Great Ideas for Teaching Adults the Bible
Adults approach the Bible differently than children, so teachers of adults should be prepared for a variety of interests in and responses to biblical material. Adults studying the Bible may or may not share the awe experienced by children who first read of Moses parting the Red Sea or Jesus walking on water. They may, however, come to the Scriptures with profound questions and a desire to see meaning that is relevant to their lives.
Other People Are Reading
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Interview Students
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Interview adult students before you begin instruction. Find out what they are seeking in studying the Bible. Often, people want to see if the Bible, or some portion of it, is relevant to their lives. With this information, you will know which section of the Bible to emphasize or use as beginning material.
Jesus is the Word
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Begin with the understanding that the Bible, though divided into Old and New Testaments, is really one story about Jesus Christ. Show students the passage in the Gospel of John, which identifies Jesus as the Word of God. This effectively equates Jesus with the Bible, which is also known as the Word of God. The Bible is Jesus' message to men and women. Next you can show how many passages from the Old Testament prefigure Jesus, such as when Abraham goes to sacrifice his only son in Genesis 22.
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Types of Literature in the Bible
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Some adults will initially express an academic interest in the Bible, in its compilation and in its authors. Teach them about the different forms of literature in the Bible. There are narratives, such as those found in Genesis or the books of Kings. There are also poetic passages, such as portions of the prophetic books as well as Job, Proverbs and virtually all of the Psalms. Many of the epistles are expository in nature, explaining or teaching morality and right conduct.
Plan Your Lessons
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Plan your lessons ahead of time and have a goal for each lesson. Ask yourself what you want students to learn before you begin planning how you will teach. Outline your lesson before developing the idea. Determine what, if anything, you want students to do besides read. One lesson may simply require discussion. Another lesson may involve student writing activities or even research into ancient cultures or time periods.
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References
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