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How to Use Multiple Bible Translations

February 20, 2017 By Ryan Higginbottom

In the English-speaking world, we are blessed with a wealth of good translations of the Bible. For most of church history, this was not the case.

Chances are you have a few translations you prefer, and occasionally switching between these versions in your devotional reading can prove eye opening. You see a phrase or scene from a slightly different angle, and you have a fresh appreciation or insight as a result.

congerdesign (2016), public domain

Bible study leaders can also use multiple translations of the Bible to great profit. But it’s best not to introduce variety too early in the process.

When Not to Use Multiple Translations

In your personal study of a Bible passage, I suggest you stick to one translation. Because different translations have different philosophies and tendencies, switching between Bible versions at this stage in the process will slow you down.

At this blog we advocate an old method of Bible study called Observe-Interpret-Apply (OIA), and when observing we suggest you pay attention to words and grammar (among other things). Observing all that a passage contains can be a tall order—bringing in alternate translations might double or triple your work!

For your primary Bible, consider something closer to a word-for-word translation (“formal equivalence”) than a thought-for-thought translation (“dynamic equivalence”). Since Bible study should focus on the words of the original authors, we should use a translation that does as little interpreting as possible while still making sense of the text.

Note: If you’d like an explanation of some of the most popular Bible translations, Daniel Wallace does a decent job here.

When to Use Multiple Translations

After observing the text and working through the answers to your interpretation questions, you should have a sense of the main point of the passage. You may also have some questions you weren’t able to answer.

At this point I usually read my passage in multiple translations. I find software like e-Sword or websites like Bible Gateway perfect for this, because they allow you to view several versions in parallel. For example, here’s the first chapter of John’s gospel in the ESV, NASB, and NIV.

Reading a passage like this is revealing. Staring at your main translation for hours can bake the words into your brain. But this exercise will show you the differences between translations quickly. You’ll see the vast agreement as well as the small areas of disagreement. For particular words, a variety of translations will show you that Bible translation is a difficult task!

You may be able to resolve any word-related confusion by looking at a commentary or two. Most commentators geek out over words and translations, so you’ll have no shortage of food for thought.

Preparing to Lead Your Small Group

If you are leading a small group Bible study with regular participants, it’s a good idea to note which translations those folks read. Take a look at your passage in these translations before the small group meeting so you won’t be thrown or surprised by an odd word choice.

If I notice a drastic difference between translations when I’m preparing, I’ll often point it out to my group. This “pre-emptive strike” allows me to bring the issue into our discussion if it seems important. However, it’s easy to get bogged down in discussions like this, so I usually try to direct our conversation elsewhere.

Though they can differ widely, most of the major English Bible translations are very good. And the deviations we see almost never change the interpretation of the passage. We can use the variety to inform our ideas about the author’s original meaning, but we must also remember not to freak out over the differences we see.

Big Bible Words: Redeemer

February 6, 2017 By Ryan Higginbottom

anonymous (2015), public domain

Before they were convinced of the resurrection, two of Jesus’s disciples walked with him along the road. Their words reveal their thoughts about their master.

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. (Luke 24:21, ESV)

If Jesus was still in the tomb then their hopes of the redemption of Israel were dashed. Everything hinged on Jesus’s work and resurrection.

If the hope of redemption was so important for these disciples, we should make sure we understand this word. What is a redeemer?

A Definition

In modern day Christianity, we recognize the word “Redeemer” as referring to Jesus. It’s a popular lyric for hymns and worship songs. But what does it mean? We often use it as a synonym for Savior or Deliverer, but that doesn’t capture all of the biblical weight.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary gives a concise definition for Redeemer: one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs. This isn’t the best way to explain the term to the youngest in our churches, but it’s a good start. Easton’s definition has its roots in the Mosaic law of the Old Testament.

Redemption in the Old Testament

There are a whopping 149 occurrences of the words redeem, redeemer, or redemption (or a close variant) in the Old Testament. Many of these instances refer to God delivering the Israelites out of Egypt (Ex 6:6, Dt 7:8, Dt 9:26, Dt 13:5, Dt 15:15, Dt 21:8, Dt 24:18). But a larger number occur within the book of Leviticus.

In both chapters 25 and 27 of Leviticus, Moses writes laws of redemption. If an Israelite was poor and needed to sell his property, home, or himself for money, what was sold could be redeemed by that man (or a relative) for a price. The laws also dictated which of these items sold would be released back to their original state in the Year of Jubilee.

This usage fits with our definition. When a house or a piece of land was redeemed, it was restored to its original state (owner).

The Psalmists plead with God to redeem them or their nation. God is called Redeemer on many occasions in the book of Isaiah. More than just deliverance, God’s people are seeking restoration. Whether oppressed by an enemy or by the weight of their disobedience, they ask God to restore their rights, to restore them to their original state of safety and peace with him.

Redemption in the New Testament

New Testament authors use words like redeem and redemption only 18 times. But these occurrences build on and fill out our understanding of the biblical term.

People must be redeemed from something. Christ redeemed us from “the curse of the law” (Gal 3:13), from “all lawlessness” (Titus 2:14), and from “transgressions committed” (Heb 9:15). This fits with Leviticus, when a possession would be redeemed from someone else who had bought it.

But now we also see the idea of an exchange. To redeem is not merely to set right, but to do so by paying a price. Just as money was exchanged to redeem a piece of land, a price was paid to redeem us from the sin that held us captive. Redeeming is not much different from ransoming.

Jesus is our Redeemer, and the price he paid was his own life (Heb 9:12). We are all caught and imprisoned, willingly, in our sin. We think of our rebellion as freedom, but it binds us in the strongest, foulest chains. In the fullness of time, Jesus paid an enormous redemption price (suffering the wrath of God) for our release. Jesus has become our redemption (1 Cor 1:30). He came “to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:5).

Explaining Redemption

Let’s return to the heart of the matter. How should we explain redemption—the work of a redeemer—to a young child?

Try this: A redeemer brings back something that was lost or taken away.

Since that explanation is missing the aspect of payment or exchange, let’s spin a simple story for the under five crowd.

Jimmy is playing trucks in his room with his older brother. Their mother calls them for dinner, so they clean up quickly and rush downstairs. When they start playing the next day, Jimmy’s fire truck is in his brother’s bin, and his brother won’t give it back. His brother agrees to hand over the truck if Jimmy gives him a cherry lollipop. So Jimmy exchanges the lollipop to get his fire truck back.

That’s redemption.

Don’t Tell Me Something New

January 9, 2017 By Ryan Higginbottom

Most small group Bible study leaders share a few goals. We want our friends to love and obey God more and more. To that end, we want our group members to be engaged during the studies. We want our groups to pop; we want fireworks.

Ralf Vetterle (2016), public domain

The Pull Toward Novelty

Our desire for effective, exciting Bible studies is a good thing. And as we point our friends toward the most important truths in the world, we should long for transformation.

But there’s a dangerous temptation that can surface when we focus on excitement. We’ll want to say something new each meeting, and we’ll end up reaching. We’ll stretch for connections between passages. We’ll present interpretations that are half-baked. In our quest to animate our group, we’ll fall into the trap of never-ending novelty, and we’ll end up softening the impact of God’s holy word.

Fortunately, this is a trap we can avoid.

How to Resist the Temptation of Newness

A hunt for newness in the Bible is often a symptom of boredom with its basic truths. Some Christians read and teach these truths so often (and with so little imagination) that the Bible seems to lack power.

But nothing could be farther from the truth!

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12–13)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10–11)

The foundation of all strategies to resist the pull toward novelty must be a trust in God and his word. But strategies can still be helpful. Here are three that come to mind.

Engage in faithful Bible study. The surest way to proclaim and believe the Bible is to study the Bible carefully. Don’t let others interpret the Bible for you.

Careful Bible study is a joy, an art, and a discipline. If you’ve never studied the Bible on your own, or if you’d like a refresher, look no further. The time-tested method we promote is called Observe, Interpret, Apply (OIA), and anyone can do it. Dig into the Bible prayerfully, asking God to help you communicate his word to your small group.

Use Bible resources. While you should study the Bible on your own first, don’t neglect other God-given resources. Both study Bibles and commentaries should be handled with care, but at the right stage of the process they can be invaluable.

We 21st century Christians are not on an island; great clouds of saints have read, studied, and lived out the Bible for centuries before us. The best commentaries and study Bibles will identify the most common errors and the most likely interpretations when discussing difficult passages. Check your own conclusions with some solid commentaries to see how your thoughts line up with the body of Christ over time.

Consult your church. Your local Christian community is a precious support and an important resource. We need people close to us to encourage us when we’re right and to tell us when we’re wrong.

If your interpretation of a passage doesn’t match up with what you find in commentaries, take it to your church. Seek out a pastor, an elder, or a wise friend who can weigh the evidence with you. This requires a humility produced only by the Spirit.

Fresh Statements of Old Truths

Instead of seeking out what’s new and shiny, take comfort in the powerful, unchanging words of God. His word is reliable, eternal, and earth-shattering.

What you and I need is usually not a brand-new teaching. Brand-new truths are probably not truths. What we need are reminders about the greatness of the old truths. We need someone to say an old truth in a fresh way. Or sometimes, just to say it. – John Piper, from preface to The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

Our small group members will be more transformed and engaged by the true word of God than by anything we import ourselves. Let’s commit to reminding our friends of old truths in new ways.

Dear Church: I Dare You to Trust Your Bible This Year

December 16, 2016 By Peter Krol

Wim Mulder (2005), Creative Commons

Dear Church,

Greetings in the name our common savior and only master, Jesus Christ. I remember you often in my prayers, as I beg our God and Father to strengthen your faith, increase your love, and magnify your hope through the good news revealed in the unbreakable Scriptures delivered to us through the mouths of his holy apostles and prophets. We do not serve a silent God. He has spoken to us by his Son (Heb 1:1-2), who in turn has spoken words of Spirit and life (John 6:63). In his limitless mercy, our God has made his will known and knowable to all his people unto the ages.

You, Church, are the bride of Christ. Do you hear what your Husband has to say to you? You, Church, are a pillar and buttress of the truth. Are you grounded directly in the truth that proceeds from the very lips of your God? You, Church, are the household of God. Does your Master have the final say on all that takes place on your watch? You, Church, are the assembly of the firstborn. Does the only wise God preside over all your affairs? Does your firstborn brother have preeminence? Is his teaching the primary lamp to your feet and light for your path?

I fear for you, that you have listened to so many voices, you no longer trust yourself to hear your Lord’s voice. That, from fear of ignorance, you have relied on experts to mediate God’s words to you. That, from fear of getting it wrong, you have become addicted to being told what to do. That, from fear of disapproval, you have created self-contained, self-congratulatory communities that no longer know how to give other God-honoring, Christ-worshipping, Truth-loving communities the benefit of the doubt.

Let me be clear: I fear that you may not trust your Bible to be enough for you. And if your Bible is not enough for you, it is inevitable you will stray from the truth of the Lord.

As we near the end of this year and prepare for the start of another, I dare you, Church, to trust your Bible this year. I dare you, church leaders, to preach the word. I dare you, teachers, to teach good reading skills at least as often as you teach true content. I dare you, all, to spend more time in the Bible itself than you spend in supplemental works about the Bible.

I dare you to consider some of the following resolutions:

Our pastors will preach the word (2 Tim 4:1-2). When preparing a sermon, they will not read any commentaries until after they have identified a probable main point from the biblical text itself (Ps 119:15-16). Our preachers will not preach every possible point of theology or morality brought to mind by the passage’s terminology. They will preach only the main points of each sermon text, and they will connect those main points to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Our Bible study groups will study the Bible. They won’t depend on a curriculum. They won’t use a study guide. They won’t read a Christian book together. They will sit down, open their Bibles, read what’s on the page, and discuss what it says (Ps 119:18-19). Group leaders may use study guides to help them prepare, but they will reject any resource that doesn’t show its work (i.e. that doesn’t explain how it reached its conclusions from the text).
Our elder meetings will not allow for any major decisions to be made without explicit reference to one or more specific Bible passages that inform our thinking. We will not excuse our failure to do this by appeals to “broad biblical truth not contained in a single text” or to “general wisdom informed by biblical truth, even if this specific decision isn’t addressed in the Bible.” We will not assume that every church leader knows how to apply biblical truth to real-life situations, and we will reject the lie that it is too elementary or pedantic a task to list specific verses for specific decisions (Ps 119:10).
Our children’s ministries (Sunday school classes, Bible clubs, preschools, etc.) will dedicate time to read a passage from a normal (adult) translation of the Bible at every meeting. We might use children’s Bibles to supplement the instruction, but the children won’t be able to escape without hearing God’s own words unfiltered through a paraphraser (Ps 119:43).
Our youth groups and teenage classes will not need a specialized curriculum to address moral issues facing teens. They will focus on learning how to study the Bible so they can be equipped to apply this old truth to any new problem they happen to face (Ps 119:27-28).
We will train church members to lead their own evangelistic Bible studies. When we encourage them to reach out to coworkers and friends, we will encourage them not only to invite these contacts to church, but also to invite them to read and discuss the Bible over lunch breaks or in their homes (Ps 119:21).
We will in no way communicate that anyone is too young, too immature, too uneducated, or too unbelieving to be able to read the Bible and understand it. We will trust the Lord Jesus to work by his Spirit through the word to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Ps 119:17).

Let me also clarify: Scholars, academics, researchers, professors, pastors, and educators are a great gift to Christ’s Church. Commentaries, study guides, and academic resources have inestimable value. We could not thrive without them. But please remember that while they are mighty assistants, they make poor high priests. We do not need such things or people to mediate our relationship with Christ; we need them to help us see the way to him.

Dear Church, are you willing to trust your Bible this year? Before you reject these ideas out of hand, why not try them for a while and see if they produce pleasing fruit? Perhaps you will do well to pay much closer attention to the prophetic word, as to a lamp shining in a dark place (2 Pet 1:19).

Your servant and co-laborer in the word of truth,

Peter

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Teaching the Bible to Teenagers

June 24, 2016 By Peter Krol

This is a guest post by Mark Fodale. Mark loves to influence the next generation, and he has served over 30 years in full-time campus ministry. He also loves teaching and studying God’s word, and he serves as a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. He and his wife Shannon have 4 children. If you’d like to write a guest post for Knowable Word, please see our guidelines.

Though never appearing in the Bible, the word “teenager” can elicit waves of anxious worry in even the most faithful parent or teacher. And too often, this formative time of life gets described as “rebellious,” “uncontrolled,” “distant,” and “exhausting.”

But amazingly, King Solomon viewed the teenage season as one of great opportunity and promise. As his father David had taught him, so he taught his son (Prov 4:3-9) and imparted wisdom to a generation of youths about to assume their roles in society. To borrow a phrase from Paul David Tripp, the teen years are an Age of Opportunity.

What can we glean from Solomon’s wisdom to help us shepherd our teens and spur them to know and love God’s Word?

Yo tampoco (2011), Creative Commons

1. Lead With Your Life

Avoid the temptation to coerce your child into spiritual disciplines. Threats, power plays, guilt manipulation, comparison with other people’s children, and even shouting may seem to work at getting your teen into God’s word. But they don’t really work.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Prov 15:1)

Lead with your life. In other words, use the power of imitation rather than the threat of intimidation.

What does this look like?

You study the Word, regularly, passionately, personally.
You listen diligently to sermons as they are preached, or to Bible studies as they are taught. You take notes. You make clear applications to your life.
You share what God has been teaching you in His word, not to manipulate your teen into engaging with the Bible, but to honor Christ in your life.

Your teens are watching and (believe it or not) listening to you. And what they hear and watch at this stage is not primarily your words but your life. Are you giving them an example to emulate? Are you leading with your life?

2. Persuade With Vision

In the early chapters of Proverbs, Solomon tells of wisdom’s beauty and promise:

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (Prov 1:23)

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than the gain from silver and her profit better than gold. (Prov 3:13-14)

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. (Prov 4:7-8)

Solomon persuades with a picture of the future—the overwhelming beauty of wisdom, the unsurpassed joy and benefit in gaining wisdom, and the devastating cost of rejecting wisdom. As you interact with your teenagers, talk about life. Life, both in the here-and-now and in the future. Show them the benefits to be gained then from studying God’s word now.

As I interacted with my teens, I often asked, “What kind of man (or woman) do you want to be someday? What kind of a parent or spouse do you long to become?” As they voiced their dreams with wide eyes, I would then say, “What you do now with God’s word will either help you or cripple you in that pursuit.”

Paul David Tripp says it well:

Keep conversations interesting and to the point … Make the moments of wisdom and correction interactions rather than lectures. Some of us carry invisible portable lecterns with us, which we are ready to set up in a moment. Leave them in the closet. Instead, ask stimulating questions that will cause the teen to examine his actions, his assumptions, his desires, and his choices. Help him shine the light of the word on them. Surprise him with truth. Let wisdom sparkle before his eyes … Engage your teenager in a stimulating conversation that doesn’t flash your authority or the right you have to tell him what to do. Rather, talk to him in a way that lifts up truth and points out its beauty.

3. Seize the Opportunity

The teenage years are a time of transition: from childhood to adulthood, from immaturity to maturity, from irresponsibility to great responsibility, and from more parental oversight to less overt control.

Do you see these transitions as overwhelming threats, or tremendous opportunities?

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments. (Prov 3:1)

The season before you, as you consider your teenager, is one of unparalleled opportunity—the opportunity to walk with your teen as he or she transitions into adulthood. The opportunity build depth into a relationship that will reap benefits in the years to come.

With each of my teens, I scheduled a season of weekly breakfasts to discuss a key issue in their lives. For one, it was a pattern of unbridled anger. For another, the fear of man vs. the fear of the Lord. At these breakfasts we studied the word intentionally and with specific application. And we reaped a harvest of trust, accountability, and tangible growth in Christ.

So, seize the opportunity. Again, Paul David Tripp:

Pursue your teenager. Daily express your love. Don’t ask questions that can be answered with a yes or no. Ask questions that require description, explanation, and self-disclosure. Don’t just relate to them during times of correction. Don’t only catch them doing something wrong; catch them doing something right and encourage them … Enter the world of your teenager and stay there. Don’t ever let them view you as being outside their functional world. Teenagers will reject grenades of wisdom and correction lobbed from afar by someone who has not been on site for quite a while.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Prov 25:11). Spend time. Craft special outings. Let them into your life. Listen eagerly and humbly. And pray. Pray for apples of gold from God’s word. And pray for settings of silver in which to place them.

We are called to labor with a vision for launching our teens into God’s world. By God’s grace, they can become men and women who know and cherish God through his word, and who seek to obey him in all things.

The Glory of Multiplication

June 3, 2016 By Peter Krol

A year ago, I had an assistant Bible study leader. Then he moved to another state. Now I have a new assistant, whom I expect to leave our group soon and start another one. Then I’ll be back on my own, bearing the full load of small group leadership once again. But I’ll pray and look for another assistant to help shoulder the labor and develop the skills.

Bible study is not glamorous. Training apprentices, one at a time, is even less so. We plod our way through it, week in and week out. Sometimes we see clear fruit; sometimes we don’t. But this mustard seed will grow to become the largest of all garden plants. And this leaven will penetrate the entire lump. The promises of Christ ensure it will be so.

Rich Bamford (2015), Creative Commons

Be Fruitful and Multiply

Having created man and woman in his image, God expected them to mass produce this image in the earth (Gen 1:28). After he undid everything and started over, he clarified that nothing really had changed (Gen 9:1). Not long after, as my friend Brian Seay put it, “God said ‘go,’ and we said ‘no'” (Gen 11:4). But who can stop the Lord? Let no men assemble whom God has called to disperse (Gen 11:9).

And so Abram’s people were to bless all nations (Gen 12:3). God’s people were always to be a kingdom of priests (Ex 19:6), so the prophets longed for the day when God would collect his scattered people (Zech 8:7-8) and draw in citizens from every nation on earth (Zech 8:20-23). This house would be a house of prayer for all peoples (Is 56:7).

When Jesus arrives to fulfill what was written, we see the same goals at work. The lingo shifts from “being fruitful” to “making disciples,” but the mission stays the same. God wants to fill the earth with image-bearers. And now they can see and smell and touch that image in the person of Christ. His people become like him and move out from Jerusalem to help more people become like him. And when outsiders don’t know what else to call them, they coin the term “little Christs”—Christians (Acts 11:26).

But notice how God works among his people. He adds to their number so they can multiply his influence. His people gather so they can disperse. They draw people in so they can send people out. This community has always been a growing community. Sometimes you see it; sometimes you don’t. But the growth will happen one disciple at a time.

See the Unseen Glory

As I wrote, training apprentices will not be glamorous. But that can’t stop it from being glorious. I’ve done it one at a time over the years. And I can’t take all the credit, as most apprentices have multiple trainers. I’m never—by God’s grace—the sole influence in someone’s life.

But that guy who moved to another state? His wife already leads the women’s ministry at their new church. Together, they’re teaching more people to study the Bible for themselves.

And I could tell you of others. There’s one in Japan, working with missionaries and church leaders to put the Scriptures into the hands of the people. There’s another one in Texas, who just emailed me to say that his church asked him to teach more people good Bible study skills. I know some women who have infiltrated the leadership of a popular women’s conference, because they shine like stars when it comes to faithful handling of the word.

It’s worth it to teach people OIA Bible study. And it’s worth it to teach people how to teach people OIA Bible study in small groups. May the Lord strengthen us by his grace to press on.

Keep in Touch

May 27, 2016 By Peter Krol

When we train apprentices or delegate tasks, sometimes we’re too slow to hand things off. I’ve written about this danger over the last few weeks, but we must consider another danger as well: being too quick to hand things off.

Yee Leng (2009), Creative Commons

When we hit stage 4 for training new Bible study leaders (“You do; I watch”), we may feel tempted to simply send them out and commend their souls to God. We might even be relieved to have someone to take on some of our responsibility. We have complete trust in the person to serve and full confidence in God to work. But sending out new leaders must not flick like a standard light switch, on or off. It should transition more like a dimmer switch with increasing shades of brightness.

So when you send out your apprentice to lead a new group, you’re not yet finished as a trainer. You still should check in with that person from time to time to see how things are going. You’ll want to encourage the leader with evidence of God’s grace. You’ll want to expose areas of potential blindness. You’ll want to stimulate the leader’s thinking about ways to excel. And you’ll want to make sure the new leader considers finding his or her own apprentice to train and launch.

We can see this approach in the Apostle Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. Paul’s chief aim on his first missionary journey was to appoint and train leaders for fledgling churches: “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23). But he didn’t merely set them up and forget about them. Notice the impetus behind his second missionary journey: “And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are” (Acts 15:36). That second trip covered the same ground before going farther and deeper into Rome’s empire. His third trip then revisited the same places as the second trip.

He kept visiting the same places to strengthen and correct the leaders. He didn’t control them or take those churches back over. He let the leaders lead, but he made sure to check in and offer help. There’s much for us to learn from this approach.

First, don’t forget your apprentices, even after they’ve gone to lead their own groups.

Second, you don’t need a curriculum or detailed training agenda. Just visit occasionally to “see how they are.” You might want to ask about what’s going well and what could be better. You may also want to make your own observations.

Third, decrease your involvement as they continue to develop.

Fourth, make sure your former apprentices take note of potential new apprentices they can train.

Fifth, rejoice in the Lord, who is multiplying your ministry and your influence before your eyes. Keep those eyes fixed on Christ so you can represent him well.

The 3 Laws of Launching New Leaders

May 20, 2016 By Peter Krol

In the life of every Bible study apprentice, there comes a time for independence. A time when trails must be blazed and sunsets must be ridden off into. New small groups must be formed, and new leaders must be set loose to form them. And when this time comes, three laws will inevitably take effect.

The Apprentice Will Not Be Ready

Nobody perfects a skill without first trying and failing. And an apprentice who stays close to the trainer, who is eager and capable to correct every misstep, can’t really fail. The goal, of course, is not merely to fail, but to fail in the right direction. Like major league sluggers, we need to be okay with high volumes of strikeouts. Each one teaches something about timing, bat speed, or pitch count expectations. Few apprentices will ever feel ready to lead their own groups, but that shouldn’t stop them from trying.

The Trainer Will Not Be Ready

Nobody likes to see a protege struggle. No decent Bible teacher wants a short-term decrease in ministry effectiveness. But eyes of faith see dormant glory. This mustard seed will become the greatest of all garden plants. This bit of leaven will penetrate the doughy lump. This jar of clay proclaims the surpassing power of God to grow his church. And this frail limb may eventually become a mighty oak of righteousness.

The World Will Not Be Ready

Do you remember how Hebrews speaks of our faith heroes, that the world was not worthy of them (Heb 11:38)? Then remember also that those folks, though commended, didn’t receive what was promised. God provided something better for us: Jesus, seated at God’s right hand (Heb 12:1-2). But before he took his seat, Jesus committed to sending his Spirit to empower his followers to do greater works than Jesus himself had done (John 14:12-14). So we ought to expect generation upon generation of new heroes who proclaim faith in Christ and trust in no other. The world cannot handle such titans.

In training your Bible study apprentice, perhaps you had a part in shaping one of these heroes.

Give Them Freedom to Fail

May 6, 2016 By Peter Krol

What causes that sinking feeling when a parent watches his freshly-licensed teenager drive off alone for the first time? Why do field trips require chaperones? What tempts a supervisor to micromanage? Why do I gasp every time my 17-month-old hurls herself down a sliding board?

I’ve already covered one possible answer. When I wrote about the “I do, You help” stage of training a Bible study apprentice, I explained why it’s hard to delegate responsibility, and I challenged leaders to find the courage to let them try. The chief obstacle I focused on was fear of failure.

But now that we’ve hit the “You do, I watch” stage of training, we ought to consider another possible answer: We believe it will go better if we’re with them. And we’re right, after a fashion. It will go better. For now.

Don’t Launch the Apprentice

Finn Frode (2014), Creative Commons

Here are 3 reasons why you should not launch an apprentice to start a new group without you.

1. Group members will receive better teaching.

We’re here for the people, right? We can give them $10 Bible studies, or we can give them 50-cent Bible studies. Let’s give them the best. Why send people to start a new group, when the teaching will be weaker, the main points will be less clear, and the application won’t be as specific or transformative?

2. The apprentice will have less pain.

There is a lot of pressure involved in leading a small group. You’re used to that pressure by now, but your apprentice is not. It might really serve this person not to have to take that burden when you carry it so competently.

3. You will have greater peace of mind.

When you keep your apprentice close, you’ll have a better perspective on how you can help. You’ll know what’s going on and how you can support the work. You can provide quality control, mature discernment, and immediate responsiveness. You won’t have to worry about mission drift or incremental cynicism.

Launch the Apprentice

However, consider your situation. If you want it to go better now, it will never change then. You can bury that shiny talent right in the ground. Don’t worry; you’ll still have it when your master returns. Then you can give it back to him and be done with it (Matt 25:24-25).

Or you can take some risks. You can trade with your talent to produce more. Send that apprentice out. Start a new Bible study, inferior to the old one. Over time, that inferior apprentice-led Bible study might actually surpass the quality of your own. It might grow faster than you could have grown it. It might reach some people you never could have reached.

And someday, without your help, your “apprentice” will launch another new apprentice. What will your Master have to say to you then? Are you ready to enter his joy (Matt 25:20-23)?

5 Signs They’re Ready to Fly

April 29, 2016 By Peter Krol

As you train a new Bible study leader, how do you know when the person is ready to lead a separate group? When should you move an apprentice from the “You do, I help” to the “You do, I watch” stage of training? If we advance people too quickly, they may burn out and give up. If we move them too slowly, the training could become stagnant and lifeless. What are the signs of a good balance?

Rick Bolin (2011), Creative Commons

1. When they don’t need your direction to prepare

Of course, no leader matures beyond the need for continuing education. But over time, apprentices should become increasingly self-sufficient. They should be able to figure out the main point of a passage. They should be able to develop good questions. They should be able to launch a study well. They should find greater comfort in studying the word and greater ease in teaching it to others. Your 1-1 meetings should focus more on shepherding the people in the group and less on the mechanics of leading the group.

2. When they don’t need your help to succeed

Of course, no leader matures beyond the need for assistance and feedback. But over time, apprentices should become increasingly effective. They should be able to observe group dynamics and shift their plan according to the needs of the moment. They should be able to hear what people say and ask good follow-up questions. They should have built strong trust with regulars, and they should know how to welcome newcomers. They should model good Bible study skills and teach them to others. Your presence at small group meetings becomes less about helping the apprentice see the obvious and master the basics; it becomes more about observing—so you can later reflect to the apprentice—the extreme or unusual situations.

3. When they don’t need your charisma to inspire

Of course, no leader matures beyond the need for refreshment and reminder. But over time, apprentices should become increasingly self-motivated. And their motivation should increasingly inspire others. They should be able to articulate a clear vision for the group. They should be able to instruct, remind, encourage, and inspire others to Christlikeness. They should rely more on the Lord than on the trainer to relieve their stress, strengthen them with grace, and to move others to action. You can continue coaching, even from afar, but the life of this leader and this group must not depend on your ability to cast a compelling vision.

4. When they don’t need your encouragement to persevere

Of course, no leader matures beyond the need for comfort and encouragement. But over time, apprentices should become tougher and more committed to the cause. They should be able to face some opposition or setbacks without crumbling. They should know to get enough rest and nourishment to enliven them through tiredness. They should know why they believe the Scriptures to be worth studying, so they can press on when it feels tedious. They should find some creativity to freshen up routine, boredom, or persistent unresponsiveness with group members.

5. When they ask for more

I gave this as a sign for when they’re ready to help, and for when they’re ready to lead. I keep it on this list, because it’s so crucial for any training. If your apprentice has no ambition to reach people, grow people, serve people, improve things, influence outcomes, honor God, or move forward—you should ask some hard questions, of both the apprentice and yourself. But when a godly drive for more compels the apprentice to launch a new group, God be praised. His kingdom is not dependent on you, and the Lord of the harvest is sending more laborers to work his fields.

I hope your training has this end in sight: Preparing apprentices to fly on their own. Too few parents have this vision for their kids. Too few supervisors encourage this ambition with their employees. And too many Christian leaders, busy keeping themselves at the center of their ministries, fail to launch more warriors into the foray.

When the time comes, may we find the courage and influence to launch the next generation of leaders.

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