02 - Using Study Guides / Outlines

Introduction

The same holds true for commentaries - ‘Chew on the meat, spit out the bones’.

Our text offers a well-known instruction from Paul to Timothy. I trust you are familiar with it, and we’ll set this on the back burner and get back to it later.

Right now we’re going to speak about using Study Guides / Curriculum / Outlines. There are a multitude of different types that are offered - ranging from bare to robust.

We use various curriculum in our Sunday School program, so it’s important that we understand the manner in which it should be utilized.

The first thing that we’re going to consider are the Positives

I. The Positives

It Saves Time

When you begin to make your own outlines (if you haven’t done it already), you’ll realize how much time using an outline will save.

The majority of my time is spent in development. When you have a good outline, you are bypassing the development process altogether.

So it is a help especially in our society when you have a busy schedule as it does save time.

It saves time

It Gives Structure

What I mean by that is typically when you use outlines, they are often part of a series. So, when you teaching for an extended period of time, the outlines will typically tie together into a greater, overall lesson.

(Ill.) For instance, bro. Alan’s class is going through the book of Jonah. The curriculum is titled ‘Jonah, a Whale of a Lesson on Obedience’. So, as they go through the lessons, the overall goal is to enforce the importance of obedience.

So it gives Structure

It Offers New Perspectives and Insight

There’s sometimes when I have been going through curriculum and it teaches me things I hadn’t seen before. They’ve given me insight to things that I haven’t considered before.

We’re going to speak more about this shortly, but curriculum are a lot like commentaries in a sense.

(Ill.) As I began my Christian walk, I had a study Bible (a couple actually) and depended greatly on it. I would read a passage, then read the notes.

So Commentaries and outlines are great - providing they are treated with the proper respect - and what I mean by that is that you mustn’t put the commentary or outline on the same level as the Word of God!

It Offers New Perspectives and Insight

The Negatives

Now, there are some things that we need to acknowledge that are not positive. There are certainly some negatives that are associated with using curriculum / outlines that we must recognize in order to not let them affect us in negative fashion.

Subtle False Doctrine Can Creep In

Here’s the thing. When I select curriculum, I select if from sources that I trust. Paul Chappell, Charles Shoemaker, Regular Baptist Press, etc. Sources that are from a Baptist perspective, typically KJV only… that being said, it’s not rare that I’ll run across something that is typically taught, but not necessarily Biblically based.

When you consider the label ‘baptist’ - and think of the drastic differences between churches. (Bible versions, doctrine, music, etc), then, even when you begin to shed some of those differences, there’s still many differences within.

There’s a reason we’re an independent, baptist church - so we can follow the dictates of our conscience concerning the Word of God, and not the commands of another.

Subtle False Doctrine can creep in

It can Make you Lazy

Because they are convenient and have done much work for you already, oftentimes, people get lazy and don’t study them out like they should.

Understand this: Taking an outline and spending 30 minutes before class or the night before, is not sufficient regardless of how good the curriculum is!

It can make you Lazy

It can Make you Dependent

Much the same way, outlines and curriculum can make you dependent.

It’s not lazy in the sense that you don’t feel the need to study

It’s dependent in that you don’t feel that you have the ability to study things out on your own.

Outlines / Curriculum is in essence spoon feeding you information - and just as babes depend on the bottle, many Christian teachers depend on curriculum as they are unable to function without it.

It can make you Dependent

It Encourages Procrastination

I looked up a few definitions for procrastination:

“the act of putting off or delaying; especially something requiring immediate attention”

“the action of ruining your life for no apparent reason”

“The ability to feel guilty about not doing what you should, yet continue to not do it”

Edward Young said “Procrastination is the Thief of Time”

Procrastination is something we all do at least from time to time, but it an innocent looking, but very destructive thing (much like Satan).

So when I say that curriculum encourages procrastination, what I mean is that it tempts us to put it off, knowing that the lesson is laid out for us already. When using curriculum, this is a fleshly trap that we must avoid.

In encourages procrastination

II. The Purpose

To Use the Wisdom of Others

The man that refuses to use the wisdom of others is a fool

Proverbs 11:14 “Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.”

Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: But in the multitude of counsellers they are established.”

Proverbs 24:6 “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: And in multitude of counsellers there is safety.”

Proverbs 20:5 “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.”

Proverbs 13:10 “Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.”

Using outlines is little more than standing upon the wisdom of others as a basis for instructing others. Used in the right context, there is nothing wrong with that.

I heard someone say something foolish (for the right reason) the other day, speaking of John Calvin he said ‘Why are we listening to what someone said 400 years ago anyway’. That’s a foolish thought, because it’s derived from a viewpoint that we are more ‘enlightened’ than what they were then - and that is simply not true! You had the wise and fools 400 years ago, just like today - wise counsel is just that - regardless of how old it is, and foolish wisdom the same.

With Curriculum we use the Wisdom of Others

They Serve as ‘Training and Steering Wheels’

(Ill.) Think of training wheels on a bike (how many had them?) They helped you learn how to ride and balance a bike on your own.

I don’t mean this in a derogatory manner at all when I refer to it as training wheels - truth is, we all require training, and this is a good way to get started. You don’t HAVE to have training wheels to ride a bike, but it makes it easier to get started.

Also serve as steering wheels

(Ill.) There are some who when they preach have no set direction - and there are others who may even have direction, but ignore it, and they do what is commonly referred to as ‘chasing rabbits’. Typically, this type of presentation is more confusing - jumping here and there - than helpful.

When we are presenting the Gospel, we are trying to take the hearer somewhere. Maybe it’s Salvation, maybe it’s a closer walk with the LORD, maybe it’s submission or obedience - maybe it’s all these things: The point is, IF we’re trying to take them somewhere, it’s easier to get someone somewhere if you are steering, as opposed to letting it steer itself.

They serve as Training and Steering wheels

They help get you Started, and offer Points & Application

With a pre-defined structure, it assists with getting you started (which can be difficult) and offer you the points & how it applies to them.

We’re going to speak much on the application part - as teaching without application is an exercise in futility.

They help get you started, and offer points & application

Simple and Sound Truth is Worthwhile

Oftentimes, what you’ll have in curriculum is not revelatory - what I mean is that it typically won’t be really deep stuff. But simple and sound truth is worthwhile.

People need to hear about the simply truths of the doctrines of the Bible - Faith, Hope, Charity, Prayer, Perseverance, etc.

It doesn’t matter if they’ve heard it 1,000 times, we ALL need reminded at least!

Simple & Sound Truth is Worthwhile

There’s no need to Reinvent the Wheel

As I mentioned before - we don’t need to be looking to find new things in Scripture - and we don’t need to find some ‘new and improved way’ to present it - just feast on the multitude of the treasures that’s already there, and do what’s proven to work!

There are plenty of truths that are not new truths, but new to me. That’s enough! We don’t need to try some fancy ‘new’ way, but rather adhere to what’s tried and true.

There’s no need to Reinvent the wheel

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

We shouldn’t be stubborn like Israel, just do what He’s called us to do.

No need to reinvent the wheel

We see the Positives, the Purpose, Lastly, the Process - how do you use them to prepare to teach a class

III. The Process

Pray About It

If we’re not praying for our lessons, our presentations, those hearts in attendance, then we can’t expect any power in what we’re doing.

Prayer makes a difference - don’t forget to pray!

Study It Out

This sounds elementary, but you wouldn’t believe the amount of people who will use a curriculum and just go into the lesson without hardly giving it any time or consideration!

Even though you have the outline given to you, doesn’t mean that you don’t need to study the lesson!

(Ill.) There’s been times where I’ve preached the same message a 2nd time. I’m talking outlines that through the Spirit of God I’ve created, prayed for, meditated on - and I still spend time going back over the entirety of the message. Looking for area’s of refinement and such.

You have to spend time studying it out - for various reasons that we’ll look at shortly.

Read the Text

I mean this in two different ways:

First - read the text before and as you study the lesson.

Don’t ASSUME that you know the story. You may, but God’s Word is living! He can show you things directly from the Scripture itself that can either enhance or correct the message you’re teaching / preaching.

Second - read the text before you begin the lesson.

It’s important what you say about what the Bible says, it’s MORE important what the Bible itself says.

Meditate on the Lesson

One of the greatest things you can do is sit back and consider. Consider everything about what you’re doing. Ask questions. Roll it around your brain. Spend time simply thinking about the Scripture, the lesson, the application.

Meditate on the Lesson

Trust but Verify

This was a Russian proverb that Ronald Reagan made famous when speaking about their nuclear arms pact. It’s a wise approach to our curriculum.

Because the curriculum we get comes from reputable sources, you can place a level of trust in what it teaches - but not blind trust! (Now if you get something from online, don’t start with ‘trust’, just ‘verify’.

If something doesn’t sound right, or conflicts with something I teach here, that’s when it’s important that you ask me my thoughts on it.

Trust but verify

Prepare Over Time

If you begin on Saturday, you have no chance to let the message stew. But if you begin preparing earlier on in the week, you have time to meditate - and God will show you things, you have more time to make things clear in your mind on what it says, and how you want to present it.

Prepare over time

Refrain from Reading

Whatever you do - don’t sit there and read verbatim the lesson from the book!

This will tell your audience that you’re not ready for this, you haven’t prepared at all, you’ll lose not only your credibility, but you ability to help them

Create your Own Outline if Necessary

It might be helpful if you like to see things a particular way, to just take information from the curriculum and create your own outline from it.

(I have done this myself)

Create your own outline if necessary

Make the Application

This is the most important aspect of any lesson. Make sure that you are not just telling them some fanciful background information, or a story in the Bible - but make sure and give them the truth on how to apply these truths presented in their own lives.

Make the Application

Homework

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Develop a Lesson Title

Identify a Main Point (What does the verse mean?)

Determine an Application (What does it mean to them?)

Bonus: List THREE main points for a Lesson

Conclusion