Ideas for Impact |
What kinds of churches can we become?
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My last blog was from the point of view of the student - "What helped you learn and grow?" This time let's look at it from the point of view of the teacher. As a teacher, my greatest desire is to teach something that will then be applied and, as a result, lives will be changed. My train of thought might be something like, "I taught it (gave them a lot of good information) so I don't understand why they are not applying it!"
Sometimes we need to be reminded again about using teaching methods that will help people learn more effectively. Just saying it doesn't mean they learned it.Try one or all of these methods with your small group: 1. Ask group members to read the scripture for themselves, either at home the week before or right now in your group time. 2. Ask them to pick out one or two verses that stood out to them and tell why. 3. Ask a group member to come up with a question he is wondering about and would like answered. 4. Ask several people in the group to write two or three discussion questions about the scripture passage that would be interesting and helpful to talk about as a group. 5. Get a volunteer to be ready to tell a scripture story or passage in their own words when you get together next week. 6. Make time for your small group to have discussion about their understanding of a scripture verse and some of the best ways to apply it. Prepare 6 to 10 discussion questions or allow at least 30 minutes for discussion each time you meet. 7. Stretch the thinking of your group. Instead of a question like "What is one way that we could apply this verse?", instead push their thinking with "What are ten ways that we could apply this verse to our lives?" 8. Ask several group members to lead in prayer about the topic you are studying. "Help us to understand." "Help us to find the best ways to apply this." 9. As a group, memorize a scripture verse from the chapter you are studying. 10. Ask for a volunteer to be ready each week to tell a real life story about what he or she is learning in this area of their life. 11. Once a week, once a month or whatever your schedule allows, plan a service project to do together as a class. Practice, repetition and experience are the best teachers and the best way to learn something. The point of reading and discussing in our small groups is to lead us to the "doing" part. James 1:22 says "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." |
AuthorGarry Goodin is the Executive Director of the Mid-State Baptist Association Archives
April 2024
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