Adult Bible Teaching

Broadman Baptist Church

September 29, 1999Thomas J. Cook

The Sunday School Page—http://sschool.com

Topics

• The Adult Class

• The Adult Learner

• Levels of Learning

• Teaching/learning Methods

• Hindrances to Learning

• Preparing the Lesson

The Adult Class

• Reach Adults

• Teach Adults the Bible

• Minister to Adults

• Witness to Adults

• Lead Adults to Worship

• Fellowship With Adults

Reach Adults

• Enrollment Goal

• Prospect File Equal to Enrollment

• Specific Prospect Assignments

• Constant Contact Consciousness

• Visitation!

Minister to Adults

• “Meeting People’s Needs

• Crisis Ministry

• Day-by-day Ministry

• Care Group Leaders– Assigned 5-9 Members/prospects– Contact Every Member Every Week– Report Ministry Needs to Class

Witness to Adults

• Actively Seek to Enroll Lost Prospects

• Teach Evangelistically

• Lead Members to Share Testimony

Lead Adults to Worship

• Support Private Devotions

• Support Family Devotions

• Support Public Worship

• Provide Worship Experiences during Bible Study

Fellowship with Adults

• Essential for – class bonding– spirit– atmosphere– growth

• Optimum: once per month

• Include In-Service Workers

• Invite Prospects

A new class would start out with the teacher, an outreach-evangelism leader, and two care group leaders if possible, but would enlist additional workers as the class grows.

The Adult Learner

• Diversity

• Developmental Needs

• Generations

• Learning Styles

• Involvement

Diversity

Each Learner Is Different– In Age– In Appearance– In Likes and Dislikes– In Background and Experience– In Ability to Learn– In Talents– In Spiritual Maturity

Developmental Needs

Developmental Needs

• Young AdultsIntimacy versus Isolation

• Middle AdultsGenerativity versus Stagnation

• Senior AdultsEgo Integrity versus Despair

Generations

• G.I. Generation (1901-1924)

• Silent Generation (1925-1942)

• Boom Generation (1943-1960)

• Generation 13 (1962-82)

• Millennial Generation (1983-)

Learning Styles

• Visual/auditory/kinesthetic

• Perceptual Modality:• Print

• Visual

• Aural

• Imaginative/analytical/Dynamic/common Sense

• Interactive• Tactile• Kinesthetic•Olfactory

Imaginative Learner

• Involvement

• “Lovers”

• Worship: Heart

• Virtue: Love

• Why?

• Use What Pupil Knows and Build on It

• “What Is Christian Discipleship?”

Analytical Learner

• Thinker and Watcher

• “Theoreticians”

• Worship: Head

• Virtue: Wisdom

• What?

• Present Material Pupils Need to Know

• “Name the Twelve Disciples.”

Dynamic Learner

• Ready! Fire! Aim!• “Leaders”• Worship: Feet (Mystical)• Virtue: Justice• What Can This Become?• Explore Possibilities• “How Can We Present This Need to the

Church?”

Common Sense Learner

• Won’t Work Unless It Makes Sense• “Practitioners”• Worship: Hands

• Virtue: Courage

• How?

• Test It and See If It Actually Works

• “What Can We Do to Deal With World Hunger?”

Involvement

“The only teaching that is teaching is that which produces desirable changes in the life of the learner.”

“The only learning that changes conduct significantly is learning that is self-discovered and self-appropriated.”

“Never tell anyone anything that you can lead him to discover for himself.”

Involvement

• I Hear, I Forget.

• I See, I Remember.

• I Do, I Understand.

Preparing the Lesson

1 Relate Session to Unit

2 Larger Bible Context

3 Bible Text

4 Central Truth

5 Pupil Needs

6 Teaching Aim

7 Teaching/Learning Methods

Preparing the LessonSunday Prepare the Larger Lesson

Monday Read the Teacher’s Guide

Tuesday Enrich the Background

Wednesday Participate in Group Study

Thursday Arrange Teaching Plan

Friday Relate the Lesson to Life

Saturday Engage in Earnest Prayer

Sunday Direct the Bible Study

References

• Leroy Ford, A Primer for Teachers and Leaders, Broadman ©1963

• Lawrence O Richards, Creative Bible Teaching, Moody © ©1970

• William Strauss and Neil Howe, The History of America’s Future, 1584-2069, William Morrow, ©1992

• Richard Dodge, Toward 2000: Leading Adults in Sunday School, Convention, ©1995

• Ferris Jordan, Today’s Adults: A Profile for Teachers and Leaders, Convention, ©1993