BIBLE DISCOVERY METHOD MANUAL

The teacher plays the role of resource person, as described above. The student is an active participant who solves problems which he understands through the process of structuring his own learning experiences. Louis, Mo.).ĭiscovery teaching brings four basic components of the educational setting into interaction: the student, the teacher, the environment, and the content. In fact, the way we arrive at the information may have as much to do with the kind of faith that results (or doesn’t result) as the information itself” ( New Ways to Learn, Dale E. Paul Pallmeyer questions such an attitude about Christian teaching when he asks, “Is such teaching likely to produce the kind of thinking a Christian needs to do for his own faith in the complex life of today-and tomorrow? Or a prior question: Is it information we are trying to communicate or is it the Christian faith? The two are not necessarily the same. Some concepts of education largely involve lectures and drills, and center almost exclusively on the teacher’s performance during class. The instructor who considers himself an indispensable purveyor of information about God may find it very difficult to play down his role in order to maximize student involvement. Such a free-rein approach to education is threatening to some teachers. Rather than forcing his idea of content, the teacher attempts to keep his hands off the learning process whenever and wherever the student can carry it on for himself. In order for discovery teaching to be effective, the environment (including the teacher’s attitude) must contribute to rather than detract from the attaining of objectives. The atmosphere in which such teaching takes place must be informal and nonthreatening. The teacher serves as a resource person to stimulate, motivate, clarify, and explain. The teacher becomes a facilitator and guide, making it possible for the learner to reach mutually-agreed-upon goals. Discovery teaching (sometimes called the “inquiry method”) is simply the process of allowing the student to take the leading role in his own learning experiences. If we can recognize this about ourselves, then perhaps we can experiment with the discovery method. In order to accomplish this purpose, it would seem that our teaching should reflect the fact that infallible truth is nevertheless being handled by fallible teachers. But our ultimate purpose is to get students to be independent investigators of God’s Word forming firsthand standards and convictions which are taught them by the Holy Spirit. In one sense, the attitude we have toward the Bible will largely determine how we teach it.

BIBLE DISCOVERY METHOD MANUAL

We hope this manual can be a resource and encouragement to those who, like Coffee Break leaders, have a vision and calling to share the story of Jesus’ love through a Bible discovery group.Too often Christian teachers behave as though authoritative truth has to be communicated in an authoritarian manner. How can a Bible discussion be outreaching?.What do I need to know to become an effective Bible discovery leader?.What are good discovery questions, and how are they asked?.They are not teachers but facilitators of the conversation. The study guide questions give shape to the group conversation, like a “skeleton.” Leaders “flesh out” that skeleton with follow-up questions of their own. If so, check out the Leading Bible Discovery manual. The manual, which was originally written for leaders of Coffee Break, contains information that applies to many other small group Bible discovery formats as well. The Bible discovery method has been the essential part of what makes Coffee Break successful in reaching people for Christ. Are you involved in small group ministry and looking for ways to build community and lead new believers through God's Word?