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3 Goals for High School Bible Teaching

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1. Enable students to grasp the essential truths of Scripture.

The Bible highlights certain teachings more than others. For example, there are four Gospels, there’s a greatest commandment (Mk. 12:29-31), and there are things of “first importance” (1 Cor. 15:3). Topics of secondary importance should be considered, but shouldn’t sidetrack us from placing the emphasis in the right place. Given the prominence of Christ and salvation in Scripture, the purpose of the Bible is concisely summarized in this way: to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ” (2 Tim. 3:15). We can compare the Bible to an outstretched finger pointing to Christ, a monitor displaying Christ, or a vehicle transporting us to Christ. Unfortunately, some people study the Scriptures and miss the point by refusing to come to Christ (Jn. 5:39-40). A Christian interpretation of Scripture emphasizes Christ. Second, Scripture has a practical purpose which is to equip us for a life of good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The stories, commands, and exhortations, should motivate us to do good and discourage us from doing evil. As we take a step back and look at these two stated objectives we find ourselves at the greatest commandment: love God (which involves believing in and loving his Son), and love people (Mk. 12:28-31).

2. Challenge students to respond wholistically to the message of the Bible.

The Bible aims to affect our head (intellect), heart (emotions/desires), and hands (actions). First, the Scriptures have to engage the mind and this can be accomplished in a variety of ways: observing and interpreting details in a passage, taking notes while listening to an online sermon, and researching a topic. But engaging students intellectually has to be done at the appropriate level. High school Bible class is not seminary nor is it Sunday school. That means high school students should be exposed to controversial issues in biblical interpretation, but they don’t need to be taken into the depth of controversy of a graduate student. When exposing students to controversial issues I attempt to give the possible solutions without being dogmatic. Being fair to both sides, as best as we can, is the honest thing to do. Second, the Scriptures convict and challenge the attitudes of the heart and Bible class should do the same. This curriculum seeks to address the heart through the use of relevant questions, reflective assignments, and artwork. Third, there are important things to do in response to Bible study. For example, James says if we merely listen to the word without doing what it says, we’re deceiving ourselves (Jam. 1:22). Since observing or grading action is outside the scope of an academic class, this particular objective is targeted through the use of encouragement.

3. Encourage students to read the Bible and interact with its ideas for a lifetime.

The Bible is not meant to be a textbook that we put away when class is over. If students stop reading and thinking about biblical ideas, Bible class was ineffective. I hope Bible class motivates students to read and study the Bible for the rest of their lives. I believe this long-term encouragement is best given through meaningful and engaging Bible lessons.

(This post is part of a series for high school Bible teachers.)

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3 Review Lessons in the Bible

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How many times have you said, “I forgot”? How many times did you forget to say “I forgot”?  Forgetfulness is one of our major problems. Fortunately, there’s a remedy—reminders. God knows our tendency to forget so he’s filled the Bible with reminders. The following three men in Scripture spent their last few moments giving reminders.

Moses left the people of Israel with a massive review lesson called the book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy, Moses rehearses the previous forty-year period in Israel’s history. The book is replete with the command to remember and even contains a song to aid Israel’s memory (Dt. 32).

On the night before Jesus died, he took bread and broke it and said, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Lk. 22:19 NIV). In so doing, Jesus set the review of his sacrifice in perpetual motion. And note that Jesus’ review was an edible and tactile object lesson.

Peter also left his listeners with a review lesson. In his second letter, Peter wrote,

“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things” (2 Pet. 1:12-15 ESV).

Peter acknowledges that his readers already know what he’s telling them. There are implications here for both the listener and the speaker. For the listener, try to avoid the “I already know that” reflex. Don’t despise hearing the same thing for a second, third, or fourth time because reminders are good for us. For the speaker, it’s okay to cover the same ground with your audience. Relieve yourself of the pressure of trying to say something new every time you speak.

Second, think of reminders as stirring sticks. Peter writes, “I think it right . . . to stir you up by way of reminder” (v. 13). And two chapters later, “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles” (2 Pet. 3:1-2 ESV). There are many things that enter our brain with a flourish to only settle somewhere in the back. Regular reminders keep important information fresh. The stirring stick is necessary.

Third, reminders are important enough to be our last words. Knowing that death was near, Peter put his energy into helping his audience remember what he had taught them. “I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things” (2 Pet. 1:15 ESV). Peter wasn’t trying to share something new and profound at the end of his life. Like Moses and Jesus, Peter wanted to go out on a review lesson. All three knew that without the review their best lesson was soon to be forgotten.

[This post is part of a series for high school Bible teachers.]

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