It's been a good time together. Today we wrapped things up, each of us teaching for 20 minutes. I gathered a number of creative nuggets that would be great to use in my own setting.
I don't have a lot to say today. Exhaustion has caught up with me. But it's been a great week. I've met with God, built some new friendships, picked up a number of teaching tips that I hope to employ, and been able to spend hours thinking about how I can take my own teaching ministry to the next level.
Tim, thanks so much for investing your life in us. Thanks for your interest in each of us as individuals. I won't forget it.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Day Three
Today in our discussion we spent our time in four areas: appropriate teaching techniques for differing ages, creativity in teaching, evaluating our teaching/preaching, and employing the HBLT approach in post-Christian contexts. In the first block, characteristics of adults, adolescents, older/younger children, and toddlers were presented. Then, based on that knowledge, some "Do's" related to each age group were offered. For instance, since adolescents are searching for and beginning to establish their personal identity, do create an environment where questioning is okay.
The second block of time was really interesting, in that it began with a phone interview with a staff member from Saddleback. He shared some of the details in their approach to a creative teaching experience for youth. It was great.
Not much to say about evaluation.
Teaching HBLT in a post-Christian environment: I don't see any problem with it. Sometimes I think that we need to leave questions hanging to allow people to come to terms with a truth or passage on their own, but that's not necessarily unique to young people with cool hair. That's probably good for all people of all ages at least some of the time.
Finally, I've been asked to post my favorite web sites with spiritual stuff. Here you go:
1) http://www.puritansermons.com/ Come on. You think I'm going to leave this one off of the list? There is a depth in these men that I beg God to create in me. The sermons are relatively short, and they aren't so antiquated in language that you can't read them with a little concentration. Spend the effort. It's worth it. As Piper says, these men are the redwoods of our faith. There's a wide scope of topics covered, works from many different puritans, and biographical information on a number of them.
2) http://www.tracts.ukgo.com/index.htm This site contains writings from some of my heroes--Edwards, Whitefield, and Spurgeon, and many others. It also has links to some other great resources such as The Banner of Truth Trust (which prints books no one else does), Desiring God (John Piper's website--check out his podcast on Romans), and The Martyn Lloyd-Jones Recording Trust (arguably the best preacher in the UK in the last 100 years--you can listen to sermons delivered over 50 years ago--amazing).
3) http://faith.propadeutic.com/authors/authors.html This is a Christian author database which contains authors from every end of the theological spectrum, and spans from ancient to contemporary writers. Click on a name, and you'll get a summary paragraph about some of their significant beliefs, writings, ministries, etc. It's quite helpful to check someone out that you've never heard of before. Warning: this site paints with broad strokes, and doesn't always characterize people with 100% accuracy. But it's still a good way to quickly investigate several people you heard mentioned in a conversation, but were too proud to admit you had no idea who's being critiqued.
4) http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bio.html This is a fundamentalist website. I'm not a fundamentalist. However, I love reading biographies of heroes of the faith, and they have a pretty good collection here. It's worth checking out.
5) http://www.the-highway.com/index.html OK, it is poorly designed with weird music. And I can't say that everything there is good, b/c I have no idea. However, a few pages are quite interesting: Calvinism and the Reformed Faith, Notable Sermons, and Predestination. If you are interested in studying Reformation theology, this site has a lot of historical resources. I list it #5 on purpose.
Finally, (I know that this is more than five) everyone in a teaching ministry needs to be aware of the following sites: www.biblegateway.com ; www.crosswalk.com ; www.bible.org ; www.oneplace.com ; www.sermonspice.com ; and www.sermonaudio.com . That's all I have to say about that.
The second block of time was really interesting, in that it began with a phone interview with a staff member from Saddleback. He shared some of the details in their approach to a creative teaching experience for youth. It was great.
Not much to say about evaluation.
Teaching HBLT in a post-Christian environment: I don't see any problem with it. Sometimes I think that we need to leave questions hanging to allow people to come to terms with a truth or passage on their own, but that's not necessarily unique to young people with cool hair. That's probably good for all people of all ages at least some of the time.
Finally, I've been asked to post my favorite web sites with spiritual stuff. Here you go:
1) http://www.puritansermons.com/ Come on. You think I'm going to leave this one off of the list? There is a depth in these men that I beg God to create in me. The sermons are relatively short, and they aren't so antiquated in language that you can't read them with a little concentration. Spend the effort. It's worth it. As Piper says, these men are the redwoods of our faith. There's a wide scope of topics covered, works from many different puritans, and biographical information on a number of them.
2) http://www.tracts.ukgo.com/index.htm This site contains writings from some of my heroes--Edwards, Whitefield, and Spurgeon, and many others. It also has links to some other great resources such as The Banner of Truth Trust (which prints books no one else does), Desiring God (John Piper's website--check out his podcast on Romans), and The Martyn Lloyd-Jones Recording Trust (arguably the best preacher in the UK in the last 100 years--you can listen to sermons delivered over 50 years ago--amazing).
3) http://faith.propadeutic.com/authors/authors.html This is a Christian author database which contains authors from every end of the theological spectrum, and spans from ancient to contemporary writers. Click on a name, and you'll get a summary paragraph about some of their significant beliefs, writings, ministries, etc. It's quite helpful to check someone out that you've never heard of before. Warning: this site paints with broad strokes, and doesn't always characterize people with 100% accuracy. But it's still a good way to quickly investigate several people you heard mentioned in a conversation, but were too proud to admit you had no idea who's being critiqued.
4) http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bio.html This is a fundamentalist website. I'm not a fundamentalist. However, I love reading biographies of heroes of the faith, and they have a pretty good collection here. It's worth checking out.
5) http://www.the-highway.com/index.html OK, it is poorly designed with weird music. And I can't say that everything there is good, b/c I have no idea. However, a few pages are quite interesting: Calvinism and the Reformed Faith, Notable Sermons, and Predestination. If you are interested in studying Reformation theology, this site has a lot of historical resources. I list it #5 on purpose.
Finally, (I know that this is more than five) everyone in a teaching ministry needs to be aware of the following sites: www.biblegateway.com ; www.crosswalk.com ; www.bible.org ; www.oneplace.com ; www.sermonspice.com ; and www.sermonaudio.com . That's all I have to say about that.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Day Two
Today we incorporated Hendricks' work into our discussion on Bible teaching. Teachers, in order to have any real impact on their students, must be credible. That means not only must our content be worthwhile, but also, our character must be sound. More than that, creative Bible teachers adapt their style to communicate effectively, hone their message until it's crystal-clear, employ physical techniques to their advantage, and take risks in their teaching. If our approach to teaching is always that which is safe, it may become routine or dull to our students.
The part of the class that I enjoyed most today was hearing about Gardner's learning styles. It was fascinating to hear how different people learn in various ways. I could see how I operate in several of those categories--suprisingly, to me, was how much the Naturalist approach resonated with me. Not only do I have a deep love for nature, I view the world with taxonomic eyes. I read something and I automatically think to myself (generally not for the whole world to see), "This guy's a pre-trib, pre-millenial, hyper-literal dispensational watered-down Calvinist," or "This guy's a KJV only, tongues-have-ceased (likely dispensational) fightin' fundy," or something of the like. It's good to see how others learn so I can begin to teach in ways that connect with them.
I struggle with some of the ideas that I think are implicit in CBT, and seem to be flying under the radar in class in relation to application. I know that the official position of the class is that creativity in Bible teaching means to bring the ancient text to bear on our daily lives. However, I sense that in our class exercises simple applications/answers aren't necessarily "creative" enough. I read 1 John 1:8-10, and I think that the most natural (not to mention, most likely to be actualized) application is to own up to and confess our sin to God whenever we fall. I know that's simple, but I think people are more likely to practice that than something which may be more original, or unique, or creative in the traditional sense.
Also, in reading CBT, I got the sense that not only must your application be creative, every week you also need to get your people to do something. I don't agree that this is the most effective way to see life change occur. In the end, I think that this approach leads people to think that if they check off their weekly application assignment, then they must be growing in Christlikeness. More than that, it produces people who value doing over introspection. Finally, I think that this approach can burden people down with exercises.
When people think rightly about God, their heart is changed. And when their heart is changed, their actions will follow. I believe that the bulk of our time should be aimed at the head and the heart, with general implications thrown out which serve to instigate behavioral change. That's not a blanket statement to say that we shouldn't ever target specific behaviors. Yet behavioral change should be rooted; otherwise, habitual falling, guilt, confession, committment, falling guilt, confession, and renewed committment will undoubtedly cycle through people's lives.
The part of the class that I enjoyed most today was hearing about Gardner's learning styles. It was fascinating to hear how different people learn in various ways. I could see how I operate in several of those categories--suprisingly, to me, was how much the Naturalist approach resonated with me. Not only do I have a deep love for nature, I view the world with taxonomic eyes. I read something and I automatically think to myself (generally not for the whole world to see), "This guy's a pre-trib, pre-millenial, hyper-literal dispensational watered-down Calvinist," or "This guy's a KJV only, tongues-have-ceased (likely dispensational) fightin' fundy," or something of the like. It's good to see how others learn so I can begin to teach in ways that connect with them.
I struggle with some of the ideas that I think are implicit in CBT, and seem to be flying under the radar in class in relation to application. I know that the official position of the class is that creativity in Bible teaching means to bring the ancient text to bear on our daily lives. However, I sense that in our class exercises simple applications/answers aren't necessarily "creative" enough. I read 1 John 1:8-10, and I think that the most natural (not to mention, most likely to be actualized) application is to own up to and confess our sin to God whenever we fall. I know that's simple, but I think people are more likely to practice that than something which may be more original, or unique, or creative in the traditional sense.
Also, in reading CBT, I got the sense that not only must your application be creative, every week you also need to get your people to do something. I don't agree that this is the most effective way to see life change occur. In the end, I think that this approach leads people to think that if they check off their weekly application assignment, then they must be growing in Christlikeness. More than that, it produces people who value doing over introspection. Finally, I think that this approach can burden people down with exercises.
When people think rightly about God, their heart is changed. And when their heart is changed, their actions will follow. I believe that the bulk of our time should be aimed at the head and the heart, with general implications thrown out which serve to instigate behavioral change. That's not a blanket statement to say that we shouldn't ever target specific behaviors. Yet behavioral change should be rooted; otherwise, habitual falling, guilt, confession, committment, falling guilt, confession, and renewed committment will undoubtedly cycle through people's lives.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Day One
So much to cover, so little time...
We focused on four things today. The first was my favorite. In meditating upon the glories of Christ and the words of James Houston, I met with God. "The speed of gaining information is very fast, but the speed of godliness is very slow." And, "The very nature of integrity is that we have a speed that is appropriate to what we are doing." We attempt soul work. We attempt life change. We attempt godliness. And that is slow work. The time was rich, and it passed too quickly. Next we entered into a time of sharing our stories, sharing how we fit into God's greater story.
The last half of the day was spent covering the first two major sections from Creative Bible Teaching. The importance and process of studying the Bible was considered. Much attention was given to hemeneutical concerns and approaches. The final portion of the day was devoted to focusing our message by articulating deliberate aims (for the head, heart, and hands), and making the message appropriate for our audience. Making truth meaningful is our goal.
We focused on four things today. The first was my favorite. In meditating upon the glories of Christ and the words of James Houston, I met with God. "The speed of gaining information is very fast, but the speed of godliness is very slow." And, "The very nature of integrity is that we have a speed that is appropriate to what we are doing." We attempt soul work. We attempt life change. We attempt godliness. And that is slow work. The time was rich, and it passed too quickly. Next we entered into a time of sharing our stories, sharing how we fit into God's greater story.
The last half of the day was spent covering the first two major sections from Creative Bible Teaching. The importance and process of studying the Bible was considered. Much attention was given to hemeneutical concerns and approaches. The final portion of the day was devoted to focusing our message by articulating deliberate aims (for the head, heart, and hands), and making the message appropriate for our audience. Making truth meaningful is our goal.
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