Category Archives: Lesson Prep & Structure

If Bible teachers are going to accurately and effectively present truth from God’s Word, it must begin with an awareness of the Text they teach that it is “God-breathed and is useful” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Without an understanding of the uniqueness of this Book, teachers may not invest the time and effort it deserves.

Questions to Ask about Your Awareness of the Text You Teach

Respond to the following questions with yes, no, or not sure. Follow the links provided or order the resources listed to help you become more aware of how truly special God’s Word is and hence the need to approach lesson preparation with the utmost regard for it.

• Do you view the Bible as the inspired, authoritative Word of God?

• Article: Inadequate View of Bible, Inadequate Lesson Preparation
• Article: Teachers’ View of the Bible Matters
• Article: What You Believe About the Bible Has Implications
• Article: If the Bible is from God, Then What?
• Article: If the Bible is God’s Word, Then What?
• Article: If the Bible is Unique, Then What?

• If asked, could you provide the primary focus, theme, and basic summary of the Bible?

• Article: Bible Illiterate Teachers Produce Bible Illiterate Students
• Article: Grasp of the Big Picture of the Bible
• Download: What Bible Teachers Need to Know About God’s Word

• Do you truly believe God uses His Word to change lives?

• Article: If the Bible is God’s Word, Then What?
• Article: How are we Thoroughly Equipped?
• Article: How Sad When It’s Like They Were Never There
• Article: Teaching for Changed Lives?
• Workbook: Teaching for Changed Lives

Also check out: A Lesson Worth Teaching Workbook

In addition to getting students’ attention and helping them learn what God’s Word says, Bible lessons should also include application of truth to life.

Here are some frequently asked questions about this part of a lesson.

How important is the application part of the lesson?

To answer this question, look at Scripture like Matthew 7:24-27 and James 1:23-25, 2:17-20. If God places such importance on applying God’s Word in our walk with Him, it only makes sense that we view application as a critical part of the lesson.

Also Read:

• Application a Vital Part of Bible Lessons?
• How Deliberate to be About Application?

Other Questions About Helping Students with Applying Truth to Life

In addition to the above question, you’ll find responses to the following questions about lesson application in the Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions.

• What if the lesson doesn’t have any obvious application for my students?
• What do we do if the same truth applies differently to individual students?
• What if I run out of class time before I get to the application?

This handbook covers 48 other issues in Bible teaching with a total of 153 questions.

Bible teachers might have specific questions that could make their teaching better when answered.

Some frequently asked questions about Bible lesson introductions follow.

Questions about Bible Lesson Introductions

What should the introduction do?

People often come into the classroom distracted. The introduction should capture their attention pulling them from their concerns to the lesson at hand. Students need to know why they should be there. A good introduction will do that. It should transition them from life concerns into the Word, showing the relevance of what is to be studied. It should connect them with the truth to follow much like a bridge takes us from one place to another.

Other Questions Related to Lesson Intros:

What means can be used?

What about reviewing the previous lesson?

How long should the lesson introduction be?

You’ll find responses to the above questions in the Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions which covers 48 other issues related to Bible teaching with a total of 153 questions.

“In conclusion ….”

These words, often spoken at the end of a speech or written discourse, signify the end … a summary of what’s been said, the main points the speaker wanted to get across, or perhaps an opinion of what should be done about it.

If used by a teacher or preacher, “in conclusion” often triggers a shutdown response. Students close their Bibles and start thinking about what they have to do next. The actual words in themselves can short circuit a lesson but so can what follows that phrase. Even if “in conclusion” hasn’t been used, the end of the session can be nothing more than a conclusion of what’s been said.

Bible lessons must contain application, not merely a conclusion.

The end of a lesson must get beyond summarizing or reviewing the key points. Yes, we must “know” the truth which sets us free (Jn. 8:32). We must be filled “with the knowledge of His will” but it is so we “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way” (Col. 1:9-10). We aren’t going to apply the Word if we don’t “know” the Word but studying Scripture is only the starting point.

Question for Bible Teachers: How can you challenge people to take it further, to go deeper, to do something with those truths?

The end of a lesson needs to be more than rendering a verdict about what has been studied. While we want people to believe the truths presented in the lesson, we need to take it further for “even the demons believe” truths about God (James 2:19). — “make every effort to add to your faith goodness …” (2 Pet. 1:5-7) “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17) “Faith without deeds is useless.” (James 2:20)

Question for Bible Teachers: How can you help students not only see the implications of truth to their lives but also understand how to apply it to everyday living?

When was the last you provided teacher training on the application of the lesson?

Resource: Application – It’s God’s Idea, Not Merely a Good Idea Worksheet

For More: Application Part of a Lesson Teacher Training Resources