Read a passage of Scripture. Passages are the basic units of thought in Scripture. They usually have an italicized or bold print heading.
Identify several answers to the following question: What does this passage say about God and people? Include the entire godhead in the first part of the question (God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit). Let the passage speak for itself. Some passages are equally weighted in what they say about God and people, some not so much.
Create an application question from each answer. Use a word or phrase from the answer to the God/people question and form a personalized application question. Try to include "we/us/our" in each question. This unites the speaker with the listeners. Ask for an explanation for questions with a yes or no answer. See below.
Provide or facilitate answers to the various questions. Depending on your level of confidence, you may either arrive with a set of answers to the God/people question as well as a set of application questions and answers, or guide the audience towards their own answers. This gives the audience more ownership over the process. Lesson presentation should include audience involvement if possible. Sermon questions are rhetorical; they are asked and answered by the speaker.
Read Mark 2:1-12 and the samples below. The first line is the answer to the question, "What does the story say about Jesus and people?" The second line is a sample application question.
Practice: Pick a passage and harvest several answers to the God/people question. Develop a personal application question (and answer) from each God/people answer. Provide answers to the application questions, both from personal experience and Scripture.
Assignment: Repeat the steps in the practice above. Contact your teacher when finished.
Identify several answers to the following question: What does this passage say about God and people? Include the entire godhead in the first part of the question (God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit). Let the passage speak for itself. Some passages are equally weighted in what they say about God and people, some not so much.
Create an application question from each answer. Use a word or phrase from the answer to the God/people question and form a personalized application question. Try to include "we/us/our" in each question. This unites the speaker with the listeners. Ask for an explanation for questions with a yes or no answer. See below.
Provide or facilitate answers to the various questions. Depending on your level of confidence, you may either arrive with a set of answers to the God/people question as well as a set of application questions and answers, or guide the audience towards their own answers. This gives the audience more ownership over the process. Lesson presentation should include audience involvement if possible. Sermon questions are rhetorical; they are asked and answered by the speaker.
Read Mark 2:1-12 and the samples below. The first line is the answer to the question, "What does the story say about Jesus and people?" The second line is a sample application question.
- Homes are a key place where people experience Jesus Christ. Mark 2:1-2
What does the passage, and your personal experience, say about why home-based ministry is so important to our spiritual journey? - People of faith are involved in bringing unbelievers to Jesus. Mark 2:3
What role did believers play in helping bring you to Jesus? - Jesus placed a greater priority on forgiveness than healing. Mark 2:5
Why might Jesus place a greater priority on forgiving us than healing us? - Jesus proves his identity to people. Mark 2:10
How does Jesus prove his identity to us? How did he prove it to you? - A true encounter with Jesus is amazing; it's unlike an encounter with anyone else. Mark 2:12
What are some ways Jesus wants to amaze us?- Through reading Scripture. Matthew 7:28, 8:7, 12:23
- Through answered prayer. Matthew 21:22, Acts 4:29-31, 12:6-16
- Through our witnessing. Acts 16:13-15
Practice: Pick a passage and harvest several answers to the God/people question. Develop a personal application question (and answer) from each God/people answer. Provide answers to the application questions, both from personal experience and Scripture.
Assignment: Repeat the steps in the practice above. Contact your teacher when finished.