learning and growth. The first is when your class or study group participants are bored. To them you sound like the teacher in the Charlie Brown TV specials: wah-wah-waa-wa-waaaa-wah.

The second is when you find yourself bored in personal Bible study or lesson prep.

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." - Dorothy Parker

Shift the mindset to curiosity!

Ask odd questions, use intriguing illustrations, get their attention with something different than they expect! Plant seeds about the next lesson that generate curiousity and anticipation. Engage their imaginations and emotions.

And for yourself, remember that the Bible is the coolest, most wonderful book in the world. Repent before the Lord (repentance means "change of mind") and get engaged with it. Try a different approach to stay fresh and get new insights. I have plenty of great Bible study approaches in my book, Teach the Bible to Change Lives.

Audio Answer

My latest audio answer -- don't compare yourself with other teachers -- is available here.

Finding Illustrations!

One of the biggest challenges for effective teaching is finding good illustrations. Just how do those famous preachers do it? Check this excellent article (1st part in a series).

Problem-Solving

Many of you are called into situations where people ask you for help with their problems. Here's some excellent advice for you.

New Audio Answer

How do I respond to questions about theological issues? Carefully!