Training a Lay Bible Instructors' Class

Last fall it was my privilege to teach a lay Bible instructors' class in the Manhattan church, New York City. Thirty-six were enrolled in the course, but during the thirteen weeks of class instruction the average attend­ance was almost fifty. A real interest was shown throughout the entire course.

By E. OLIVE MEYERS, Bible, Instructor, Greater New York Conference

Last fall it was my privilege to teach a lay Bible instructors' class in the Manhattan church, New York City. Thirty-six were enrolled in the course, but during the thirteen weeks of class instruction the average attend­ance was almost fifty. A real interest was shown throughout the entire course.

The moment of rejoicing came when Elder Esteb, our conference home missionary secre­tary, brought certificates to the church, which were presented to the twenty-three graduates at the Sabbath morning service. Since then an­other small class has been organized. It is grat­ifying to note the interest that the brethren as well as the women take in this course. Eleven men were enrolled, and seven of these received their certificates.

It was required of each graduate to cover the textbook completely, Training Light Bear­ers, also to give two Bible readings to non-Ad­ventists. At the time the class was organized a systematic distribution of literature was urged and carried out in a district of two miles around the church. Some class members dis­tributed their literature in their own neighbor­hood or other chosen places. Where there were no openings for Bible readings, a Bible corre­spondence course was suggested. The Predic­tion Series and the Signs were used.

Sometime before our class started, one of the brethren in the church had organized the Seventy Club to distribute literature. He was asked to take charge of this feature for the class. He was enrolled in the course, and he and I worked and planned together for the lit­erature program. Having this help relieved me of some of the burden, and distributed the re­sponsibility.

As a result of holding strictly to a given ter­ritory and faithfully meeting the same people week after week, some of our sisters are now holding systematic Bible studies with those they found interested. They are very happy in this work of soul winning.

A recent roll call was made to ascertain how many Bible readings were given by the full class while they were taking the course. Those present reported ninety-four Bible readings. All were given to non-Adventist relatives, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Some lessons were given with the use of the projector, others with the lesson outline and Bible. At the close of the thirteenth week of instruction the class voted to continue meetings for drill and practice. Each member was assigned a subject and a time to present it to the class just as he would to a non-Adventist group. After the les­son a kindly discussion followed. Occasionally we took time to relate experiences, and at such times interest and enthusiasm ran high.

The training of the memory is a valuable part of education, and to know a thing implies the power to recall it. Because this is true, I have asked the winter class to continue along with the spring class. Adults, like children, learn through repetition. They not only profit by recalling the points already covered but are a definite help and encouragement to the new class members by their presence, interest, and experiences. They can lead out in the demon­strations and in this way become established in the science of soul winning.

Preparing and Conducting a Bible Study

The interest maintained throughout the en­tire course was excellent, but it was more un­usual when we took up the studies on prepar­ing, constructing, and conducting a Bible study. These were given in three lessons, and I shall discuss them in the order given.

PREPARING BIBLE STUDY.—It is always well to make use of a blackboard whenever possible as clear perception is the first step in believ­ing. One day as I returned to my home I found a small piece of paper upon which was written this quotation : "See clearly what you want to tell, and tell exactly what you see, and your audience will see what you see." I said, "This is it."

If the instructor herself can see a Bible study so clearly that it is like a beautiful story, and can tell exactly what is seen, it will then be seen and remembered by the audience. The storytelling method is a good method of teach­ing. The texts and questions of a Bible study may be arranged in such a connected and logi­cal manner that if one chooses, she may follow the outline, one text after the other, and pre­sent it in story form. However, this requires study and a clear vision of the subject.

In our class we freely discussed some of the essential things to remember when preparing a Bible study.

1. We talked about the spiritual needs of both teacher and reader ; the use of the key of prayer; the need of the Holy Spirit to aid us in obtaining a knowledge of the truth, in re­calling the truth, and in presenting truth. Our work is to teach truth ; the Holy Spirit brings home the conviction.

2. To know the Book, through personal study, that we are to teach means that we are to have a genuine faith in the Bible, and be­lieve it to be God's Word. Make it the arbiter of all argument.
 
3. Have a personal acquaintance with the Author of the Bible, the Hero of the Book, and know Him as our personal Saviour. Having this wonderful relationship we can talk freely to others about Jesus and His love and what He has done for us.
 
4. It is necessary to have a practical knowl­edge of the fundamental beliefs of our church for our own good, and to enable us to present the doctrines of our faith correctly, 'which all candidates are required to know and adhere to before baptism; also a competent background of knowledge of our denominational history, that our faith may be strong in God's movement, and that we may be able to answer any question that may arise concerning the devel­opment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Perhaps the quotation by Mrs. White in the Review and Herald Extra of December II, 1888, will help us see the need of a thorough preparation :

"If God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when we shall be brought before councils, and every position of truth which we hold will be severely criti­cised. The time that we are now allowing to go to waste should be devoted to the charge God has given us, of preparing for the approaching crisis."

Because our message is to go to all peoples, we ought to have a background of knowledge of the fundamental beliefs of popular churches and religious isms of the times. This information will help us, as Bible instructors, to know how to approach and appeal to people of other faiths, and to be more sympathetic and under­standing. These people love their churches as we love ours until they learn the truth as taught in the Bible.

Every workman needs tools and helps. The Bible is the first tool in gathering materials for Bible studies. "The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword." Heb. 4:12. Isaiah tells how to use it: "Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line ; here a little, and there a little." Isa. 28:10. When I am asked why we skip around when we study the Bible, I quote Isaiah, saying that we are carrying out the Scripture method for teach­ing doctrine.

Unless the lay Bible instructor can use the Bible efficiently, and can carve out for himself a well-organized and connected Bible study, it is well to use the prepared Bible study out­lines. This plan may be followed until such a time as experience makes possible the ability to compose an adequate outline of his own. It is well to teach a class how to use the prepared outlines by putting their own personality into them, and reorganizing them to suit their own ideas. By going over the subject again and again, one becomes familiar with the texts and the thoughts ; and eventually, by adjusting it to one's individuality, it becomes one's own. There is no law that prohibits the omission or addition of a text, or the reorganizing of an outline.

CONSTRUCTING A BIBLE STUDY.—The lesson on constructing a Bible study was one of the most interesting of our course. We worked out a Bible study on the blackboard, and the method of doing it, step by step. We first dis­cussed a few things that help in selecting a subject by considering:

1. The spiritual need of the Bible reader, his background of knowledge of the Bible, and the occasion that brings him and us together.
 
2. Proper sequence of thought that there may be a suitable arrangement of subjects.

All points were illustrated, and reasons were given for decisions made and actions taken. After discussing the three parts of the Bible study structure—introduction, body, and con­clusion—we selected our own subject, which was "Signs of Christ's Coming."

All the helps we had on hand for use at this time were the Bible, memory, and the outline on page 146 of Training Light Bearers. It mat­tered not where they found texts, as long as they fitted into the subject. As they mentioned texts I jotted them down on the blackboard in one corner in an unorganized mass. When they thought they had mentioned a sufficient num­ber to cover the subject, we started to build our structure. I had the class suggest the order of the texts, with my occasional help.

1. Introduction. Texts were selected that were considered sufficient to launch the sub­ject 'off with a good interest.

2. Body. This contains the study proper. The actual substance of divine truth was built up with those texts which bring out the very signs of His coming.

3. Conclusion. Into this third part we built a text intended to bring a decision.

About fourteen texts were used which cov­ered the subject quite well. We then talked about the divisions into which a study may be divided, but encouraged them at least at first to hold to the more simple outline as beginners. The outline built up before their very eyes helped them "to see what I saw," and to grasp the idea of building a Bible study. The inter­est was excellent, manifested by sensible ques­tions and answers, and experiences told.

CONDUCTING A BIBLE STUDY.—After studying the different principles involved in con­ducting a Bible study, such as (a) methods of teaching and Bible example; (b) meeting peo­ple; (c) announcing texts; (d) introduction of subject; (e) voice and distinct articulation; (f) time required for study, and number of questions and texts; (g) the art of effective questioning; and (h) aim, reader's decision, they were ready for the last step.

 

Some real demonstrations were given in various ways. For example, a Bible study was given in the home. The teacher chosen showed how to enter the home, suggested the table as a good place to study, proceeded with study by introducing the subject, went into the body of the subject a little, and then brought the study to a conclusion.

Another demonstrated a cottage meeting, taking in the whole class. One time the class was divided into several small classes, and the student-teachers chose their own subjects and taught the entire lesson. For test and drill there were those who were posted to ask strange and diffieult questions designed to throw the instructor off the subject, to see how the teachers would meet them. The classes were also interrupted with visitors, entering in the midst of the study.

It is always advisable to leave some litera­ture on the subject. Wherever a prepared Bible study outline is left with the reader, it is well to stay quite close to the outline, as readers appreciate texts that have been ex­plained. They sometimes ask whether the texts used in the lesson are in the outline. In this way they get a second application of the same doc­trinal truth.

Finding openings for Bible studies is of vital importance, or without readers we cannot put into practice what we have learned, however skilled in teaching we may become. In this one thing Satan would be glad if we failed. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:6: "He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." There is a law of averages. If we would find much interest, we must sow for much interest. A sys­tematic distribution of our literature is one way to find interest. Meeting the same ones week after week is sure to build up confidence, some of which will surely develop into interest. The more calls, the more literature distributed; and the more interest stirred up, the more souls will be won.

We should always plan for future interest, and wherever Bible studies cannot be arranged, it is well to suggest a Bible correspondence course. If such a course is taken, the interest will revert to us later. Surely this is a work that God would have lay members do at this time. To finish the work speedily and to hasten the return of our blessed Lord should be the aim of each of us.

—To be concluded in May


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By E. OLIVE MEYERS, Bible, Instructor, Greater New York Conference

April 1949

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