LIVING AS CHRISTIANS
Avoid These Pitfalls When Conducting a Bible Study
Talking Too Much: Do not feel that you must explain everything. Jesus used questions to help people think and arrive at the right conclusion. (Mt 17:24-27) Questions make the study lively and help you to determine what your student understands and believes. (be 253 ¶3-4) When asking a question, be patient and wait for the answer. If the student gives the wrong answer, instead of telling him the right answer, lead him to the correct conclusion by using additional questions. (be 238 ¶1-2) Talk at a pace that allows the student to grasp new ideas.—be 230 ¶4.
(be 253 ¶3-4) - Ask Questions. Jesus set an outstanding example in reasoning with people. He took into account their background and used illustrations that they would readily accept. He also made effective use of questions. This gave others the opportunity to express themselves and revealed what was in their hearts. It also encouraged them to reason on the matter being considered.
A man versed in the Law asked Jesus. “Jesus, by doing what shall I inherit everlasting life?“ Jesus could easily have given him the answer. But he invited the man to express himself. “What is written in the Law? How do you read“ The man answered correctly. Did his giving a correct answer end that discussion? Not at all. Jesus let the man continue, and a question that the man himself asked indicated that he was trying to prove himself righteous. He asked: “Who really is my neighbour?“ Rather than give a definition, which the man might have disputed because of the prevailing Jewish attitude toward Gentiles and Samaritans, Jesus invited him to reason on an illustration. It was about a neighbourly Samaritan who came to the aid of a traveller that had been robbed and beaten, whereas a priest and a Levite did not. With a simple question, Jesus made sure that the man got the point. Jesus’ manner of reason made the expression “neighbour“ take on a meaning that his man never before discerned. (Luke 10:25-37) What a fine example to imitate! Instead of doing all the taking yourself, in effect, thinking of your householder, learn how to use tactful questions and illustrations to encourage your listener to think.
(be 238 ¶1-2) When we conduct Bible studies, we use a method that calls for participation by the student. Of course, the greater good is done if the student does not simply recite the printed answer. In a kindly tone, use auxiliary questions to reason with the student. On key thoughts, encourage him to use the Bible as the basis for his reply.You might also ask: “How does what we are discussing fit in with this other point that we have studied? Why is this important?, How should it affect our lives?“If a student does not grasp a certain idea, be patient. He may be trying to compare what you are saying with what has believed for many years, Approaching the subject from a different angle might help. Sometimes, however, very basic reasoning is needed. Make liberal use of the Scriptures. Use illustrations. Along with these use simple questions that invite the person to reason on the evidence.
(be 230 ¶4)Adjust the pace of your delivery according to what your audience knows. If you include some details that are likely familiar to most, cover these fairly quickly. But slow down when presenting ideas that may be new to the majority of your listeners so that they can grasp these clearly.
Making It Complicated: Avoid the temptation to relate all that you know on the subject. (Joh 16:12) Focus on the main point of the paragraph. (be 226 ¶4-5) Details, even interesting ones, can obscure the main points. (be 235 ¶3) Once the main point is understood by the student, move on to the next paragraph.
(be 226 ¶4-5) Even when you deal with deep material, simplicity of style can help make it easier to understand. How can simplicity be achieved? Do not overwhelm the audience with unnecessary details. Organize you material so that it complements your main points. Select your key scriptures carefully. Do not bury a good thought in a multitude of words.
When you conduct a home Bible study, apply those same principles. Do not try to explain all the details. help the student to understand clearly the principal ideas. Later on, in personal study and at congregation meetings, he can fill in the details.
(be 235 ¶3) This training can also help you to conduct progressive home Bible studies. You will learn to focus attention on the study material instead of digressing from the subject by highlighting other things that may be interesting but not necessary to an understanding of the subject. Yet, if you get the spirit of this lesson, you will not become so rigid that you fail to provide added explanation that a student may require.
Just Covering Material: Our objective is to reach the heart, not cover material. (Lu 24:32) Utilize the power of God’s Word by focusing on the key scriptures in the lesson. (2Co 10:4; Heb 4:12; be 144 ¶1-3) Use simple illustrations. (be 245 ¶2-4) Consider the student’s personal challenges and beliefs, and tailor the lesson to him. Ask questions like these: “How do you feel about what you are learning here?” “What does this teach us about Jehovah?” “What benefit do you see in applying such counsel?”—be 238 ¶3-5; 259 ¶1.
(be 144 ¶1-3) Our desire is to follow Jesus’ example. We have not personally heard God speak, as Jesus did. But the Bible is God’s word. When we use it as the basis for our answers, we can avoid drawing attention to ourselves. We show that instead of voicing the opinion of an imperfect human, we are firmly determined to let God have the same as to what is the truth.-John 7:18; Rom. 3:4.
Of course, our desire is not to merely to use the Bible but to do so in a way that will be most beneficial to our hearer. We want him to listen with an open mind. Depending on the attitude of the person, you could introduce Biblical thoughts by saying: “Don’t you agree that what really count is what God says?“ Or you could say: “ Did you know that the Bible discusses that very question?“ If you are speaking to someone who does not have respect for the Bible, you need to use a different introduction. You could say: “Let me share this ancient prophecy with you“. Or you might say: The book that is the most widely distributed book in human history says this...“
In some instances, you may choose simply to paraphrase a text. Where possible, however, it is best to open the Bible itself and read what it says. Show the scripture to the person in his own copy of the Bible whenever this is practical. This direct use of the Bible often has a powerful effect on people.- Heb. 4:12.
(be 245 ¶2-4) Are you as careful as Jesus and Paul were in selecting illustrations and example to use in your teaching? Do you consider the background and the daily activity of your listeners? Of course, there have been changes in the world news by means of television. Situations in foriegn lands are often familiar to them. Where that is the case, it certainly is not amiss to draw on such news items for illustrations. Nevertheless, the things that touch people most deeply usually involve their personal lives - their homes, their family, their work, the food they eat, the weather in their area.
If your illustration requires a lot of explanation, you may be talking about something that is not familiar to your audience. Such an illustration can easily overshadow the point of the instruction. As a result, the audience may remember your illustration but not the Scriptural truth that you were endeavoring to convey.
Instead of making complicated comparisons, Jesus use simple, everyday matters. He made use of little things to explain big things and easy things to make hard things plain. By making connections between everyday events and spiritual truths, Jesus helped people to grasp more readily the spiritual truths he was teaching and to remember these. What a fine example to follow!
(be 238 ¶3-5) To Draw our Inner Feelings. When people answer questions, they do not always reveal how they really feel. They may simply give the answers that they think you want. Discernment is needed. (Prov. 20:5) As Jesus did, you might ask: “Do you believe this?“- John 11:26.
When many of Jesus’ disciples took offense at what he said and abandoned him, Jesus invited his apostles to express how they felt. He asked: “You do not want to go also, do you?“ Peter put their feelings into words, saying: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life; and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God“. (John 6:67-70) On another occasion, Jesus asked his disciples: “Who are men saying the Son of man is?“ He followed this with a question that invited them to express what was in their own hearts. “You, though, who do you say I am?“ In response, Peter said: “You are the Christ, the Song of the living God.“ -Matt. 16:13-16.
When conducting a Bible study, you may find it beneficial to take a similar approach to similar issues. You might ask: “How do your classmates (or workmates) view this matter? “Then you might ask: “How do you feel about it?“ When you know a person’s true feelings, this makes it possible for you as a teacher to be one of the greatest help.
(be 259 ¶1) Well-chosen questions can help you to draw out what is in someone’s heart. You might ask. “How do you feel about...?“ “What convinced you that...?“ “How would you react if..?“ Yet, be careful not to barrage people with questions. You might tactfully preface your questions with, “Do you mind if I ask...? Discovering what is in the heart is a painstaking task that cannot be rushed. In most cases trust must be built up over a period of time before a person is willing to reveal his inmost feelings. Even then, care must be exercised so that the person does not feel that you are asking about things that are not your business. - 1 Pet. 4:15.