Knowable Word - Bible study help

Teach Bible Study to a 4-Year-Old

June 7, 2013 By Peter Krol

OIA Bible study works for anyone of any age, because it simply codifies how all communication works. In another post, I gave some tips for teaching it to 2-year-old children. Now we graduate up to the 4-year-olds.

I’ve taught the 4-5 year-old Sunday school class at my church for over a year now. I’m delighted by how much these kids can understand. When class goes poorly, I’m tempted to blame the kids (“boy, they were really wound up this week!”). But often, the class falters because I’ve failed to communicate the exciting drama of God’s Word.

When has the class been most successful? Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Read the Bible

Children’s story Bibles are great (some of them, at least). They’re the training wheels that help the kids get started. I really respect The Jesus Storybook Bible and The Gospel Story Bible for 4-year-olds.

But always, always, always read the Bible as well.

I’m tempted to think they won’t get it. But they get it when we explain it (see #3 below).

I’m also tempted to think they don’t have the attention span for it, and I need to read a “condensed” version of the story. But, for example, the tower of Babel story in Genesis 11 has 222 words in the ESV. The Gospel Story Bible uses almost 450 words for this story, and The Jesus Storybook Bible has over 530. Which one is more likely to push the limits of the children’s focus?

2. Situate the Text

One goal is to get the children comfortable with the Bible. So, every week in Sunday school, we discuss what book of the Bible the story comes from.

Then we sing two songs – one for the Old Testament book titles, and one for the New. The children raise their hands during the song when we get to the book that contains this week’s story. It’s a treasure hunt, encouraging them to sing along and listen carefully.

In this way, the children have memorized all the books of the Bible, and they’ve become comfortable with the basic arrangement of books.

3. Clarify the Point

This point may have the greatest effect on the quality of my class.

Some of our best classes covered unusual topics like the temple or Nehemiah building the walls of Jerusalem. Other highlights covered more familiar stories like baby Jesus and the shepherds, Elijah on Mount Carmel, or Daniel in the lions’ den.

But there was a common thread running through each successful class: I understood and was clear on the point of the Bible story.

Certainly the stories themselves have great value. We need to know our family’s history. We must pickle in the tales of their ups and downs.

But the stories are all there for a reason. God wants to introduce these 4-year-olds to the Hero of the story. He exposes their need for a Hero. And he satisfies their desire for a Hero.

These kids keep me honest. They won’t let me get away with a dumb answer. They’ll keep asking “why?” until I start to make sense. Good for them.

4. Focus on Jesus

He is the Hero. The whole Bible is about him. Any Bible class that doesn’t climax with Jesus is a failure.

These kids don’t need to be able to win Bible Quiz bowls. They don’t need to be good kids.

They need to trust in Jesus as their only hope for life. Let’s help them get there.

5. Visualize the Story

Visualization helps the children to exercise their observation muscles. We can put ourselves into the story and relate to the characters when we see what it was like for them.

We can show illustrations. We can use flannel figures. We can ask questions.

Building the walls of Jerusalem

In our class, we like to act the story out. It gets us up and moving around. Sometimes we get a little rowdy, but that’s okay. If we run out of main characters, children get to play the parts of trees, chairs, rivers, or lions. We’ve built towers to the ceiling, and we’ve struck rocks to get water.

These little ones are precious to the Lord. He wants to know them. Will you help?

UPDATE: This post actually focuses on teaching children the Bible. For more help teaching them Bible study, see the next post.

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Theology is Never an Academic Exercise

June 5, 2013 By Peter Krol

Mike Riccardi recently posted a great article at The Cripplegate on the book of Philippians. He shows how studying theology and growing in virtue are inseparable.

Although Riccardi’s point is well-made, I commend his article to you more for his excellent model of Bible study. He identifies the main point of Philippians, and he traces out Paul’s flow of thought effortlessly.

The Book of Philippians is about the Gospel. It’s not quite an exposition of the doctrinal content of the Gospel, like Romans is. And it’s not quite a defense of the Gospel in the face of heresy, like Galatians is. Philippians is more about the implications the Gospel has on the various aspects of our lives as believers. It’s about how we are to live in light of the Gospel. The thesis verse of the letter is Philippians 1:27, in which Paul commands his dear friends to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.”

Check it out!

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What Materials Do You Use?

May 31, 2013 By Peter Krol

I serve with an organization that focuses on discipleship. When people hear our vision for training college students to mature in faith and impart it to others who can teach others (2 Tim 2:1-2), one question inevitably hijacks the conversation.

So what materials do you use?

Mars Hill Church Olympia (2012), Creative Commons

I struggle to answer this question because it often comes with a wagon-load of assumptions.

To many people, “discipleship” means having a program of instruction.
A program of instruction requires manuals and/or participant workbooks.
Therefore, those who succeed at “discipleship” must have some excellent “materials” that others could benefit from.

I disappoint terribly when I respond, “Our main materials are the books of the Bible.”

I really don’t intend any disrespect by it, so I usually begin by listing a few books we’ve found to be helpful. But I always drive that train right back to the station of Scripture. Sometimes blank looks are my reward.

The Benefits of Good Materials

Study guides, Bible study workbooks, leaders manuals, and classroom curricula all have a role in Christian education. Their role is like the role of a tee in Little League baseball.

A tee is the first guidepost for a child learning to play the sport. It assures the child that he can hit the ball without fearing it will hit him. It defines where to stand, where to swing the bat, and when to run. It’s a good friend and capable mentor.

As the athlete develops, the tee endures as a tool. Even the pros use tees to help them perfect the mechanics of batting.

The tee is not part of the big game, however. The tee trains and refines, but it also launches players into the real thing.

In the same way, we need good materials to show us the way. Young Christians can practice the basic mechanics of Bible study with a good guide. Leaders can gain confidence when they have a structure already provided. Mature believers can fine-tune their understanding of Scripture and stay connected with their generation by checking the insights of others.

But the materials are not the meat.

The Dangers of Good Materials

We unintentionally communicate that the Bible is not enough to grow a Christian (or to introduce someone to Christ).
We rely on the “experts” and don’t learn to think for ourselves.
We go to study guides too quickly, and short-circuit our understanding of a passage.
We assume we can’t learn how to study the Bible ourselves.
At worst, we enable a culture of study guide addiction in the church and enforce a priestly layer of materials mediation between people and God.

A Vision for Good Materials

I know it might sound hypocritical, as I’m writing materials on the dangers of materials. There’s something in there that could sound self-contradictory.

But my goal is to provide materials that train people not to need more materials – at least as the substance of their walk with God. The best materials will remain supplemental.

Imagine if your small group wanted to do a study of marriage and their first idea was to study the Song of Solomon together.

Imagine if you asked people for advice about a parenting struggle and they pulled out their Bibles to answer the issue.

Imagine if your congregation’s debate over the church budget was driven by people quoting verses about godly money management.

Imagine if all the core members of your church invited their neighbors to discussion groups in their homes about one of the Gospels.

Discussing a book or following a program isn’t wrong. It’s quite useful if it hits the target.

But doing it all the time is like going to the shooting range with a Nerf gun.

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How to Win Your City

May 29, 2013 By Peter Krol

The Gospel Coalition recently published a guest post I wrote called “How to Win Your City.” It’s a study of Daniel 1, explaining how to live as strangers and exiles in our communities.

World-changers are a rare breed. But they don’t have to be. If displaced youths can revolutionize the kingdoms of the earth in God’s name, you and I can transform our communities with the gospel.

Consider the year 605 B.C., as the nation of Judah is losing power and significance. Babylon rules the world, with Nebuchadnezzar as king and general.

Then the unthinkable happens. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, and the city falls because God hands it over to him. Thus begins the book of Daniel: clarifying who truly controls the situation, thereby revealing Daniel’s secret confidence that inspires him in three key world-changing behaviors. Since he knows God rules all earthly kingdoms, he can settle down, start small, and win big.

Please check out the full article!

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Big Bible Words: Justification

May 24, 2013 By Peter Krol

I’ve had to ‘fess up to many things in my life, but few were as disgraceful as the photocopier incident.

The twilight of my teen years and the height of my vigor were upon me. I was a summer camp counselor for impressionable children. I built a reputation for loving fun and silliness. I would do anything for a laugh. I secretly wished my exploits would become the stuff of camp legend.

I would get my wish, but only when my unquenchable ambition drove me to epic failure.

TV Tropes Foundation, Creative Commons

In my folly, I neglected to treat my unpresentable parts with greater modesty (1 Cor 12:23). I believed a photocopy of my hindquarters would elevate my status. But wisdom was hindmost in my thinking, and hindsight confirms my terrible mistake.

I did not receive adulation that day. No, I reaped a few things that ended up being far more instructive to my soul. A broken glass tray. A huge gash on the back of my thigh. Unceasing ridicule.

And the opportunity to disclose to the camp director why the photocopier was out of commission. For some reason, no other counselor was willing to do it for me.

I had no justification for my actions. I couldn’t avoid blame.

So I manned up and took responsibility. What else could I do? My condemnation was just. With sparkling amusement, however, the Director’s first question offered me some slight consolation. “Pants up or down?”

Justification

According the Bible (Rev 20:12), God will not be amused by our rebellion against him. He’ll gather great and small before his throne. He’ll open books that recount their deeds. He’ll require justification for what’s written there.

Some will try to avoid blame by listing all their good deeds (Matt 7:22-23, Luke 18:9-14) in the hope that these good deeds outweigh the bad ones. Others think they’ll avoid blame by comparing themselves with worse sinners (Luke 18:11). Some will simply blame other people or circumstances instead of admitting any sort of blame themselves (Luke 16:19-31, especially Luke 16:30). None of these tactics will work (Luke 18:14).

A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. (Gal 2:16, ESV)

There is only one justification that will effectively remove our blame. Jesus “loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). He “gave himself for our sins” (Gal 1:4). God “made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).

The only ones whose names are not written in the “book of life” are those who seek justification in anything but Jesus who is “the Life” (John 14:6, 1:4, 6:35).

How to Explain Justification

“Justification” is one of those big Bible words we often toss around. But can you explain the concept in plain language?

Vindication. Acquittal. Declaring innocence. Removing blame. Providing evidence. Proving rightness (or simply “being right”). Take your pick, and use ordinary language when you lead others. Just because the word is in the Bible, don’t assume everyone knows what it means.

Remember, if you can’t explain it to a child, you might need to reconsider whether you really understand it yourself. Here’s how I might explain justification to my 6-year-old son:

Me: Did you finish cleaning your room?
Son: Yes!
Me: Ok, I want you to show me. Let’s go check it out, and we’ll see if your confidence is justified.

And how would I explain “justification by faith in Christ”?

Son [struggling with something difficult]: Papa, I can’t do it.

Me: Why not?

Son: It’s too hard.

Me: You’re right, son. You can’t do it. But someone else can. Who do you think that is?

Son: Jesus?

Me: Yes! Let’s trust him and thank God for him.

Question: How would you explain justification?

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What Saving Private Ryan Taught Me about Bible Study

May 17, 2013 By Peter Krol

In Steven Spielberg’s World War II film Saving Private Ryan, a team of soldiers receives orders to penetrate Nazi lines, find an American paratrooper (Private James Ryan), and bring him out. The team’s commander selects six men from his own company, and one from another company, for the mission.

The outsider is Corporal Upham, a clerk fluent in both French and German, who will help the team with communication along the way. Upham initially resists the call because he has worked behind a desk for the entirety of the war. He hasn’t fired a weapon since basic training. He is not free to choose, however; he must join the team.

For skirmish after skirmish, Upham cowers behind boulders and trees until the fighting wanes. He interacts freely with French civilians and Nazi prisoners of war, but he refuses to fight. Fear crushes action, and despair dislodges duty.

Near the film’s climax, Upham comes face-to-face with a German warrior. Ammunition belts hang from Upham’s shoulders like a priest’s vestments. His loaded rifle is in hand. His knife sits strapped to his hip.

Yet he falls to the ground in quailing terror. He doesn’t even pull the trigger.

The German saunters past Upham, smirking, after killing Upham’s comrades. The enemy proceeds, threatening, but leaves Upham to bathe in his filthy cowardice.

Caution: this clip has gruesome violence.

While not necessarily sharing Upham’s spinelessness, many Christians share his inaction when it comes to firing their weapon.

The sword of the Spirit – the Word of God, the Bible – pierces hearts and slays sinners (Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12-13). This divine scalpel cuts away cancerous thoughts and beliefs and transplants them with healthy ones (Rom 12:1-2). This heavenly blowgun discharges profitable projectiles that not only penetrate but also persuade their victims to perform good works with complete competence (2 Tim 3:16-17).

This bloodstained blade strikes down nations and promotes the benevolent yet unyielding sovereignty of the one who is himself the Word of God (Rev 19:11-16). His fury is unquenchable, but his salvation is unstoppable (Rom 1:16-17).

Fire your weapon, soldier.

The average American household has 4.4 Bibles within its walls. More English translations exist than ever before. The Internet and mobile devices make God’s Word far more accessible than a permit to carry a concealed weapon used to be.

Learn to use your Bible. Learn to wield it with skill. Don’t hang it around your neck. Don’t mount it on the wall. Don’t waste valuable space on your bookshelf with it.

Remember, workbooks or Bible study guides are like training wheels, helping you practice the basic mechanics. But the time comes when you have to pop them off and let loose and just keep pedaling. Are you ready?

Question: What prevents you from studying your Bible as much as you’d like?

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You Can Trust the Text

May 16, 2013 By Peter Krol

Can you trust the text? Is the Bible you hold in front of you a reliable copy of what was written so many centuries ago?

Michael Kruger at the Gospel Coalition says YES! Even though we don’t have the autographs (original manuscripts of Bible books), we still have very good reason to believe that the copies we have are reliable. He says that:

When it comes to the quantity of manuscripts, the New Testament is in a class all its own. Although the exact count is always changing, currently we possess more than 5,500 manuscripts of the New Testament in Greek alone. No other document of antiquity even comes close.

Kruger explains the difference between “autograph” and “original text.” His article introduces the topic of manuscript evidence clearly and concisely.

If you’re interested in understanding this important topic better, then check it out!

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Bible Study Leader Tip #13: Stay in the Text

May 10, 2013 By Peter Krol

Lucius Beebe Memorial Library (2011), Creative Commons

So you’re leading a Bible study on Galatians 1. You know enough by now to make sure you use the text.

You begin with an observation question: “What sort of mood is Paul in as he writes this?”

You get the nose-dive reaction that is most desirable in a Bible study. Everyone looks down at their Bibles, searching for the answers.

A few comments touch on how extreme Paul is (he must be pretty upset to wish eternal condemnation on anyone!), and the discussion stumbles along.

One person screws up his face, deep in thought. You’re not sure if he wants to speak or not, so you politely keep moving forward, asking about repeated words, and main points.

Eventually, the thinker blurts out, “Do you think angels still speak to people? Paul’s worried about angels preaching false gospels in verse 8. Is that something for us to watch out for?”

You’re not exactly sure where to go. Before you know it, one person asks about Joseph Smith and the Mormons, another person quotes some famous preacher on the topic, and a third connects the discussion to Dante, Descartes, and John Milton. A fourth person starts recounting his own experience with an angel, while a fifth just sits there communicating with groans too deep for words.

You know it’s a rabbit trail, but you’re not sure how to bring it back. What should you do?

No matter what your situation, there is one question you can always ask to bring the discussion back on track.

“So how are you seeing that in the text?”

That’s it. You don’t have to know the answer to every question. You don’t have to be the best conversationalist in the world.

All you have to do is bring people back to the text.

Sometimes I’m surprised. What I thought was a rabbit trail might be connected to the passage. Perhaps this person sees something I don’t yet see. This question enables me to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Other times, the question lands as a gentle rebuke. It’s much more gracious than saying, “we’re not here to discuss your personal philosophy or stream of consciousness. We’re here to be changed by God’s Word.” You can be firm, while still leading with the expectation that we’re here to learn from the Bible.

I find this question particularly helpful when studying the Bible with non-Christians. It helps to focus the discussion. Sometimes I add, “You don’t have to believe it [in order to attend this discussion group], but you do have to be honest about what it’s saying. So, what does the passage say?”

Next time you lead a Bible study and the discussion meanders from topic to topic, try this question out.

Question: what have you found most helpful when it seems the discussion is getting off track?

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Don’t Defend Yourself or Encourage Gossip

May 8, 2013 By Peter Krol

The Gospel Coalition recently published a new volume of its Themelios journal. Within there lies a fantastic article by Eric Ortlund about “The Pastoral Implications of Wise and Foolish Speech in the Book of Proverbs.”

Now don’t get discouraged by the long title. The article is great. It quotes a little Hebrew, but always translates it for you.

Here’s his point:

I would like to argue that, in the book of Proverbs, one cannot argue with a fool without making things worse. The wise person instead trusts the Lord to intervene by silencing and stopping foolish speech and vindicating those who trust him.

And from his conclusion:

We must scour our hearts, with the help of the Spirit, for foolish tendencies in ourselves. For instance, if I have something negative to say about another Christian, have I said it to anyone else? While there are a few situations in which one might have to do this (if one is asked, for example, to recommend another Christian for a ministry position), it is extremely easy to point out the faults of other Christians to third parties. This is foolish because Jesus, our wisdom and our great high priest, is interceding for all Christians, speaking the best of them before the Father. Why would we speak any differently? To give another example: in a disagreement, do I spin things in my favor? Do I believe all things and hope all things for the other Christian (1 Cor 13:7)? Or do I assume the worst about them?

Ortlund expands on ideas I’ve written about the three kinds of people in Proverbs, and he beautifully applies the teaching of Proverbs to this difficult area of criticism, attacks, and gossip.

I highly recommend you check it out!

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Big Bible Words: Propitiation

May 3, 2013 By Peter Krol

I once heard Mark Driscoll ask ministry leaders to stop speaking “Christian Klingon.” I appreciate the image of “Christian Klingon,” because some people don’t even know what Klingon is – which makes the point. Driscoll’s counsel applies not only to church and ministry leaders but also to anyone who speaks to others about Christianity.

The Bible uses some big words, but most of these words were part of the regular vocabulary of the time. Certainly, some authors made up words or specialized them to fit their purposes. But the New Testament authors wrote in the everyday language of the people. It’s called “Koine” (which means “common”) Greek.

Here’s my point:

We should be able to speak of the Bible and Christianity in ordinary language.

In fact, we should be able to explain it to a two-year-old. If we can’t, we probably don’t understand what we’re talking about.

For example, 1 John uses a big word: propitiation.

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2, ESV).

Can you explain the concept in plain language?

What does “propitiation” mean?

Crossway’s blog has the following definition of propitiation:

God averting his wrath toward man through the death of His Son.

Wikipedia puts it this way:

Propitiation is the act of appeasing or making well disposed, especially a deity, thus incurring divine favor to avoid divine retribution.

Biblicaltraining.org simply puts it this way:

The turning aside of divine wrath against sinful man.

These definitions are pretty good, but I think they miss a key component.

Jesus is a person, not an action. John doesn’t say that Jesus is the act of turning aside God’s anger. John says he is the thing that turns aside God’s anger.

Let me illustrate. A friend of mine used to work for a company that made the mixer drums on the back of cement trucks (the big container that spins and holds the cement).

Because of their expertise in engineering incredibly strong and durable materials, they received a contract from the US government to design a concrete barrier (a wall about 3 feet high) to protect important buildings. My friend was chief engineer for the project, and his job for a time was to sit at a computer and smash virtual pickup trucks (armed with virtual explosives) into various prototypes of the barrier.

Those defense barriers were the propitiation for the government buildings. In fact, “defense barrier” is a pretty good plain-language definition for propitiation.

Picture God’s anger at your sin, racing toward you like a Tomahawk missile. At the last moment, Jesus jumps in front of you and absorbs the blast. That’s what propitiation means.

Could you explain this concept to children? They see propitiation happening all around them (toy armor, kid forts, and baseball gloves immediately come to mind), and we just have to draw the connection to Jesus for them.

Questions: How else might you explain “propitiation” to someone unfamiliar with the Bible? What big Bible words would you like to see addressed in a future post?

Update

My engineer friend wrote to correct a few details from the anecdote above.

First, the barriers we made were steel, not concrete. The steel used to make the concrete mixer drums is hardened for abrasion resistance, which also means it is better able to stop armor-piercing rounds.

This leads to a second correction, which is that the barriers we made were shot with armor piercing AR-15 rounds. I never modelled trucks driving into the barrier, and I don’t believe the inventor ever tested vehicle impact of the barrier. Other companies have done such tests though, and I might have shown you a video once of a competitor’s barrier stopping a truck.

Finally, the inventor was a local corrections officer hoping to make sales to the government. We didn’t have a government contract.

Apparently, my memory failed me in these details, and I offer my humblest apologies. But many thanks to my friend, who is the propitiation for my failure against the mistrust of informed readers.

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