Category Archives: Adults

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:

• God’s Word Benefits Us Today
• 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?

Adults would greatly benefit from a regular diet of God’s Word. Yet, if you were to survey your church’s adults, what percentage of people do you think consistently study God’s Word on their own?  Sadly, in many churches, that percentage would be quite low.  A Barna Research Report, The State of the Bible: 6 Trends for 2014, revealed that just 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.”

This should be a great concern to church leaders and Bible teachers who want to disciple people to grow in their relationship with the Lord. What can be done to raise that percentage with your group?

Previously I shared a friend’s story of being a Christian for about forty years before she started regularly spending time in God’s Word. What made the difference? — She finally realized that Bible study was a way to get to know God Himself, not merely a spiritual duty. Read more at: Adults Studying the Bible on Their Own

What Can Adult Teachers Do to Create a Thirst for Knowing the Author of the Bible?

Whether teaching from the pulpit or in a small group or classroom setting, adult Bible teachers can have a role in raising the percentage of people in their group who regularly study the Bible by creating a thirst within them for God Himself.  Here are two components of that:

1)  Let it begin in your own heart.

This is what God told the Israelites was needed for their children and their children after them to fear the Lord (Deut. 6:2).  He said,

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when . . . (Deut. 6:4-8)

If we want to pass on a passion for God and His Word, it needs to be a reality in our own lives. Some things are “caught” more than they are “taught” and this desire to know and love God through His Word is one of them. This kind of zeal is something we can’t fake. It comes out in the illustrations we use, the way we talk about the Bible, how we turn to Scripture as our first response when seeking answers, etc.

2)  Keep the focus of your Bible teaching on connecting with God.

Because they are adults who are supposed to have longer attention spans than children and youth, we might be tempted to think teaching them is about getting as much content in as we can. Head knowledge, however, can’t be the goal if we want to spur students on to study on their own.

We need to help them to connect with the God who empowered Moses, Daniel, David, and the Apostle Paul, who wants to work in and through them as well.

Adults will find it easier to miss Sunday School classes, small groups, or other Bible study groups that engage in practices they can’t buy into or that make them uncomfortable.

Bible teachers must figure out how they can address these concerns while still standing firm on the truth of God’s Word.

When adults feel the class is a place that lacks the following, they will be less likely to want to be there:

1) a place that lacks authenticity (hypocritical)

2) a place that lacks grace (legalistic, judgmental)

3) a place that lacks unconditional acceptance (intolerant, unfriendly)

4) a place that lacks depth (shallow, trite answers to life)

5) a place that lacks unity (political, drama-filled)

Adult Bible classes characterized or perceived by the above deficiencies are also missing another very important key ingredient. They lack focus on Jesus who came to bring just the opposite of the above. Jesus said,

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (Jn. 10:10)

This article is included as a handout in the Reaching All Age Levels Resource with a brief explanation of each of the above points. The resource also includes similar articles for the other age groups. It provides you with a teacher training group session in which you gather teachers of all age groups for a PowerPoint presentation followed by breakout sessions to personalize it according to age levels.

More Resources on Teaching Adults

Adults will be more likely to commit to an adult Sunday School class, small group, or other Bible study class if they sense value or benefit in attending. Adult Bible teachers can structure so needs are met, making their class a place adults want to be. However, teachers must remember to keep God and His Word central to make it a place set apart from what people can find in the world.

Seek to meet the following needs in order to be a place adults want to be:

1) community, a place to connect with both God and one another

2) collaboration, a place to learn together what God’s Word says rather than being told what to believe

3) cause, a place that encourages purposeful and impacting living

4) context, a place where truth is made relevant to life

5) caliber, a place that cares about quality

You’ll find this article included as a handout in the Reaching All Age Levels Resource. This training tool also gives some brief tips for each of the above points. The resource also includes similar articles for the other age groups. It provides you with a teacher training group session in which you gather teachers of all age groups for a PowerPoint presentation followed by breakout sessions to personalize it according to age levels.

More Resources on Teaching Adults