Getting more from Bible Class
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Participate more
Participate more
I am pretty confident that by now you know the goal, the aim the intended outcome of this series is to “get more” from the assembly. We gather together as the church so that we may study and enjoy, but also so we may give and receive too. This morning we are looking at getting more from our Bible Classes and small groups.
1 Sing to the Lord, all the world! 2 Worship the Lord with joy; come before him with happy songs!
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock. 4 Enter the temple gates with thanksgiving, go into its courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise him.
5 The Lord is good; his love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts for ever.
(Participation needed slide inserted here)
Remember Christianity is not a spectator sport, it is our worship of our eternal God who gave us everything, His eternal love and everlasting faithfulness. Go back and look at the Psalm and see the participation. I know normally I don’t ask for participation during a sermon, except maybe a hearty amen, but today I want you to participate some.
Question what participation do you see noted in (Ps100:1-5)
Sing to the Lord (Ps100:1)
Worship Him (Ps100:2)
Acknowledge the Lord as God (Ps100:3)
Enter His gates with thanksgiving (Ps100:4)
Give thanks, and praise Him (Ps100:4)
As I’m sure you can see all of those things noted in the Psalm take participation, they take you getting involved.
Want to get more, be ready to participate more.
In our series we have already looked at some ways to get more, and I think you will see as we quickly review that each thing takes participation.
Our assemblies - participate by coming
Our singing - by lifting your voice in songs of praise
Our prayers - by joining with a hearty amen
Our celebration of Lord’s Supper - taking it together
Our offering- purposefully, cheerfully giving
Our preaching - actively listening and applying
So this morning as we do our next installment in our “more please” series we are going to focus on our bible classes and small groups on how to get more. Hint, want more, be ready to give more by participation!
Question: Why do you think we choose to have Bible Class?
(let there be a couple of minutes of answers; so slow down!)
Now, there are groups that choose not to have bible classes for there is nothing in the scripture itself regarding bible classes directly. I’m not here to debate that point, just making an observation.
Bible classes give us an opportunity to participate more in the assembly (in classes and groups). It is another way to serve the Lord with gladness. Bible classes can be a catalyst to help people to grow more in Christ and to learn the scripture at a deeper level than what is fed in a regular sermon.
Now I need to be honest, Bible classes are not well attended, I’m not talking about just here but overall. So let me ask a question again.
Question: Why do you think that Bible classes/small groups and not widely attended?
Bible class- Purpose/role
Bible class- Purpose/role
When we gather as the church we gather with a purpose. Some of those purposes we have previously looked at in this series, today what is the purpose of a bible class or a small group?
Again, in a normal sermon it is not presented in class style, today I’m asking for your participation when questions asked, so here is a question.
Question: When you look at a bible class, what opportunities do you see?
Opportunity for all (adults, children) to gather together for teaching. Normally you see on a Sunday and then on Wednesday night. 1st century it was daily.
Opportunity to meet in smaller setting then the assembly, it gives opportunity for a more intimate engagement of the people in attendance.
Opportunity for involvement, in fact Bible classes are participation friendly and participation is invited.
Opportunity to get to know others on a deeper level spiritually than you may know in the assembly itself
Opportunity presented for others to teach, and to teach that means some personal study time to prepare to teach.
Question: What benefits do you see coming from bible class or a small group?
To grow in Christ (Eph4:11-16)
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
I think I can make a statement here, spiritual growth, growth in Christ is directly correlated with knowledge of the Word of God.
Grow up through putting the word in you (1Pt2:1-5)
1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
Oh I have to stop here just for a minute
Question: What are we to grow in respect to (1Pt2:2)?
From pure milk to grow in respect to salvation.
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Question: What is the result of the growing according to (1Pt2:5)?
Able to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.
Bible classes, small groups are great opportunities for us to study God’s word together, to interact as we are now. Let me give you some more benefits.
Fellowship opportunities: Fellowship of studying God’s Word together, growing together and walking in the Lord together as seekers of Jesus Christ through studying His Word.
Participation opportunities: Unlike today, when in the worship assembly generally there are not opportunities to actively participate with questions, bible classes, small groups encourage it! We can study together, we can grow together. The teacher does not have the corner on information and participation.
How about this benefit?
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
That is a pretty good benefit, but it takes what? Diligence it takes effort. Bible class, small groups are a great way to build that habit for growth. Be one approved by God who can accurately handle the word of truth.
Now, honestly speaking, bible classes are not very well attended as well as the general assembly, but they are great opportunities to get more.
Getting more from bible class
Getting more from bible class
Guess what? We have gotten to the application, or suggested application section. Hopefully you have seen the benefits of attending bible classes/small groups, so here are some suggestions on how to get more from them.
Attend on a regular basis
Attend on a regular basis for most bible classes are done in series format and you don’t want to miss out on anything.
Prepare prior
Find out in advance what is coming up, what is going to be studied, then pray, read, maybe study the passage or section that is going to be looked at.
Prepare by writing down questions you may have from the passage that is going to be studied, so if not addressed in the teaching they can be asked.
Prepare the night before knowing the start time and give yourself plenty of time to be there on time.
Come to contribute (participate)
Come ready to participate, maybe by answering questions, asking questions, reading a scripture, sharing a thought on the passage. Remember Christianity is not a spectator sport, so get involved.
The more that get involved the more all grow together. Remember we are all seekers, seeking God, studying God’s word together, each of us has something to bring.
As a teacher I do not have the corner on full understanding of the scripture, I have been wrong before, and maybe wrong in the future, hence why I challenge constantly for you to be a good Berean and search the scriptures to see if what I say is true. I hope and pray that I’m always teachable!
Be willing to teach
One of the best ways to get more out of a bible class, small group is being willing to teach.
Teaching takes preparation, it takes study, it takes time, it has great benefits. You grow closer to God and you are learning to be a worker who is unashamed who can rightly divide the word. By agreeing to teach you are agreeing to study, you are agreeing to be there and be there on time. You will come fully prepared to lead, teach a class.
Be willing to assist
Maybe you are not a teach, but maybe you can participate is to help the teacher in preparation or presentation. Maybe there is something that you are able to research for the teacher
Maybe assisting is helping in a children’s class to wrangle the kids in and help keep them engaged in the class.
(story, illustration) many that I study with are teaching people different bible study methods and in doing it, it helps me too study, to prepare. Oftentimes I learn from others as they do it too and it helps me.
Pray before, pray after
Prayer before: Pray for open mind, open heart to receive what God has for you from His Word in the Bible class or small group. When you study ask God for knowledge for He will give liberally and without reproach according to Jm1:5.
Prayer before: If you are going to teach, pray before you prepare the teaching asking God to lead you to convey what He wants conveyed from His Word
Prayer before: Ask God to help you to grow through the class, small group. Ask for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom (application).
Pray afterwards for the application and the retention of what was taught so that you may continue to grow to the fullness of Christ.
(Transition)- speaking of application one ore verse for you today and let’s see what we can get from it
10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Question: In looking at Ps119:10-11 what does the verse call for us to do (apply)? Why does it tell us to apply?
To seek, to not wander, to treasure
So not to sin.
(Invitation slide- sin not) invitation (invitation song) (Prayer)