Transformational
Bible Study
Adult - Student
Phil Stone
pstone@ncbaptist.org
800-395-5102, ext. 5643
www.ncbaptist.org/sundayschool
Transformation is
Radical Change
Discipleship is more than getting to
know what the teacher knows;
it's getting to be what s/he is.
WTB - Wilkinson
Challenge:
If we invite people to
“Come Learn with Us!”
We need to make Bible
study a transformational
experience by teaching
them the way they learn.
Learning Is...
Learning is Experiencing through discovery
Teaching is Coaching the Experience
A Teacher is a Coach of Experiences
Therefore
A teacher’s task is to set up experiences so that
the learner can discover for himself Bible truths
that are transformational.
How People Learn...
Five Senses: touch, smell, hear, sight, taste
1%
1½%
3½%
11%
83%
Taste
Touch
Smell
Hear
Sight
Support all verbal methods
with a visual method!
Teaching is more
than telling;
Learning is more
than listening
Methods: See Only…Hear and Tell Back… Read
Only… See and Hear… Hear Only… Tell Back and
Demonstrate…
10%
20%
30%
50%
70%
90%
Read only
Hear Only
See Only
See and Hear
Hear and Tell Back
Tell Back and Demonstrate
Learners retain information better
as direct involvement increases.
The Power of Visuals
When direct involvement of
the learners is coupled with
supportive visuals in the
learning environment,
retention increases from 3 days
to 14 days!
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge
At what level does YOUR Bible study happen?
Pedagogy
• The art and science of childhood learning.
Bible Story
Children
Concrete Facts
Students
Abstracts
Transformational
Biblical Truths
Andragogy
• The art and science of adult learning.
Bible Passage
Life Experiences
Transformational
Biblical Truths
Three Learning Modes
Use all three learning modes in every Bible Study.
Auditory Learning - Hearing
Visual Learning - Seeing
Kinesthetic Learning - Doing
Learning Styles
Thinkers
Rational, sequential, information centered
Data collectors
Unemotional
Impatient with group discussion;
wants to hear the leader
Need opportunities to Hear something!
Learning Styles
Feelers
Love to talk
Generalize
Loves small group discussions
Listening and sharing ideas
Needs opportunities to Talk!
Learning Styles
Sensors
Loves hands on; doers
Practical application
Skip the theory, just do it
Fast movers
Action oriented
Need opportunities to Do Something
Learning Styles
Intuitors
Experimental attitudes
Trial and Error
Self-discovery
Creativity
Adaptable to other learning styles
Need a process and reason for everything.
We must shift from the traditional
role of ‘knowledge dispenser’ to that
of model, mentor, and organizer of
experiences that help people grow.
Lynn Stoddard, Redesigning Education.
What are people looking for?
Community …a safe place to belong
Responsibility …hands-on ministry
Connections …cross generational
Depth …engaging Bible Study
Definition:
Depth is less about
covering the content and
more about engaging
the content.
Teaching with Depth
Adults indicated that only 14
percent of a possible study
time should be dedicated to
teacher explanation or lecture
as opposed to 40 percent for
discussion and hands on
learning.
How did Jesus do it?
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a
question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I
need to do to get eternal life?”
Jesus answered, “What’s written in God’s Law?
How do you interpret it?”
How did Jesus do it?
He said, “That you love the Lord your God with
all your passion and prayer and muscle and
intelligence – and that you love your neighbor
as you do yourself”
How did Jesus do it?
“Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll
live.”
Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how
would you define ‘neighbor’?”
Jesus answered by telling a story….
(The Good Samaritan Parable)
How did Jesus do it?
“What do you think? Which of the three
became a neighbor to the man attacked by
robbers?”
“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion
scholar responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
How did Jesus do it?
Questions:
With what did Jesus begin?
Did Jesus “TELL” the scholar anything?
Answers:
…Jesus begins with the Word
…Jesus let him discover the truth for himself
…Then He said “go do it!”
Knowledge is nothing without appropriation
Transformational Philosophy
of Bible Teaching
When you begin to prepare a Bible
study, what questions do you ask
yourself?
Philosophy helps you ask the right questions:
How can learners
…experience the biblical story?
…discover for themselves the biblical truth?
…get involved?
A Transformational Philosophy…
Where there is no
involvement
there is no
learning!
Gaines Dobbins
Transformational Bible
Study Principles
Transformational Principle One:
Coordination
Start with a Team:
Teacher
- 1 per 25 adults
- 1 per 12 students
Care Group Leader
- 1 per 4-6 members
Outreach Leader
Transformational Principle One:
Coordination
Coordinate Bible Study:
Biblical Truth
Teaching Aim
Life Goal
Life Impact Question
Transformational Principle Two:
Stimulation
Stimulate or “hook learners’ attention”
• Before Sunday - Session related contact
• Outside the room - Session related visuals
• Inside the room – Focal Wall
Transformational Principle Two:
Stimulation
Stimulating Ideas:
…Postcard or email about the lesson
…Text members questions
…Create a fb page
…Twitter
Transformational Principle Two:
Stimulation
Remember :
…The room is the silent teacher
…You can’t learn anything by looking at the back
of somebody’s head!
Transformational Principle Three:
Motivation
Motivate or “Jump starts learning”
…Motivational activity
…Biblical Truth
…As the first learners enter the room.
Transformational Principle Three:
Motivation
Motivating Ideas:
… Pictures; Objects
…Words; Questions
…Activities; Displays
…Characters
Transformational Principle Four:
Introduction
Introduce the Unit
…Use the Focal Wall
…The “Big Idea”
Session Titles and Biblical Truths
Review
Preview
Focus
…Read Biblical Truths aloud.
OBEDIENT LOVE
You can discover the best
kind of love as
you obey God.
What
Is
True
Love?
COUNTERFIT LOVE
Sexual sin leads to
painful consequences
Serving Love
CONSTANT LOVE
Dedicated service to
God is a strong, fulfilling
basis for a Christian
marriage
You can have
a love that
lasts.
Sample Focal Wall
Transformational Principle Five:
Preparation
Prepare learners with Background Information
Preparation Ideas:
Illustrated mini-lecture
Monologues, skits, creative activities
Read Bible passage and assign listening teams
Time Out
Announcements
• Not first thing
• Print
• Bulletin board
Prayer Request
Share Briefly
• Members
• Ministry
• Missional
Keep it
Word-Driven!
Transformational Principle Six:
Transition
Transition back to Biblical Truth
Transitional Ideas:
…Re-Motivational Activity
…Play game, e.g. - Agree/Disagree
…Listen and Tell Back Questions
Transformational Principle Seven:
Examination
Examine the Bible Passage
…Involve Learners
…Connect learners
…Small Learning Teams
…Written assignments
…Questions; Creative methods
Examination Ideas:
Paper and Pencil
Drama
Art
Games
Verbal
Music
Technology
Examination
5 Step Method’s Process
Divide group into learning teams with written assignments:
1. Read in your Bible: (Provide Bibles)
2. Research: (Learner’s Guide)
3. Discover: (Questions)
4. Create: (Methods)
5. Practice and Present: (Peer Teaching)
Depth is less about covering
the content and more about
engaging the content.
Methods Approach
Demonstrate and Tell Back
1. Read in your Bible.
2. Research – Learner or Leader Guide or commentary
3. Discover:
a. What happened in the passage?
b. What did it mean originally?
c. What does it mean to you?
4. Create – Demonstration of Biblical truth - Methods
5. Present – Tell Back to the Group
Team One
• Read in your Bible: Mark 14:3-9
• Research: Hearing on page 42 of the Learner’s Guide
• Discover:
–
–
–
–
What happened in the story?
What was significant about the woman’s actions?
What was Jesus’ response?
What can we learn about worship from this woman?
• Create: Act out the Bible story to demonstrate Jesus’
response to the woman’s actions and to the onlookers.
Option: Role play a person today expressing extravagant
love to God.
• Present: You have 15 minutes to create a 3 minute
presentation.
Transformational Principle Eight:
Presentation
Learning Teams Demonstrate and Tell Back to Group
Biblical Truth Discovered:
…Leader sits
…Leader adds to - ties together Bible facts and truths
…Leader facilitates discussion of relevance
…Focus stays on Biblical Truth!
“Where there is no
involvement
there is no learning.”
Gains Dobbins
Transformational Principle Nine:
Application
Applying the biblical truth
…The Teaching Aim
…General application:
“What are some ways learners can apply this truth?”
…Specific application:
“What is one way you will apply this truth this week?”
Transformational Principle Ten:
Appropriation
Appropriating truths into Life
…Members
…Ministry
…Missional
Appropriation Ideas:
…Class Mission Projects
…Outreach Fellowships
…Family involvement
“We’ve got to move
from sitting in rows
to sitting in circles
to going out and
changing the
world.”
Ed Stetzer
Transformational Church
Transformational Principles
1. Coordination
2. Stimulation
3. Motivation
4. Introduction
5. Preparation
Time out :
Announcements
Prayer Requests
6. Transition
7. Examination
8. Presentation
9. Application
10.Appropriation
Famous last words of a
Transformational leader
•
I’m in no hurry.
If you have questions
“I’m in no hurry. If you have
or
just
need
to
talk,
questions or just need to talk,
around.
hang around!hang
I’m available.”
I’m available.
Do your best
to present yourself to God
as one approved,
a workman who does not
need to be ashamed
and who correctly handles
the Word of Truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
Making Disciples is worth
all the effort!
Phil Stone
pstone@ncbaptist.org
800-395-5102, ext. 5643
www.ncbaptist.org/sundayschool
• The second year of a 3 year focus on evangelism,
discipleship, and mission involvement
• An Intentional/Simple Discipleship Strategy
• Easter Evangelism/Baptism Emphasis
• 8 weeks of Sermon Outlines, Bible Studies,
and Devotional Materials available online:
www.finditherenc.org