Creative Bible Teaching

Are you a bridge builder' Communicating the Scriptures is much like building a bridge. However, instead of ravines or rivers, the teacher must span both cultural boundaries and great gulfs of time between the present and the past of Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul. This bridge must reach even further. The student must be able to cross both into the past and into his own future. God's Word is "living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). It is contemporary, relevant. But it is the teacher who has the task of helping the student to see its vast treasures. This is no easy task, but it can be done through creative Bible teaching. Together, Richards and Bredfeldt have written a book on bridge-building that reveals a detailed five-step process by which Christian educators can construct a bridge across time, geography, and culture.

GARY J. BREDFELDT (M.A., Denver Seminary; Ph.D., Trinity International University) is a former Professor of Leadership and Church Ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of three widely used textbooks: Creative Bible Teaching, Caring for Souls: Counseling under the Authority of Scripture, and Great Leader, Great Teacher. Gary resides in Louisville, Kentucky.

LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS (University of Michigan, Dallas Theological Seminary, Northwestern University) was one of the most prominent Christian Education writers during the second half of the twentieth century. He has written more than 70 books, including Creative Bible Teaching, Every Name of God in the Bible and Life of Christ. He was a contributor to Christian Education: Foundations for the Future. Larry resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Step One: Studying the Bible 1. This Bible: The Need for and Nature of the Bible2. Inspired by God: The Divine Authorship and Human Literature of the Bible3. Person to Person: The Message and Role of the Bible4. Rightly Divided: The Study of the Bible5. A Sample Bible Study: The Creative Bible Teacher's Inductive Method Step Two: Studying the Bible 6. Focus on Needs: Understanding and Assessing Student Needs7. Focus on Learning: Truth into Life8. Focus on Results: Teaching for Life Change Step Three: Structuring the Lesson 9. The Pattern: HBLT Approach10. The Process: Engaging Student Response11. The Means: Methods Make a Difference12. The Tools: Choosing and Using Curriculum Step Four: Teaching the Class 13. Teaching Principles: Common Practices of Truly Great Teachers14. Teaching Effectiveness: Motivating the Learner15. Teaching the Bible to Adults: Can We Get Practical Here'16. Teaching the Bible to Youth: What Difference Does This Make'17. Teaching the Bible to Children: Please Understand Me18. Teaching the Bible to Preschoolers: More Than Babysitting Step Five: Evaluating the Results 19. A Model for Evaluation: Something to "Stake" on20. Developing and Improving as a Teacher: You Can Get There from Here