Q's about Teaching Others (esp for Steve)

[Jason]

My sister-in-law recently told me that her husband (my older brother) wasn't interested in church anymore and that he doesn't believe everything written in the bible. I asked if we could all do a Bible study together and she and my brother have agreed - which is great news to me. They are both what you'd consider "baby Christians" with very little knowledge of the Bible. It should also be noted that I'm 30 years old and my brother is 39 so I'm still his "little brother." Now I'm wondering how to proceed with this study. In our situation, would a book-by-book study be a good idea? Or a topical study? I could also do an 'introduction to the Bible" series. I could also do an apologetics study for the benefit of my brother. I'm concerned that if I start off on the wrong foot then the Bible study will be "mysteriously" discontinued.

Thoughts?

[Allyn]

Why not, at your first meeting, find out what it is that your brother does not accept from the Bible. Take down a list of 10 - 15 objections and then plan to discuss a few of those each week or whenever you decide to get together. You could easily bring in the rest of the Bible to help you. Prior to those meetings you should listen to the verse by verse lectures having to do with those objections. Find the time spots in the lectures and then take notes. I think that would be a very interesting study for all and it may put your brother at ease and not feel put on the spot.

[Suzana]

I'm concerned that if I start off on the wrong foot then the Bible study will be "mysteriously" discontinued.

Thoughts?

I'm sure you would anyway, but lots of prayer beforehand, that whichever way you decide to head will be used by the Holy Spirit. Also there may be underlying reasons your brother is not willing to voice yet or may not even be aware of. Perhaps just lay the truth out there, without getting your brother on the defensive, and let the Holy Spirit do the work. Just some thoughts you're probably already aware of. Will be praying for your brother & the study.

[TK]

Jason-

it sounds quite possible that your bro has never really read much of the Bible for himself, so i think a study of a book of the bible would be good, perhaps Luke followed by the Book of Acts. plenty of "topics" would flow from such a study.

TK

[steve]

Hi Jason,

I wanted to jump in here and say that I think all of the above suggestions are very good. My not knowing the real questions that your brother is struggling with makes Allyn's suggestion seem attractive. If your brother does not himself know what he is struggling with, then I think TK's suggestion would be a good fallback. Suzana's suggestion is essential in either case.

I have just gotten set up on Skype to do a video teaching live in Sweden next month. It occurs to me that this would make it possible for me to similarly visit the home of anyone who has Skype and to hold a live Q & A with whoever may be in the room. So, if,in your studies with your brother, he raises issues that are above your pay grade, I could "visit" with you guys afterward to discuss anything you did not feel prepared to handle. I have not used this video-conferencing feature, but it seems like it presents limitless possibilities.

Allyn,

What happened to your picture?

[Allyn]

Hi Steve,

Not sure what happened to my picture. I don't remember now if I brought it over to this new board. Thanks for noticing.

[Jason]

I want to thank everyone for their responses. Each of them are valuable to me. I want to give more information about my brother's personality because, although he's a very friendly and sweet guy, he has a great deal of pride. My sister-in-law told me his objection is that "the bible is just written by a bunch of men so it's all interpretation." This is an issue that, knowing my brother, I wouldn't want to call him out on. He gets very defensive when someone knows more than him and although I think I can handle his objections, doing do without dealing a death blow to his ego (especially in front of his wife) is something I'm not prepared for. I asked my sister-in-law if he'd like to talk to me privately about his doubts and she said he's not open to that. He does seem genuinely interested in learning the Bible (or at least to appease his wife) so I'm going to give it a shot. I really don't think I have the gift of teaching but there's no one else around to instruct them.

[TK]

that's good info. and given that I do not think it would be a good idea to break out Evidence that Demands a Verdict or other such books.

I think it would be good to study one of the gospels- i said Luke because it leads naturally into Acts-- and pray (strenuously) that the HS will illumine his understanding. I think once people get to know Jesus everything seems to start making more sense.

whatever you do, don't start with Eccelesiastes.

TK

[Michelle]

Jason, maybe since you have a humble attitude about your ability and lack of gift in teaching, you'll avoid bruising his ego. I'll be praying for you and him and, well, for the whole thing.

[Jason]

I appreciate every one of those prayers because they work. Michelle, the comment about my teaching ability has nothing to do with a humble attitude... it's moreso an honest attitude as I'm genuinely terrible! It makes me appreciate the gift of teaching, which I recognize in others. You know how sometimes a caller will ask Steve a basic question and he'll use a few theological terms to give his answer, only to later realize the caller may not know those words? I feel like that every time I conduct a home study, except much worse! I have a really hard time relating to people who are not theology geeks and my bro and sis-in-law are definitely not of that variety.

I had a friendly e-mail debate with sis-in-law about her "Left Behind" view of the end times and she was totally lost after a few sentences. A good teacher knows how to meet someone on their level and slowly build them up. I've tried but can't really do it. The one area I'm good at, in terms of giving systematic teachings, is in the area of general apologetics. It comes much more naturally to me for some reason. But that's the area where I'd have to tread lightly for fear of rousing another's ego.