The Tool for Transforming Teaching
The main tool for transforming teaching is The Big Idea Study. It's explained in detail here.
The Characteristics of Transforming Teaching
1. It is expository.
BIG IDEA STUDY
Expository teaching explains the meaning of Scripture. It transforming because it convicts the complacent, converts the curious, matures the convinced, and equips the committed.
Expository teaching is a defining factor of healthy churches. Even in regions in the world where interest in the gospel wanes. Author David Kinnaman points out that in Scotland, an area noted for its "overwhelming trend towards increased secularization," there is a segment of the culture where the gospel is surprisingly embraced; the younger generation. Analysis revealed the key factor was expository teaching. "Among growing churches in Scotland, more than nine out of ten pastors say they teach the Bible using a systematic, or expository, approach."1 It is attractive across all age groups.
Anyone passionate about learning how to teach an in-depth, transforming manner can learn how to do expository teaching. It is not reserved for a select group of individuals with seminary training. One excellent method that helps develop transforming teaching is The Big Idea Study.
Expository teaching is a defining factor of healthy churches. Even in regions in the world where interest in the gospel wanes. Author David Kinnaman points out that in Scotland, an area noted for its "overwhelming trend towards increased secularization," there is a segment of the culture where the gospel is surprisingly embraced; the younger generation. Analysis revealed the key factor was expository teaching. "Among growing churches in Scotland, more than nine out of ten pastors say they teach the Bible using a systematic, or expository, approach."1 It is attractive across all age groups.
Anyone passionate about learning how to teach an in-depth, transforming manner can learn how to do expository teaching. It is not reserved for a select group of individuals with seminary training. One excellent method that helps develop transforming teaching is The Big Idea Study.
They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. Nehemiah 8:8
2. It is complete.
It is exegetically accurate, hermeneutically sound, and homiletically relevant. It harvests the meaning of a text by determining what it meant to those who experienced it first (exegesis). It then develops those thoughts into timeless truths (hermeneutics). Then presents in a way that grips the audience (homiletics). People should walk away sensing the meaning of the passage along with a practical application that calls them to know, do, or feel something.
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Think of the steps in baking a cake. Exegesis is the raw ingredients (sugar, flour, butter, eggs, etc.). It contains all the necessary ingredients, but it is hard to digest in its raw form. Hermeneutics is the baked cake. It's edible, but still needs one more ingredient to make it complete. Homiletics is the frosting. It what makes the cake irresistible.
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Even though the Bible was written for us it wasn’t written to us. – John H. Walton. |
3. It shoots P.A.R.
P.A.R. stands for Personal, Accurate, and Relevant. The message is personal; it passes through the heart of the teacher before it enters the heart of the listener. The teacher uses words like we and us instead of you and your. He gives evidence of having lived with the message before he asks others to do the same.
It is accurate. It reflects the true meaning of the words. There are many applications of Scripture, but only one correct interpretation.
It is relevant. It applies to the lives of the listeners. This last step answers the one question every listener is asking— "So what?" Until there is an answer to this crucial question, the message stands incomplete.
It is accurate. It reflects the true meaning of the words. There are many applications of Scripture, but only one correct interpretation.
It is relevant. It applies to the lives of the listeners. This last step answers the one question every listener is asking— "So what?" Until there is an answer to this crucial question, the message stands incomplete.
4. It consists of the preaching trinity.
The teaching trinity is Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Ethos is credibility and centers on the character of the speaker. It asks the question, "Is the message believable based on what is knowable about the preacher?" Does he walk the talk?
Pathos is passion and centers on emotion. It asks the question, "Is the message believable based on the feelings of the preacher?" Does he teach as if he believes it?
Logos is truth and centers on the word of God. It asks the question, "Is the message rooted in Scripture?" Is there a bridge between the Scripture and what is said?
Pathos is passion and centers on emotion. It asks the question, "Is the message believable based on the feelings of the preacher?" Does he teach as if he believes it?
Logos is truth and centers on the word of God. It asks the question, "Is the message rooted in Scripture?" Is there a bridge between the Scripture and what is said?
5. It is vertical before it’s horizontal.
It focuses on the glory of God before it talks about the mission of God. The worship of God triggers our witness for God. When God called Ezekiel to speak, the first thing he did was provide him a fantastic view of his glory. He (God) did this through a vision that communicated His majesty, holiness, and wonder. Ezekiel 1:28 states the result, "This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me." God displayed his glory for twenty-eight verses before He enlisted Ezekiel into the mission. Commentator Tremper Longman states, “The Lord confronted Ezekiel with this glorious vision to impress on him the majesty, holiness, and wonder of the God who was about to execute judgment on the people of Israel.”
Powerful messages highlight the glory of God as a means of encouraging us to fulfill the mission of God. What we know to be true about God should influence what we say about God.
Powerful messages highlight the glory of God as a means of encouraging us to fulfill the mission of God. What we know to be true about God should influence what we say about God.
6. It causes the listener to say, “What’s next?”
Construct each message such that each point in the sermon answers the premise brought up in the title. For instance, the title of a message might be; "Five things Christians need to remember most." The points then provide the answers.
Powerful messages also mobilize people They move them from Gather to Grow, and to Go. They motivate them to take part in prayer events, get involved in grow groups, sign up for Ministry Teams, join disciple-making and church planting teams, and attend school.
Powerful messages also mobilize people They move them from Gather to Grow, and to Go. They motivate them to take part in prayer events, get involved in grow groups, sign up for Ministry Teams, join disciple-making and church planting teams, and attend school.
7. It uses the 6Cs.
Context is the words before and after what is studied. The near context is the words immediately before and after the sentence under focus. Far context is the words in the surrounding paragraphs, passages, and chapters. Context is the most informative way to determine the meaning of a given passage. The term "context is king" means the words before and after the text being studied take priority in determining the meaning. Taking things out of context results in a wrong interpretation. It's often the result of not doing enough study of the near and far context. Pastor John MacArthur states,
The Bible is not a random collection of verses that may be interpreted in isolation. To properly understand any passage, one must interpret it in light of the paragraphs immediately preceding and following it, the chapter or section it is in, and the book containing it. Context provides the flow of thought in which any given passage of Scripture exists.”
Cross-reference refers to other verses found throughout Scripture that relate to the one being studied. Most study Bibles provide cross-references as a resource. They are useful to confirm the interpretation. Sometimes they are helpful to share; sometimes, they are a distraction. Teachers must decide when to include them in the final message. The Big Idea Study (see below) anchors the teacher in the text in such a manner that usage in the message is minimal. Too many can be distracting.
Concordance is a resource used for a more in-depth study of a specific topic. It may be a stand-alone tool or located in a study bible.
Conscience is what you already know about the passage. The more you study, the more you rely upon the knowledge you already possess. The longer you teach, the deeper your reservoir of knowledge will become.
Comparison includes reading different translations. Often key thoughts become clear as they are expressed with different words.
Commentaries are the thoughts of learned people. They should follow the completion of a draft outline. The views of commentators may provide confirmation or give need for adjustment to an interpretation. Some commentaries are critical (they help at the exegetical and hermeneutical stages). Some are homiletical (they help at the presentation stage). Both are helpful. Commentaries are found in the notes section of most study Bibles as well as in stand-alone books. For the purposes of this category, commentaries also include the following resources: interlinear, dictionary, encyclopedia, and culture studies.
Concordance is a resource used for a more in-depth study of a specific topic. It may be a stand-alone tool or located in a study bible.
Conscience is what you already know about the passage. The more you study, the more you rely upon the knowledge you already possess. The longer you teach, the deeper your reservoir of knowledge will become.
Comparison includes reading different translations. Often key thoughts become clear as they are expressed with different words.
Commentaries are the thoughts of learned people. They should follow the completion of a draft outline. The views of commentators may provide confirmation or give need for adjustment to an interpretation. Some commentaries are critical (they help at the exegetical and hermeneutical stages). Some are homiletical (they help at the presentation stage). Both are helpful. Commentaries are found in the notes section of most study Bibles as well as in stand-alone books. For the purposes of this category, commentaries also include the following resources: interlinear, dictionary, encyclopedia, and culture studies.
Recommended free resources.
Recommended paid resource: Olive Tree Bible app
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge An exhaustive cross reference tool.
- Bible Gateway Just type a keyword, passage or topic in the search bar.
- Barne's Notes
- Expositor's Bible Commentary
- Gaebelein
- Jameison-Fausett-Brown (JFB)
- Scofield Reference Notes
- List of commentaries on Bible Hub
Recommended paid resource: Olive Tree Bible app
8. It is bathed in prayer.
It is the Holy Spirit who gives understanding and insight about the meaning of Scripture. (John 14:17, 26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:11-13; 1 John 2:27)
It is the Holy Spirit who gives understanding and insight about the meaning of Scripture. (John 14:17, 26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:11-13; 1 John 2:27)
1. David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, Good Faith: Being A Christian When Society Thinks You're Irrelevant and Extreme (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2016) 235, 243 Kindle