Sunday we started class with member-provided food and prayer. While eating, our lesson on the conquest of Jericho began with reading each section of the passage. Then we went verse-by-verse examining the context and characters (God, Joshua, the Israelites, Rahab, etc.). In my effort to teach them to apply God’s Word, after every verse or two, I would ask, “What does God want us to learn to do as a result?” Discussion is always good, but it was even more lively!
Teach them to Apply
What are you doing to teach them to apply God’s Word? One of my favorite methods is to end a lesson with these questions:
- What was today’s lesson about?
- What was the point/truth God wanted us to hear today?
- What does He expect you to do as a result of the lesson?
Another method I have used is to move into subgroups (3-6 people), give them assignments for sections of the lesson with questions, and call for reports. One question near the end in each subgroup is “What does God want you to do as a result of the what he is saying in this passage?” When we use subgroups, nearly everyone in the class talks. Doing so helps them understand and apply the truth.
In a previous lesson on Rahab and the spies, I passed out a scarlet cord and encouraged attenders to place it in a visible location to remind them that God wants to use imperfect people. I challenged them to look for opportunities.
Closing Moments
Too often we run out of time to help our group to apply God’s Word. Frequently that happens due to not planning for it. Sometimes it is poor management of the lesson. Occasionally it is due to circumstances out of our control. But when we open God’s Word and meet Him, He expects us to be different as a result of that encounter. If we fail to help them meet and move toward the change He desires, then we have failed as teachers and disciple-makers.
Two ways to avoid running out of time are to (1) set an early end time (applicaation time) by which you will end the teaching portion of the lesson or (2) plan application throughout the lesson. To plan application throughout the lesson, you simply need to help them apply what they are learning verse-by-verse or section by section.
How Do Lead Them to Apply?
Share what you do when you teach? How do you help them to move beyond a history lesson to a life lesson? How you help them to take a step toward obedience? Leave a reply below to encourage others in their application efforts. What you do matters. Challenge your group to take steps to apply what they learned. Teach them to apply. Make disciples. Be revolutionary!
Photo by Norbert Braun on Unsplash
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