Adult Bible Teaching Broadman Baptist Church September 29, 1999 Thomas J. Cook The Sunday School Page—

Topics The Adult Class The Adult Learner Levels of Learning Teaching/learning Methods Hindrances to Learning Preparing the Lesson

The Adult Class Reach Adults Teach Adults the Bible Minister to Adults Witness to Adults Lead Adults to Worship Fellowship With Adults

Reach Adults Enrollment Goal Prospect File Equal to Enrollment Specific Prospect Assignments Constant Contact Consciousness Visitation!

Minister to Adults “Meeting People’s Needs Crisis Ministry Day-by-day Ministry Care Group Leaders –Assigned 5-9 Members/prospects –Contact Every Member Every Week –Report Ministry Needs to Class

Witness to Adults Actively Seek to Enroll Lost Prospects Teach Evangelistically Lead Members to Share Testimony

Lead Adults to Worship Support Private Devotions Support Family Devotions Support Public Worship Provide Worship Experiences during Bible Study

Fellowship with Adults Essential for –class bonding –spirit –atmosphere –growth Optimum: once per month Include In-Service Workers Invite Prospects

A new class would start out with the teacher, an outreach-evangelism leader, and two care group leaders if possible, but would enlist additional workers as the class grows.

The Adult Learner Diversity Developmental Needs Generations Learning Styles Involvement

Diversity Each Learner Is Different –In Age –In Appearance –In Likes and Dislikes –In Background and Experience –In Ability to Learn –In Talents –In Spiritual Maturity

Developmental Needs

Young Adults Intimacy versus Isolation Middle Adults Generativity versus Stagnation Senior Adults Ego Integrity versus Despair

Generations G.I. Generation ( ) Silent Generation ( ) Boom Generation ( ) Generation 13 ( ) Millennial Generation (1983-)

Learning Styles Visual/auditory/kinesthetic Perceptual Modality: Print Visual Aural Imaginative/analytical/ Dynamic/common Sense Interactive Tactile Kinesthetic Olfactory

Imaginative Learner Involvement “Lovers” Worship: Heart Virtue: Love Why? Use What Pupil Knows and Build on It “What Is Christian Discipleship?”

Analytical Learner Thinker and Watcher “Theoreticians” Worship: Head Virtue: Wisdom What? Present Material Pupils Need to Know “Name the Twelve Disciples.”

Dynamic Learner Ready! Fire! Aim! “Leaders” Worship: Feet (Mystical) Virtue: Justice What Can This Become? Explore Possibilities “How Can We Present This Need to the Church?”

Common Sense Learner Won’t Work Unless It Makes Sense “Practitioners” Worship: Hands Virtue: Courage How? Test It and See If It Actually Works “What Can We Do to Deal With World Hunger?”

Involvement “The only teaching that is teaching is that which produces desirable changes in the life of the learner.” “The only learning that changes conduct significantly is learning that is self- discovered and self-appropriated.” “Never tell anyone anything that you can lead him to discover for himself.”

Involvement I Hear, I Forget. I See, I Remember. I Do, I Understand.

Levels of Learning

Teaching/learning Methods The Method Depends on the Purposes The Method Depends on the Ability of the Teacher The Method Depends on the Ability of the Learner

Teaching/learning Methods The Method Depends on the Size of the Group The Method Depends on the Time Available The Method Depends on the Facilities

Basic Teaching Methods These can be used to occupy an entire class session, or as supplementary methods Lecture Forum –Avoid Using As Sole Teaching Method –Learn When to Lecture –Consider Alternatives to Achieve the Same Goal –Keep Lectures Short and Use Sparingly

Basic Teaching Methods Questions –Learn to Ask Questions –Wait for Answers to Questions –Plan Answers Ahead of Time –Encourage Learners to Ask Questions

Basic Teaching Methods Informal Discussion –Guide Discussion Toward a Meaningful Goal –Focus on Learners’ Interests and Needs –Maintain Tension Between Firmness and Flexibility –Seek to Involve Everyone in the Discussion

Basic Teaching Methods Bible Research Forum –Prepare Written Assignments/study Sheets –Make Resources Available –Allow Time for Reports and Discussion

Supplemental Methods Choose Method to Support Teaching Objective –Cognitive -- Knowledge and Understanding –Affective -- Appreciation and Attitude –Skill -- Practical Life Application Choose Method to Support Phase of Teaching Session –Motivation: Create Learning Readiness –Exploration: Make Bible Study Purposeful –Application: Get Bible Truth Into Life

Methods for Cognitive Outcomes Book Report Question and Answer Panel Symposium

Methods for Affective Outcomes Brainstorming Debate Group Discussion Interview Forum Panel Forum Role Playing Small Groups Circular Response Creative Writing Case Study Film Talk-back Inductive Bible Study Music Forum Play Reading Seminar Listening Teams Storytelling Art

Methods for Skill Outcomes Demonstration Work Groups Field Trip Workshops

Create Learning Readiness Story Quotation Statistics Poem Current Events Question(s) Case Study Life Situations Brainstorming Pretest Object Lesson Art or Picture Study Music Opinionnaire Attitude Scale Assignment Report Book or Play Review Circular Response Personal Sharing Encounter Drama Role Play

Making Bible Study Purposeful Explore Background Information Lecture (Illustrated?) Scripture Searching Map Study Video Tape Questions Brainstorming Small Groups Recording Resource Person Assignment and Report Resource Table Notebook Interview/report

Making Bible Study Purposeful Overview Larger Bible Passage Lecture/summary Outline Questions Summaries by Individuals, Pairs, Groups Video Tape Report Summary Dramatize Long Narrative

Making Bible Study Purposeful Read the Bible Passage Reading by Teacher Reading Aloud by Volunteer Member Silent Reading Recorded Reading Comparing Several Translations Listening Teams Dramatic Reading Choral Reading Drama Pantomime Dramatic Monologue

Making Bible Study Purposeful Discover What the Passage Means Lecture Questions and Discussion Lesson Worksheet or Study Guide Brainstorming Word Study Quarterly Search State Central Truth Paraphrase Pretest/post Test Headlines Panel/forum Biblical Simulation Creative Writing Debate

Get Bible Truth Into Life Lecture/forum Case Study Brainstorming Meditation and Prayer Interview/forum Panel/forum Testimonies/sharing Photograph or Art Forum Opinionnaire Role Play Quaker Meeting Collage, Poster Wire Sculpture Create and Present Drama Questions/discussions Life Situations Problem Solving Unit Chart Symposium/forum Colloquy Book or Play Review Music Forum Attitude Scale/evaluation Circular Response Personal Sharing Creative Writing Demonstration Create and Present Music

Improving Learning Learning Can Be Improved By: Helping the Learner Discover What He Wants or Needs to Learn Use of Good Methods Purposeful Learning Aids Planning for Follow-through Evaluating Results of Study

Preparing the Lesson 1Relate Session to Unit 2Larger Bible Context 3Bible Text 4Central Truth 5Pupil Needs 6Teaching Aim 7Teaching/Learning Methods

Preparing the Lesson

References Leroy Ford, A Primer for Teachers and Leaders, Broadman ©1963 Lawrence O Richards, Creative Bible Teaching, Moody © ©1970 William Strauss and Neil Howe, The History of America’s Future, , William Morrow, ©1992 Richard Dodge, Toward 2000: Leading Adults in Sunday School, Convention, ©1995 Ferris Jordan, Today’s Adults: A Profile for Teachers and Leaders, Convention, ©1993