The following is an excerpt of a book which we have recently completed about teaching the Bible, focusing on some techniques that may be little known and are certainly seldom practiced today. We pray that it will be a blessing to you and encourage you to open the Bible as if you have never read it before. Enjoy!
Taken from “Hosea: A brief guide for those who are lead to teach the book of Hosea”
NOTES ON TEACHING
You do not need to be an expert to teach the Word of God. In fact, some would argue that an advanced degree in a Seminary actually hinders your ability to teach. Sound strange? In our experience, we have found that a great majority of sermons and Bible studies tend to drive the audience to a somewhat premeditated conclusion.
There is generally nothing wrong with this. From our childhood we are taught to structure our essays and messages concisely so that at the beginning, the audience knows what your talking points will be and what they are supposed to get out of it.
This approach may work well in academic circles and “how to” books, yet it is a complete and total disaster when employed in an attempt to teach the Words of the Living God.
Open the Bible as if You have Never Read It Before
The holiness and perfection of the Bible allow us to learn something new each time that we read it.
For this reason, we would like to encourage you and your audience, beginning with this study, to open the Bible as if they have never read it before. Many Christians have preconceived notions and prejudices regarding the parts of the Bible which must be overcome for the Word of God to move in a new way in their lives. Opening the Bible as if you have never read it before accomplishes this goal for most people.
Read Slowly: Let the Word Of God Resonate in the Room
Another necessity when teaching the Word of God is to read slowly. When teaching the Word of God, it is important to both read aloud and to listen to your own voice. Far from being ridiculous, slowly reading the Word of God accomplishes two important purposes. First, it allows everyone in the audience both to hear and to meditate on the words. Second, you will immediately notice that the spoken words themselves have a power which resonates throughout the room.
Hearing is a deeply spiritual exercise. Listening to yourself as you read will generally ensure that you maintain the proper pace and that the Holy Spirit moves about the room, ministering to everyone as they simply listen, for the Word of God does not ever return void.
Sound interesting? Stay tuned for more teaching tips and the release of the book itself here at The Mint. Trust Jesus and stay fresh!