Adults are faced with so many hard decisions and choices throughout their lives. Each stage of life brings unique challenges so we are in constant need of wisdom and discernment. God’s Word is full of the insight we need for everyday living yet how many adults turn to the Bible as their source of help? As mentioned in the previous report only 19% of adult Americans are “Bible engaged – who read the Bible at least four times a week and believe it is the actual or inspired Word of God” (from The State of the Bible: 6 Trends for 2014).
Bible teachers have a role in raising the percentage of people in their group who regularly study the Bible. We already considered how they can do this by creating a thirst within their students for God Himself. Now we want to think about how an emphasis on the usefulness of the Bible in everyday living can help. Think about it: If something isn’t perceived as helpful, already busy and stressed out adults are not going etch out time for it. We need to teach and demonstrate how the Bible is indeed worth their time. We need to help them understand how God’s Word is unique and indispensable to our lives. Rather than get into details of Scripture’s usefulness in this post, let me suggest you read the following:
- The Power of God’s Word: Because of What It Does
- Importance of Truth
- Source of Truth
- Want to Be More Discerning? – Get Into the Word
What Can Adult Bible Teachers Do to Promote the Usefulness of God’s Word?
1) Hold the Bible up as the authoritative standard.
Notice how 2 Timothy 3:16-17 about the Bible’s usefulness begins: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for …” The Bible’s usefulness grows out of its origin. Because Scripture was inspired by the Almighty Creator who knows the beginning from the end and is wholly righteous in all His says and does, the One of whom there is none greater, we can trust what it says to be right and good.
Adults are not an authority to themselves. Their life experiences do not qualify them to know more than the Almighty God. His ways are always higher and better (Isa. 55:9) and will provide the guidance they need to navigate through life (Ps. 119:105). If they don’t accept this reality, they will not sense the need to learn from His Word.
2) Use the Bible in your teaching to answer questions, as the basis for your discussions.
Nothing cuts straight to the core of what’s happening in real life like the Bible. — “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) It teaches, rebukes, corrects, trains us in righteousness, and thoroughly equips us for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).
Yet, how easy it can be for small group discussions to turn into a pool of personal opinions and experientially based conclusions. If we don’t actually turn to the Bible for answers in our classes, what kind of example are we providing for real life? If we are constantly studying popular books or watching videos that provide little Bible teaching, what is that communicating to people about the usefulness of God’s Word?